This article is from page 8 of the 2011-03-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
DETAILS of specific aircraft that anti-war protesters believe have been linked to renditions have been formally handed over to gardaí in Clare.
Anti-war campaigners transported wheelbarrows of material to Shannon Garda Station last Friday morning in an effort to highlight the use of Shannon Airport by military aircraft.
Members of Shannonwatch brought the wheelbarrows – containing photographs and documents relating to the use of Shannon by CIA planes – from the Oakwood Arms Hotel to the local Garda Station, as part of their ongoing efforts to highlight their concerns.
They say that the evidence supports their claims and they are hoping that gardaí will now investigate alleged human rights violations and other possible breaches of international law at Shannon.
Ray Murphy of Amnesty International said there is substantial evidence to suggest that Ireland has played a role in the rendition circuit but that to-date, the gardaí have been either unwilling or unable to conduct searches and inspections.
“We need an effective reporting, verification and control system put in place immediately. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence must direct the gardaí to act to ensure Ireland complies with its international legal obligations,” said Mr Murphy.
Former United Nations Humani- tarian Co-ordinator in Iraq, Denis Halliday, emphasised the humanitarian disasters that are a direct result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Those who were complicit in these wars, including the Irish government, must be held to account,” he said.
“It is vital that the new Irish government prohibits the transit of belligerent US troops through Shannon Airport immediately, and focuses Irish foreign policy on genuine humanitarian support for victims of violence and natural disasters,” he added.
Shannonwatch is calling on the gardaí to review the evidence presented, and to provide a comprehensive report on the actions that will be taken to ensure Ireland complies with its international legal obligations.
The information presented to gardaí includes a list of aircraft that have at one time or another reportedly been linked to the US renditions programme. These include 20 that have been recorded at Shannon over the last eight years. “Some of these are frequent visitors to the airport,” said a Shannonwatch spokesperson. “And while many of them may not now be in use by CIA rendition crews, the fact that they have not been adequately investigated means that it is still possible for them or other aircraft to be used to commit breaches of international law,” added the spokesman.