The Shannon blockade: an appeal to Irish anti-war activists

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday November 13, 2003 04:46 by Fintan Lane - Irish Anti-War Movement corkantiwar at hotmail dot com 087 1258325

Building for the Shannon blockade on December 6th

Dear Friends

At the recent AGM of the Irish Anti-War Movement it was agreed to hold a demonstration at Shannon airport sometime in late November or early December. The precise date and format were left to the incoming steering committee to decide.
The steering committee subsequently decided to call the demonstration for Saturday, 6th December, and it was agreed that it should take the form of a peaceful mass blockade rather than a march. It was felt that such a mass blockade would indicate that the anti-war movement is willing and able to step up the campaign against the refuelling of US warplanes at Shannon.

As we approach the blockade on December 6th, it is clear that Iraqi resistance to the US-led occupation is increasing. American helicopters have been downed causing significant loss of life and Italian soldiers have killed in the south of country. However, it is important to remind ourselves that the Iraqi resistance to US imperialism extends far beyond these armed actions. Ordinary Iraqis are resisting the occupation in many ways on the streets of towns and cities across the country. Despite US propaganda, it is clear that the majority of Iraqis see the US military presence as an occupying force and not as 'liberators'.

In Ireland there is still huge opposition to what the US is doing in the Middle East. However, the Irish government treated the 100,000 people who marched in Dublin on February 15th with contempt, and they paid little attention to the tens of thousands who marched in other urban areas across the country and on Shannon airport itself. Indeed, the last march at Shannon, on June 21st, was halted some distance from the airport and those present were denied their right to protest.

The Irish Anti-War Movement believes that mass civil disobedience is a legitimate tactic when human lives are at stake. As a tactic, civil disobedience has a long and proud tradition in civil rights and anti-war movements across the world. It is worth remembering Carnsore Point, CND in the 1960s, the American civil rights movement, and the resistance to the Vietnam war. There are many similar examples. In terms of Shannon airport, we have argued repeatedly that the facilitation of the US war machine makes this State complicit in the killing of innocent people in Iraq and Afghanisation. This has never been rhetoric. It is a reality, and it is not acceptable. An Irish civilian airport has effectively been integrated into the US war machine and is assisting the bloody occupation of Iraq.

In September alone, 141 US military flights passed through Shannon airport carrying 10,000 US troops. In total, 100,000 US troops have stopped off in Shannon since the beginning of this year. It is in that context that we urge people to approach the planned blockade on December 6th.
It will be a peaceful act of resistance against the presence of the US military in this country. Remember, if we don't stop the refuelling now, we can be certain that it will be available for all future US adventures. We cannot allow this to continue.

The demonstration will assemble at 2pm outside Lidls in Shannon town centre on Saturday, 6th December. Please be there!

Also, local anti-war groups should seriously consider using this as an opportunity to re-energise the anti-war movement by pulling people back into activity. The anti-war movement has seen a decline in active members throughout Ireland over the past few months. This is an opportunity to halt that decline and re-build the movement. Contact present and former members of your group and hold an organising meeting to discuss the Shannon blockade. Even five or six people can begin the process of re-building the movement in your area.

Download the pdf poster on irishantiwar.org, enlarge it to A3, and post it up throughout your local area. The IAWM has also printed several thousand copies, but to save the movement money, please use this pdf if at all possible. However, if you want posters mailed to you, contact me at the number below. Mention the demonstration to your friends, at public meetings, and publicise through email and text. Please spread the word. Make sure that everybody you know has heard about it!

Organise a coach or other transport from your area. And please contact me at the number below with details in case I'm asked for information about travel from your area.

This demonstration is intended to be an exercise in people power, in people taking action themselves to shut US military facilities at Shannon airport. It may well be controversial, but there is a war on and our Government is participating against the expressed wishes of the Irish people. Those of us who marched on February 15th made our voices heard against Irish complicity, but were ignored. On December 6th, let's make it clear that we have no intention of going away. Be there.

With very best wishes,

Fintan Lane
PRO, IAWM steering committee
Phone 087 1258325.