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A GROUP IS to gather outside the Dáil this afternoon to protest against the Irish Government’s silence on the hunger strikes at Guantanamo Bay.
The protest by the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) will take place at Dáil Eireann at 1pm today. The group is protesting what it describes as “the continued incarceration and torture of inmates at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre”.
The protest has been called to coincide with a speech that Barack Obama is due to make on the issue today.
The IAWM statement said that this will be a colourful protest, and its PRO Jim Roche told TheJournal.ie that they anticipate around 15 – 30 people will attend to highlight the conditions that the prisoners are under.
They have also invited several supportive TDs and Senators to the protest. Currently there are 166 prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, with 103 on hunger strike, 30 of whom are being force-fed.
The first prisoners arrived in Guantanamo 11 years ago.
Roche said:
It is truly shocking that the Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre is still open and that 166 detainees, almost all of them innocent, remain incarcerated there. Only 6 detainees are facing charges. It is such a dark stain on Barack Obama’s presidency considering that he promised to close it before he got elected for his first term five years ago.
He described it as “galling that the Irish Government has been so silent on this issue”.
We are having this protest at Dáil Eireann to show solidarity with the Guantanamo Prisoners and to call on the Irish Government to press Barack Obama to close down the facility once and for all and to release those prisoners who have not been charged.
Roche said that in particular the group is calling on Minister of Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore to speak out about the issue, and said of the Irish government’s stance so far:
It indicates to us that they don’t want to say anything that might be seen as upsetting the US government and it’s the same attitude that has led to them allowing the use of Shannon Airport by the US military and rendition flight.
Similar events have been held in Galway and in other cities around the world as part of a global movement on the issue.
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Not like the irish government can do anything. If it is such an issue for them it is the UN they should petition
Stopping rendition flights via Shannon would be a start or is ours a benevolent neutrality like during the emergency
It is in our interest to help the USA. Don’t be so gullible that all these people were innocent. Stopping the flights through Shannon is not in the national interest.
Still nothing from the journal on the people of killkenny burning their home tax forms outside Phil Hogans office.
There will prob be a whole 6 people protesting at this anti war movement thing.
You forget Leonard the journal is strong FG supporter. Often comments are removed when made about FG.
“Don’t be so gullible that all these people were innocent.”
What we can say however is that we can’t be sure that all of them were guilty. That’s more than enough to warrant an end to it. If the US has evidence to support that these guys are engaging or aiding terrorism, then charge them accordingly. Nobody would shed a tear for someone who’s actually guilty. But to lock people away for years in detention without a trial is not something democratic nations should be engaging in. We’re better than that.
I’m a Kilkenny man living in oz , I wish I could have been there . Did I use the correct there for the grammar police .
Rte news reporting 5 of those 6 will not attend as it is dole day
The thing that makes us better (supposedly) then the “terrorists” is the fact that we are meant to have justice and due process. What’s going on in Guantanamo is no different then Islamic militants kidnapping westerners because the think they’ve been wronged by them. If you think gitmo is acceptable then you’re no better then some extremist hostage taker!
O go get a job!
Well said Itiswhatitis!
Force feed them rashers…they won’t be long giving up their “hunger strike” if they are true believers….
o be quiet leonard just pay the god dame house taxes its for the good of the nation
What about apple? And all their taxes hmmm?
If we protested everything every time the Irish Government went silent, the feet would be walked off you.
how about eat an apple your energy levels must be real low after all the bull crap you talk about
Randy give that man an apple .
but what about the taxes meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr its to late iv seen it all
Me and the shermanator are goin to mess you up, punk
Its too late. I seen it all iv seen everything
”It is in our interest to help the USA. Don’t be so gullible that all these people were innocent. ”
so you know they were / are guilty – it might be best if u forward your evidence to the US govt .
Stopping the flights through Shannon is not in the national interest.”
– And you are ok with people being flown thro Shannon to be tortured !!.
Too many Irish have a blind spot as regards the activities of USA – and its Terrorism .
…..the UN are a total joke, they’ll do nothing as usual
“Don’t be so gullible that all these people were innocent.” It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer – Blackstone’s formulation and a basis for justice systems throughout the western world.
