Two arrests on Foxrock demo for Nicolás David Neira Alvares

by DissentHead Fri May 20, 2005 11:38

Some more pictures

This was a "fire hazard"!!

by Dissenter - Dissent Eire Fri May 20, 2005 13:12

We will not forget Nicolas and we will not forget our 2 friends arrested last night.

Solidarity is our greatest weapon.

by Joe Fri May 20, 2005 13:17

This is the text of the leaflet that was distributed last night - obviously it is based on a translation of one that was being distributed in Colombia

---

Nicolas lives… Our ideals and struggle will never die

Today, we are protesting against the brutal murder of the 15 year old Colombian anarchist Nicolas Neira. He was beaten to death by members of the ESMAD (anti riot police) during the Mayday demonstration in Bogota, Colombia. Nicolas, only fifteen years old, was beaten by these murderers until he received such a severe brain damage that he died, after spending some days in a coma. This brutal deed can not remain unpunished!

It is evident that the Colombian state is an acting part of the situation of violence that the civil population is suffering. The recent massacre of San Jose de Apartado, in which the army slaughtered 8 members of the peace community, is another example of this. The state proves true to its repressive nature. And its mercenaries, in the army and the police, are playing their role of ending all dissidence.

However, the social movement calling for a peaceful Colombia is getting stronger every day. The civil population is making clear that neither the army, the guerillas nor the paramilitary are answering their desires for social justice. In this situation, organized anarchism is growing in Colombia. And in this situation the cops used a fifteen year old child to send a message to everyone hoping for a peaceful and free country. A message of death and fear….

But our dreams, our desires can not be killed. After years of terror and fear the need for peace, the yearnings for social justice can not be kept back any more. We are together in this struggle with our Colombian comrades, because we too are part of this dream. The dream of a world without place for deeds like this.

Our solidarity comes too late for Nicolas. We can only hope that his death is not left unpunished. We can only hope that there won’t be any need for a demonstration like this any more.

Peace, liberty, social justice….Anarchy in Colombia.

Nicolás vive…

Nuestro ideal y nuestra lucha no mueren nunca.
Hoy protestamos por el brutal asesinato de Nico Neira, muerto a golpes por los esbirros del ESMAD durante la manifestación del 1 de Mayo en Bogota. Nico, de tan solo quince años de edad, fue golpeado por los agentes hasta que le causaron un daño cerebral tan severo que murió tras pasar varios días en coma. Este acto brutal no debe quedar impune!

Cada vez es más evidente que el estado se ha convertido, en Colombia, en un agente más del enfrentamiento armado que sufre la población civil. La reciente matanza de San José de Apartado, en la que el ejército masacro a ocho habitantes de la comunidad de paz, es otro ejemplo reciente. El estado, fiel a su naturaleza represiva, enseña los dientes. Y sus mercenarios, asesinos profesionales en la policía y el ejército, cumplen a la perfección su papel de acallar la disidencia.

Sin embargo, el movimiento social que clama por una Colombia en paz cobra fuerza cada día. La población civil se organiza para dejar claro que ni unos ni otros de los actores armados responden a sus anhelos de justicia. Dentro de esta perspectiva, el anarquismo organizado cobra fuerza en Colombia. Es en esta situación que se debe entender el brutal asesinato de Nicolás. El ESMAD utiliza a un niño de quince anos para mandar un mensaje a los que anhelan un país justo y en paz. Un mensaje de muerte y miedo…
Pero nuestros sueños, nuestros deseos no pueden ser callados. Después de años de miedo y terror el ansia de paz, la necesidad de justicia social, se imponen con tanta fuerza que no pueden ser calladas. Estamos juntos en la lucha con nuestros compañeros colombianos, porque nosotros también somos parte de este sueño. El de un mundo en el que no haya lugar para asesinatos como este.

Nuestra solidaridad llega demasiado tarde para Nicolás. Esperemos que su muerte no quede impune. Esperemos que nuca más haga falta una concentración como esta de hoy.

