Hunger Strike Day 7

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign Sun May 21, 2006 09:06 0857396489

Plenty of copies of the song left if anyone would like a few!

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign Sun May 21, 2006 09:00

In Dublin’s Fair City,
It’s not very pretty,
To see some fine youngsters,
Who roar and who shout.
They don’t show compassion,
They think it’s the fashion,
To demand that the Afghans,
Should die or get out!

Chorus:
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

In the Cathedral are lying,
Afghan men who are dying.
They want just to live,
In this country of ours.
Some people don’t see now,
That that’s how we’d be now,
If bombs were dropped down,
On our own dear country.

Chorus:
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

Our airport at Shannon,
Was used to bring famine,
Death and destruction,
To lands in the East.
Right here in the West now,
Let’s all do our best now.
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets.

Chorus:
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

We’re sisters and brothers,
To all of those others,
Who would like to live here,
And not where there is war.
So raise up your voices,
And show you want choices,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets.

Chorus:
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Oh, don’t let them die now,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

by anon Sun May 21, 2006 07:54

where is this story from december (7th?) 2005

by nazi watcher Sun May 21, 2006 01:55

Being discussed now at the world's best known neo-nazi knuckledragging website. It appears that several of the neo-nazis who post there admit to having been present at the demonstration.

by passing on bye bye Sun May 21, 2006 01:31

.

by passer by Sun May 21, 2006 00:44

The one in the dark glasess and the skinhead outfit was wearing two pins, an easter lily and the map of Ireland with the four provinces. Connolly must be turning around in his grave

Does anybody know this fascist?

Hanging around since thursday

another one

and the brave one who is going to short every body out

by anon Sat May 20, 2006 23:53

by descramble via dublinblog.ie

http://www.flickr.com/photos/decsramble/sets/7205759414...1908/

by redjade Sat May 20, 2006 22:42

thoughts are with you all from the eastern EUroPale tonight

CNN International - about 9.30pm dublin time

EuroVision - about 9.35pm dublin time

by kevin Sat May 20, 2006 22:27

Just heard - Public Order Unit have entered the building en masse.

Will post updates as they come in...

by Seán Ryan Sat May 20, 2006 22:21

Folks don't engage with the police - just keep filming. Whether a crowd is present or not it will be a powerful scene. Don't give them any reason for an arrest. It would be what they, the media and the government want.

Keep up the great work!
Seán

by Revolt Video Sat May 20, 2006 22:01

Riot Police are starting to move into the Cathedral Area...
People are needed urgently down there

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 20:13

we know there are much troubles in your land - we know that you have had troubles for a long time - we know you might feel sad and hopeless

But know that we, the irish have had our troubles - there were 9 million of us on this island 160 years ago - then a forced famine nearly killed us, our population went down to 2 million and then we battled to live - to exist - to grow - to love. theres now about 5 million of us - and we have worked hard for our fellow sisters adn brothers of this earth.

we are with you - the world can become more just and more beautiful - it will happen.

hope, creativity, life and love are our "weapons".
far stronger than their guns.

the book of tolerance

let them stay and live

messages to the men from afghanistan

arabic script to the men

we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as foes. (martin luther king jn)

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 19:43

.

if james was here today, we know where he'd be standing

day 7 of the hunger strike

ireland of the welcomes (?) helped with the devestation of afghanistan

an irish youth stands her ground in difficult times

by anon Sat May 20, 2006 19:40

Justice Department immigration officials insist the hunger-strikers are wrong on every point of their protest. They say Ireland hasn't even been deporting Afghans directly back to their homeland, only to other EU countries through which the Afghans were smuggled to Ireland.

Under European law, refugees are required to claim asylum in the first EU country they enter, which, by definition, excludes Ireland because it has no direct travel links to Afghanistan. The protesters say they all were smuggled through other European countries, including Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell says none of the protesters is facing a deportation order. He says, by contrast, two of the protesters already have won their cases, with one winning refugee status, the other receiving the right to remain in Ireland because he has fathered an Irish-born child.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/20/world/main163...shtml

Deporting them to a hostel/limbo/camp in Europe won't improve their situation.

