Peace Vigil at Shannon Airport

clare | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Monday February 18, 2008 18:53

by Conor Cregan - Cosantoiri Siochana

"It is great to see Amnesty and the Quakers here"

Yesterday, Cosantori Siochana hosted what is now a monthly vigil at Shannon Airport to highlight Ireland’s participation in a war raging around the globe. This dignified witness was supported by Amnesty International and several Quakers from Limerick City.

Standing at the entrance to Shannon Airport, this group of peace-mongers held banners calling for the demilitarisation of the Airport and to end the use of Shannon by CIA torture taxis. This low key vigil is gaining numbers since peace activists resumed a monthly presence in December with just five people.

Shannon Airport has seen over 1,000,000 US troops pass through to Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, the government was criticized by the Irish Commission for Human Rights for not searching CIA and Military flights at the airport. Several of these planes have been involved in the US’s Extraordinary Rendition programme where prisoners were transported to other countries for outsourced torture .

Speaking at the vigil, a local peace activist said “we have come back to show that this is still an issue with the people of Ireland. It is great to see Amnesty and the Quakers here. Both groups are well known in the peace movement and bring a strong presence to the vigil ” Commenting on the large amount of Gardai positioned near by, he said” Judging by the amount of security here, it seems that the government knows that any protest at Shannon highlights their complicity in America's military failures. Obviously this threatens the state and they will continue to pour taxpayers money into securing the myth that it's business as usual at Shannon Airport.”

After initial contact with this peaceful group, An Gardai Siochana kept a visible distance reminding these citizens that they were at hand. Three local detectives interrogated one of the youngest members of the group as he went past their unmarked patrol car, when confronted by the young boy’s irate father, the driver said: “we were just engaging in conversation!” Detective Sergeant Michael Houlihan sitting in the back seat refused to tell the father if they had recorded the boy’s details. The member in the front seat had an open notebook on his lap.

The next vigil will happen at Shannon Airport at 5pm, 23rd of March. Please bring flowers to commemorate those who died since the Iraq war started five years ago

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Comments (7 of 7)

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Mon Feb 18, 2008 18:57

batch

Fair Play!

by Chekov

Mon Feb 18, 2008 19:03

Good to see Shannon being highlighted again - hopefully this can form a focus for renewed opposition to the ongoing war.

Hear! Hear!

by Maureen - IAWM

Mon Feb 18, 2008 19:28

"Good to see Shannon being highlighted again" : I second that. Fair play!

Was the photo of the US troop carrier? taken yesterday?. What's the present state of play regarding the number of US troops and CIA torture planes transiting through Shannon?.

The anti-war movement seems to be in a fallow period at the moment?. Well done for keeping the torch of resistance alight and, in Amnesty's case the candle of conscience. Well done again.

Next Vigil

by Mark C

Mon Feb 18, 2008 21:22

When is the next vigil taking place?

Mark

Many thanx..

by Ciaron - London Catholic Worker

Mon Feb 18, 2008 23:26

London

Many thanx and mucho solidarity from the Imperial City. Stay staunch!

America protects America

by anon

Tue Feb 19, 2008 16:16

US Judge: Boeing lawsuit jeopardises national security

An American federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit that accused a subsidiary company of Boeing of illegally helping the CIA secretly fly terrorism suspects to overseas prisons to be tortured.

US District Court Judge James Ware ruled today that national security could be jeopardised if the lawsuit was allowed to go forward.
http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/02/14/US_Judge...urity

Court Decision Denies Extraordinary Rendition Victims Their Day In Court
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/rendition/34121prs20080214....html

strike?

by Dick Doyle

Wed Feb 20, 2008 18:21

Will there be a strike @ Shannon by air traffic controllers? That could be so inconvenient for US military flights.

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Peace Vigil at Shannon Airport

Comments (7 of 7)