Guantanámo/Shannon Protest @ Dáil Éireann

by redjade Thu Sep 30, 2004 15:32

.

Michael D Higgins, TD Labour (on left)

Aengus O'Snodaigh, TD Sinn Féin (on right)

by Tim Thu Sep 30, 2004 15:33

Came across loud and clear as to what business the new cabinet should get down to. Well done.

I like the reshuffle US military out of Shannon placard.

by rush limbaugh Thu Sep 30, 2004 16:44

people are really taking the mileage out of those orange jumpsuits

by Joe Thu Sep 30, 2004 16:52

Well lets see

Y number of detanees multiplied by Z (where Z = the distance in miles from Kabul to Guantanámo) gives you a hell of a lot of mileage.

In other words take it up with the inventors, if you are real sneaky you might be able to board their planes next time it passes through Shannon. Then you can see an orange jump suit for yourself but be careful least you end up wearing one.

Any able to think of something the government might say 'No' to the US about? Nuclear tests in Kildare maybe?

by eeekkkk Thu Sep 30, 2004 17:00

'have you got a problem with that?'

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker Thu Sep 30, 2004 19:35 087 918 4552

In my experience, the orange jumpsuits are generally county jail issue. ......there are now 2 1/2 million people imprisoned in the U.S. so I guess they mass produce them!

Fed prioners are issued with a brown twopiece, even when we were inhabiting county jails as the Fed system was overflowing (and that's 11 years ago).

Globally the orange jumpsuit has come to symbolise those kidnapped, taken hostage, moved against there will to Guantanemo and other imperial gulags and facing execution in front of a military tribunal without independent counsel (the militray counsel imposed are required to report everything their client shares to the superior officer) and without a right of appeal.

So it is not insignificant that western hostages are put in the same clothes (see Mr. Biggerly of Liverpool on the front page) to brutally make a point.

That Shannon is used for transit for this illegal behavior is a deep shame on our community and country.

In the Christian discourse the Bush administration has moved way beyond the bounds of the JUST war theory. When W launched a CRUSADE 3 years ago he meant it and those who suffered the last one no what that means "Christ and no quarter!" (slay the infidel children this time with napalmand cluster bombs form the safety of 10,000 feet, helicopter gunship drive bys etc.)

Meanwhile christian PACIFISTS (amongst others) will continue to nonviolently resist with predictable state consequences.

by Dublin Catholic Worker Community Thu Sep 30, 2004 19:50 Rialto, Dublin 087 9638398

A protest vigil has been called as the Dail reconvenes, in response to
further revelations concerning Shannon Airport functioning as a
stopover for
prisoners en transit to the U.S.prison at Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. The
protest
will be staged at the Kildare street entrance to Dail Eireann from
10am-5
pm. There will be a photo call at 12 noon with persons dressed in
Guantanamo
Bay prisoner uniforms and the torture outfits prisoners were subjected
to
wear at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.

Spokesperson for the Dublin Catholic Worker community Damien Moran
stated,
"It appears that the Irish government and Shannon Airport has been
complicit for sometime in illegal kidnappings, hostage taking and
international transfers of prisoners who are not afforded the basic
human
rights under the Geneva Convention and International Law. Like Kenneth
Bigley of Liverpool these men face the possibility of summary execution
without a fair trial, due process, an advocate independent of the
prosecution, or recourse to appeal. The fudge that the Garda, Airport
Police or Customs have not inspected these planes, used for this covert
purpose at Shannon, is not a justifiable excuse. It was not deemed a
legal
or moral excuse at the Nuremburg Trials and is not a legal or moral
excuse
in Ireland today.


3 months ago, Senator Henry asked the Minister for Justice, Michael
McDowell, if he could "assure us that untried and unsentenced people
are not
being brought through Shannon from goodness knows where to Guantanamo
Bay".
The Minister assured the Seanad that, "Any person who is on the soil
of
Ireland is entitled to the protection of the Constitution. No person
can be
brought through the soil of Ireland in the custody of any other state
except
in accordance with International Law. If the Senator has reason to
believe
any person has been transited through Irish terroritory, in unlawful
custody, particularly to Guantanamo, I would be interested to hear it
because I would respond to it immediately."

We have our Constitution and the right of freedom of the individual is
not
confined to citizens; it applies to all persons. Therefore, it would
cause
me grave concern if I thought people were being smuggled through Irish
territory in circumstances that amounted to unlawful detention in Irish
law
or in international law for that matter."

(Seanad Records p286 &287 June 23 2004)

In light of the Republic of Ireland's ratification of the U.N.
Convention
against Torture on Aprial 11th, 2002, protestors are calling on
Minister
McDowell and the Ahern Government to standby their word and initiate an
impartial investigation as to what exactly is being transited through
Shannon Airport by the US and other foreign military forces.
Protestors will also be calling for a cessation to arrangements that
allow
the use of Shannon Airport as a refueling and duty-free pitstop for the
US
military war machine.