Was it one of the minors who ate, and now people are complaining?, it obviously hasn't been a consistent hunger or thirst strike.

What the hell is going on?

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 19:21

.

street crossing

streets

banner, cop shop, st. pats

by big ears & noddy Sat May 20, 2006 19:20

transcript of "African migrant" who took on racist hecklers in the crowd at this morning's concentration in support of the Afghan & other refugees and all migrants to the Irish state and against racism.

I don't care. I'm not afraid of anyone. ok!?!?
[heckle]
I'm not afraid of the racists.
[heckle]
I'm not afraid!
[heckle]
[abuse]
[insults]
[F and C words]
[N word]
[2nd unknown person intervenes]
Most people welcome you. We are all brothers & sisters.
[racist heckler disagrees.]
[ car noise, beeping horns, the anonymous big city, cockles & muscles, no bangers 2 for a Euro because Mc Dowell banned them... ]

5 more transcripts needed c/f http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76174&comment_limit=0&c...50302 listen - use pause - type.

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 19:18

dont let them die

dont let them die banner on henry street

bottom up communication

engaging with people on the streets

by William Ewart Gladstone Sat May 20, 2006 19:05

I most humbly beg your pardon, the Church of England was not disestablished in 1920.
It was only disestablished in Wales.

The Church of England remains an established State Church to this very day something about which that crypto-Anglican ipsiphi is keeping very quiet !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disestablishmentarianism

by iosaf Sat May 20, 2006 19:02

(transcript of Rosanna spokesperson of RAR, who has been very busy trying to defuse this situation and has now given interviews globally (including the BBC and Sky News) speaking 11h30 this morning recorded by Dunk (indymedia radio activist & a ringleader of the magical Bicycling & gardening group ).

http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/roseanna.wav

"ok everyone, its very impressive to see all here, and I know most local people in this area, are on our side. [heckler] I know, I've heard many more local people than the man there [referring to heckler] who have come up to me, and they are on our side. I did a broadcast this morning, and two taxi drivers, who are Dublin taxi drivers that have a very bad name, were most supportive of the guys inside. And I tell you what they called Mc dowell [heckler interrupts] [rosanna resumes] what they called Mc Dowell was almost unrepeatable. But it was very very true. [hecling resumes] The two guys were very very good. I'd like to say one other thing - which hasn't been said - We keep being told - We keep hearing - that the system in Ireland is a fair system. The system in Ireland is unfair! Recently two lawyers who were on the appeals tribunal taht refugees have to go through resigned! Because they know its unfair. [heckles] They said it is totally unfair. These are not Residents against Racism [[[ http://www.residentsagainstracism.org ]]] These are government lawyers. [heckles] & they've resigned.
Did that make any difference? Did that Mc Dowell look at it? Did he sack the one lawyer James Nicholson who has never let any asylum seeker stay on appeal?
- No! He did nothing. He is a shame on Ireland, a shame on all of us. Let's get rid of Mc dowell! "
[crowd applauds - 6 seconds]

6 more transcripts needed c/f http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76174&comment_limit=0&c...50302 listen - use pause - type.

by Re. Church and State Sat May 20, 2006 18:58

"Saint Patrick's was not the church the Irish state has ever cultivated a close relationship with, completely to the contrary."

I presume you mean the post- colonial Irish "Free State".
However, those of us with long memories might like to recall that while the "Irish State" was under the Act of Union, the Church of Ireland was the "established Church" until 1869.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Established_church

And although the Popish Church of Rome was indeed politically predominant in the post- colonial Irish "Free State" 26-county entity until recent years, it was never ever an "established church" by law - quite the contrary.

De Valera's much maligned 1937 Constitution specifically prohibited the establishment of a State religion, Popish or otherwise: The state may not endow any religion (Article 44.2.2).

