IAWM Press Release, 09 December 2015

Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) welcomes the release of Mick Wallace TD

Mick Wallace, the Wexford TD, was arrested this morning and taken to Limerick Prison. The reason for his arrest and imprisonment is his refusal to pay a 2,000 Euro fine imposed on him, along with Clare Daly TD, following his attempt to inspect US military planes in Shannon Airport. As the motivation for their actions was entirely in the pursuit of peace and against war, the IAWM welcomes his release.

In compliance with their duties as elected public representatives and legislators to hold the Government to account, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace felt obliged to undertake what the complicit Irish authorities have failed to do. They tried to enter Shannon Airport and search the military aircraft that are carrying war munitions, armed soldiers and possibly even prisoners. On July 22nd last year they entered the airport. They were arrested by the police and subsequently convicted of breaching ‘regulations’, fined 2,000 Euro each, which they decided to refuse to pay and they are now facing a prison sentence of one month.

“In light of the current deadly airstrikes by the US, UK, France and Russia on Syria, a country ravaged by war, it is particularly crucial that we in Ireland disassociate ourselves from this imperialist bombing,” said Michael Youlton, Chair of the IAWM. “Mick and Clare are demanding positive neutrality from Ireland and are prepared to pay a high price to this end. A number of previous and current Government Ministers have repeatedly misled the Dáil with regard to Ireland’s neutrality while allowing nearly three million armed US soldiers to transit through Shannon Airport on their way to and from the killing fields of the Middle East.”

IAWM Press Release, 08 December 2015

IAWM RALLY AT DÁIL – DON’T BOMB SYRIA

The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) is having a protest at Dáil Eireann starting at 5pm this Thursday 10 December.

NO MORE BOMBING OF SYRIA - CEASEFIRE NOW!

END ARMS SALES NOW - STOP PROFITEERING FROM WARS

RESTORE IRISH NEUTRALITY - US MILITARY OUT OF SHANNON

END THE CYCLE OF WAR AND TERROR - NO MORE WESTERN WARS IN MIDDLE EAST

Speakers include:

- Richard Boyd Barrett TD, President IAWM
- Clare Daly TD
- Azad Izzeddin, Syrian Refugee
- Margareta D’Arcy, Anti-War Activist
- Ed Horgan, Shannonwatch and former Irish Army Officer
- Memet Uludag, Steering Committee IAWM
- Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, anti-war activist, will recite poem
- Síomha Ní Aonghusa, anti-war activist, will sing a special song about war

The Irish Anti-War movement, in solidarity with other anti-war events in the UK, France and elsewhere, is assembling outside the Dail at 5pm on Thursday December 10th to demand of the Irish Government that it upholds Irish neutrality, refuses to facilitate, or participate in, the bombing of Syria, calls for an immediate ceasefire and withdraws permission to use Shannon Airport by the US military.

“The claim that bombing will destroy Da’esh (Islamic State) is patently false, said Marnie Holborrow,” IAWM Steering Committee member.

IAWM press statement 26 November 2015

IAWM Public Meeting – After Paris, Stop the Terror, Stop the Wars

Date / Time: Thursday 26th November, 7.30pm

Venue: Academy Plaza Hotel, 10-14 Findlater Place, Dublin 1 (off Marlborough Street, Parnell Street East end)

Speakers include:
Richard Boyd Barret, TD
Clare Daly TD
Mick Wallace TD
and others

The IAWM are holding a public meeting this evening with three TDs speaking on how best to react to the Paris terrorist attacks and the response by the French and other governments.

The IAWM is urging people to attend this important meeting to hear suggestions as to how we can stop the new mad rush to war by western political leaders.

John Molyneux, Secretary of the IAWM said:

“We believe it is necessary to break out of the vicious cycle of war, terrorism and more war and more terrorism in which we have become locked. The appalling events in Paris come 14 years after 9/11, (itself a response to previous wars and occupations in the Middle East) and the launching of George Bush’s so-called ‘War on Terror’. These 14 years have seen wars on and in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere and yet, predictably the terrorist attacks continue. No one should imagine that these drone strikes and bombing raids only kill targeted terrorists – on the contrary they kill hundreds and cumulatively thousands and thousands of ordinary people thus fuelling further bitterness.”

Jim Roche, IAWM PRO said:

IAWM Press Release, 20 November 2015
 
United Against Racism: Refugee Solidarity Rally
 
Saturday 21 November, 1pm
 
The Spire, O’Connell St., Dublin.
 
 
The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) is supporting the solidarity rally for refugees tomorrow at 1pm, Saturday 21 November at the Spire, O Connell Street Dublin. The rally, planned several weeks ago, is organised by Unite Against Racism and is supported by a multitude of organisations.
 
 
The theme of the rally is ‘Winter is Coming: We have not Forgotten!’
 
The IAWM noted that even prior to the events in Paris last weekend the attitude of EU Governments towards refugees had begun to harden. This looks likely to get worse with many right wing politicians and some media outlets drawing links between refugees and terrorism. This is ironic given that the refugees are fleeing the horrific experience of terrorism that Paris witnessed last weekend whether this be from shootings, suicide bombings, shellings or bombs from the air and whether these are carried out by Isis, Assad’s forces or the air forces of France, the U.S. or Russia.
 
Jim Roche, PRO IAWM, noted:
 
“It is important that we continue to highlight the plight of the refugees who are are making incredibly brave and dangerous journeys fleeing from the violence of wars prolonged, if not directly instigated, by western governments. We have a duty in the west to offer shelter to these refugees and equally importantly to stop the wars that lead to both the refugee crisis and the rise in terrorist attacks. We owe it to the memory of all the victims of terrorism, whether they be in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad or Raqqa.”
 
 
 
United Against Racism organiser Memet Uludag said;
 

Irish Anti-War Movement Press Statement 16 November 2015

After Paris: Stop the Terror, Stop the Wars

The Irish Anti-War Movement believes it is necessary to break out of the vicious cycle of war, terrorism and more war and more terrorism in which we have become locked.

The appalling events in Paris come 14 years after 9/11, (itself a response to previous wars and occupations in the Middle East) and the launching of George Bush’s so-called ‘War on Terror’. These 14 years have seen wars on and in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and elsewhere and yet, predictably the terrorist attacks continue. And still there are those like Francois Hollande and David Cameron who want to respond with more war and more bombing.

The day before the Paris atrocity David Cameron and US Secretary of State were celebrating the killing of so-called ‘Jihadi John’ by a drone strike. The day after the Paris slaughter Francois Hollande says he will respond with ‘merciless war’ and France launches massive air strikes on the IS held city of Raqqa. But no one should imagine that these drone strikes and bombing raids only kill targeted terrorists – on the contrary they kill hundreds and cumulatively thousands and thousands of ordinary people thus fuelling further bitterness.

The anger and rage inevitably unleashed by the horrifying attacks in Paris are then replicated in Syria, Iraq, or wherever the war is unleashed. The bitter desire for revenge continues.

The Irish Anti-War Movement says we must break out of this cycle by stopping making war in the Middle East or, where the Irish Government is concerned, assisting the making of war by allowing the US military use of Shannon.

Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) Press Release, 10 November 2015

1.     Veterans for Peace wreath laying at Garden of Remembrance, Dublin this morning at 10.00am