Ireland: The Government was breaking Irish and international law by providing facilities at Shannon for US forces on their way to Iraq, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent told a meeting of anti-war protesters outside Leinster House on Saturday.
He claimed Shannon was being used, not just as a transit facility for US troops and arms, but possibly also for conveying torture victims to places such as Guantanamo Bay in "covert operations" by US agencies. "The Irish Government is breaking its own word and its own law."
He added that, under the Criminal Justice (UN Convention Against Torture) Act 2000, any person landing on Irish soil who was suspected of, or had any information about, complicity in torture anywhere in the world had to be arrested and questioned. He asked the crowd: "Is that happening?" and the response was "No".
His party had been told in the Dáil by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that permission for landing and overflights was normally granted to foreign military planes, provided the aircraft in question was "unarmed, does not carry arms, ammunition or explosives, and does not form part of a military exercise or operation". He asked the crowd: "Does anybody believe that?" and was answered with shouts of "No".
Cllr Larry O'Toole (SF) said: "We will rid this world of tyrants like Bush and Blair." He added: "Comrades, it is very important today to send out a clear message to the Dublin Government: Shannon must be closed off to US warplanes." As long as international solidarity remained, "imperialism is doomed".
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said he supported the right of the Iraqi people to armed resistance against US occupation: "We do not, however, support every action, nor every policy of every group that is in the opposition. It would not be an advance for the working people of Iraq if, at the end of this, we had a regime that mirrored Egypt or other Arab dictatorships, where working class people are kept in bondage ."
Mr Fahad Ansari, president of the Federation of Islamic Student Societies of Ireland, said it was important to "vocalise our support" for the Iraqi resistance.
Ms Glenda Cimino, representing a group of US anti-war activists in Ireland, said when the war started: "We told them it was wrong, we told them it was illegal, we told them they would get no easy victory, and we were right on everything."
An estimated 700 demonstrators marched from Parnell Square to Molesworth Street, outside the gates of Dáil Éireann, led by a group wearing orange jumpsuits and chained together, highlighting the situation of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.
Mr Mick O'Reilly, an official with the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union, told the crowd they should be "absolutely delighted" with the turnout, as he had once marched in O'Connell Street against the Vietnam War with only 13 other people.