Paz, libertad, justicia social!….Anarquía en Colombia!.

by jester Fri May 20, 2005 15:41

The Consulate was in Foxrock - I guess you all dropped into your parents houses afterwards... ho ho ho...

(relax now, its only a joke)

All joking aside though, I couldnt help thinking a small bit about this demo, and how it relates to anarchism/anti-capitalism as more of a subcultural clique instead of a mass movement (or aiming for it). I'm not for one second dismissing the lads death as unimportant, just that it went through the usual subcultural channels (imc, a-infos, infoshop, tao lists, anarkismo, etc etc), hence provoking this small demo, and presumably others like it around the world.

Yet in Ireland, I think there's already been about 25 workplace related deaths this year, which are just as much a part of the capitalist/industrial machine. I know they dont rank as serious as a murder by cops on a mayday demo by any stretch, but still I cant help the feeling they've been ignored a good bit, and the workers killed didnt have the same "underground" support to make these kind of solidarity actions at the locations where they were killed. I think something like that would resonate a lot more with people outside existing subcultural channels of information and would be an opportunity to make links around Ireland, rather than the nodes of websites read by existing anarchists which will probably feature the pics, report, etc.

Hmm. Not exactly sure what I'm getting at. Call it a Friday afternoon bored in work ramble.

by Joe Fri May 20, 2005 15:49

Anarchists are also involved in the Stand up for Your Rights Campaign ( see http://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=543 ) which is very much about local workplace issues that include safety. So if your interested in that sort of work I'd suggest you come along to the next leaflet distribution and meeting and put forward some suggestions - people would be interested.

"The next leafletting session will take place on Thursday 26th May when we hope to leaflet the Jervis centre, ILAC Centre and O'Connell Street. We're meeting up outside the Jervis Centre (Henry St. entrance) at 7pm and plan on following up our activity with a short meeting in the lounge of the Teachers Club (36 Parnell Square) around 9pm. This meeting will discuss ideas for taking our campaign to such far flung places as Dundrum 'Town Centre', The Square in Tallaght, Blanchardstown, Liffey Valley and various other suburban locations!!"

Last nights protest didn't take from that sort of work at all - its seldom you are forced to choose between one and the other. So I don't think it is really an either/or choice.

by Dissenter Fri May 20, 2005 15:54

I think "jester" has just shown how one can critique an action without resorting to petty insults. I salute you.

I attended the demo at foxrock yesterday and I worried that people would "attack" us on this site for mourning the death of one anarchist when so many people die all the time as a result of global capitalism etc.

Perhaps it's time we ALL got out there and started marking these deaths. Every three seconds a child dies from starvation, that's capitalism, it's rotten to the core. If you organise a demo to mark these deaths I'd gladly show up.

Solidarity!

(as for the comment about living in foxrock, if only!
the police actually followed us on the dart all the way back to Connolly station)

by vidhead Fri May 20, 2005 17:02

Automatically loads after 30 seconds when you click on the link. Should take 2 minutes to download on broadband connection. If any of the indymedia heads can host the footage somewhere else, it would be greatly appreciated.

by solidarity! Fri May 20, 2005 17:03

by jester. I think that every trans-national movement might be dismissed as a clique, be it a group of anarcho-solidarity supporters as above, or a bunch of mothers protesting their dissappeared or a bunch of nuns lighting candles at a vigil in that hundreds of thousands do not attend every event.
But the "might be dismissed" is not a "may be dismissed". The uncertainty is gramatically anchored to the past.
Globally anarcho-syndicalists bring attention to danger in the workplace, and campaign actively for safer and more secure working conditions. It was one of our demands last mayday, "a universal regularisation of working conditions, which includes safety". And we estimated a turnout close to a half a million at Euromayday events alone, the Left in general saw many millions march for Mayday.
The issue is of major concern to the unions in Spain, (where the oldest anarchist union work have worked before indeed any other trade union associations), with reason according to EU statistics, spanish workers are employed in the most dangerous conditions and suffer annually more accidents at work than any other national workforce.
CNT's campaign against precarity and labour accidents is accordingly seeing workshops and leaflets and work done throughout the state on the issue-
http://cnt.es/accidentes/home.php

I think those who dismiss a bunch of hooded youth bringing global concern to the gates of the Colombian consul, are forgetting that they don't walk alone, but were walking for a teenager who msot probably wore a hood as well, and somehow it is all the more poignant that our youngsters who do not live in fear of being shot did so. Fair play to them. They're jedi. And they give solidarity to those mothers and fathers who _do_ work in dangerous conditions, without social security, without safety provisions, without proper protection both in ireland and europe and beyond, where the real work gets done, in the world of the poor, places like Colombia.

