Update: Caoimhe Butterly's Fast/HungerStrike

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report Thursday June 17, 2004 12:06 by redjade

{ photo by redjade }

Caoimhe Butterly Fast/Hunger Strike Against CMH
Wednesday 16 2004

News Alerts Mailing List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaoimheButterly

The first week of the fast and vigil held outside of CRH of Fitzwilliam Square has been met with strong support from passerbys and fairly extensive media coverage. Articles were published in the Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Evening Herald, and The Star and interviews with Caoimhe broadcasted on the Gerry Ryan Show, The Last Word, NewsTalk 106, and numerous local and regional radio shows.

CRH - through P.R. firm Drury Communications released a press release which did not clarify their position any further than previous press releases. The release stated that Nesher, the subsidiary Israeli company in which CRH has a 25% share stake-holding, is not involved in the construction of the wall, nor does it provide concrete materials. The release did not, however, clarify, or deny the supplying of the raw material - cement - needed to make the concrete, nor did it clarify what CRH deems 'involvement' to mean.

CRH's line on the Wall, in the past, has been aggressively pro-Israeli. They have also denied the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice. In their release, however, they referred to the Wall as a 'so-called security wall' which is a politically correct way to describe the wall - and which is not in keeping with their own previous stance.

No attempt has been made by CRH personnel to engage in dialogue with Caoimhe Butterly, and the have refused to allow her to personally deliver letters to the reception, instead asking her to leave them in the mailbox outside.

The support of passer-bys has considerable. Passing tour busses have worked the vigil site into their spiel and pictures of the banners (and a very embarrassed looking Caoimhe!) will now find their way to homes in Japan, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary and Brazil.

Visitors, as well as activists and well wishers, have included Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin,MEP), Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin,TD), and Labour and Green Party reps.

Caoimhe will continue the fast/hunger strike outside CRH today and will tomorrow begin the second week outside the Israeli Embassy in Dublin.

A press conference will be held on Friday and 1:30pm outside the Israeli embassy. Speakers will include Sen. David Norris, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, Jow Higgins TD, Jeff Halper (an Israeli activist presently in Ireland, founder of the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions), Caoimhe and Elizabeth Corrie (cousin of Rachel Corrie).

The speakers will call for; 1) Official endorsement of the call for the suspension of the Trade Association Agreements, 2) A nationwide boycott of Israeli goods, 3) Irish companies to divest from Israeli interests that contribute to the continuation of the Occupation (such as CRH).

All are welcome to attend the press conference, and keep Caoimhe company outside the embassy for the coming week.

Al Jazeera will be on hand before Monday to film the vigil, which will be broadcast to viewers in the Middle East (Where CRH has considerable). The story has also been carried in various Arabic newspapers messages of solidarity have been sent from Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Japan, Australia, England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, etc.

A Californian activist, presently making a documentary about the occupation, will be traveling to Dublin to join and film the fast/hunger strike over the weekend.

- - - - -
News Alerts Mailing List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaoimheButterly