Rossport’s fight is everyone’s fight

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Thursday October 26, 2006 22:35 by CÓB

Standing on a damp road in the predawn morning surrounded by dozens of hostile police officers, it was easy to picture yourself in Ardoyne, Portadown or the Lower Ormeau.

As the anticipation built in preparation for the arrival of the unwanted visitors, determined to trundle through the community, it almost felt like the marching season as well.

But this wasn’t Dunloy or Bellaghy. Rossport is a small Gaeltacht community in probably the most remote part of Co Mayo. Take away the legions of Guards and protestors and it would be hard to imagine confrontation ever taking place on a road enveloped by bleak bogland and foreboding forest.

Andersonstown News, 26/10/2006

Andersonstown News
26/10/2006

Political Platform
By Pádraig Ó Meiscill

Rossport’s fight is everyone’s fight

Standing on a damp road in the predawn morning surrounded by dozens of hostile police officers, it was easy to picture yourself in Ardoyne, Portadown or the Lower Ormeau.

As the anticipation built in preparation for the arrival of the unwanted visitors, determined to trundle through the community, it almost felt like the marching season as well.

But this wasn’t Dunloy or Bellaghy. Rossport is a small Gaeltacht community in probably the most remote part of Co Mayo. Take away the legions of Guards and protestors and it would be hard to imagine confrontation ever taking place on a road enveloped by bleak bogland and foreboding forest.

However, the conflict ongoing in Erris goes as much to the heart of power relations in the 26 Counties as sectarian marches do in the occupied area.

What is at stake are the safety and democratic entitlements of Irish citizens.

In the most recent development in the long-running dispute, Shell announced the commencement of construction of their 200 million euro terminal.

For the last number of weeks outside construction workers have been carrying out preparations on the Bellanaboy site despite the vehement opposition of local people.

There are two key issues for the people of Rossport and their supporters – one is the inability of Shell to guarantee the safety of those who live in the vicinity of the proposed land-based gas terminal, and the other is that the Irish people will accrue absolutely no financial benefit from the pumping of this gas.

Effectively, Shell will be exploiting the natural resources of the Irish nation and generously selling it back to the Irish nation at full price.

To ensure the success of this operation hundreds of Gardaí are being bussed into north Mayo from around the country. So far the policing operation is estimated to have cost the 26 county taxpayer in excess of one million euro.

The attitude of these Guards has been inconsistent. The more senior officers have clearly relished their role, while most of the younger foot soldiers are unable to look locals in the eye and have visibly shaken and gulped when confronted by indignant Mayo women about their betrayal of the Rossport community.

However, the Gardaí’s actions have been nothing if not consistent. Morning after morning they have ensured that the unwanted construction workers have been able to make their way to Bellanaboy, hospitalising and arresting numerous protestors in the process.

One such victim was Maura Harrington who was treated in hospital for head and neck injuries. Harrington has described the behaviour of Gardaí in the area as being “out of control”.

The Gardaí, ordered by their governmental superiors, are attacking Rossport for a very simple and uncomplicated reason: to ensure that Shell makes the maximum amount of profit in the shortest possible time.

However, the Rossport issue cannot be dealt with in isolation from the Dublin government’s overall, long-term strategy regarding the economy. At every opportunity they have sold off the property of the Irish people, including the ‘national’ phone network and Aer Lingus, the national airline.

Another example is their positive attitude towards the private sector’s growing involvement in the health service.

The Erris pipeline is merely the most blatant example of this state-run auction. The Norwegian government is set to receive 36 per cent in royalties from the project through their subsidiary companies – 36 per cent more than the government in Leinster House.

Against this backdrop, the majority of the Irish media have acted in a typically shameful manner, ignoring their obligation to fair and investigative journalism and siding with the sell-off of the people’s resources.

Among the many outrageous allegations made against the Shell To Sea campaign through this media are that the Rossport community is being manipulated by outside elements with their own agenda, the IRA and Sinn Féin have taken control of the campaign for their own gain and flying columns are being reorganised in north Mayo to ‘deal with’ supporters of Shell.

Regardless of the smear tactics, people from across the country, including Belfast, have mobilised in defence of Rossport and the nation’s property, travelling to Bellanaboy as well as organising protests and meetings in their own communities.

This mobilisation must increase in the time ahead.

Shell and the Dublin government have shown themselves to be totally indifferent, even hostile, to legitimate concerns about this project. People have been raising these concerns for years to no avail. Pressure must now be put on both institutions, clearly indicating that the Irish people are not prepared to allow the gas venture to continue in its present format.

This demand has been articulated by prominent Shell To Sea activist, Tadhg McGrath.

“This refinery will never be built. How long will it take them to realise that you can’t do something like that against the community’s will? When the people are against it, it’s not going to happen,” he said.

November 10 marks the 11th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and his eight friends by the Nigerian government for their opposition to the Shell exploitation of the indigenous Ogoni community and environment.

For those who think the comparison between the Ogoni people and Rossport is an extreme one it would be pertinent to remember that the Nigerian government actually received a better deal from Shell than Dublin did.

Pádraig ó Meiscill is a member of the Belfast Shell to Sea campaign.