Images and report from Day 6 of Hunger Strike

by richard whelan Sat May 20, 2006 01:28

Images from Thursday at St Patricks Cathedral.
copyright.
More images outside Cathedral.

by Mumbles - Éigse Laoghaire Multi-cultural Arts Sat May 20, 2006 02:13

If Sanctuary could remain sacrisanct, our friends could give up their hunger strike but remain in the Sanctuary of Saint Patrick's Cathedral; perhaps negotiations re their status would be more successful under the calmer conditions. I'd like to remind all that St. Patrick was a refugee and look what he did for Ireland.

by Deirdre Clancy - Pitstop Ploughshares/Unmanageables Sat May 20, 2006 03:03

Tonight's Vigil

And Ireland's Future Adult Citizens

Around 100 to 120 people gathered outside St. Patrick's Cathedral tonight to support the increasingly desperate Afghan hunger strikers inside. The men were isolated further by the Irish state today, when around 60 guards cordoned off the road leading to the entrance of the cathedral. Activists from Residents Against Racism and others who had previously been allowed access to the men and were trusted by them, were today denied contact. Psychologically, this has had the effect of increasing their desperation, as opposed to persuading them to the end the hunger strike, which was the possible intention of these tactics.

Church of Ireland authorities have reportedly begun legal proceedings to evict the men from the church. So much for welcoming the stranger; there is suddenly now no room at the inn. But then, church authorities were never very good at following the example of the one they purport to worship. I am sure that those who came to this decision will find many ways to justify it in their own minds, including the pretext of saving lives and their means justifying this end. However, all it has done is exacerbate a desperation that was already acute. Nobody wants these boys and men to suffer through starvation and thirst. However, nor do we wish them to face deportation to a country where they fear for their lives and have faced torture and persecution already. We bear a responsibility as a country for these men's welfare.

As the day went on, the effects of the isolation tactics from various authorities became apparent, when word got out that 10 of the men had nooses around their necks and were ready to die if police came in to oust them from the cathedral. As of the time of writing this report, the situation was in standoff.

The vigil tonight lasted several hours, though many had been holding vigil at intervals throughout the day. The disturbing trend of a racist presence was again apparent. This time, it was clear that there were serious neo-nazi/far right elements stirring up about 20 local children and teenagers and messing with their heads. These elements comprised four or five men, who could be seen coaching the youths, and then slinking back in a cowardly fashion and watching as the youths chanted slogans such as "Let them die!" and "Send them home", tried to grab supporters' banners and physically intimidate the activists (which didn't really succeed). Toward the end of the vigil, the guards finally came out and stood in front of the youths. However, it clearly wasn't an issue of great concern to them until the vigil was about to break up. There is clearly a deficit of resources in these children's local area, educational and otherwise. These are people left behind by the celtic tiger, but it's also been established that they're being targetted consciously by far-right elements for recruitment. They may be numerically small elements now, but the future is a concern.

One or two supporters felt that chanting slogans such as 'Don't let them die' gave energy to the counter-protest and handed out candles as a suggested alternative approach. (I have no problem with candles, but nor do I have one with chanting 'Don't let them die', and just regret that there weren't more Dubliners out tonight to shout it louder.)

As a country we have a responsibility to these men. While we are lobbying for our own to get citizenship in the US, our state is isolating and intimidating people who have faced much hardship in their lives already, because they are not 'legal', just like our thousands of fellow country-people in the US. There is clearly quite staggering political hypocrisy when it comes to the issue of 'aliens'. Shannon Airport has helped to facilitate the desecration of Afghanistan, already destroyed by invasion and warfare in the course of several decades before the US invasion. And finally, simply by virtue of the fact that these are human beings, desperate for their stories to be properly, actively heard, we owe these men our solidarity and support. One thing is for sure - their stories will not be actively listened to within the context of the pharse that is our current asylum process.

Please be there outside the cathedral at 2pm tomorrow for the rally, and mobilise your friends, next door neighbours and grannies.

by Máire - Peaceful Means Campaign Sat May 20, 2006 04:37

In Dublin’s Fair City - to the air of Molly Malone

In Dublin’s Fair City,
It’s not very pretty,
To see those fine youngsters,
Who roar and who shout.
They don’t show compassion,
For they think it’s the fashion,
To demand that the Afghans,
Should die or get out!

Chorus:
Oh, let them not die,
Oh, let them not die,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

In the Cathedral are lying,
The men who are dying.
Who just want to live,
In this country of ours.
Why can’t you just see,
That that’s how we’d be,
If bombs had been dropped,
On our own country.

Chorus:
Oh, let them not die,
Oh, let them not die,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

Our airport at Shannon,
Was used to bring famine,
Destruction and death,
To some lands in the East.
So here in the West,
Let’s just do our best,
To allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets.

Chorus:
Oh, let them not die,
Oh, let them not die,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

We’re sisters and brothers,
To all of those others,
Who want to live here,
And not where there's war.
So raise up your voices,
And show you’ve made choices,
For seekers of asylum,
To walk free on our streets.

Chorus:
Oh, let them not die,
Oh, let them not die,
Allow seekers of asylum,
Walk free on our streets!

by the citizen Sat May 20, 2006 10:32

St. Patrick a refugee ? My arse.
He came to Ireland first as a "kidnapee" not a refugee. There is a slight difference I think.
He came a second time as a free agent and missionary not as someone seeking refuge from alleged persecution.

