This morning, five anti war activists were arrested inside the Irish Embassy, in a solidarity action with the Pitstop Ploughshares. See press releases below.
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
ANTI WAR PROTESTORS OCCUPY IRISH EMBASSY IN LONDON
2nd March - Six British anti-war activists today occupied the Irish Embassy in London. They are protesting criminal charges against peace activists who will next week face a possible ten year prison sentence for physically disarming a US Navy Plane at Shannon Airport. Within a month of their action three of the four companies contracted to ferry US troops and weapons had left Ireland.
Just after the embassy opened for business, the protestors peacefully chained themselves together inside of the building in Grosvenor Place, whilst others have hung a banner reading, “PITSTOP PLOUGHSHARES: NOT GUILTY” outside.
Joss Garman, speaking for the demonstrators, explained, “The Pitstop Ploughshares – who damaged the plane at Shannon airport - acted to uphold International Law, and to prevent Irish complicity in genocide. Far from breaking the law, they were upholding it, because the war in Iraq was clearly illegal. It clearly isn’t right that peace campaigners should face years in prison, whilst Bertie Ahern remains at large.”
He added, “We wanted to add our voices to those of Desmond Tutu and Martin Sheen, in proclaiming, “Prevention of a war crime is not a crime.” In many ways, the runway at Shannon airport could be compared to the railroad to Auschwitz, afterall, 100,000 people are dead.”
For information/interviews:
www.warontrial.com
www.tridentploughshares.org
Notes to editors:
The Pitstop Ploughshares are Karen Fallon, Deirdre Clancy, Ciaron O'Reilly, Damien Moran & Nuin Dunlop, and will stand trial in Dublin’s 4 Courts from March 7th, for the disarmament they carried out on 3rd February 2003. They are charged with 2 counts of criminal damage totaling E100 & $2million. They face a maximum of ten years imprisonment, if convicted.
- ENDS -
PRESS RELEASE: 2nd March
Update: IRISH EMBASSY OCCUPATION ENDS WITH ARRESTS
Five anti-war activists who this morning barricaded themselves into the Irish Embassy in London have been arrested. The occupation of the embassy, which lasted two and a half hours, was in protest against Irish support for the war in Iraq. They were arrested for ‘trespassing on diplomatic premises.’
More specifically, the demonstrators from Ploughshares were demanding that the Irish government drop charges being held against the ‘Pitstop Ploughshares’ for disarmament of US Navy Plane, refueling at Shannon Airport, which was headed to Iraq.
A spokesperson for the group, Joss Garman, said, “This morning the protestors spoke with the ambassador and called for an end to Irish complicity in this illegal and bloody war.”
He added, “The Pitstop Ploughshares tried to prevent genocide, and uphold international law. Whilst they face prison, the real criminals like Bertie Ahern, remain at large.”
Notes:
The activists who occupied the embassy this morning were:
Milan Rai, Richard George, Bill Dawbarn, Maureen Ukairo and Zelda Jeffers
They are being held at Belgravia Police Station in central London, and are expected to be released later today.
- ENDS -
Links to mainstream media coverage:
http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-26,GGLD:en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm%3Fid%3D4198592
For immediate release
ANTI WAR PROTESTORS OCCUPY IRISH EMBASSY IN LONDON
2nd March - Six British anti-war activists today occupied the Irish Embassy in London. They are protesting criminal charges against peace activists who will next week face a possible ten year prison sentence for physically disarming a US Navy Plane at Shannon Airport. Within a month of their action three of the four companies contracted to ferry US troops and weapons had left Ireland.
Just after the embassy opened for business, the protestors peacefully chained themselves together inside of the building in Grosvenor Place, whilst others have hung a banner reading, “PITSTOP PLOUGHSHARES: NOT GUILTY” outside.
Joss Garman, speaking for the demonstrators, explained, “The Pitstop Ploughshares – who damaged the plane at Shannon airport - acted to uphold International Law, and to prevent Irish complicity in genocide. Far from breaking the law, they were upholding it, because the war in Iraq was clearly illegal. It clearly isn’t right that peace campaigners should face years in prison, whilst Bertie Ahern remains at large.”
He added, “We wanted to add our voices to those of Desmond Tutu and Martin Sheen, in proclaiming, “Prevention of a war crime is not a crime.” In many ways, the runway at Shannon airport could be compared to the railroad to Auschwitz, afterall, 100,000 people are dead.”
For information/interviews:
www.warontrial.com
www.tridentploughshares.org
Notes to editors:
The Pitstop Ploughshares are Karen Fallon, Deirdre Clancy, Ciaron O'Reilly, Damien Moran & Nuin Dunlop, and will stand trial in Dublin’s 4 Courts from March 7th, for the disarmament they carried out on 3rd February 2003. They are charged with 2 counts of criminal damage totaling E100 & $2million. They face a maximum of ten years imprisonment, if convicted.
- ENDS -
PRESS RELEASE: 2nd March
Update: IRISH EMBASSY OCCUPATION ENDS WITH ARRESTS
Five anti-war activists who this morning barricaded themselves into the Irish Embassy in London have been arrested. The occupation of the embassy, which lasted two and a half hours, was in protest against Irish support for the war in Iraq. They were arrested for ‘trespassing on diplomatic premises.’
More specifically, the demonstrators from Ploughshares were demanding that the Irish government drop charges being held against the ‘Pitstop Ploughshares’ for disarmament of US Navy Plane, refueling at Shannon Airport, which was headed to Iraq.
A spokesperson for the group, Joss Garman, said, “This morning the protestors spoke with the ambassador and called for an end to Irish complicity in this illegal and bloody war.”
He added, “The Pitstop Ploughshares tried to prevent genocide, and uphold international law. Whilst they face prison, the real criminals like Bertie Ahern, remain at large.”
Notes:
The activists who occupied the embassy this morning were:
Milan Rai, Richard George, Bill Dawbarn, Maureen Ukairo and Zelda Jeffers
They are being held at Belgravia Police Station in central London, and are expected to be released later today.
- ENDS -
Links to mainstream media coverage:
http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-26,GGLD:en&tab=wn&ie=UTF-8&ncl=http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm%3Fid%3D4198592 
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UPDATE
02.03.2005 19:59
R.
more info and photos at...
03.03.2005 11:05
peacenik
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