Well done Kids!

by eeekkkk Fri May 20, 2005 17:05

Upload it to www.radio.indymedia.org - takes video files too

by vidhead Fri May 20, 2005 17:06

That should be:

by Joe Fri May 20, 2005 17:07

That link doesn't work - I think it is set up to only work for people you email it to or something.

I think if you can publish the video on http://www.indymedia.org.uk/ as an article and then post the link to it here

by Joe Fri May 20, 2005 17:14

That second URL works all right - it is a good clip in particular where the secret police try and prevent you filming the arrest by covering the camera.

by redjade Fri May 20, 2005 17:25

go watch the video...

http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/foxrock-solidarity1.mp4

by F Fri May 20, 2005 17:58 newsforthedeaf at yahoo dot com

Re. accidents in ireland

Stand up for your rights,
but pushing forward on the issue
What about demands?

E.g.
I don't think people should have to pay for
Safe-Pass cards.
It's a money making scam.
Safety awareness should be freely provided.

by Chavo del 8 - Edipiojo Fri May 20, 2005 19:59 edipiojo at gmail dot com

Friends,
we did not have idea some of the arrest of the companions.

So far, I commit myself to spread the news by Colombia, where we are siedo also attacked by the punitive forces of the State a shared in common hug to all the companions who mobilized themselves please and, keep us in touch about the development of these detentions...

FREEDOM, SOLIDARITY, ANARCHY

Colombia -- South America

by sabot - dissent Sat May 21, 2005 15:44

a few thoughts:

you've certainly got a point, such actions are unlikely to overthrow capitalism but that's misrepresenting their purpose. this was obviously a symbolic gesture, and i think it meant something to our comrades in colombia. in terms of practical solidarity, there will also be a collection for money to send over. the action of course was not publically advertised for obvious reasons.
in terms of a wider criticism that elements in the anti-globalisation movement are perhaps more concerned with the well being of the working class of developing countries than they are with that of the working class in their own, well that's a criticism that's been made before (it was also made of the anti-vietnam student's movement). as a criticism i think it's unfair to generalise, many people involved with these type of things are also involved with the Stand up for your rights campaign for example. personally i think a focus on safety is a pretty good idea and would be interested in any ideas you might have on implementing it.
the question really returns to one of tactics and mindset, personally i think that in order to build a better society we need to build participative democratic structures from the bottom up. this is a long process and successful actions play a part in developing community and empowering people to trust their own initiative. this system is one that teaches us we can't achieve anything by ourself, and that's a tough dogma to break. global solidarity plays a big part in that too, there's few things worse than feeling isolated.
if activism remains a clique forever than obviously we're not going to get anywhere, but i think that the community is constantly expanding. you have to start from somewhere.
anyway, i'll probably post up something about the aforementioned collection once i have a better idea what's happening.

solidarity.

by Ciaron - Dublin Catholic Worker (personal capacity) Sun May 22, 2005 00:43

I think there's a big confusion in Ireland between being rebllious and being contrary. Jester comment is a typical response we get when sustaining a street presence against Irish complicity inthe war on Iraq.

People come up and say you should being doing this not that. I say good idea, I got that covered, you go do this....and we can be in solidairty.

Good going at the embassy....state seems nervy whenever people movec from passive consumerism to active citizenship. The original name of Special Branch was Special Irish Branch, so these boyz have got the primary franchise.

Embassies report back any protest at their embassie, you would have been heard back home in the memory of this young life.

