A fully formatted version of All the motions before the AGM can be found at
https://www.irishantiwar.org/files/IAWM_Motions%20AGM%202009%20Final.pdf
1 IRAQ
The Irish Anti-War Movement calls on the United States to withdraw from Iraq without leaving any
residual forces in place.
Proposed: Julien Mercille IAWM Steering Committee
2 AFGHANISTAN
2.1 Motion 2.1: The IAWM notes with concern the escalation of the US-NATO occupation of Afghanistan.
The US’s decision to send 21,000 extra troops with possibly an additional 10,000 more next year, NATO’s
commitment of 58,000 troops in the region, a steeply rising overall death toll of more than 20,000 with over
50,000 injured, the obscene escalation of cost of the war in time of recession, the overspill of the war into
Pakistan, all these mean that we are experiencing an alarming new chapter in the war on terror. The new
US Administration, dashing the hopes of the international anti-war movement, have merely shifted the focus
from Iraq to Afghanistan, which has now become “Obama’s war”.
A fully formatted version of All the motions before the AGM can be found at
https://www.irishantiwar.org/files/IAWM_Motions%20AGM%202009%20Final.pdf
1 IRAQ
The Irish Anti-War Movement calls on the United States to withdraw from Iraq without leaving any
residual forces in place.
Proposed: Julien Mercille IAWM Steering Committee
2 AFGHANISTAN
2.1 Motion 2.1: The IAWM notes with concern the escalation of the US-NATO occupation of Afghanistan.
The US’s decision to send 21,000 extra troops with possibly an additional 10,000 more next year, NATO’s
commitment of 58,000 troops in the region, a steeply rising overall death toll of more than 20,000 with over
50,000 injured, the obscene escalation of cost of the war in time of recession, the overspill of the war into
Pakistan, all these mean that we are experiencing an alarming new chapter in the war on terror. The new
US Administration, dashing the hopes of the international anti-war movement, have merely shifted the focus
from Iraq to Afghanistan, which has now become “Obama’s war”.
The European dimension to the Afghan war is of direct to concern to Ireland. NATO has enthusiastically
endorsed Obama’s increased troop commitment, NATO spends $250 million a year for the Afghan military,
and may now appoint Rasmussen, a avowed anti-Muslim, to its top civilian post. Greater EU –NATO
cooperation means that even non-NATO countries are directly involved in the war. Ireland has sent military
personnel to work on counter-terror operations with NATO forces in Kabul.
The IAWM therefore calls on the Irish government
· To immediately withdraw its involvement in this war by recalling its military personnel from Afghanistan,
and
· To stop the use of Shannon for the passage of military troops to the war zone.
It also resolves to bring pressure to bear on our representatives in Europe to bring EU troops home and,
through public demonstrations and campaigns, to highlight Irish involvement in this disastrous war.
Proposed: Marnie Holborow IAWM Steering Committee
2.2 Motion 2.2: Get the troops out of Afghanistan.
In the last few weeks thousands of anti war protesters converged on the NATO conference in Strasbourg to
march against NATO expansion and the Obama surge in Afghanistan. As the fighting intensifies in
Afghanistan and more troops are despatched there the IAWM accepts the need for a campaign to inform the
public of the real situation in Afghanistan/Pakistan: that this is not a "good war" and that Irish troops are
involved- exposing their roles working with US armed forces as part of NATO aggression, and exposing the
realities of the NATO agenda and its expansion programme.
We need a national tour with an informed speaker, preferably from the area or who has connections there,
exposee information on Irish troops role in Afghanistan, more coverage on the USUK/NATO operation and
the opposition against it around EU/world.
Proposed: Galway SWP branch
3 SHANNON CONFERENCE
The IAWM supports the proposal by PANA and others to hold a conference at Shannon on 5th
September 2009 with the title: ‘War, NATO and The Lisbon Treaty’, and undertakes to organise a
delegation from Dublin to attend the conference, and to take part in the planning of the conference,
and to make submissions to the conference as appropriate.