For more information contact
Damien (087) 9638398

by Emma Sangster - The d10 Group Thu Sep 30, 2004 20:00

Protest against internment

Belmarsh prison: Sunday 3 October 2004, from 12 noon


With speakers, live performance & signing of expressions of solidarity
with the detainees being held without trial.

Tell the Law Lords: No to Internment, No to Torture!

NO JUSTICE:
Britain continues to hold 14 foreign nationals who have never been
charged with any offence. The supposed evidence against them remains
secret. They were never questioned by the police. They have not been put
on trial.

These men are detained under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act
2001, which allows the Home Secretary to detain indefinitely any foreign
nationals if he has 'reasonable suspicion' that they have links with
'international terrorism'. At hearings last year, the government
acknowledged that some of the 'evidence' could have been obtained by
torturing detainees elsewhere, e.g. Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.

Partly on those grounds, the legal basis has been challenged by the
detainees' lawyers. In August a 2-1 majority on the High Court ruled
that evidence from torture could be admissible, even if UK agents were
present, provided that they did not carry it out. Clearly this gives a
green light to torture around the world. The High Court judgement will
be reviewed by the Law Lords, starting on 4 October. Hence our protest
on the day before.

Most of the internees are being held in high security at HMP Belmarsh,
in cells described as 'concrete coffins' and in conditions which are
tantamount to torture. It is cruel and inhuman treatment to keep people
locked up in isolation, without any prospect of release or trial, and
without telling them why they are detained or when they might be
released. The psychological pressure they are suffering is immense (one
detainee is now in Broadmoor).

CAMPACC demands the immediate release of those detained without trial or
charge them and conduct a fair trial.

BELMARSH PRISON IS BRITAIN'S GUANTANAMO


This event is sponsored by: Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
(CAMPACC), Liberty, Stop Political Terror, Haldane Society of Socialist
Lawyers, John Austin MP, CARF, Peace and Justice in East London, Sutton
for Peace and Justice; The Muslim Parliament of Great Britain,
Association of Muslim Lawyers, The Green Party of England and Wales,
Voices UK and the comedian broadcaster Mark Thomas.

Speakers include: Ashfaq Ahmed, Baba Ahmed's father; Shami Shakrabarti,
director of Liberty; Gareth Peirce, human rights lawyer; Victoria
Brittain, writer and journalist; Jean Lambert MEP; Dr Adnan Siddiqui,
Stop Political Terror; Dr G. Siddiqui,Leader of the Muslim Parliament;
Saghir Hussein, Association of Muslim Lawyers; Tim Gopsill, National
Union of Journalists; Harmit Athwal, CARF; Desiree Howells, Peace &
Justice in East London; Paul Donovan, journalist; Nasser Butt, Chair of
Liberal Democrat Muslim Forum.

Come and protest at Belmarsh; let the detainees know that they have not
been forgotten!
We will also be writing messages to the detainees which will be passed
on to them by their lawyers.

Directions & trains: Belmarsh prison is on Western Way, London, SE28,
just north of Plumstead station. Trains leave every half-hour (e.g.
11.01am, 11.31am) from Charing Cross to Plumstead station, arriving a
half-hour later. Trains stop on the way at London Bridge and Greenwich.
From East London, you can connect via the DLR going from Stratford to
Greenwich stations.

by Dublin Catholic Worker Thu Sep 30, 2004 20:17

Update:

The Dublin Catholic Worker and others asked TDs at the Dáil to ask the following Questions....

Enquiry 1:
To ask the new minister if, when, where from, where to, why, with whom did P.E.T.S. N379P pass through Shannon Airport and/or other Irish airports or Irish airspace?

Enquiry 2:
In light of confirmation or denial what is Michael McDowell's response given that on June 23rd 2004 (Seanad Records, Page286/7) he assured Sen. Henry: ''Any person who is on the soil of Ireland is entitled to the protection of the Constitution. No person can be brought through the soil of Ireland in the custody of any other state except in accordance with International Law. If the Senator has reason to believe any person has been transited through Irish terroritory, in unlawful custody, particularly to Guantanamo, I would be interested to hear it because I would respond to it immediately.''

Enquiry 3:
Request from the Dept of Foreign Affairs & Transport Ministers for complete figures for 2004 of US Military/Civilian aircraft under US Military contracts

more details at....
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=66804

Also see the Irish Aviation Authority: http://www.iaa.ie/

During the time spent in front of Dáil Éireann the Guantanámo-Shannon Connection was discussed with the following:

{ emails of these TDs can be found at their websites. the DCW asks readers to contact these and other TDs to encourage them to bring up the above Enquires }

Michael D Higgins, TD Labour
http://www.labour.ie/michaeldhiggins/

Eamonn Ryan, TD Green Party spokesperson on Transportation
http://www.greenparty.ie/

Tony Gregory, TD Independent

Roisin Shortall, TD Labour - spokesperson on Transportation
http://www.labour.ie/roisinshortall/

Joe Higgins' personal secretary

John Gormley, TD Green Party
http://www.greenparty.ie/

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, TD Sinn Féin
http://www.sinnfein.ie/

Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD Sinn Féin
http://www.sinnfein.ie/

Olwyn Enright, TD Fine Gael
http://www.finegael.ie/Representatives/representatives.cfm?TD_Key=14

Ruairi Quinn, TD Labour
http://www.labour.ie/ruairiquinn/

Ciaran Cuffe, TD Green Party
http://www.ciarancuffe.com/

- - - - -

All of which could not have been done without the veteran of Dáil Érieann agitiation & creative persistence of resistance, Colm Roddy (the older gentleman in the GITMO suit) - please thank him for his efforts the next time you see him.

by Tim Hourigan - Anti War Ireland Thu Sep 30, 2004 20:25

Despite promising to respond immediately, the Minister for Justice and his co-conspirators have maintained complete silence on these revelations.