Solidarity with y'all.

by Al Sun May 22, 2005 04:36

I dont wish to undermine the loss of an innocent life and believe me when I say I would never condone such an action however I do not know the story so cant comment on it.
In relation to the march itself, you would all be saving so much trouble if you told the Gardai in advance. It would be so much easier for all concerned, the IRA march for gods sake and they tell the Gardai where and when. 10, 20 or 30 people turning up at an embassy in hoods and masks without any notice should cause a Garda presence. If a person dressed like that jumped over your back wall would it not look a tad strange?
You can respond if you want but I wont be watching this thread.

by Gus Sun May 22, 2005 05:49 gusl36 at hotmail dot com

I feel the exchange in the comments section above is fairly positive, in the overall consideration of a criticism. Seems that at least this comments section--over one incident in Ireland--is more productive than a lot of the ones that occur on IMC sites here in the U$. They often are marred by snarling infighting and stupid comments by cops and right-wingers.

by yoyo Sun May 22, 2005 13:25

The ICTU offers free safepass courses and provide russian and polish (i think) translators

by Betty Mon May 23, 2005 12:48

"In relation to the march itself, you would all be saving so much trouble if you told the Gardai in advance."

I intend to do my bit in the overthrow of capitalism - by any means necessary. That enough advance notice for you Al.

by Al Mon May 23, 2005 18:24

So you intend to plant bombs and kill people do you Betty? Pray tell, how do you access the web? Who made your PC? What navigator do you use? Where did your fridge, cooker, TV, etc come from? Whats your occupation? Etc etc etc, I dont really need to know but perhaps you should look around and see how much you are a part of what you intend to destroy.

by Badman Mon May 23, 2005 18:37

Q. "Who made your PC? What navigator do you use? Where did your fridge, cooker, TV, etc come from?..."

A. Workers.

They all came from the blood, sweat and toil of workers, Al. Workers who had a capitalist sitting on their backs sucking wealth out of the system. They were forced to allow the capitalists to take the fruits of their labour by people such as yourself, Al, people who would lock them up and beat them if they tried to stop it.

by Al Mon May 23, 2005 18:43

Am I not oppressed? Surely having to slave away for hardly more than minimum wage in crappy conditions qualifies me?
Surely I am a 'worker' as you put it.
Please define who is allowed into this rightious position

by R. Isible Mon May 23, 2005 18:47

Yet again you hysterically impute that others have positions which they explicitly don't espouse. Here's the simple self-administered Am I A Worker Test which anyone can apply to themselves or any one else [*]

1. Do you own a business and employ other people in the running of that business: Y/N

2. Do you receive a wage from an employer: Y/N

If you score more than two yesses to the above then you're cheating.


* Note, alcohol or other drugs and medications may affect the accuracy of this test. Please consult your doctor.

by Badman Mon May 23, 2005 18:50

Al, you are indeed a worker. Just one who actively works to enforce the decisions of the bosses against other workers. If you don't believe me, then why are your lot never called on to arrest management when they ignore legislation, but if a strike or protest is deemed to be against the law, you can bet your boys won't be too far away?

by Al Mon May 23, 2005 18:55

Thats not a fair question.
I enforce criminal law only. Most of what you are complaining about doesnt fall under that. We dont arrest people for striking, we didnt arrest anyone on May 1st.
And like I tell most people I arrest, I have no idea who you are, what you do or where your from before I arrested you. I dont care who you are, if you break the law (criminal) and someone else suffers because of your actions then Im going to arrest you.
Least Im a worker though.

by agnes Mon May 23, 2005 20:24

The colombian 15 year old beaten to death by the colombian junta was on a peaceful protest march, attacked by military junta.

Since when has peaceful protest been a crime.
Betty makes no mention of violence, bombs etc, the only one suggesting such activities are yourself Al, exposing your paranoid defensiveness and stereotypical ignorance of anarchism.

