'Are you, or have you ever been, opposed to the illegal occupation of Iraq?'

national | anti-war / imperialism | feature Tuesday May 11, 2004 19:56 by Indymedia Editorial Group - Indymedia Ireland

Protesters Begin Mobilising: "Dromoland Castle like a scene from Macbeth" sez Wag

As the Occupation of Iraq turns rapidly into the worst-case scenario many feared it would in the run-up to the US / UK invasion - Irish Anti-War Groups are mobilising again to AMBUSH George Bush with some potentially very public Anti-War protests - around Ireland in general and in the Shannon area in particular – when he arrives in Clare to attend the EU / US Summitt.

The Gardai meanwhile are already involved in a police operation in the area of Shannon and have been knocking on residents doors. Police also recently heavily outnumbered protesters in Cork who turned out early in the morning to greet the Republican cabinet member Tommy Thompson.

In an opinion piece (which went unpublished in the Irish Times) Fintan Lane who took part in the protest assesses the lessons of the recent Mayday protests for those planning to lay on a protest when Bush arrives in late June. While the IAWM and AWI compete for space in the media and on the ground in the run-up to the visit others discuss tactics and the value of a populist approach

Latest Security Update From Shannon
More Indymedia Anti-War news
Update: Flag pictured above removed by a person or persons unknown shortly after Gardai call!

We have been receiving reports today of members of the Gardai are calling to houses in Shannon asking people if they are involved in any organisations that might pose a threat to George Bush or if they know anyone who might pose such a threat.

It appears that the Gardai are involved in an intensive canvas in Shannon and Newmarket-on-Fergus and the rural areas between Shannon and Dromoland Castle as part of the security operation for Bush’s visit in June. The entire operation smacks of the McCarthy witch hunts in the 1950’s in the USA, “are you or have you ever been opposed to Bush’s war in Iraq?”.

Further details to follow....