Proposed: Mark Price IAWM Steering Committee
4 WAR CRIMINALS
4.1 Motion 4.1: Declaring War Criminals:
The Irish Anti-war Movement declares and recognizes former US President Mr. George W. Bush,
Former US Secretary of Defense Mr. Donald Henry Rumsfeld and Former British Prime Minister
Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair as war criminals due their actions which led their countries
into an illegal war and occupation of Iraq, and the killing thousands of civilians throughout the
occupation.
As John Pilger has reported: “Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley compared the status of
George W. Bush with that of Pinochet. “Outside [the United States] there is not the ambiguity about what to
do about a war crime,” he said. “So if you try to travel, most people abroad are going to view you not as
‘former President George Bush’ [but] as a current war criminal.”
Rumsfeld has twice been indicted for war crimes in Germany.
The International Criminal Court, to which Britain is a signatory, has received a record number of petitions
related to Blair’s wars. Spain’s celebrated Judge Baltasar Garzon, who indicted Pinochet and the leaders of
the Argentinian military junta, has called for George W. Bush, Blair and former Spanish prime minister Jose
Maria Aznar to be prosecuted for the invasion of Iraq – “one of the most sordid and unjustifiable episodes in
recent human history: a devastating attack on the rule of law” that had left the UN “in tatters”. He said,
“There is enough of an argument in 650,000 deaths for this investigation to start without delay.”
Proposed: Memet Uludag IAWM Steering Committee
4.2 Motion 4.2: Bringing War Criminals to Justice
According to Reuters, the Israeli government communicated to the UN Human Rights Council that it
will not cooperate with an investigation into alleged Israeli and Hamas crimes surrounding the
December 2008-January 2009 Israeli incursion into Gaza. The inquiry is to be lead by Judge Richard
Goldstone, a highly regarded South African jurist and international humanitarian law scholar.
Considering the honourable reputation of Judge Richard Goldstone in his work with South African tribunals,
the IAWM considers an investigation led by this man highly credible. Therefore, if Israel has nothing to hide,
it should allow this UN led investigation to go ahead. It is in the interest of not only Palestinians, but also
Israelis, that any war crimes committed during the assault on Gaza be exposed.
Furthermore, the IAWM demands that the trial of all cases about possible war crimes committed during the
Gaza assault, and that are brought to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, be accepted by the court.
To date, 220 separate cases have been brought to the court. Hesitation in deciding whether to take
on these cases is because the ICC has jurisdiction only in cases where the accused is a national or a state
party. The IAWM calls on all European parties signed up to the ICC to support the notion that Palestine is a
nation and therefore urge the ICC to accept cases relating to the Gaza assault.
Proposed: Claudia Saba IAWM Steering Committee
5 IRAN
The Irish Anti-War Movement calls on the United States and European governments to engage Iran
immediately regarding its nuclear activities, without preconditions. The IAWM also calls on the United States
and Israel in particular to stop threatening Iran militarily. Finally, the IAWM calls on the US, Israel and all
other states possessing nuclear weapons to eliminate them.
Proposed: Julien Mercille IAWM Steering Committee
6 OBAMA PRESIDENCY
The Irish Anti-War Movement warmly welcomes the end of the administration of George W Bush in
the US. The Bush Presidency marked a new low in the recent history of US/western imperialism.
Through its own actions and working through proxies such as Israel, Ethiopia and other "allies" the Bush
administration was responsible for destroying the lives of countless hundreds of thousands in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Somalia and devastating those countries in a manner that will take
decades to repair. The Bush administration also sought consistently to undermine the democratically
elected governments of Venezuela and Bolivia and provoke a entirely unnecessary conflict with Iran. The
Bush administration also contributed to an alarming and deliberate escalation of political and military
tensions in central and Eastern Europe and the Caspian region, through its expansion of NATO and moves
to encircle Russia – part a strategy to gain influence in the oil rich Caspian region and surrounding countries
through which oil and gas pipelines currently travel or may travel in the future.
