Anti-war protestor treated like criminal
In spite of massive street protest in Ireland, Shannon airport became a US warport in everything but name.
Owen Rice has been an active anti-war campaigner in Ireland since the outbreak of war against Iraq. He has been in court on several occasions to answer to various anti-war related charges resulting, so far, in either adjournments or acquittals.
On one of his appearances in court, a ban from entering Co Clare was added to his €5 bail condition. Mr Rice refused to accept the ban, was jailed and started an immediate hunger strike.
On the 12th day of his hunger strike, he was transported to Dublin in his attempt to quash the judge's ruling. Again, on the 18th day he was brought to Dublin for the same reason. On both occasions, for reasons that had nothing to do with Mr Rice, the hearing could not go ahead.
On his first court appearance, he was in handcuffs. On the second, he was kept in the cells all day.
Why is the State so afraid of an anti-war protestor, who has injured no person and damaged no property, as to have him in handcuffs as if he were a dangerous criminal? The answer may lie in the planned visit to our shores of US President George W Bush.
This Government appears to be so much in fear of the US president that they are prepared to feather-bed his visit to Ireland, prevent lawful protests against him at Shannon and do everything short of an en-masse kowtow to assuage his anger at Ireland not having sent troops to Iraq.
As Mr Rice was a vocal critic on the streets of such Government spinelessness, it is seen as something of a State coup that he will be nowhere within sight or sound as they back-slap the US neocons and welcome their leader.
Mr Rice has now abandoned his hunger-strike but he remains in Limerick prison as a prisoner of conscience.
I am not in favour of hunger strike, but the apparent callousness of the whole State apparatus towards someone who undertook this extreme measure to highlight his opposition to Irish collusion with the war leaves me disappointed and very angry.
Justin Morahan
Dublin Representative ofthe Peace People
71 Scholarston Park
Dublin 16