Although it did recognise the "special position" of the Holy Catholic Apostolic and Roman Church as the guardian of the Faith professed by the great majority of the citizens, recognition was also given to other denominations: "The State also recognises the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, as well as the Jewish Congregations and the other religious denominations existing in Ireland at the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution."

The formal de jure separation of Church and State is in fact much clearer under post-colonial Irish Law than on the "British mainland" where the Church of Englan although formally "dis-established" since 1920 is nevertheless intricately entwined with the monarchy.

So the open question is:
Who pointed the fuzzy-wuzzies in the direction of St. Patrick's ?
Who was feeding them inside intelligence ?

I'll bet that not even iosaf on a diet of magic mushrooms could solve that one for us !

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 18:42

5 of us gathered on moore st with the "dont let them die" banner at 11.30, cops came down, a crowd gathered, a very vocal "discussion" started on the streets, we walked down the length of moore st. and back up, there was both support and non support from both the dublin community of moore st and mostly support from the newer dublin community.

we made our way up to hapenny bridge and hung the banner there for a while, then outside central bank, then up through grafton st, banner held for a while on top of street, very little anti-afghan chat, some kids trying to be funny, quite a few non irish (sudan, austria) who approached and were deeply saddened by the growing racialism that is becoming apparant on the streets.

we got up to the cathedral and joined the rest, an audio with a youth from the local area who has been there every night and who initially supported the men but now has changed his tune gets a bits edgy when he claims he wants "all colors out, all non irish out" -

a brave african man arrived and challenged the "racists" and says he is not afraid of them.

there was supposed to be a live broadcast via mobile and loud hailer, but it didnt happen, there were some speeches, a heckler in the crowd challenged the african man who said that ireland is fast becoming like south africa during apartheid.

sin fein took the stand, swp did and adressed those out in protest against the men, roseanna from RAR addressed the crowd and again the heckler was vocal, he was encouraged to leave and allow roseanna to make her speech.

___________________________________________________________________________
audio:

1- sounds from the streets, heart of dublin city
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/sounds_from_the_hear...y.wav
7 mins
this horrific situation is splitting dublin people in 2 and some extremely saddening things are emerging:
after surviving our own troubles we now dont want to know about others or attempt to help them, how things have changedd so quickly.

this was from the heart of dublin city, the crossroads of henry st and moore st. the crowd started to gather when the gardai arrived to move on the demonstrators.

perhaps this type of action is what is needed, as the mainstream media is not covering all the issues raised in this brief interaction on the streets

i was struck by the vocal man for holding the recorder to close to him

2- perspective from an inner city kid who on monday supported the men and now doesent
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/turncoat.wav
turns nasty at the end, when the youth said "i want all colors out", at this point a black african man approached him and confronted this racist views being argued.

it quickly erupted with anger from all sides,

3- i am not afraid of the racists
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/turncoat_2.wav
African man stands up to those that want him and his "irish" kids out,

4- getting like africa under the apartheid system
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/afrfican_man.wav
paraphrase: i feel ashamed, this is like south africa under the apartheid system with the growing divisions on racial grounds

the point is brought up by him that there are so many irish abroad that those saying "foreigners out" are being hypocrits

5-sin fein take the floor
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/sin_fein.wav
i think we all know which side james connolly would be on.

6- swp take the floor
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/swp.wav
addresss those who are opposed to the afghani men

7-RAR roseanna flynn
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/roseanna.wav
a heckler interupts

__________________________________________________________
again full or part transcripts much appreciated
back to the streets

by iosaf - "church :+: state" Sat May 20, 2006 16:51 barcelona 0034636105231

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0520/asylum.html

hmmmmm.