In this context, the IAWM acknowledges the election of Barack Obama and the widespread
global celebration of his victory as evidence that a majority in the US and elsewhere reject the
warmongering policies pursued by the Bush administration.
However, the IAWM is gravely concerned at the policy statements and inaction of Barack Obama before,
during and after his election in moving to decisively break from the warmongering and imperialist policies of
the Bush administration.
Specifically, the IAWM:
· Calls on the Obama administration to unequivocally condemn Israel’s slaughter in Gaza at the beginning
of this year and retract statements of unconditional support for the state of Israel.
· Calls on the Obama administration to recognise the democratically elected Palestinian
Hamas government and end its continuing calls for the disarmament of Hamas
· Calls on the US to cease it’s massive military and financial support for the state of Israel and to exert its
influence to end the occupation of Palestine and the denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination.
· Condemns the escalation of the US/NATO led conflict in Afghanistan and increased troop deployments
to that conflict and calls for immediate withdrawal of western troops from that country.
· Condemns the continuing US bombing of Pakistan and calls for this to cease immediately and an end to
all interference in the sovereign affairs of Pakistan.
· Calls for an immediate US military withdrawal from Iraq and war reparations to the people of Iraq.
· Calls for an end to US military, political and financial support to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
· Calls for an end to all US military and political interference in Somalia.
· Calls for an end to political interference in the sovereign affairs of Venezuela and Bolivia.
· Calls for the disbandment of NATO
· Calls on the US to redirect the massive resources now being spent on its military machine and weapons
arsenal to be redirected into socially useful civilian purposes.
· Pledges full support, solidarity and co-operation with the US anti-war movement and other forces in the
US that are campaigning for similar policy changes.
Finally, the IAWM recognises that while the US is the pre-eminent militaristic and imperialist power, it is not
alone in pursuing militaristic and imperialist polices and we must also, therefore, condemn and demand
change in the same and similar polices from Russia, the EU, China or any other military power.
Proposed: Richard Boyd-Barrett Chair IAWM and Steering Committee
7 EU MILITARISATION
7.1 Motion 7.1: Strasbourg Anti-NATO protest, April 2009
The IAWM abhors the brutal suppression by the police of the recent peaceful and democratic anti-war rally
in Strasbourg, and proposes to make a formal complaint to the French and German governments
concerning this issue.
Proposed: Mark Price IAWM Steering Committee
7.2 Motion 7.2: Billy Timmins/Fine Gael statement on Ireland joining the EU Common Defence
In a statement to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on Saturday 4th April 2009 Billy Timmins TD Fine Gael’s
spokesperson on Foreign Affairs stated; “Fine Gael believes that Ireland can no longer operate in the
Twilight Zone and that we should be full participants in a European Common defence.”
The Irish Anti-War Movement opposes this statement and calls on Billy Timmins and Fine Gael to withdraw
it.
This statement can be found on the Fine Gael web site.
http://billytimmins.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/37157/pkey/0/page/2/
Proposed: Kieran O’Sullivan IAWM Steering Committee
8 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS
The Irish Anti-War Movement will try to raise the issue of neutrality in the European elections and
will organize a debate between those for and against Neutrality. To this end we will work with
groups such as PANA and others who have a track record of opposing the growing militarization of
Ireland.
Proposed: Kieran O’Sullivan IAWM Steering Committee
9 LISBON TREATY
The IAWM re-affirms its opposition to the proposed EU Constitution – revamped as the Lisbon Treaty. The
Campaign to oppose the Treaty, the CAEUC, with its 14 affiliated Irish and European organisations, will be
our main focus for mobilization in the forthcoming Referendum Mark II imposed on our people. We will
argue that NO Means NO to Lisbon and will work tirelessly in order to defeat this new attempt by the
European elites to bypass democracy. We will continue to mobilize and struggle for a democratic, social and
de-militarised Europe.
