EIRE: DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF PROTEST SHOULD BE PROTECTED

The democratic right of people to protest and not be subjected to State intimidation should be protected the Celtic League has told Ireland's Justice Minister Dermot Ahern.

It is part of a series of expressions of concern made by the League against developments in north Mayo were community groups are protesting potentially harmful and environmentally damaging developments by the multi-national Shell.

«Minister Dermot Ahern Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform 94 Saint Stephen's Green Dublin 2, Ireland

Dear Minister Dermot Ahern

Use of Irish Navy to police protesters

The deployment of Irish Navy vessels to Broadhaven Bay ahead of the arrival of the pipe laying vessel, the Solitaire, to undertake work for the Shell gas pipeline project this week, causes us great concern.

We are aware that Irish Navy sources have also expressed concern that the vessels are being used to police protesters of the Shell to Sea gas pipeline dispute. In addition the presence of a British Royal Navy nuclear submarine in the area, in Irish waters, is also particularly worrying. Regardless of whether the Irish Navy has been used in the past to assist the Gardai with fishing policy and drugs seizures, the presence of the Navy in this instance in relation to an environmental and social protest by members of the public, is seemingly unprecedented and extreme to say the least.

Although it is unknown exactly why a British Royal Navy nuclear submarine is also speculated to be positioned only a few miles from the Mayo coast (as such information will not be disclosed by the Royal Navy), its unexplained presence will no doubt add to the tensions that exist between Shell to Sea protesters, the local authorities and the Irish Government. We are however aware that such submarines have a high capacity for sonar and radar tracking and can intercept mobile phone communications. For your information, the Celtic League has also written a letter to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to ask why the Royal Navy submarine is in the vicinity, because, as you will be aware, its presence must have been approved by the Irish authorities.

The political interests that the Irish Government has in the development of the Shell gas pipeline project should not interfere with the human rights of ordinary Irish citizens; rights that are also supported in international law. The protesters at Broadhaven Bay and other areas affected by the Shell gas pipeline project, have a democratic right to express their disapproval to the development through legal means and the Irish state has a duty to uphold these rights and not to try to subvert them through dubious methods.

The Celtic League expects the Irish Government to work closely with its citizens in the resolution of such conflicts and not to intimidate them through the use of force or foreign military assistance.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

CC Brian Cowen, Taoiseach

John Gormley, Minister for Environment, heritage and Local Government»