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4 Actions against Shell in their first day of work in Rossport, Ireland

Rossport Solidarity Camp | 30.03.2011 13:32 | Rossport Solidarity | Climate Chaos | Energy Crisis | Health | World

Yesterday Shell started work on the final section of their gas pipeline in Co. Mayo Ireland. The Community have already fought back with 4 actions and are asking for people to come up this weekend to help them.

Protester under van for 14 hours!
Protester under van for 14 hours!

Trucks Stopped
Trucks Stopped

IRMS security!
IRMS security!

SHELL OUT!
SHELL OUT!


Yesterday Shell, with the help of IRMS security and the gardai, began work on their pipeline. They have begun to put up Harris fencing to secure their site and to lay down a temporary road for access.
The first action of the day involved 7 people blockading the road by standing in the way of trucks that were moving in the materials to the compound. Protesters also sat on top of one of the trucks to stop it from moving. Members of the gardai violently assaulted the protesters to get them off the road. People were thrown in to the ditch and some sustained slight injury's including spraining and bruising. The action lasted for an hour and no one was arrested.
The second action of the day came 10 minuets later when two protesters locked themselves together with a tube made from plastic and concrete out side the main gates of the compound. This protest was violently broken up by members of IRMS security and the gardai. One of the people in the "lock-on" was stamped on while lying down and is now having to go to hospital with a fractured rib and problems with his spleen. Here the gardai showed how they intend to police this project merging in with the mercenariness of the IRMS and having no problem with hitting and kicking people on the floor.
Not deterred by the violence and the fact that two of the people involved in the protests were now receiving medical attention at the local doctors the blockades continued.
The third action occurred on the road into Bangor Erris where 8 protesters stood in front of trucks carrying more equipment towards the Shell site. Some people climbed on to the trucks and the blockade was eventually broken up by the gardai who severely harassed and delayed some of the people involved in the action.

Then, in an attempt to stop campaigners blocking access to the proposed compound site, private security firm IRM-S parked a vehicle in the gateway, hoping to remove the vehicle when workers attempted to gain access. At 7 o clock in the evening a member of Rossport Solidarity Camp turned the security vehicle into a blockade by locking onto the undercarraige of the vehicle stopping it from moving.

The vehicle which was parked at the access point to the site remained immobile all night as the campaigner refused to leave. This mornings work could not begin as access was stil blocked. In an effort to intimidate campaigners 70 private security men from the firm IRM-S arrived and in the presence of former army Ranger Jim Farrell and manager of the firm violently attacked supporters. A witness was shocked by the level of needless violence and force used. In this action IRM-S were backed up by members of The Garda public order unit who arrested one protestor violently pulling up them from the roof of his own vehicle. Both protesters have now been released without charge.

We are asking for people to come up this weekend for mass direct action against Shell. We also need more people to come and stay here long term and have a camp set up. What ever you can manage now is the time to come and get involved in this struggle.

Rossport Solidarity Camp
- e-mail: rossportsolidaritycamp@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.org/

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

Nicely

30.03.2011 18:08

Ever an inspiration, hope people are doing ok following the violence. Love and solidarity as always.

a THWACer


Further Info on last nights action

30.03.2011 18:40

It has been learned that last night 2 IRMS vehicles were tampered with causing further delay to Shell this morning as they had to toe them away on two trucks before they could access their site again. One of the vehicles was Jim Farrels (head of IRMS and well known basted) personal Jeep.

It has also been learned that one of the local members of the community had his finger broken by an IRMS security guard. This will stop him from working for a while and is another example of the violence people constantly face here from Shells private mercenariness.

everyone