Proposed: Michael Youlton, Secretary IAWM and Steering Committee
Seconded: Mark Price IAWM Steering Committee
10 PALESTINE
10.1 Motion 10.1: Allowing aid into Gaza and ending the blockade of Gaza.
After the killing of 1400 people and wounding of 5000 in Gaza in Dec-08/Jan-09, Israel is flagrantly
hampering aid efforts into Gaza. According to a report released in March 2009 by the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on average 127 aid trucks a day are entering Gaza.
OCHA stated that this was insufficient, as illustrated by the fact that 475 trucks entered daily prior to June
2007. The crossings are opened on a seemingly arbitrary basis. Waste water, water plant spare parts and
repair equipment are some of the many essential items still not allowed into Gaza. About 150,000 Gazans
are still deprived of access to sufficient quantities of safe drinking water, while 90 percent experience
intermittent power cuts. Gazans in need of medical attention abroad are struggling to get permits.
The IAWM asks that Israel immediately stop restricting aid from entering Gaza. The IAWM also asks the
Irish government to formally ask the Israeli government to stop hampering international aid efforts into Gaza.
Proposed: Claudia Saba IAWM Steering Committee
10.2 Motion 10.2: Ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians must stop and Palestine must be freed from
occupation.
Increasingly more eviction notices have been sent out to families in East Jerusalem near the Old
City, warning that because their homes had been built without proper council approval, they would
be demolished. In February of 2009 alone, 90 houses were pinpointed for demolition. Israel
purposely withholds building permission to Palestinians and at arbitrary times decides to evict them
and demolish their homes.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on 9 April 2009: "We view with real concern the proposed
demolitions in east Jerusalem (al-Quds),". Miliband further stressed that Jerusalem should be the capital of
both the Palestinians and Israelis.
According to the Palestinian Authority officials, the current destruction of Palestinian houses in the West
Bank would leave some 1,500 people homeless.
The IAWM calls for the halt of continued evictions of people from their homes in the West Bank and
Jerusalem. The IAWM views the actions of the Israel government in this regard as an extension of its
unannounced policy of Palestinian ethnic cleansing. Another aspect of this policy are the continued illegal
Israeli settlements being built on Palestinian land.
The IAWM continues to condemn the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine, the Apartheid Wall,
the continuous land grab, the daily harassment at checkpoints throughout the West Bank and the denial of
fundamental human rights to the Palestinian people.
The IAWM continues to call on the Irish Government to use its influence to censure Israel for its inhumane
actions and collective punishment of the entire Palestinian population.
The IAWM pledges to work with members of the Palestinian Community in Ireland and with the Ireland
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) over the coming year to continually raise the issue of the plight of the
Palestinian people within Ireland and to bring pressure on the Irish Government to take meaningful action
against Israel. Meaningful action by the Irish government should include a boycott of Israeli goods until
Israel complies with International Law and use its influence in the European Union so that the EU terminates
its partnership agreements with Israel as the latter has continuously breached its human rights obligations
inherent in these agreements.
Proposed: Claudia Saba IAWM Steering Committee
10.3 Motion 10.3: One state solution and Billy Timmins/Fine Gael statement on Israel/Palestine.
In a statement to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on Saturday 4th April 2009 Billy Timmins TD Fine Gael’s
spokesperson on Foreign Affairs stated; “The Israel and Palestine conflict is one of the most
emotive and divisive foreign affairs issues in this country. We should seek to move the friends of
Palestine and the friends of Israel to the friends of Palestine and Israel. We should seek to join and
not divide. The Fine Gael position is based on four very clear pillars
A. A Two State solution.
B. A return to pre-1967 borders unless amended by agreement between the two parties.
C. An agreed solution to the issue of Palestinian Refugees who fled/left their houses in 1948 and 1967.
D. Israel to cease settlement activities and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001.
In order to achieve this all Palestinians must cease all acts of violence and commit to peace. Fine Gael also
recognises Israel’s right to protect its citizens from attacks, but in doing so it should act within International
Law. The EU should establish a special trade agreement with Israel and Palestine to assist in the economic
development of the area. It is difficult to see Hamas as part of the process while one of their central aims is
the destruction of the State of Israel.”