Historically the right for Clerics to mediate and negotiate and offer compromise in protest situations in Ireland ought be familiar to most - we call it the "3 F's" (now they don't stand for fuck, feck and fixin!) Oh no. They stand for "Fixity of tenure, Fair rent & Freedom to sell". the 3 F's were the result of the Land agitiation and social justice movements in Ireland during the 19th century, particularly from 1879 to 1882. They are directly comparable to the movements for the landless in Brazil today, or the decision by Bolivian president Evo Morales on Thursday this week to "end the mafia latifundia and give land back to the indiginous Bolivians". In 19th century Ireland the "3 F's" allowed for horrible powerful greedy people to negotiate with their generally poor tenants through a cleric. But, a regional problem emerged as the most satisfactory negotiations were held between 3 parties of the same denominational faith. & in many ways the birth of agrarian support for "Ulster-ism" which would lead through the 20th century to the the forming of the UVF, & the foundation of "northern Ireland". Mc dowell has already in his capacity as "minister with responsibility for law reform" gone through most of the pre-1922 laws and removed them from the statute books. Its something many people didn't really give much attention to.
At end what is happening is not an attempt by the Irish state to "stop copy cat actions". Any psychologist or experienced observer of such protests would tell them the odds on such a thing are very small, but rather the Irish state, is attempting to present itself as being "in control" of the situation.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0520/asylum.html Tells us a lot. Normally by now - any experienced psychologist or observer would have expected Mc Dowell to making statements again, "to be in control". But the statement which pitches as an "important update" only names the department & in fact updates nothing, it is rehash of the earlier statements even before the intervention of the UNHCR.

We are back in some ways to "state versus church". & this is where the very curious nature of this protest & its brilliance must be commented on. Saint Patrick's was not the church the Irish state has ever cultivated a close relationship with, completely to the contrary. If the men had occupied St Mary's pro-cathedral, the seat of the Catholic Archibishop of Dublin, we may presume that in all probability they would have been forcibly removed early on. That has been the pattern throughout Europe with only one exception - "the church of the Pi " in Barcelona, where the now deceased rector surprised everyone and defied his cardinal to allow pakistanis stay for weeks.

So I'd like you all to consider what was the "compromise" brokered by the Church of Ireland?
Since at the moment all we have time to do is speculate, collate our coverage, prepare our documentaries, spread the word on indymedia networks, or if we're very lazy :- Langerland links give you a giggle, if you can't remember the "3 F's" then consult their sort of guide to the British empire http://www.langerland.com/content/view/37/59/

but I'd like us to work on these peoples' agenda. We all have seen why :-

by Ddarragh Sat May 20, 2006 16:22

Looks like the temperature is about to rise on this situation. The Dept of Justice have apparently instructed the Church of Ireland to cease negotiations with the people in the church...

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0520/asylum.html

by Darragh Sat May 20, 2006 16:19

They should have brought a webcam in with them and really outsmarted our boys in blue!

by Davy carlin Sat May 20, 2006 16:16

You make a very sound point Redjade

by Corkboyzz - Private Individual Sat May 20, 2006 16:11

It just couldn't contain it's urges to help justify the hate being directed at the Afghans.

After days of not attibuting any front page importance to their hunger strike, I saw on the Evening Herald front cover this afternoon that one of the hunger strikers ate two cheese sandwiches while in hospital.

"You see, they are not really on hunger strike" is the message from the Herald.

Gloatingly, the newspaper also stated that this fact is recorded in his medical records.

by redjade Sat May 20, 2006 16:08

iosaf quotes the Irish Times:
"Gardaí have profiled the men, there are three ringleaders and one is the nephew of a former Taliban minister"

I'd love to hear an estimated number of nephews of IRA members there are in Ireland.

———

ex-Pioneer wrote up an article in Hungarian briefly explaining the situation at St Pat's
http://www.indymedia.hu/cikk.shtml?x=29954

———

'I wonder what the reaction would be if people occupied the Clonskeagh mosque'

Irish people probably wouldn't care at all if they occupied the Clonskeagh mosque - that's why they went to St Pat's, to bring attention to their issue Also, might want to consider the danger posed to other Muslims by Irish people by having a hunger strike at the Clonskeagh mosque. Considering the unwelcome they received at St Pat's they probably made the right choice by protesting at a popular tourist site, thus getting global attention.

