Rich elite won’t intimidate us

IN JUNE 2001, in a free, fair and democratic referendum, the Irish people voted to reject the Nice Treaty.

Now, after little over a year, the Irish political elite is forcing us to vote again on exactly the same treaty. The people’s decision should have been final. By forcing the Irish people to vote again, the elite is telling us we only have the right to vote, if we vote ‘yes.’ This is not democracy.

The fact that the case for a ‘yes’ vote is advocated by those who offer nothing but threats and personal abuse is a clear indication of the kind of ‘democracy’ we can expect if we are frightened into reversing our decision. The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) opposed the treaty because it did not include a protocol similar to that which already applies to Denmark, thereby excluding Ireland from paying for, or becoming involved with, the European Rapid Reaction Force.