'We are asking for an acceptable form of identification so that we may vote.'

Benedicta Attoh is standing as an independent candidate for Dundalk City Council and Louth Co. Council, but her most natural constituency may not be allowed to vote for her due to a bureaucratic anomaly uncorrected by the Irish government.

Born in Nigeria and now a resident in Ireland, Ms. Attoh has been a four year resident in Dundalk - she has a legal right to run in the local elections.

Ms. Attoh estimates the Dundalk non-EU immigrant population to be over a thousand, ''it would be wrong for any politician in that area to ignore that number.'' If elected, she wants to ''represent everyone, the immigrant community as well as the local population. I want our views [as immigrants] to be respected. That is the reason I decided to run.''

After four years in Ireland she wants to bring her political activism to the Irish political arena. She is one of the first African voices to be heard in Irish elections but disregards her history making: ''The issue here is not to make history, the issue is to make a change, to make a difference.''

''Back home in Nigeria I was involved in politics, I was a student representative in the university. And after I watched Irish politics keenly I saw so many cowboys and liars that I decided Irish politics could do with an African.''

UPDATES: 14TH/15TH APRIL

Three Related Irish Protests Announced
IAWM Protest Announced: *****
Fairview Against The War Protest Announced *****
Ireland- Palestine Solidarity Campaign *****

‘Fear Translating into Anger’
Democracy Now interviews Author Rahul Mahajan, one of the only western journalists who was inside Fallujah over the past few days. *****
"We were in Fallujah over part of Saturday, and Sunday morning before we left. I can tell you from whatever I have seen, there's a big controversy now with the Arab press, Al-Jazeera, in particular reporting U.S. atrocities and war crimes in Fallujah, and the U.S. press tamely reporting Brigadier General Mark Kim's claims no such thing is happening. I can tell you from what I have seen with my own eyes that Al-Jazeera is much closer to the truth."

Bush endorses Israeli West Bank Settlements *****
Promises to US Army Broken *****
Fallujah After the Seige Photoreport: Al Jazeera (Top Left Homepage) *****
Scary Press Conference: *****
US Democrat Radio: *****
"I've got some must-calls," Bush said, while inviting a question from a reporter named on his list. *****

Help Indymedia Blog Events: Add links in Comments: Feature/Blog Continues Here....

It was announced today (6th April) after a Cabinet meeting that the proposed 'Citizenship' referendum will indeed be held on the same day as the European and Local Elections. Shortly before the announcement was made a protest took place at the Progressive Democrat Offices against what is widely percieved as an attempt to introduce the race card into the upcoming elections. Speaking on behalf of the Campaign Against The Racist Referendum, Mark Grehan made it clear that the referendum will face fierce resistance:

“This referendum is not progressive but a backwards step. It is an attack on the rights of children, and a blatant attempt to divert attention from the failed policies of this government. We believe all children should be treated equally as advocated by the 1916 Proclamation. It is unacceptable to discriminate against children based on who their parents are or where their parents come from. We are calling on the Progressive Democrats to withdraw this vicious and unwarranted attack on the rights of Irish children.

There is a growing consensus that if this referendum goes ahead it should not be held at the same time as the local and European elections. Since the foundation of the State all children born here have been entitled to citizenship. Any attempt to withdraw this right from children, should be exposed to rigorous public examination. There is not enough time between now and June 11th to have a full and open debate. It is outrageous that government should even consider rushing through such fundamental changes to the rights of Irish children. The PD’s and Fianna Fáil signed a pledge on International Day Against Racism promising not to play the race card during the elections. The proposed referendum makes a mockery of this pledge.”

Campaign Against Racist Referendum Mailing List
Account of Recent Meeting Establishing Campaign Against Racist Referendum
Original Call for Coalition against Referendum
Sinn Fein are against the Referendum
Labour objections to the timing of the Referendum

Click on the 'Feature Continued' link below for a Photo-Essay and fuller report on the Protest at the PD Offices.

While the corporate media froths and sputters over fantasy foreign "armies of anarchists" invading Irish soil and overstretching the "young inexperienced Gardai" a full scale invasion is taking place with the assistance of the government, the Gardai and the airport authorities at Shannon.

Thousands of US troops (and probably munitions) are passing through Shannon every month.

Plane-spotter extraordinaire Tim Hourigan is the only reason that we are aware of this: in this latest report taken from the newswire he details his latest spotting and the petty harrassment of him by a secret police goon and Garda who managed to obtain a banana skin from him. NUJ journalists could learn something about ethics and originality in reporting from Tim.

"Went out to Shannon yesterday following reports of military traffic. Saw plenty, and got a rude visit from a cocky detective.

3 ATA planes carrying troops for the military and 2 USAF Hercules. One had been there since noon on Saturday and the other probably stayed over last night, after depositing a number of passengers."

So a Video (punctuated by visuals of scaremongering 'riot' newspaper headlines on the subject of planned protests on Mayday) posted on this site becomes front page news in the Irish Examiner. Strange days indeed. Here's what the maker of the Video had to say about the video in question on the newswire a few days ago. The journalist concerned - Juno McEnroe of the Irish Examiner - obviously read this. The ironies are multiple:

By Maydayer Wednesday, Mar 31 2004, 9:08pm: "It was a piss-take, a bit of fun. Propaganda can work both ways. It was meant to show how silly (and frightening) the whole thing is. I am sure most Indymedia viewers are smart enough to see what’s going on. Using the media to create fear as justification for violence - that’s what I said in the video. As for attracting "extreme elements" of whatever the cops are calling peace protesters or environmental activists - I think the corporate media has already done a good job of that. The only thing this video advertises is peaceful protests like Critical Mass and RTS. Not one stone let alone one petrol bomb has ever been thrown at a (anti-War / Globalisation) protest in Ireland - It is not the Irish protesters who are arming themselves to the teeth and training for violence is it? Lets look at the facts and look behind the propaganda lie machine. Any violence on Mayday if there is any will likely come from the State against the protesters, the Government is running scared - every day now they make another announcement escalating and militarising the situation. As for the video - tongue in cheek ;) stay tuned for many more..."

Continue at link below for info on the latest Scare Story and an analysis (from an Irish Imcer) of how Juno McEnroe helped the Irish media eat its own Shit .