———

The news has hit BBCworld TV
{see phone cam photos}

by - Sat May 20, 2006 16:04

http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/258358/...x.php
managed to do it with only one spelling mistake and one grammar slip. quite good.

If you can read an indymedia page, you can write one. goto the list at http://www.indymedia.ie/indymedia_city_listing chose a country / language you know, or let the US or Australian collectives know.
Write a simple paragraph with links to the articles here post it in the "migration" or "rights" section.
Highlight the desperation of migrants to Ireland & Europe and inform on the emergence of racist groupings. It will only take a few minutes.
Some of you might also be able to write / expand wikipedia entries. Its a bit more complicated. Neither the "Saint patrick's cathedral dublin" or "Hunger strike" entries have been updated with this week's historic facts.

by Darragh Sat May 20, 2006 15:37

Sky,

The difference is the islamic community wouldn't tolerate it.

by Skygem Sat May 20, 2006 15:32

I wonder what the reaction would be if people occupied the Clonskeagh mosque, in protest to the Afghan's determination to bypass the normal course of asylum procedure.

by Darragh Sat May 20, 2006 15:32

Check out the link below, portrays Mc Dowell lovely!!!

http://www.langerland.com/content/view/78/59/

by Darragh Sat May 20, 2006 15:21

SP,

It looks to me like the powers that be have weighed up the situation and believe that the men involved are not really serious about starving themselves to death and on that basis, they believe the protest will burn itself out as people take ill, are taken to hospital, discharged and then refused entry back into the church. If the men are really serious about being on hunger strike, its a bit hard to see why they are allowing themselves to be removed from the scene and taken to hospital to be recovered. Its not hard to see how this will pan out going by the chain of events to date...

by only person to have played the organ there & phoned there. - "ultra leftie freakies" Sat May 20, 2006 15:15

http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2006/05/1074780.php
so that's spanish & italian covered. I've got a greek version done too, (posh schooling) but can't get it up on the athens or thessalonika site. Ah sure they never need inspiration or encouragement. Checking the portuguese and french versions at present.

On a lighter note, might I suggest to those who lurk around our sites in commercial media land & always seem short of an idea, that you report the rumour based on filtered sources close to the gardai that a dirty big manky filthy nuk-u-lear bomb might be in the cathedral as well? It will look great on the Sunday independent tomorrow, just after the building has been cleared of Taliban and the Anglikhans can return to passing the plate and calmly praying for the world's thirsty and hungry and not hearing anti-proddy taunts coming in the windows. Oh yes that will put the wind up them. You're all hostages!!! & never forget that the Taliban gave Osama the space and affection he needed to grow, and without Osama we wouldn't have had a 911, and without a 911 we wouldn't have had anything to talk about, or a reason to get rid of Saddam Hussein. gurggle. gurggle.

by Darragh Sat May 20, 2006 15:14

I'm wondering why nobody has been allowed enter the church to take photographs of the people on hunger strike??? It's not like it is a hostage situation and anyone from the press would be endangered by entering the church! I can only assume that the Gardai will not allow the press entry to the church to cover the story exactly where it is happening. If this is indeed the case, it raises serious questions about the freedom of the press, especially coming up to an election. It would be easy to envisage a situation where orders have come down from the very top (from Mc Dowell) to the effect that no press are to be admitted to the church in case it triggers a national outcry and the minister ended up taking it in the neck come the next election. I can see no other reason why the site is effectively being treated as a "sterile" crime scene. This type of supression of information by the state is a serious cause for concern says me.

by Solidarity Sat May 20, 2006 15:10

in 1943 the notorious top Nazi SS leader and Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich was assassinated in his open car in the centre of the Czech city of Prague by partisans.
After betrayal by a traitor gave them up to the Gestapo, the heroic assassins were cornered by SS troops in an ortodox church were they engaged in a furious gun battle. Scores of SS were killed before the defenders held out in the basement using a narrow horzontal basement window as firing position.
After more SS troops were killed a few soldiers closed in on the window and pitched grenades inside before a firehose was pushed through the opening. As the basement flooded and capture was certain the partisans committed suicide.
Afterwards the town of Lidice was razed to the ground and men women and children massacred or sent to concentration camps.

by SP Member - Socialist Party/CWI Sat May 20, 2006 15:08

Condemning the government for rejecting the proposals put forward by church representatives for a solution to the hunger strike.

