Eire/Ireland: State thuggery as Community Confronts Shell in Mayo
Opponents of a Shell gas pipeline in North Mayo have had an astonishing array of force deployed against them in recent weeks.
Large numbers of police specialized marine police units and two naval warships have been sent to the area by the Irish government to assist private security guards employed by Shell.
The Irish government seem determined to use any means to crush community opposition to the Shell pipeline - which is opposed on safety grounds.
Many local people have been subject to detention or arrest and several have been imprisoned. Local fishermen have had vessels seized and in one as yet unexplained incident a fishing vessel was sunk.
Police and security forces in the area have displayed an astonishing degree of brutality and aggression and yet for the most part the events go unrecorded or unchecked.
It is clear from video evidence and reports of the day to day encounters between farmers and fishermen and the enforcers for Shell that state sponsored thuggery is being directed at the community.
Details of the ongoing defence being mounted by the community in the face of this assault from both Shell and the Irish government can be found on the Shell to Sea website.
Individual members of the League can assist by contributing to the Shell to Sea account (details on the site). Letters of protest can also be sent to the Irish government address below:
Postal Address: Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2
E-mail:webmaster@...
Phone: 353 1 619 4000 or 353 1 6624888 Fax: 353 1 619 4258
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
02/07/09
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