Alliance promise protests will be peaceful

THE protest against the visit of US President George Bush this weekend will be completely peaceful, the organisers said yesterday.

At the final press conference before the US President arrives in Shannon Airport today, the Irish Anti-War Movement said a violent protest would not be tolerated.

Spokesman Richard Boyd-Barrett said: “We hope the scaremongering about this protest will stop. It will be absolutely peaceful. We want Bush to hear and see our protest. We will not tolerate any attempt at provocation.”

He added that the march against the invasion of Iraq in February 2003, which was attended by more than 100,000 people, was completely peaceful.

Protests will be held today close to Shannon Airport, and when George Bush travels to Dromoland Castle in Clare, the protest will hold a rally at a site half-a-mile away.

The EU/US summit is due to discuss problems in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan as well as the Middle East peace process and the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

But the NGO Peace Alliance, which represents more than 50 voluntary groups, said the visit was merely a photo call opportunity for George Bush to attract Irish and Catholic votes in the forthcoming Presidential election.

There will also be protests in Cork, Waterford, Galway, Tralee and Sligo.

But the NGO Peace Alliance said the ban on posters and radio advertisements for the protests would affect the number of demonstrators who turned up.

The protest is being supported by the Labour Party, the Green Party and Sinn Féin.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent TD described George Bush as the most dangerous man in the world.

“I urge all law-abiding people who believe in justice and sustainability to come together in peace to protest loudly at the actions of the Bush administration,” he said.

Labour Party TD Ruairi Quinn said the protest was not anti-American: “The Irish people have had and will have a very warm relationship with the American people.

“There are many people in America who would like to see the US return to the international community, to support the International Criminal Court and to restore the Kyoto agreement on climate change.”