This demonstrates that the government are not interested in a negotiated settlement and are intent on forcing the issue on their terms. One has to wonder what strategy they could possibly have that will see this situation end without tragedy.

by iosaf Sat May 20, 2006 14:09

Thats dandy.
Yesterday I wrote on my blog space that none of the men were Taliban, and I noted that the short transcript put up of an interview between RAR and Dunk in yesterday's reports http://indymedia.ie/article/76158?&condense_comments=fa...50196 stressed none of the men were Taliban. It was curious to see the Irish Times then cobble the wonderful lines together "Gardaí have profiled the men, there are three ringleaders and one is the nephew of a former Taliban minister".
Now leaving aside the wonders of Harcourt Street & GCHQ co-operation and mobile phone listening, Lets look at "ringleaders".
Since the beginning there have been two named contacts for the group. One a blind individual has been speaking to everyone from clerics to UNHCR representatives, from nurses to consultants, from Gardai to ambulance men, but not Mc dowell. Suppose Sultan is a "ringleader". & the state have wanted him off side since the beginning. The other contact is Osman, sorry Osman but they've put you down as a ringleader. The identity of the third is not really that important for the moment, but "velvet rope" and "mobile" come into it.
I'll be honest with you, half of RAR are also now "ringleaders" they've been on global satelite and cable TV, their words have been reported in many languages. Dunk is a ringleader, half of indymedia are ringleaders, the racists in the photos shouting taunts are ringleaders, I'm a ringleader (coz I phoned up from spain - and urdu and farsi were spoken during my conversation very suspicious and baffling) in fact the only person who isn't a ringleader is........... Michael mc dowell.

Taliban :-
Many people in the west forget how big families in islamic states can be. I'll put it simply, there are over 300 Saudi princes. Every Saudi ruler has shared the same father but had different mothers. During the rule of the Taliban more than 90 people (all male) served as government ministers. Family sizes in mid Asia are the largest on average in the world, rivaling for sheer fecund enthusiasm those of 19th century or early 20th century Ireland, Spain or Italy. Of course, not all these babies live to maturity, infant mortality was lower during the Taliban than at any stage since the "normalisation" of the country, but it is still one of the highest rates outside of central or "sub-saharan" African states.
It is not impractical for a Afghani to have anything in the order of 7 mammies, 1 daddy, a whole clutch of uncles, and well everyone with bollox is a brother.
the Irish Times did not name the former Taliban minister. This is omission which suggests a lie. Some Taliban ministers were utterly horrible - they put women in burkas and thrashed statues of Budha (god forbid!), some were actually quite dinky - they stoped the smack lords and almost eradicated opium production (thank God and the USA its back on track now). Lastly might I point out that at present only one state in the Western world with blood brothers in key office is - Ireland. The Ahern brothers, who between them allowed us to ignore the Afghan war & stoke racism, and have done nothing to reduce heroin importation or provide hospital beds. They're dinky at 1916 commemorations though.

by Go Figure Sat May 20, 2006 11:58

The British judiciary recently ruled that nine Afghan aircraft hijackers should be allowed to stay in the UK. The court ruled against te Blair Government's wishes.

