A big thank you from Fintan Lane

national | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Sunday January 18, 2004 16:42

by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign and IAWM

corkantiwar at hotmail dot com

As readers of indymedia.ie are aware, I was released from Limerick Prison on Friday, 9th January, having served about 45 days of a 60-day sentence arising from my participation in an anti-war mass trespass at Shannon airport in October 2002. Readers will be happy to know that I left the prison without paying one cent of the E750 fine imposed by the state and, consequently, am in very good spirits.

This is just a note to thank everybody who offered solidarity, support, or helped in any way during my time in Limerick Prison. I received roughly 250 letters and cards while inside and each one was hugely appreciated; prison is an isolating experience and it's amazing how important mail becomes in terms of breaking down that sense of isolation. It was impossible for me to write back to everybody, but I intend to do so over the next few weeks. I also received a large number of books, but unfortunately many of these were removed from their packages/envelopes and disconnected from their covering letters before I got them, so I don't know who sent some of them. So, a big thank you to everybody who sent books, earplugs, and other items! Much appreciated!!

The extent of solidarity was incredibly moving; and came from all sorts of individuals, organisations, and sections of the anti-war movement. Letters arrived from as far away as Finland and the United States. I know that indymedia itself was especially supportive and I'd like to thank everybody involved, but especially JD. Thanks for the support and encouragement - it was extremely important in terms of highlighting my case and hence the issues involved.

The Cork Anti-War Campaign was a model of professionalism and did incredible work while I was in Limerick. I'd like to thank everybody involved, but most especially Dominic Carroll who was indefatigable as a co-ordinator. His sense of comradeship and friendship are remarkable, and I'm sure the other members of CAWC will understand why I single him out for particular thanks. The support network that was established worked extremely well and highlights the importance of such mechanisms. So, a big, big thank you to everybody in Cork! I reckon two-thirds of the mail that I received came from Cork city and county, which is testament to the work that the anti-war movement has done in the region over the past eighteen months. Well done the PRC!!

Finally, Deirdre Clancy was a great source of strength, and I'm seriously understating things when I say that I greatly appreciated her support and sense of solidarity. The Catholic Worker Five will be before the courts themselves later this year and it is vital that they receive the support of everybody within the movement. These brave people (Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien Moran and Ciaron O'Reilly) are facing the possibility of serious time because of their decommissioning of a US warplane at Shannon airport. It is important that we all stand in solidarity with them, and not in some sort of token manner, but in a way that shows genuine empathy with their action.

So, once again, a big thank you to indymedia (a great resource!) and to all those who offered support over the past weeks. My involvement in the mass trespass was an act of conscience, and I never had any intention of paying a fine for the right to protest against the integration of an Irish civilian airport into the US war machine. Civil disobedience is a morally and politically appropriate response when human lives are at stake.

Care/act.

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Comments (13 of 13)

And...

Sun Jan 18, 2004 17:50

A reminder that a fundraiser will be held in the Spailpin Fanach, South Main Street, next Saturday from 8pm. Music/comedy/etc. Should be good! All proceeds to the Cork Anti-War Campaign.

Full details will be posted in the events section of indymedia within the next few days.

Good to have you back Fintan

by Chekov - Indymedia Ireland Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland

Sun Jan 18, 2004 18:19

And thanks for the letter. Indymedia has so many critics that it's heartening to get a bit of praise every so often! Especially from somebody who is going out there and doing it.

failte aris Fiontain

by james

Sun Jan 18, 2004 20:27

Well said Chekov, heartening to have Fiontain free and unbroken.
J

Editorial Guidelines?????

by James D

Mon Jan 19, 2004 13:24

What are Indymedia's "editorial guidelines"? There's no shortage of abuse of America, Britain or anyone else who doesn't meet with favour from the "Left".

james d

by pat c

Mon Jan 19, 2004 13:34

please point to the cases of abuse. where there is personalised abuse the imc editors without fear or favour remove it. political criticism is another matter.

