Underground, overground... the Wombles are here

IF all publicity is good publicity, then the Wombles should be on a high.

Individuals connected to the British-based anarchist group have been singled out as most likely to cause trouble in Dublin today.

When Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy referred to the near 300 “known trouble-makers” expected here for the weekend, it was generally assumed the majority were connected to the Wombles.

But who are they?

Attention-seeking, brainless political nobodies, according to Young Fine Gael’s William Lavelle.

He added: “The Wombles and their associated rag bag of hippies, greenies, loonies and commies should cop themselves on.”

Intemperate words certainly, but ones that probably reflect the views of a sizeable proportion of the population.

The Wombles, who like to wear white overalls, see themselves a little differently. They are anarchists who believe in the destruction of society and, according to its own website, the creation of a “new world based on the dignity of people to live freely, without coercion, states, private property and exploitation. A world without classes and ethnic, sexual or gender divisions. A world without borders”.

True to its anarchist ideals, it does not have any members as such. Anyone who wants to drop into its headquarters in London is encouraged to do so. It’s a squat, a gathering place where people talk, listen to music and drink coffee.

While believing themselves to be revolutionaries, the Wombles and other similar groupings in Britain and the rest of Europe are too small to affect any real change. In reality, they act as a magnet for people of disparate, mainly militant left wing, virulently anti-capitalist views.

The Wombles and other groups, such as the Black Block and Ya Basta on the continent, believe in direct action. With little respect for property, they attach themselves to large-scale, and overwhelmingly peaceful anti-globalisation protests, and proceed to smash windows along the route. Banks and McDonalds’ are favourite targets.

Gardaí are not likely to tolerate any concerted attempts to attack buildings, in contrast to the reaction of police at demonstrations in other European cities. There lies the potential for serious trouble.