Anti-war activists plan blockade at Shannon

Anti-war activists are to attempt a mass blockade of Shannon Airport in protest at the continuing use of Shannon by the US military, it emerged yesterday.

Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) spokesman, Dr Fintan Lane, said that the blockade "will be a determined effort to disrupt the operation of the airport in order to make clear just how strongly people feel on the issue of Shannon being used by the US military".

He said: "Some commentators who are hostile to the anti-war movement may accuse us of planning violence. That is nonsense. This will be a peaceful act of mass civil disobedience and will be conducted in a spirit of non-violence.

"Civil disobedience has a long and honourable tradition in anti-war and civil rights movements throughout the world. It is an entirely appropriate tactic when human lives are at stake."

The blockade is due to take place on December 6th and Dr Lane said: "What is happening at Shannon Airport is immoral and politically reprehensible. An Irish civilian airport has effectively become a US airbase. The Government refuses to withdraw these facilities, so it is up to Irish people to take action themselves."

Dr Lane said: "This will be about people power. It will be about ordinary people taking action for themselves and refusing to accept the integration of an Irish civilian airport into the US war machine."

Large numbers of US troops continue to go through Shannon, with Aer Rianta figures confirming that 10,333 US troops passed through Shannon on 141 military flights last month.

The September total brings the total so far this year to almost 100,000 troops, with Aer Rianta figures showing that 92,617 troops have stopped over at the airport on 1,246 flights since January 1st.

It is estimated that Aer Rianta has earned over €11 million to date this year from US military flights.

The proposed blockade will result in gardaí mounting another large-scale security operation at the airport. Since July of last year it has cost the State €671,577 to police demonstrations at Shannon.

Along with a Garda overtime bill of €1 million in policing Shannon Airport since the start of 2002, figures show that Army personnel were paid €40,000 per week over an 18-week period this year in allowances for their role in the security operation at the airport.