A-Infos (en) Won't Get Fuelled Again! Resistance/AF (Ireland)

[Al S <klasbatalemo@yahoo.ie>]

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In the week running up to the March 1st Action, two
charter companies carrying American troops through
Shannon pulled out, citing ?security threats?. Since
World Airways have already pulled out, according to
media reports, this leaves one charter company hired
by the American military still using Shannon airport,
as well as direct military flights.

Simultaneously, perhaps afraid of being successful,
liberals and lefties pulled out of the demonstration.
A press release sent out by a local Green party member
played up the ?threat of violence?, and was issued in
the name of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (a lobby
group) and in the name of Mid West Against Military
Aggression (a local broad based anti-war group) -in
both cases apparently without consultation with the
rest of the membership of those groups. The Labour
Party, the Green Party, and Sinn Fein all pulled out -
all without consulting the rank and file - in the case
of the first two at least, individual party members
refused to follow the dictat of their leaders. 

The Socialist Party and Socialist Worker?s Party
marched in a separate contingent which did not take
part in the direct action, but meandered up to the
terminal building. The Green Party had their national
conference 30 minutes up the road where Shannon was
high on the agenda for discussion!!!!! 

So what happened? 

Firstly, as had been said, two charter companies
pulled out.  Secondly, there was no violence from the
protestors. Thirdly the only violence came from the
police - ten arrests and at  least one person injured,
a violence which was facilitated by the stunning lack
of solidarity shown to the direct action wing of the
anti-war movement. As well as this current episode
there manages to be anti-war demonstrations where
there is no mention of people in prison for opposing
the war.

So why? 

A recent Labour Youth leaflet called for non-violent
direct action at Shannon. Issues of ?Socialist Worker?
have argued for mass direct action. The aforementioned
Green Party member has stood up in public meetings and
said ?if it takes direct action then that?s what it
takes?. Ogra Sinn Fein have as their symbol the
Molotov cocktail for fucks sake!!!!! So when?s it
gonna happen? All these groups are part of the ?Irish
Anti-War Movement? - and as such all were invited to
co-operate with, and participate in, the organisation
of this action. All refused. 

Meanwhile there is no empirical evidence that ?public
opinion and protest marches? will alter the situation
- and clear cut evidence that direct action at Shannon
has changed  things. If you don?t believe me ask North
American Airlines and Miami Airlines why they pulled
out of Shannon, or ask Jane Fort - acting head of the
U.S. embassy in Dublin. 


Now if you can stomach the offensive twaddle about
?violence? and ?destruction? from the representative
of a state guilty of mass murder (must be reading from
the same script as the above leftists) read what she
was saying in the Sunday newspapers -

 ?The difficulty at Shannon seems to have been that
people who expressed themselves for peace acted in
violent ways... the combination of two back to back
incidents of real destruction would prompt any company
to ask if it could put people in harm?s way, people
who might be working (!) on planes or riding on
planes... If I have understood correctly, the websites
of some of the activists have been fairly threatening:
they have wanted to walk over the perimeter fence or
breach it.? 

Alternatively, you could play by the system?s rules  -
do what you are permitted to do - Jane Fort will
probably love you, there will be no controversy,
you?ll have a nice media image, no political
backlash?and you?ll get absolutely no where.

*****************************************************

>From the pages of Resistance#21, regular monthly
bulletin of the Anarchist Federation.

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