Excellent.
T the methods used to counteract so called terrorism are food and drink to the so called terrorists. It has been the same for thousands of years. How many bin Ladens across the Muslim world has this concentration camp created. It will ensure that the war against terror will go on indefinitely. Maybe that is it’s real purpose maybe not but making martyrs won’t help win any war. I think the American government know that so why do they persist.
Have you ever seen a man eat his own head?
Thanks for the offer there big guy, but I do my own punking.
Just like that lad in London yesterday maybe if them 2 were put away in a dark place that lad be alive to day
Possibly you are right. Hind sight a great thing.
If you carry on like a animal in this world you should be treated like a animal
Well said.
True. But how can the US have a lawless piece of land that normal, even POW laws, are not recognised. If Ireland said that inis mor was going to b turned into their own little Guantanamo and hold people there (indefinatly)on suspicion, the country would go beserk. Why can the US do it? Who makes the international laws that allow America to claim that its their territory but not their laws.
Re Flippermac.
Just following your line of argument here, can’t help myself.
Maybe if the UK hadn’t ‘intervened’ in Afghanistan and in the case of Iraq launching an unprovoked invasion (illegal under international law by the way) then maybe that poor lad would still be alive today. I know if I was a citizen of Iraq you couldn’t blame me for wanting revenge against the construes that so utterly ruined my standard of living and quality of life.
They will keep fighting for 100 more years there warlords who have to respect for human life
Because the US are doing it to ethnic Americans, its immigrants and decencents of immigrants that are being put there or American citizens that are lifted from overseas so nobody batts an eye. If the same policy was taken against white Americans then there would me a massive uproar.
Sorry no respect for human life ( sorry cracked screen)
@David
Not disagreeing with the general thrust of your point, but I think there are several white americans in Guantanamo.
Flippermac stop barking you’re upsetting the neighbours, if you keep it up we’ll get you put down!
Ah my Unionist friend from Derry, David Thompson; It’s amazing that your putting your views without conducting your usual spin on matters and blame the republican movement! I am amazed that you are advocating human rights when ye Unionist’s denied the Nationalists every basic human right there was. When they stood up for their rights ye interned them and subjected them to torture!
Ben how was your shitty holiday in Kinsale? Hopefully next year you’ll have enough money to go somewhere a wee bit better.
#REPUBLICANUPSTART #SICKENINGCVNT #CRYINGBASTARD
Maybe white Americans was the wrong phrasing. I meant the likes of white supremicists or indeed any run of the mill criminal rather than Islamic fundemantalists. You only go there if you are affiliated with the opposing side in the so called war on terror. Theres other dangerous groups and individuals in America and they dont go there, the psycho that shot up the cinema didnt go there and hes guilty of far more heinous crimes that some inmates at Guantanamo.
@David
The psycho who shot up the cinema could well end up facing the death penalty, despite being apparently mentally ill…
Yes I know that but he is within the US justice system, those in Gunatanamo arent and some of them havent even did anything. Yer man may get death but he’ll get his fair trial first.
To all the anti U.S poster’s.ye do know that these prisoners are militant fighters captured in a warzone.Its not in the U.S interest to mistreat them.Their faith and medical needs are taken care off.To compare this to how western troops would be treated if the where captured is crazy talk.
I agree with you paul, just stating the status of Guantanamo. As bad as it is i’d still rather be there than in some backroom in Afghanistan or Iraq.
I am not on favour of the wars though, I think they are unjust and going on now far too long.
B Lowe, it sounds like you are justifying that murder in London yesterday.
Btw, the guy who was shown in the news had a London accent.
He is seriously messed up in the head.
B Lowe, a British born subject who converted to radical Islam and you are making excuses for his murderous actions but on other threads you are critical of radical Islamists who want to set up a sharia ruled state in Syria?!
Your arguments are contradictory.
Jesus David you can dish out rants of hypocrisy for Derry Unionist, without shame! You mention the right to a fair trial and rant on about human rights. For decades the Unionists subjected the Nationalist of the North of Ireland to a denial of basic human rights, ye kept communities terrorised and hold them hostage every year on the 12th! Nationalist were detained without trial for over two years by your Crown Forces. The world watched while ye terrorised children making their way to the Holy Cross school having to run the gauntlet of spiting venomous Unionists. David get off the stage!