We need to put these questions to them repeatedly, and also to ourselves. Are we gonna sit and let this continue?


PRESS RELEASE:
For Immediate release:

=======================================================

Anti-War group calls on Ministers to respond to Torture Jet Reports.

Peace Activists have called on Govt Ministers to respond to reports that a jet used to transport people to places like Guantanamo Bay and Egyptian torture chambers regularly uses Shannon Airport.

The corporate-style Gulfstream jet that has been spotted at Shannon,with its unique mark 'N379P', is used by the US to effectively kidnap so-called"high-value targets" and transport them around the world.

The jet was identified by Swedish Airport Police and investigative journalists, following the arrest, imprisonment and torture of two men taken from Sweden who were transported on an unmarked jet, leased to the US Government. One of the men was released 34 months later without charge
having been beaten and tortured with electricity. The other was convicted in
a military court in a closed trial. The aircraft has been seen at Shannon and was included on a plane spotting log published by the Peace Camp in January 2003.

Two days before George Bush arrived in Shannon, Minister McDowell told the Seanad that it would cause him 'grave concern' if unlawfully detained people
were brought through Ireland as every person on the soil of Ireland is entitled to the protection of the Constitution.
Minister McDowell told the Seanad that he would respond immediately if any evidence emerged that this may be happening..
That evidence has now emerged and the Dept of Justice is refusing to comment
despite news reports in the Sunday Business Post and Irish Times and a query
from CLARE FM radio station.

In April 2002, Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
This commits us to preventing torture, and obliges us to arrest anyone on our territory who is suspected of torture, regardless of where that torture occurred.

Willie O'Dea, the new Minister for Defence lives 20 miles from Shannon airport and has said in the past, while junior minister for justice, that 'nothing secretive or furtive' was going on at Shannon. That was before the Shannon Peace Camp exposed the huge numbers of troop flights and military cargo flights using Shannon Airport. Now that he is Minister for Defence, we call on Willie O'Dea to meet his responsibilities and prevent the illegal transit of belligerent forces through the State, which was found to be illegal by the High Court last year.

If these Ministers refuse to uphold the law of the land then they should be sacked immediately for perverting the course of Justice.

====================END=======================================


Contact:

Tim Hourigan
[email protected]
087-9777703

Ed Horgan
086-2380911

Fiona Wheeler
087-6447246

Harry Browne
01-4023146

by pc Thu Sep 30, 2004 20:26

"people are really taking the mileage out of those orange jumpsuits"

even the guys holding biglry have taken fashion and decor tips from guantomino

by Tim Hourigan - (personal capacity) Thu Sep 30, 2004 20:50

1)The rush of government ministers to repeat a lie on the airwaves about the Pitstop Ploughshares action...

with

2)The stony silence of the Government when the truth pops out from behind the veil of deception.


3) The eloquent lipservice paid to peace, liberty and human rights...

with

4) turning a blind eye to 1/4 million troops, and thousands of tonnes of cargo going through Shannon to Iraq and Afghanistan to kill, torture, and occupy while the Halliburton makes a fortune.

by Deirdre - Pit Stop Ploughshares/Anti-War Ireland Fri Oct 01, 2004 11:07

Well done to all on getting this out in the public domain, especially the folks at MAMA - Tim, Ed, etc., who have done trojan work in tracking planes and getting publicity for the illicit goings on at the Warport.

Well done also to those who staged the protest - the theatrical element was really good. Good to see Michael D. engaging with the electorate outside the Dail, especially when his party leader is apt to treat them as tiresome rabble. At least one Labour TD has the guts to put his money where his mouth is to some extent.

I'm sorry I couldn't be there - I'm residing in the People's Republic (of Cork) right now (citizenship by virtue of birth!).

Good piece during the week by Fintan O'Toole in the Irish Times. Apart from Lara Marlowe, I was beginning to wonder whether any of their journalists would ever give the readership a reality check about Iraq/Shannon.

by de Banner Fri Oct 01, 2004 16:48

This week's Clare Champion has the story of this jet on the front page.
It says that when contacted by the Clare Champion, the Dept of Defense and Aer Rianta declined to comment.

they're hoping it will blow over if they say nothing and things will all be back to normal by Monday.

by Borg watch Fri Oct 01, 2004 16:53

That would be Defence. Shannon might be run by the US military at the moment but that does not mean that we all have to assimilate.
Thank you.