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news report
 Monday April 07, 2003 12:32 by ipsiphi iosaf O'as-if ipsiphi at diplomats dot com Barcelona
 The most well known Mural in the World is covered. The most famous symbol of Urban resistance has been covered in Derry. As a protest against the visit of Bush2, activists in Derry have covered the "You are Entering Free Derry". I'm sorry but I hosently do not understand the point of this exercise. That mural has survived since its painting as a sign of resistance by ordinary people in Ireland against the Urban War Machine unleashed upon them for more than thirty years. It is the single most well known Urban mural on the planet. It is one of the most recognisably Irish landmarks in the world. And now it is covered. I'm sure there were many jokes on the Waterside and in East Belfast this morning. Could any one of the Republican family explain the thinking behind this? In the last days since the visit was announced I have been less than supportive of the SF position. They appear to suffering a split between the grass roots supporters who have always marked out thier party as one of the most effective and internally unitary. This unity of purpose has carried SF through censorship, imprisonment, reproachment and into full participation with the both Irish State assemblies. And now they cover (and I presume that SF members were involved in this action) the Free Derry mural. why? |
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Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3Ahern is thanked by Bush
and SF reaps the benefits of the Whiskey and the mural is covered.
as one of those who helped this activity - and having come from a republican family - i can honestly say that the purpose of this activity was threefold (my own personal view):
1. this is a symbol of self-determination, and in the light of the illegal activity that has been promoted in the guise of our own problem solving, it is essential that we send a message: that the war is not in our name, and should not be shrouded in our own peaceful quest to what a shinner would say "conflict resolution"...
2. it is very disappointing that some of those who fought for a socialist republic revolution here in ireland dismiss what is happening in iraq as not being of relevance (having walked to belfast and having met shinners and sdlpers on the way, i can honestly say that they were a wee bit late on catching the wagon); it is even more disappointing that those who are adverse to direct action (ie, the covering of the free derry corner was only one of at least five major demonstrations in the city) seem to get emotional over the covering of this mural, whilst been quiet up until now about uranium-depleted missiles (we also have ratheon to deal with in this city) and cluster bombs... no, no shinner was involved...
and 3. the idea when enacted was wonderful, and the image of this black block in the bog was a wonderful indication of solidarity with the iraqi people (i remember a gerry kelly from belfast, at the 30th anniversary of bloody sunday, commenting that bs was big because the international press was in town - surely an indication of international support to be valued and then given back to the iraqi people as they become another experiment of imperialism?)...
i hope that has cleared that up...