IRELAND: The true attendance at the weekend demonstration in Dublin against war in Iraq was "over 150,000" and not 100,000 as generally reported, organisers of the march claimed yesterday at a news conference, writes Foreign Affairs Correspondant Deaglán de Bréadún.
Plans are now afoot by the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) for further protests in the event that the war goes ahead. These include immediate protests on the day of the attack, a 10-minute industrial stoppage throughout Ireland at noon the day after, and participation in a second world-wide day of protest the following Saturday.
In the short term, a further march on Shannon Airport is planned for Saturday, March 1st, in protest against the alleged use of landing and refuelling facilities there as part of the US military build-up to war in the Gulf.
Mr Richard Boyd Barrett of the IAWM said that, as a proportion of the population, the Dublin demonstration was probably one of the biggest in the entire world.
"That strength of feeling is something that this Government will ignore at its peril," he told a news conference in Buswell's Hotel.
"This was a demonstration against war in all circumstances," he said, and there was no exception being made "if the United Nations backed it". This was "very, very clear" on the posters and leaflets and in the speech after speech from the platforms.
"If the Irish Government, like George Bush and his allies, are refusing to listen to the will of the vast majority of people, we want to assure them here and now that the anti-war movement in this country and across the world are going to escalate their campaign very substantially until we reach a point where it becomes politically impossible for them to conduct this war."
Mr Brendan Butler of the Non-Governmental Organisation Peace Alliance pointed out that there were protests on Saturday also in Belfast, Cork, Galway and Waterford, amounting to "at least 50,000". He said this meant that, on the island as a whole, there were at least 200,000 people on the streets.
"This is not a one-day wonder," he said. The organisers were "extremely disappointed" by the Taoiseach's comment that these protests made no difference to Government policy: "How many people does he want on the streets of Ireland? Is it 200,000? Is it 500,000?"
Mr Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) said that, although the march was organised by the three groups, it had been taken over by the people. "The people were saying to the Government that they don't want this war, that they don't want Shannon to be used."
He claimed President Bush was "prepared to wade through the blood of Iraqi children" to ensure US and Israeli domination of the Middle East region and its resources. Shannon had been "turned into a US air force base"with Irish soldiers guarding the perimeter. "Our Army that fought for our national independence are now nothing more than Bush's bodyguards," he added.
He said the three organising groups had a duty to consult other organisations participating in the protest such as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The three groups are seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the implications of Saturday's protest.
Quoting a US newspaper, he said last Saturday's international day of protest revealed the existence of "a second superpower", namely, the people all over the world. Referring to the Taoiseach he said: "Ahern does not speak for the Irish people on this issue."
Mr Boyd Barrett said last weekend's protest should be seen in the context of previous global demonstrations at Seattle and Genoa: "The politics of that movement oppose a world that is driven for profit."