IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT (IAWM) - PRESS RELEASE 03 February 2012

IAWM EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH THE BERIEVED EGYPTIAN PEOPLE AND CONCERN AT THIS LATEST VIOLENCE

SOLIDARITY PROTEST AT EGYPTIAN EMBASSY, CLYDE ROAD, DUBLIN THIS FRIDAY 03 FEBRUARY, 3PM ONWARDS

In a statement released today the Irish Anti-war Movement expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the football fans killed in Port Said on Wednesday night, expressed concern at the obvious organized nature of the attacks and called for a picket at the Egyptian Embassy in Dublin to protest against the Massacre.

The statement continued by noting that:
“There is so much circumstantial evidence to suggest that this was not regular football banter and violence. Eyewitnesses claim that the crowd was not searched as they entered, there were many strange faces in the crowd, the police left many of the entry gates to the pitch open, those who attacked the Ahli fans were heavily armed, the security forces did not respond when the attacks occurred and the army did not try to open the exit gates which had been locked. In addition both the Governor and Chief of Police of Port Said did not attend the match, which is very odd given that they attend all the games.”

Follow this link to eyewitness report ¬- http://irishantiwar.org/node/1573

John Molyneux, from the Steering Committee of the IAWM noted that:
“This was clearly an organised attack with the connivance of the military/police, directed at the 'Ultras' football supporters who played a leading role in the overthrow of Mubarak and have recently been chanting anti-SCAF slogans at matches.”

Asmaa Nasser, member of the IAWM and of the Egyptian Community in Ireland said:

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT

4pm - 6pm, Saturday 28 January, Liberty Hall, Dublin.

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT

PRESS RELEASE 23 JANUARY 2012

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT (IAWM) PRESS RELEASE, SAT. 31 DEC 2011.

The IAWM today called for support for the IPSC New Year’s Eve vigil to commemorate third anniversary of the attack on Gaza.

Sat, 31 December 2011, 14:00 Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin.

To commemorate the third anniversary of the Israeli ‘Cast Lead’ attack on Gaza, in Dublin the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) is calling on people to gather at 2pm at the Ha’penny Bridge, Dublin on New Year’s Eve. Please bring Palestinian flags and supportive banners if you have them.

The IAWM'S statement said that:

"It is now three years since the horrific attack of Operation Cast Lead on the people of gaza. Over 1300 people were slaughtered including almost 400 children while western leaders stood idly by.

And the killing still goes on. In 2011 over 100 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza including many fishermen just trying to eke out a living. This week several Gazans have died and others have been wounded due to Israli air strikes. A few days ago Israel' military Chief of Staff Benny Gantz warned that Israel will attack Gaza 'sooner or later' in a week that saw reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and recognition by the latter of an Israeli within the 1967 borders.

Given these threats and its continuous military attacks it is clear that Israel is not interested in peace and justice for the Palestinians."

The statement concluded by calling on all IAWM members and members from the general public to: "Please come out and support the IPSC vigil today at 2pm, Halfpenny Bridge, Dublin, Sat, 31 December 2011."

END.

IAWM SOLIDARITY PROTEST THIS MONDAY EVENING, 19 DECEMBER, 5pm, AT THE EGYPTIAN EMBASSY, CLYDE ROAD, DUBLIN.

In a statement released today the IAWM said that it is calling for an emergency protest this Monday evening from 5pm at the Egyptian Embassy, Clyde Road in Dublin to express solidarity with the pro democracy protesters in Cairo who have been brutally attacked by the neo-Mubarak military in the last few days.

The statement noted that members of the Egyptian Community in Ireland will speak at the protest.

The statement said:

"it is clear that the remnants of the hated Mubarak regime are clinging onto power and have once again shown their disdain for peaceful protesters. The violence meted out against civilians (as shown on Al Jazeera reports among others) is truly horrific and should be condemned by the Irish Government. It shows that the current military government there has little concern for human life and that it must hand over power to civilian authority. The brave people of Egypt deserve our support at this time."

The statement also included a link to a report by Al Jazeera which shows graphically the nature of the assault by the military on civilians including one soldier clearly firing live rounds:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/2011121884410921287.html

The statement concluded by noting that:

"At time of writing ten protesters have been killed and hundreds wounded. The IAWM calls for an end to this military crackdown and for an end to the remnants of the Mubarak regime and we call for our supporters to come out and express solidarity with the protesters in Cairo. We also call for the Irish Government to make a statement denouncing the violence by the Egyptian military."

END

For further info contact:

Jim Roche, PRO Steering Committee IAWM 087 6472737

IRISH ANTI WAR MOVEMENT - PRESS RELEASE 22 NOV. 2011

IAWM PRESS RELEASE 09 November 2011

IAWM CALLS ON MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO DEFEND THE 14 IRISH CITIZENS HELD IN AN ISRAELI PRISON AND TO CENSURE ISRAEL

In a statement released this morning the Irish Anti War Movement drew attention to the distressing new Press Release from Irish Ship to Gaza (ISTG) copied below.

The IAWM statement expressed solidarity with the 14 Irish passengers of the MV Saoirse currently held in an Israeli prison and with their families and supporters here in Ireland. It called for them to be released immediately and also called on the Irish Government, particularly Eamon Gilmore Minister for Foreign Affairs, to stand up to this outrageous attack on Irish citizens by Israel and its open disregard of international law.

Jim Roche, PRO of the IAWM, and a member of the ISTG Steering Committe who was a passenger on the MV Saoirse in June, said:

" I am truly appalled at this outrageous violent attack on these committed and peaceful activists. It is now clear from the descriptions emerging from released journalists that the assault by the Israeli Navy was really quite violent and dangerous and could have resulted in the MV Saoirse sinking. It also occurred in international waters making it even more outrageous. What does Israel need to do to Irish Citizens before our Government, and the Irish media, will sit up and take notice? It is truly shocking what has happened and the way these 14 people are being treated."

"I now call on the Irish Government to demand the immediate release of all 14 passengers and to censure Israel in some form. It should expell the Israeli Ambassador and call for the cessation of the Euro Med agreement that gives favourable trading rights to Israel. It needs to stop treating this terror, apartheid state with kid gloves."

END

For further info:

Jim Roche, PRO IAWM, Tel. 087 6472737