IAWM Press Release

national | anti-war / imperialism | press release Monday June 11, 2007 17:27 by MichaelY - iawm

Fianna Fail and the Green Party

Is Shannon an Unsourmountable issue or is it open for consideration Trevor?
What about you John?
Is Shannon too big a price to pay?

IAWM last Saturday

The Green Party has an honourable record on opposing the use of Shannon by US military
on their way to and from Iraq. John Gormley, Trevor Sargent and Patricia McKenna have spoken on anti-war demonstrations and hundreds of Green Party members have taken part in protests against the use of Shannon by US troops.
Section 13 of the Green Party election manifesto declares that the Green Party is committed to ending the "use of Shannon airport by US military forces involved in the war in Iraq and insist that any aircraft suspected of involvement in illegal movements of prisoners must be searched".
During a recent Dail debate on the Nordic Battle Groups (5th April 2007) Trevor Sargent was trenchant in his condemnation of the military use of Shannon by U.S troops. ' 'Most disgracefully we continue to facilitate more than 1million US troops that have passed through Shannon Airport on the way to what started as an illegal and immoral war. It remains immoral, whatever about the retrospective sanction from the United Nations. It was a war of invasion which we should not have supported.'
Such sentiments should be applauded as one of the most consistent opponents of the Iraqi invasion by the coalition forces.
Pledge
The Green Party position against the use of Shannon reflects a wider opposition to the war
across Ireland. 58% of the population is against the use of Shannon by US troops, as the recent independent poll commissioned by PANA to Lansdowne Market Research Survey found.
A number of Green candidates who stood in the election have signed a pledge drawn up the Irish Anti-War Movement, Peace and Neutrality Alliance and NGOPA demanding the withdrawal of permission for the US military to fly through Shannon.
The pledge stated that: "We the undersigned give a firm commitment that if elected, we will not participate in any government that allows Shannon airport or other Irish facilities to be used by the United States to conduct war in Iraq or in any other Imperialist war.".
The six Green Party candidates who did sign were :
Patricia McKenna (Dublin Central)
David Healy (Dublin North East)
Bronwen Maher (Dublin North Central)
Niall OBrolchain (Galway West)
David Grey (Kerry North)
John Hickey (Kerry South)
Green Party leader, Trevor Sargent has not signed the pledge, claiming that the Green Party would accept "no pre-conditions" in negotiations for government, including the use of Shannon.
Ciaran Cuffe referred us to Section 13 of the Green Party 2007 Manifesto that commits the party to ending the use of Shannon Airport by US forces, but did not sign the pledge. Party Chairperson and chief negotiator for government, John Gormley did not sign and referred us to the party's convention which "could not lay down any preconditions on any issue". Notwithstanding, he had no hesitation in assuring us that the issue of Shannon would be "an absolute priority".
Credibility
What credibility would the Green Party have if they engaged in some sort of a trade off over the use of Shannon? Private hospitals and co-location, corruption, donations and climate change are very important concerns. But they cannot be exchanged for colluding in a war to which practically every Green supporter is opposed. Such terms of negotiation are simply unacceptable.
Of course, Fianna Fail is only too keen to apply the pressure. It desperately needs the support of the Green Party but it is also deeply committed to allowing the US to continue to use Shannon. Bertie Ahern has flatly rejected ending the United States military's use of Shannon airport as one of the prices of putting together a coalition with Independents, or the Greens. On May 31st he said "I will not change my position on Shannon." Dermot Ahern in a letter to the Irish Anti War movement justifies the use of Shannon declaring that Ireland has been making over-flight and landing facilities available to the US over a long period.
However as Green Party member Ed Horgan's case against the government proved, there are no examples of US troops being granted official permission to use Shannon during a war.
Ahern also claimed to us that the UN resolutions approve what he calls "the multinational task force that is making progress in Iraq". The fact is that it is a US led occupation, backed by the UK, and that it has led to the deaths of over 650,000 Iraqis.
Ireland has allowed no less than 1,000,000 US troops to pass through Shannon airport since March 2003 and therefore is a key player in Bush's war. FF is prepared to do anything to keep the Empire sweet including relinquishing Irish neutrality.
Ireland has no legal obligation in International Law arising from our membership of the United Nations to allow US planes to land in Shannon Airport on their way to and from the war in Iraq. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, a member state of the United Nations said recently that under the Hague Convention of 1907, a cornerstone of International Law, a state that wishes to be regarded as neutral, cannot allow its territory to be used by belligerents in a war which was why no US planes have been allowed to land in Zurich Airport. By allowing Shannon Airport to be used the Irish Government and any
other Irish political party that does so, is declaring that Ireland is not neutral, but is in legal terms part of a military alliance fighting a war to gain control of the oil in Iraq and to consolidate US/Israeli military domination of the Middle East.
Anything for a seat round the cabinet table?
The Greens could bring integrity and principle to the process of participation in government by insisting that the issue of Shannon is addressed. Too often, the left and independents have been too quick to trade in their principles for a seat in government. Those who voted for the Greens deserve better. The Green Party needs to send out a message that Shannon will not be bargained away. The lives of Iraqis and the sort of world we want to see depend
on it.
John Gormley, Green Party Chairman's, statement to the Irish Anti War Movement Press conference (Tuesday May 22nd 2007) said:
"The Green Party is totally committed to ending the use of Shannon For the illegal war in Iraq and to opposing the abuse of human rights through rendition flights. Our election manifesto states unequivocally: *End the use of Shannon Airport by US military
forces involved in the war in Iraq *Insist that any aircraft suspected of involvement in
illegal movements of prisoners must be searched. "Our Party Convention and our party council took a decision that the Party and its spokepersons cannot lay pre-conditions on any issue.[and] this has prevented our key party spokespersons from directly signing the pledge. But people can be assured that in any negotiation with other parties the issue of Shannon will be an absolute priority".
Ciaran Cuffe, TD letter to Irish Anti war Movement (8th May 2007)
"The Green Party are committed to ending the use of Shannon airport by US Military forces. Section 13 of our recently published 2007 manifesto reads
...
End the use of Shannon Airport by US military forces involved in the war in Iraq Insist that any aircraft suspected of involvement in illegal movements of prisoners must be searched"
This Press Release is issued jointly by:
Irish Anti War Movement, Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and NGO Peace Alliance
www.irishantiwar.org
www.pana.ie
www.ngopeacealliance.com