Let's not confuse issues here.

by Barrym Sat May 20, 2006 11:48

I have sympathy for these unfortunate people but I have to say their methodology is unacceptable. Regardless of who actually represents the State at this time (and I have no time for the present incumbent in Justice) the law exists, however inadequate, and should be followed. If these people have been through the process (and I've heard no commentary that their legal rights have been bypassed) then they should follow the law. If this method of protest was used by every individual or group who feel aggrieved then we will have anarchy. Maybe anarchy is what some people want but it won't solve the problem.

by John McGroarty Sat May 20, 2006 16:32

Unfortunate circumstances.

This is a growing trend set in England by allowing plane hijackers asylum. Scotland also had it when there was an occupation and there they had sewn eyelids and mouths to prevent food. Give in and a message is sent that the easy touches of the west will buckle to your demands. These are not the kind of people I would like freely walking about the streets where my children may well be. If they have this tendency for radical actions where does it stop in a free society. We already have our fair share of volatile people walking about.

by T Sun May 21, 2006 01:58

John,

Did it ever occur to you that these people are trying to get away from their totally fucked up country, which was attacked & largely destroyed by the Soviet invasion that over 10 years bombed every bit of the country practically. Then it was run by warlords and the drug trade and latterly in the past 5 years, it's been bombed and occupied by the USA / UK et al and to boot they have used depleted Uranium which is radioactive and this has contaminated many of the water tables with consequent rapid rises in the cancer rate and birth deformities. Do you think if the same happened here you might want to leave too?

Have you forgotten how this country was occupied and the subjugation we were under historically? It seems not. You appear to lack any humanity or concern for the others. Is it a case, well I am alright and I don't want my comfortable life upset. Is it the sight of these people that bursts the bubble in your mind?

Your attitude strikes me that you just want to brush all these issues away and under the carpet. It is this very sort of unconcern that you show which allows governments to do things without fear that their citizens will censure them, -to do things like bombing and invading other countries and causing people to flee them.

by John McGroarty Sun May 21, 2006 07:44

I thank you for the assumption that I have been living under a rock for the past 25 years but my eyes are and have been wide open for a long time having lived in different political/religious countries around the world. My understanding of their country's plight has been well absorbed.

In answer to your question I am not sure if I would leave the country as Afghanastan is a large area, what I am sure of is that not all the country is effected by the facts and figures you present. If for some reason I did leave, then I am sure I would head for a country that is more suitable to my ethnic/religious background. I would probably choose Scotland rather than Saudi Arabia. I have come to the conclusion that our own people come first and foremost. I would be more concerned about old/poor people having enough housing, heating and food to survive in one of the most expensive places in Europe. I am sure you/someone would do the hoovering/cleaning in your own house before having guests?

Ireland is not the first port of asylum...it has been selected for certain reasons. This is common among the fellow EU states.

Basically what I am saying is get our own place in order and then gladly help everyone on the planet. It may be cynical but its sensible.

by John McGroarty Sun May 21, 2006 07:44

I thank you for the assumption that I have been living under a rock for the past 25 years but my eyes are and have been wide open for a long time having lived in different political/religious countries around the world. My understanding of their country's plight has been well absorbed.

In answer to your question I am not sure if I would leave the country as Afghanastan is a large area, what I am sure of is that not all the country is effected by the facts and figures you present. If for some reason I did leave, then I am sure I would head for a country that is more suitable to my ethnic/religious background. I would probably choose Scotland rather than Saudi Arabia. I have come to the conclusion that our own people come first and foremost. I would be more concerned about old/poor people having enough housing, heating and food to survive in one of the most expensive places in Europe. I am sure you/someone would do the hoovering/cleaning in your own house before having guests?

Ireland is not the first port of asylum...it has been selected for certain reasons. This is common among the fellow EU states.

Basically what I am saying is get our own place in order and then gladly help everyone on the planet. It may be cynical but its sensible.

by John McGroarty Sun May 21, 2006 07:45

I thank you for the assumption that I have been living under a rock for the past 25 years but my eyes are and have been wide open for a long time having lived in different political/religious countries around the world. My understanding of their country's plight has been well absorbed.

In answer to your question I am not sure if I would leave the country as Afghanastan is a large area, what I am sure of is that not all the country is effected by the facts and figures you present. If for some reason I did leave, then I am sure I would head for a country that is more suitable to my ethnic/religious background. I would probably choose Scotland rather than Saudi Arabia. I have come to the conclusion that our own people come first and foremost. I would be more concerned about old/poor people having enough housing, heating and food to survive in one of the most expensive places in Europe. I am sure you/someone would do the hoovering/cleaning in your own house before having guests?

Ireland is not the first port of asylum...it has been selected for certain reasons. This is common among the fellow EU states.

Basically what I am saying is get our own place in order and then gladly help everyone on the planet. It may be cynical but its sensible.

by John McGroarty Sun May 21, 2006 07:46

I thank you for the assumption that I have been living under a rock for the past 25 years but my eyes are and have been wide open for a long time having lived in different political/religious countries around the world. My understanding of their country's plight has been well absorbed.

In answer to your question I am not sure if I would leave the country as Afghanastan is a large area, what I am sure of is that not all the country is effected by the facts and figures you present. If for some reason I did leave, then I am sure I would head for a country that is more suitable to my ethnic/religious background. I would probably choose Scotland rather than Saudi Arabia. I have come to the conclusion that our own people come first and foremost. I would be more concerned about old/poor people having enough housing, heating and food to survive in one of the most expensive places in Europe. I am sure you/someone would do the hoovering/cleaning in your own house before having guests?

Ireland is not the first port of asylum...it has been selected for certain reasons. This is common among the fellow EU states.

Basically what I am saying is get our own place in order and then gladly help everyone on the planet. It may be cynical but its sensible.