It is easy to be an authoritarian bully boy hard man like yourself when you have the power of the state, training and military equipment, to 'arrest' civillians, i suggest if you were by yourself without backup/weapons, you wouldn't be so brave.

by Al Tue May 24, 2005 00:43

I would like to draw everyones attention to the fact that I have never insulted any user on this site and I see no reason for such remarks about my personal life. To be honest I find it completely offensive and would like them removed.
To suggest that I am a wife beater is completely unfair. To presume where I live or what I drive is foolish. How much do you think I earn? 100+ grand a year? I drive a 97D car and live outside Dublin because I couldnt afford a house there.
(in reponse to a comment above which has been hidden for being abusive and interpreted as making an unsubstantiated allegation -ed)

Agnes,
Two points for you, Betty said she "Would do anything" what does that mean? I would do anything, whatever is required. Besides that my comment was in fact tongue in cheek. I apologise if that did not come across however I dont see Betty making such remarks about me. In relation to my bravery, I really dont see why you said that, I could presume a lot about you, what brave actions have you done lately? Whats the relivence? When did I claim such bravado? By saying I will arrest you if you hurt someone? Surely you cannot agree with causing another person pain and/or anguish?
As for my training and equipment, do you even know what a beat officer carries? Military? I dont have any military training, I dont carry a gun or mace or stun gun. I have more medical equipment in my posession when on duty than anything else. Agnes you sound like a very bitter person.

by Nadia Tue May 24, 2005 02:01

by the reactionary approach. Al admits (whether it's true or not) to being a police man, he counters betty's accusations of willing do anything with some very specific examples which questions a fundamental aspect of betty's "anything" would she kill? murder innocents? And Al gets abuse. betty is the one making claims of radicalism.

For those of us on a less reactionary stance, could you not recognise someone of a different viewpoint but with a open mind willing to discuss and gets dogma and abuse stuffed down their throat? How's this an enclusive and "we are everywhere" attitude? Everyone who is us? How are we going to get anywhere when we're ram our opinion down the throats who disagree with "us"

by Peter Maguire Tue May 24, 2005 12:11

Why are the demontrators hiding their faces? The cops and branch obviously know who you are. What can't we?

What is the big deal?

by Joe Tue May 24, 2005 13:19

I don't wear a mask myself but there are at least 3 reasons why some people do
1. Every demonstration now has police camera crews at it - they are there simply to film peoples faces so why make it easy for them.
2. In the recent past (Mayday 2004) the scumier sections of the media not only identified but staked out and contacted peoples employers. This can lead to people losing their jobs.
3. Mask wearing can also be a gesture of solidarity and common identity much like choosing to wave a particular placard or carry a particular flag or wear a particular badge.

by Curious Tue May 24, 2005 13:35

Ever thought of joining the SP? I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms.

by Joe Tue May 24, 2005 13:56

The bit about the guards only enforcing criminal law is not quite true. 18 months back the guards took the names of people blocking bin trucks 'just for the inspector - it will go no further' and those people then found themselves injuncted.

But yes you operate in a legal system where shoplifting a Mars bar is something for you to get involved with but burying people alive in a trench (one of the causes of deaths on building sites) is a 'civil matter'. Likewise flying guns and soldiers through Irish territory in the course of a war in contravention of a host of international laws is nothing to do with you at all but trying to stop this happpening is something you get mobilised for.

Some of this is down to political pressure on individual guards but a lot of it is because you are just following orders and those who make the orders do so in the interests of one class of people alone.

I don't believe you can be completely unaware of this although I know 'following orders' often means internalising the logic of those orders.

by princess tippy toes Tue May 24, 2005 15:04

Al you are oppressed due to your own stupidity, you made the choice to join a right wing armed paramilitary force which forbids trade union activities, so don't appeal to us for sympathy. This is not an insult its common sense.

As a policeman you earn more than the average worker, you have admitted you live in the leafy countryside suburbs, outside of Dublin.

Ordinary people are not stupid, we do have psychotic relatives who are policeman, so we do KNOW how much you earn and the perks and privileges of your lifestyle.

You can afford to go on several luxury holidays a year, you generally do drive BMW's and the recent gardai trials concerning corruption speak for themselves.

Obviously you may not earn as much as the top professional classes, but you are alot more well off than ordinary workers.