Ah yes, the great defenders of freedom and justice in the world and opponents of tyranny and injustice is the US. Yet the US has these men in Guantanamo Bay for years, stolen their lives and Nearly all of these innocent people are held without charge.
Absolutely shocking.
Obama said he’d close the place yet a few weeks ago he approved $150 million in funding for the place to actually upgrade it and prolong it’s use. You couldn’t make it up.
Hopefully actions by the Irish anti war movement as mentioned above and other organisations who are doing such trojan work will open more eyes to the hypocrisy of the US and the tramping of basic human rights that it does daily.
My hero, George Washington, must surely be turning in his grave at the oppression and tyranny in the US which is all so prevalent now.
For the world to be a peaceful place sacrifices have to be made. Sometimes necessary evils are needed for the common good.
Locking up random people for years without a trial and torturing them doesn’t sound like a necessary evil to me, just evil.
A lot of them are innocent, just in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong skin colour.
The threat of terrorism shouldn’t be enough to make us stop caring about human rights and protection of prisoners. They exist for a very good reason.
So the world is a peaceful place because the Americans detain suspects without trial and deny them their basic human rights? Bullshit. I’d like to have you and 150 like you detained in Guantanamo under the same conditions for 10 years or so and then see if your opinion had changed.
Wrong is wrong, it’s as simple as that. What the Americans are doing in Guantanamo is an affront to justice that displays the barbarism and ignorance with which the Americans operate.
The fact that they, and their ilk, can attempt to justify such actions shows how ignorant and neanderthal they really are.
If you are happy for the yanks to operate in this fashion then good luck to you. Just don’t come crying when yourself, or someone you care about just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
@BLowe
Yes, they’re innocent in terms of being innocent until proven guilty, and they’ve definitely had their human rights trampled on, but don’t be so naive as to think they’re “nearly all innocent”. I’m sure there are some innocent amongst them, but I’m equally sure that many of them are islamofascists who were intent on the murder of innocent people for religious and political reasons until they were detained and put where they could do no harm.
Before you jump down my throat I’m not defending Guantanamo and the torture and abuses that have occurred there, just saying its a lot murkier than you make out.
Itwhatitis,
A quick scan of the history books will show where your line of logic leads. Most if not all of the grotesque atrocities in human history were justified at the time by variations on your ‘Sometimes necessary evils are needed for the common good.’
I have great time for the American people most of whom are genuinely decent but they have been misled and betrayed by their political, corporate and military elites on many occasions, including this Guantanamo horror show and the ‘war on terror’ generally.
It’s a stain on the American flag , hard to clean .
Not really a stain anyone with open eyes can see that it is a necessary evil.
Many many stains in that flag unfortunately.
American Indians
Slavery
Countless wars
Invading neighbouring islands
War of terror
CIA killings
Aiding and helping financial terrorism
I love the excess you get over there but hardly anyone realises the cost of that excess.
Really , would you say the same for our own victims of hunger strike .
@ itiswhatitis
I’m sure a lot of Muslims think the hostage taking and the targeting and killing of people is a necessary evil too. Guess we’re not so different afterall.
The Irish “Anti-War” Movement is hardly “Anti-War” they are just anti-American. Funny how they march with terrorists in the North and only condemn certain countries.
@ Itiswhatitis – “I fail to see how its a necessary evil” – Unfortunately the Foreign policy of successive US Govts provoked the 911 attacks. The illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have prolonged the cycle of violence not solved anything.
….anyone who even takes a mild interest in world history can easily work that out.
Guantanamo make a mockery of the rule of law – the inmates there have not been brought up on any charges , not had their day in court.
The US has signed up the concept in law – Guilty until proven innocent?
If anything it hands Americas enemies a complete victory as the US has removed due process and the rule of law / freedoms.
15 to 30 people.! Sweet Jesus, close down O’Connell Street before there’s a riot.
The former governor of the military detention facility stated that the detainees have all still expressed desire to kill Americans ! The are not subject to US law as they are emeny combatants and detained as POW, release depending on outcome of conflict.
