Politicians pull out of anti-war protest
Political parties today withdrew from a planned anti-war protest after activists threatened to pull down Shannon airport’s perimeter fence.
Labour, the Green Party and Sinn Fein said they would not support tomorrow’s march because the controversy would detract from the real issues of the protest.
Their concern came after the group – Grassroots Network Against War – called on people to take part in a “mass non-violent civil disobedience” by pulling down the fence.
Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh said his party had asked all of its members to support a vigil in Dublin rather than attend the protest.
“We believe that the controversy surrounding Shannon is going to distract away from the central message, which is that the Irish people don’t support the war in Iraq and want the government here to state clearly that fact,” Mr O Snodaigh said.
“We need to reiterate the message from two weeks ago, when 100,000 people plus marched on the government. And we will probably have to march again before this government takes heed of that message.”
He said the candlelit vigil in St Stephen’s Green tomorrow should be the focus of this weekend’s anti-war action in the Irish Republic.
The Green Party said MEP Patricia McKenna would not attend the protest, despite being invited. Labour said it was advising its members and supporters to attend the Dublin peace rally instead, and that it only endorsed peaceful and non-violent protest.
Other groups including the Peace and Neutrality Alliance had already announced they would not be supporting the march.
Army patrols were drafted in to patrol the airport after protesters broke through the perimeter fence and damaged a US military plane last month.
Since the attacks on the US Navy plane three airlines have diverted their flights, refuelling at other airports instead.
Richard Boyd Barrett, director of the Irish Anti-War Movement, said the proposed breach of security by the Grassroots Network was a distraction from the protest.
“I think it has been blown out of proportion,” said Mr Boyd Barrett, whose group is organising tomorrow’s march.
“It is helping to detract attention from the real issues, including the fact that the government is supporting the US war effort by allowing planes to refuel at Shannon.”
The protest is set to begin at 2pm with a rally at Shannon town centre, before moving on to the terminal buildings.
Several thousand people are expected to take part.
Dublin’s candlelit vigil is set to take place at around 2.30pm outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in St Stephen’s Green.