The British courts won't even send hijaackers back to Afghanistan because it's so dangerous. Wake up there is a war n there. A war Ireland has helped to facilitate by refuleing the U.S. war machine at Shannon Airport. If you don't want refugess heading your way stop helping to bomb their countries. If you want borders to be respected, stop aiding and beeting in illegal U.S. invasions or funding the Taliban as the did in the '80's.

by c murray - the unanageables Sat May 20, 2006 11:50

Interviewed on RTE, Michael Mc Dowell asserted that the asylum system in Ireland had been complimented , no less than by the UNHCR. He sought to justify a mishandled situation at St Pat's through soundbite and spin.Mr mc Dowell's referendum on citizenship /naturalisation was equally highly complimented by the Grand Master of the KKK, what , I wonder does he use that to justify.
The situation at St patricks has to be viewed as a siege, at this point and political soundbite should not be tolerated. the state has exposed itself to international scrutiny. any witness observors who collated notes throughout this long week should continue to log and seek to publish them. the siege has been mishandled since day one.This includes the prevention of access by lawyers for the men, the gardai posted to ensure law and order and not to care for the needs of the men, the denial of independent witnesses nominated by the men. the frightening surrounding of the cathedral and movement of transport to the location. These men were not aware of their rights to privacy and were photographed in extremis by members of the media, who did not care to hide the faces of the minors.
Media were facilitated by the gardai and cathedral authorities. all these issues have to be collated.
Call for the resignation of Mc Dowell.

Viva la Vida.

by Dave Sat May 20, 2006 11:19

How do people supporting their bid to stay respond to the news that one of the asylum seekers is a nephew of a former Taliban minister?

Is he a: afraid of the new government there? b: afraid of his uncle?

I'm pro-asylum. In that I believe anybody who deserves asylum should be given asylum. However, I can't understand how people here believe every single word that comes out of a persons mouth if and only if that person is an asylum seeker. It takes on almost religious significance for them. I understand that economic migrants will come up with a cover story in the hope that they can stay in the country under the asylum system. There's nothing sinister in it and I understand their reasons. I would do the same myself. Yet to say these things means you are labelled a "racist" by some. Why is that?

by Madam K Sat May 20, 2006 10:51

Con has maintained an almost constant presence at the Cathedral.He has stood alone while surrounded by racists on more than one occasion and was first to call for support for the men as they waited on the footpath at midnight .Well done Con.

by dunk Sat May 20, 2006 10:36

day 7 - Sultan asks to be allowed back into join the hunger strike (2.30am)
after coming back from hospital, he is blind and has diabetes and is on day 7 of hunger strike
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/sultan_asking_to_be_...n.wav

day 7 -corporate media vultures (2.30am)
only hanging around to make some cash, no support for the men
makes you sick, those that might know a little of the reality behind this situation
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/media_vultures.wav

day 7 - violent racists arrive @ 2.30
nearly start fight with one man, extremely aggressive, cops do nothing
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day 7 - splitting the hunger strikers
the official man would only speak with abdul, the 17 year old, and not sultan, the 45 year old blind man with diabetes
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/splitting_the_men.wav

random inquisitive people attempt to understand the situation
the RAR person did very well to gently explain the reality of this deeply emotional situation about her friends and to counter some anti arguments
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/random_inquisitive_p...e.wav

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previous audio:

day 2 - interview with Fr. Joe McCullough, catholic priest, after visiting the men
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/post_visit.wav
on why the irish people who consider themselves "christian" have a duty to support these men, and where is Mc Dowells conscience.
length- 6.42

audio report from Afghani hunger strikers in Dublin
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/main.wav
Osman Hotak gives a brief summary of how things stand at 8.00pm, he was being questioned by John Kilraine from RTE for tonights 9.00pm news.
the second half is a discussion with an Afghan man about the UN and some geo-political background facts to Afghanistan
length - 12 mins

day 4: update after mens meeting with UN HCR (high commisioner for refugees) with Tahir
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/imgp3183.wav
men seriously ill, 7 taken to hospital, absolutely committed to die - support growing, but so to is racist reaction to the men and their supporters, it could get nasty

day 6- update from Afghan men
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day 6 hunger strike update from Afghan men outside church, partly in pharsee with translations,
15mins