Keep it going Fintan

by Anonymous

Mon Jan 19, 2004 14:11

Great to have you back Fintan. You are a total inspiration. If only we all could be so brave and dedicated. In this fucked up world of ours, people like yourself hold out a ray of hope. Keep up the greàt work.

Re: James D - Indymedia Editorial Guidelines

Mon Jan 19, 2004 15:08

Hi James,

Here are Indymedias editorial guidelines:-

http://www.indymedia.ie/editorial.php

For more information on open publishing also check out:-

http://creativecommons.org/

http://www.opencontent.org/

Indymedia is an open source media outlet. I agree that Indymedia is dominated by the left but there is little Indymedia can do about this. Indymedia cannot "force", "right" minded people to publish or to comment.

The world's (to its detriment) mainstream media is dominated by the right. So Indymedia does offer a good counter balance to this. However, essentially, I think the domination of the left in Indymedia is unhealthy and I think one of the major challenges to Indymedia is to try and redress this to some extent at least – though that is going to be difficult.

Regards.

Way to go!!!

by Corkhead

Mon Jan 19, 2004 16:31

Nice one Fintan. Welcome back to the People's Republic of Cork!

Tue Jan 20, 2004 12:39

maybe you address this incident of US racism:

___________________________
Boys asking directions arrested--cops suspect they're "Palestinians"

On Jan. 8, County Criminal Court Judge Phil Sorrells dismissed the charges of criminal trespassing against Pavel Lachko and Boris Avdeev, both 22-year-old graduate students who attend the University of Texas at Arlington. The pair was facing a maximum penalty of six months in jail and up to $2,000 in fines, along with a slew of potential problems with immigration officials. The judge dismissed the charges after hearing that the students had written an apology and put in 40 hours of community service. The two thereby escaped the fates of other foreigners who have endured far-reaching consequences of running afoul of the American justice system post-9/11.

In an era of terrorist bombings, jihad, global mistrust, and general paranoia about foreigners with accents, police chose to seek charges against the students, even after an investigation showed they were legitimate guests of the country and were not even, as one cop referred to them at the arrest scene, "Palestinians."

Their crime? Lachko and Avdeev rode bicycles onto a restricted police parking lot to ask for directions to a rock-climbing gym. The district attorney's office filed charges even after the students' identification and legal status were verified.

Full Story at:

we are all "terrorists"

Wed Jan 21, 2004 13:48

at least the US securocrats think so

************************************
5 million on terrorism list

Canuck: U.S. on the lookout for 'potential problem'

By TOM GODFREY, TORONTO SUN

U.S. security agents have a master list of five million people worldwide thought to be potential terrorists or criminals, officials say. "The U.S. lookout index contains some five million names of known terrorists and other persons representing a potential problem," Brian Davis, a senior Canadian immigration official in Paris, said in a confidential document obtained by the Sun.

Full Story At:

Resource

by Moi

Wed Jan 21, 2004 14:52

"I think the domination of the left in Indymedia is unhealthy"
The right are ideologically opposed to the concept of 'open publishing'. This does not stop them posting abusive comments here. I think the people who manage the site are doing a good job, bearing in mind they are doing so voluntarily (How many right wing people would put in the same amount of work voluntarily?)
But to get back to the five million "potential terrorists"on that list, I'm sure the indymedia editors would be regarded as terrorists merely on the ground that they would represent a "potential problem" for providing a resource for people to express their views, something the right absolutely detests.

P.S. How do people find out if they are on the list? And can they sue for defamation if they are NOT on the list?

Link to Irish Examiner interview with Fintan after his release

by Rob

Thu Jan 22, 2004 20:30

Well, fuck me, that doesn't work - so try this one...

Thu Jan 22, 2004 20:39

Fintan interviewed by Examiner after his release

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A big thank you from Fintan Lane

Comments (13 of 13)