You as a member of the security forces are paid more than the average worker, for your unquestioning loyalty to the establishment and the state.

by Donegall gardai Tue May 24, 2005 15:21

Again you have Nadia, with her wild reactionary speculations and wishful thinking concerning a fictionary activist 'betty', reinforcing the states propaganda concerning activitists.

The Irish state/special branch has to clampdown on any local outcry/attention and protests concerning the Colombian government junta injustice,oppression and murder of a peaceful protestor because,

Our governments have been trying to paint the brutal Colombian junta government as legitimate, in order to secure a unsafe illegal conviction against the 'Colombian 3', drawing attention to the colombian government's junta's atrocities exposes the continuing underhand brutality of the junta.

by The shadow Tue May 24, 2005 17:11

A young man was killed In Colombia while peacefully protesting.
Anarchists protested the killing and highlighted it..
Fair play to them for doing so.
This is the kernel of the issue.
Most of the thread goes down a blind alley concerning Al and his views.
I have noticed on Indymedia threads how easy it seems to be to get discussion away from the actual topic.
Lets have a bit of focus and deal with issues rather than the childish left/right/centre petty pointscoring.

by Al Tue May 24, 2005 17:25

In answer to Curious, the answer is No but if you really knew anything about the Gardai you would know we arent allowed join political parties.

Joe,
You dont give full facts. If you buried someone alive you would face criminal charges. We of course investigate such things, it is a civil matter when no one has broken a criminal law. If a single person or a specific group throw a person in a hole and bury him Im pretty sure they would be charges. As far as one class of people goes, sorry I just dont buy it. The laws that are laid down in criminal statutes dont distinguish. Murder is murder regardless, theft is theft, etc. Please explain more which laws you believe are like this? if your refering to corporate or commercial law then its nothing to do with me, I dont have an S on my chest.

Princess,
You seem to have no idea why I asked the original question and have ignored it. Because Im not in a union Im an idiot and dont deserve your support? (Im not asking for it) If that is the case then in your words people with no union support deserve what they get. Am I correct or is this only for Gardai? There are 12000 gardai in Ireland, everyone knows at least one? I didnt until i joined. My girlfriend didnt until she met me. In fact none of my friends did either. there are lots of people that dont know any Gardai personally. If you know my lifestyle then please share with the world what I earn, if you make a decent guess I will say what my annual income is. I live in the leafy suberbs now, before I was accused of having a big expensive Dublin home. Which is it? Im scum for having my own home? By that then I presume you live rough on the streets. As for BMW's, thats stupid. Stand outside a Garda station carpark and count how many enter, then think how many Superintendents, chiefs and higher are there. It sounds to me like you have a personal grudge against your relative and have decided to blame it on his/her occupation, would you like him/her if he/she resigned?

Donegal,
Nadia is responding to Betty. Why is she fictional? Why can you not accept that Betty made a stupid statement and I pointed it out.

Editor of Indymedia,
Thanks for your speedy actions and removing that offensive post.

Actually one more thing, If im scum for having my own home and a car then please explain what your income is, where it comes from, where you live and what you drive. Practice what you preach. As for me, I offer no apology for trying to provide as best I can for my family.

by qx Thu Jun 09, 2005 21:07

who pays for your welfare checks!!! capitalism rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by informed Thu Jun 09, 2005 21:26

in relation to the questions on garda actions made by persons unknown on this site, who would they go to if they got in trouble? who do they call if they need help, passport forms etc... what do you feel when you see gardai arresting a person who has probably tried to seriously assault the gardai. i wonder if you would step in to help the gardai or would you watch and shout oppression? who is really being oppressive? you give out when you do not understand or know the facts, when you let your mind open up to new ideas and not cloud your mind in propaganda formented by hatred for a state that is their own, and only by peace full means and use of their election votes instead of taking the simple way out and using violence and hatred will they gain the kind of state that they want, or a final point... do they or you want a state at all??

by BB Fri Sep 30, 2005 13:39

No, (insult removed - ed), of course we don't want a state.
Or a bullshit fucking electoral system.