This article is from page 12 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
IRISH MEPs will be asked to come to Shannon Airport to protest against the airport’s use by the US military.
Campaigner Roger Cole wants the country’s European parliamentarians to follow the example of a crossparty Oireachtas group, who staged a demonstration at the airport last Wednesday.
Mr Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, who organised the event, told The Clare People that he was pleased with how it worked out and planned to invite MEPs to take a similar action at a later stage.
Among those who partook in the protest were Labour TDs Joe Costello and Tommy Broughan, Independent TDs Finian McGrath and Tony Gregory, Green Party TD John Gormley, Socialist party leader Joe Higgins, Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Senator David Norris.
They were joined by members of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance. The group unfurled a large banner with the logo “Army out of Shannon”, in the arrivals hall, before leaving the area, on direction from the airport police.
Those involved felt they made their point, but compared their treatment with that of US President George W. Bush, who met with US troops at Shannon during a recent refuelling stop.
“We find it strange that we have been asked to leave. President Bush was welcomed here with open arms. It is quite clear the Irish Government is colluding totally with the US in relation to the war in Iraq,” said John Gormley.
According to Joe Higgins, the reason for the protest was two-fold.
“This is a protest on the war in Iraq and in particular to protest at the fact the Commander-in-Chief of the army of occupation, George Bush, was allowed to have a rally with his troops here on Irish soil which I think is an outrage,” said Joe Higgins.
Meanwhile a group of around 15 protesters gathered at Shannon on Saturday, to coincide with the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
They remained outside the terminal building for up to two hours. According to gardaí there were no arrests and the protest passed off peacefully.