In recent days we have seen bombs in Boston , mutilation in london , explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tell me again how releasing Know Enemy Combatants into society will ease your conscience.
Protest irish issues if you must but like it or not American Government wont give a shit about 10 wanna be hippys on a street shouting But American business may be damaged and move from our shores with 100′s jobs with them.
Choose your battles Choose your country.
Alan,
The Guantanamo prisoners are not being held as POWs. The Geneva convention does not allow POWs to be subjected to the abuse and torture that the U.S is inflicting on these people.
‘depending on outcome of conflict ’
What conflict?
‘In recent days we have seen bombs in Boston , mutilation in london , explosives in Iraq and Afghanistan’
The torture of prisoners in Guantanamo prevented none of these atrocities from occurring.
‘American business may be damaged and move from our shores’
American business does not care about Irish ‘hippies’ or Guantanamo prisoners or indeed the welfare of American soldiers. It cares only about making a profit and so this protest is irrelevant to them and will have zero influence on their investment decisions in Ireland .
Choose to read some history. Choose not to believe the American cowboy fairytale. Choose to grow up.
I certainly dont believe the bombing of innocent citizens or the beheading of young soldiers are fairy tales ! In the real world detainees who are hell bent on killing in the name of whoever or whatever god thats popular that week should be kept from society.
What justice did these people show the innocents the murdered? Until the threat is gone keep them under gaurd !
That’s not the only thing we should be protesting about..
15 to 30 protester wow what next will they protest about
Force feeding is so wrong
Starvation is worse
I have a sneaking suspicion that the bulk of those protesters will be the same ones who attended the occupy dame st, student protests and the free palestine protests ect.. What with it being a sunny day and all
This busy body group should worry bout something else. Get the Irish govt involved in the closing of Guantanemo?? They should mind their own business. I see the tin foil brigade are out.
ken what do you mean tin foil brigade? Are you calling me a junkie?
From my own experience of going to protests. I’ve found that a lot of the people who protest war, for Palestine or for anything related to Foreign affairs. Are the same people who protest because of Domestics problems such as the Economy, the Environment and Social issues. Unless you protest yourself, I don’t think you have a right to complain.
A junkie?? No, the conspiracy theorists with their Tin foil hats.
the Americans are keeping this planet safe we should help them as much as we can our army is not good enough so a little stop off at shannon should do it
Keeping it safe from what exactly?
Surely a bigger danger to the planet is nuclear war, but you don’t see the US calling for the dismantling of all nuclear weapons, including their own.
”the Americans are keeping this planet safe ”
By invading Iraq – , Afgahistan , Vietnam , Cahogios Island s a- and many other countries – and murdering millions !!.
And by installing dictators from Shah of Iran and before to Mubarak – who do their dirty work for them . I honestly think u need to loook up some more info on US before coming to such a ridiculous conclusion .
The do , its called mutuality assured destruction (MAD) . By having an arsenal at their disposal it acts as a warning.
Jim, the shah of Iran is long gone. Have you not read the news since 1979?
@declean Nnoonan – Ii said they installed him – which they did .
as for using their arseanl to keep ” world safe ” this has got to be a joke . Yes MAD works – but there is no USSR now – nor nothing that will seriusly threaten USA militarily . Wars cnow are mainly economic wars / currencey wars etc – but US still keeps 1,000 bases worlwide – so that they can take waht they want – when they want .
This video by Chomsky goes into the problem in detail .
http://www.zcommunications.org/noam-chomsky-us-a-top-terrorist-state-by-noam-chomsky
The Shah’s family has ruled Iran for hundreds of years long before the USA even existed. The Persian people had way more rights under the Shah.
One of the best things of Ireland is we don’t put our nose where it isn’t wanted. (Most times)
yes jim but they are murdering the bad guys we just haven’t got the facilities to hold them all so death is the only way my friend
I say we release these nice fellows onto the streets of Dublin or London with machetes. ( Sorry for the sarcasm)
keeping it safe from the bad guys and if it takes a nuke to sort it out then well be it nuke away
15-30 people in a protest..Wow!Should we put the whole army on standby just in case they get rowdy?
have your say