Occupy Cork tents to move for Armistice Day

PROTESTERS at the Occupy Cork camp have agreed to move their tents to allow Armistice Day commemorations to take place tomorrow.

A spokesman for the makeshift city centre camp said they will move their tents from near the Peace Park’s war memorial, near the junction of the South Mall and Grand Parade, on to the nearby boardwalk to facilitate the event at 11am.

But Occupy Cork spokesman Liam Mullaney said the camp’s 30 or so occupants have made no decision yet on where they will go afterwards.

This is despite a request from Cork City Council for them to leave the area. A council spokesman has said the camp is in breach of the city’s parks, cemeteries and open space bylaws.

Mr Mullaney said camp members had divided opinions about what should happen next.

“There is one group that thinks ‘no way, we’re going to stay’,” he said.

“But there is another group that thinks this should be up for negotiation. We are open to talks.”

Members of the Cork branch of the Western Front Association have been in discussions with the Occupy movement members about tomorrow’s event.

Its chairman, Gerry White, a military historian, thanked them for the respect they have shown to the war memorial.

“I also wish to thank them for the respect that they said they will show for the ceremony we will be holding at 11am on Friday,” he said.

“The ceremony will be short and dignified and we will remember the servicemen and civilians from all nations who fell in what was supposed to be the ‘war to end wars’.”

Tomorrow’s ceremony will be attended by representatives of some of the Great War’s combatant nations. The Royal British Legion is also due to hold a ceremony at the memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

Meanwhile, Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry has called on City Hall’s “top brass” to “back off” on their threats to remove the Occupy camp. He said it has the support of thousands of ordinary people who were horrified at the bank bailouts.

“If the city manager wants to do something constructive he should concentrate his energy on fixing up the hundreds of vacant houses in this city rather than making threats against young people who are doing something positive and standing up to injustice in our society,” he said.

City officials are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and say further options, including possible court action, will be considered next week if the camp is still in place.