EU protestors say they won't be intimidated

Protesters against EU policies vowed today they will not be intimidated off the streets of Dublin this weekend by threats of riot squads and armed guardian.

They insist marches will go ahead throughout the capital despite attempts to clamp down on mass demonstrations and block off Phoenix Park where EU leaders will gather for the enlargement ceremony.

Laurence Cox, spokesman for the Dublin Grassroots Network, said the group was planning an open-air public meeting in the city centre tomorrow evening.

From there they will decide which route to take and will stage a peaceful, non-confrontational protest, he said.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected to convene on O’Connell Street at 6pm tomorrow evening, all of whom will be issued with whistles.

One of the group’s main aims is to make as much noise as possible in defiance of attempts by the authorities to stamp out predicted disturbances.

“The EU is supposed to be a step forward for democracy, but our attempts to get our voices heard have been demonised from the word go,” said Mr Cox.

“It is a suspension of basic civil liberties and freedom of expression.

“We will be banging pots and blowing whistles against Fortress Europe. We will be singing and marching against privatisation, bringing street theatre and puppets against EU militarism.”

Meanwhile an alliance of trade unionists, anti-war activists and demonstrators will be staging what promises to be a quieter march through the city centre during the afternoon.

The Another Europe is Possible organisation plans to march from the Central Bank, Dame Street, down to Houston station where a carnival celebrating multiculturalism is planned.

Spokesman Rory Hernia said they were campaigning against war and corporate greed.

“It is clear the state has been hyping up the issue of violence in order to intimidate protests off the streets,” he said.

“We ask the question, why doesn’t the Government put a fraction of its resources it is putting into policing May Day into our crumbling schools and hospitals?”

Both groups are protesting against the political direction of the EU, about its military involvement in Iraq, immigration policies, privatisation and policing strategies.

While May Day is traditionally Labour Day and a day for protests throughout Europe, campaigners claim that this year the focus is on the restrictions of rights placed on the citizens of all 10 new member states.

As well as the marches there will also be street theatre, a No Borders Camp set up in solidarity with immigrants, a Reclaim the Streets party and a mass bike ride through the city streets.

Gardaí have made no secret about the vast numbers of officers, soldiers and riot police who will be on stand-by throughout the weekend.

A spokesman said their responsibility was to police things as best they could.

“We are prepared for any eventuality,” he said. “We can’t predict what will happen but hopefully there will be no trouble.”

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said between 200 and 300 international protesters, mainly from Britain, were expected to arrive in Dublin intent on violence.