Fine Gael’s policy is constructive and clear. I am aware of the Hamas tactic of using children as shields and
I am also aware that they see the propaganda benefit of their death as being of more importance than their
safety. However punishing a whole population is not the solution. The Middle East question will always
present strong and emotive responses. There is a responsibility on the conflicting parties to put in place the
conditions to facilitate peace.
The Irish Anti-War Movement opposes this statement and calls on Billy Timmins and Fine Gael to withdraw
it. We oppose it for the following reasons:
1. The two state solution is unworkable and it essentially endorses an apartheid system separating
people on the basis of religion.
2. Calling on all Palestinians to cease all acts of violence is essentially blaming the Palestinians for the
conflict. It is not Palestinian violence which is the problem it is the occupation of Palestine and the
blockade of Gaza.
3. Hamas was elected by the people of Palestine in a Free and Fare election they have to be part of
the process otherwise it will fail.
4. There is absolutely no evidence that Hamas put children in danger for propaganda value. There is
evidence that Israel deliberately targeted civilian areas.
This statement can be found on the Fine Gael web site
http://billytimmins.finegael.ie/representatives/common/index.cfm/type/statementdetails/nkey/37157/pkey/0/page/2/
Proposed: Kieran O’Sullivan IAWM Steering Committee
11 BURMA
The military dictatorship in Burma have been waging war on their own people since they took power
in 1962. This AGM of the Irish Anti- War Movement unresevedly condemns the savage oppression,
rape, forced labour, murder and imprisonment, by the junta, of innocent people whose
only ‘crime’ has been to peacefully call for the return of democratic rule.
We call upon UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to stop pussy-footing with this brutal regime and to make
it his personal priority to go to Burma and demand the immediate and unconditional release of democratic
leader, Freeman of Dublin and Galway Aung San Suu Kyi, and all political prisoners. We also call upon our
own government to continue to urge its European partners to strengthen the EU ‘common position’ in
relation to sanctions, in order to persuade the recalcitrant Burmese generals to come to their senses.
Proposed: Gearoid Kilgallen IAWM Steering Committee
12 ECONOMIC CRISIS
The IAWM, in the current economic and political environment, opposes the all-out attack on working class
people of Ireland and the actions of fraud and corruption in the financial system. These attacks have
resulted in severe levies for workers – both in the public and private sector – pay cuts, taxes and job losses.
We therefore call for the IAWM to affiliate and work with organizations, trade unions, political parties to
support any democratic opposition by the workers on these issues.
Proposed: Memet Uludag IAWM Steering Committee
13 RAF RED ARROWS INVITATION
The Volvo Ocean Race is a wonderful example of human ingenuity and human endeavour combining to
harness the natural elements so as to propel these sailing crafts across the seven seas.
What a contrast the Ocean Race is to the British RAF’s Red Arrows that are participating in the Galway stop
over of the race in an air display on 30th May 2009. Tear away the ‘glamour’ that shrouds the planes and
pilots and what you have is a recruiting sergeant for the British military and an apology for war, death and
terror; what you have are pilots who in their day jobs are trained to terrorise and kill people. Their CVs
contain the details that nearly every one of them has combat service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Pilots and
planes that kill other people’s children are not family entertainment.
In the present economic climate of growing unemployment the last thing we need is the recruiting sergeant
of the British Armed Forces screaming over our skies to coax naive young Irish men and women to go fight
and die in Britain’s foreign wars.
Not only do the Red Arrows have no connection whatsoever with the unique character and culture of
Galway or Ireland, but their display is both a polluter of the environment and the international body politic.
As an Anti-War Movement the IAWM agrees to campaign against the RAF Red Arrows display in Ireland, to
highlight the alterior motives behind such displays, to denounce these British armed forces as suitable
family entertainment to represent Ireland, to participate in the campaign by Galway Alliance Against War
opposing this invitation to these killers, and participate in the protest to be held on the day.
Proposed: Dette McLoughlin, Galway