day 6 - residents against racism update and background
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/rar_update_and_backg...d.wav
update from residents against racism, RAR, person who has been inside since the start and has had a continued direct link with the men, he is tired and this is a very emotional situation which is the last part of a long ongoing process to seek justice for these men.
10mins

day 6 - indepth description of present immigration policy
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/asylum_policy.wav
6 mins +
residents against racism people give an indepth description of the faults with the present immigration policy of the irish government.
how it works, its faults and where the hunger strikers were at before they started their hunger and thirst strike

finishes with rte 11.30 headlines and mc dowels continued inaction

much thanks to margeret to transcript, again if anyone can transcribe this much appreciation.

by TheLep Sat May 20, 2006 10:08

Ceist amhain: Who are these people who demand my sympathy? There is a striking lack of detail about their backgrounds.

Are they perhaps

1) Writers and poets who were persecuted by the Taliban?

2) The sons and husbands of women who were stoned to death by the Taliban?

3) Monks who's 2,000-year-old temple was reduced to rubble by the Taliban?

4) Musicians who were persecuted by the Taliban for playing.... music?

5) Taliban?

by Madam k Sat May 20, 2006 05:59

Sultan and Abdul discharged from hospital return to cathedral to join their fellow hunger strikers.On their request to enter they are informed they must wait 15 minutes........FOUR HOURS later they are still waiting, out on the street , in the rain. Sultan pleads with the seagent for a response to his request to re enter .In this vunerable position isolated and alone ,they have to injure drunk passer by`s racists slurs and aggression.Protected by only a hand full of activists as the police look on.

By 3.15 am they now sit on the wet ground....waiting....

3.30 they return to St.James Hospital .

waiting in the rain

man from the v.h.c ...you think YOUR worn out?

by Seán Ryan Sat May 20, 2006 05:27

Offer sanctuary to the children and men. And tell McDowell to go rot.

These people are entitled to not be rendered for torture. It has already been established that the Gardaí can enforce this. You'd end the strike, and do wonders for your reputations, and just think of the pile of shite you'd land McDowell in.

Just a thought.

by Seán Ryan Sat May 20, 2006 05:15

They need to find one. McDowell is going to need a blame-hound irregardless as to how this turns out. Gardaí are presently giving him ammo, and they know he'll use it.

Why play into the muppet's hands. Did he hand-pick the Gardaí for this?

He might as well have.

by surelyyoujest Sat May 20, 2006 05:01

"officer with a brain"

Seán, they are trying to find such an officer but are having severe difficulty.

by Seán Ryan Sat May 20, 2006 04:49

Failing to admit these men back into the cathedral will yet again escelate the situation.

When another refugee needs medical attention, it is now obvious that he will refuse medical attention.

Way to go.

Men threaten to kill themselves, and the powers that control this, introduce further paranoia into the mix.

The Gardaí are culpable if an act of racial hatred has been perpetrated under their noses and they haven't responded. As well as this, Gardaí Síochána means guardians of the peace. The men outside the cathedral have just been discharged from hospital and have been starving for a week, it's lashing rain and to boot they must suffer racial slurs under the watchful eye of the Gardaí. Not culpable?

A definite improvement on the "I was only following orders" excuse. The "I' m waiting for orders," excuse.

Betcha if someone takes a piss they'll be arrested.

The only people who take the piss are the Gardaí.

It would be advisable for them to send the officer with a brain to the scene.

by Paddy Sat May 20, 2006 03:59

I disagree , do not vent your spleen at the station, they are awaiting orders.

The Guards are not culpable.

by one of many Sat May 20, 2006 03:42

This is something that is happening alot around this issue. Please go to Kevin Street Garda Station with your footage and make statement to the Garda at the desk. Tell all of what is happening and make it clare that you will make a complaint under the new garda act for dereliction of duty.

by Revolt Video Sat May 20, 2006 03:22

Four Garda Vans have arrived at the Cathedral. Sultan and Abdul are still outside. There is no proccess of negotiation going on.