The Ambush plan

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release Friday May 28, 2004 18:51 by GGer - DGN/Ambush 2004 info at amubush2004 dot org 086 168 2416

Ambush 2004 release full details of plans for Bush protests

The Ambush 2004 campaign today released details of their calls for protests against Bush’s visit to Shannon. These protests will include local protests the week before Bush arrives, a critical mass 'bikes against bush' tour across the country and two protests in Shannon and Bunratty while Bush is in Ireland.

AMBUSH 2004! is a non-hierarchical network initiated by Galway Grassroots Group, Mid west Against Military Aggression, Cork Grassroots Group & Dublin Grassroots Group to organise protests to unwelcome Bush when he visits here on the 25th and 26th of June.

The protests will be aimed at highlighting and challenging the continued use of Shannon airport to support war. We are working in conjunction with Anti-War Ireland.

At least 1 in 4 US troops who served in Iraq have passed through Shannon airport, or 10,000 soldiers per month. According to official figures, 125,855 American soldiers traveled via Shannon to the Middle East last year. That is just 10,000 less than the number currently serving in Iraq.

The American military’s use of Shannon is not a minor incident, but a crucial pit stop on the road to Iraq. As American Ambassador James Kenny put it when asked if this meant the Irish government acted as an ally, “The Irish Government did, yes. I will say they did.”

Ambush spokesperson Terry Clancy commented that: “imagine what an inspiration the demilitarisation of Shannon would be to the millions of people across Europe opposed to the war effort. Together, the airbases throughout Europe are indispensable to the United States when conducting wars in the Middle East and Shannon is of particular importance”

The military use of Shannon is not just providing succor to the military murder machine in the Middle East, but also creating a potential disaster zone by planting an array of death-dealing weaponry amidst a largely residential area. All the more so when one end of the runway is directly adjacent to a chemical factory and the other not far off a highly toxic aluminum plant. This is not to mention the normal typical everyday highly combustible fuel one finds in airports.

Recent events have underlined the moral imperative to oppose the US project in Iraq. The thousands dead in Falluja and elsewhere show this, as do the leaked photographs depicting systematic abuse of Iraqi detainees. The photos largely date from late last year, when control of Iraqi jails was shifted to Military Intelligence, with the CIA not far in the background.

In the words of Abu Ghraib reservist Lynndie England, ‘‘I was instructed by persons in higher rank to ‘stand there, hold the leash, look at the camera’…

ANTI-BUSH EVENTS

June 19th – local protests

GALWAY
Galway Grassroots Network spokesperson Terry Clancy said: “we are organizing an anti-war tour of Galway, starting at Spanish Arch at 4.00pm, the 19th of June, and visiting the Garda station from where Gardaí are sent to police demonstrations in Shannon, and the Forster St. offices of Galway Oil/Top Oil, the company that refuels military aircraft in Shannon.” This demonstration will also be parading along Shop street to draw attention to those companies such as Caterpillar and Coca Cola, who are linked to war.

DUBLIN
Dublin Grassroots Network spokesperson Clare Lee said: “we will be organizing an anti-war tour of Dublin. Starting at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, 2.30 pm, on June 19th, and visiting various sites around Dublin linked to the war. Some of us will then be leaving from the end of the march to cycle to Shannon”.

There are also to be local protests in Cork and Belfast.

BIKES AGAINST BUSH
There will be a critical mass bicycle rally to Shannon. Dermot Sreenan described it as ‘an organised coincidence of cyclists freewheeling across the country until they reach Shannon warport. It will leave Dublin on the 19th and stop at towns along the trail. We will be pied pippers on bikes’

Thursday June 24th – Saturday June 26th
Shannon Peace Camp

Ambush are organising a Peace Camp in Shannon from June the 24th to June the 26th. People are advised to come to the Shannon area prepared to spend at least two nights, with the following basic equipment: good pair of walking boots, flexible but warm clothing, small light tent, light rucksack, poncho or groundsheet, emergency food supplies, water bottle, small torch, one change of basic clothing in case of wetting, small water heating camping burner, thermos flask, consider bringing a bicycle for mobility, but not an expensive one.

Consult www.ambush2004.org closer to the date for details of location.

Shannon, Friday June 25th:
Reclaim the Skies with Light and Noise

Ambush will be supporting the Reclaim the Skies protest called by Anti War Ireland. We will assemble 7.00pm at Lidl, Shannon town centre, while Bush lands where 10,000 of his soldiers land every month.

People are asked to bring whistles, flags, pots, musical instruments, costumes, anything that is loud! Plus torches, candles or any source to keep the light going through the night.

Bunratty Castle, Saturday June 26th
Protest: Bush off and don't come back

Ambush, supported by Anti-war Ireland, will be marching on Shannon Warport. We will assemble at Bunratty Castle 12 midday.

Spokespeople:
Terry Clancy 086 168 2416
Donagh Davis 085 724 38 32
Clare Lee 086 1640538
Dermot Sreenan 087 6277606
Caoimhe Butterly 087 213 4160
Web - www.ambush2004.org email - [email protected], [email protected]