‘Dublin Now Resembles Pinochet’s Chile, But Garden Of Remembrance Protest Is Still On’
Cathaoirleach Éirígí Brian Leeson has confirmed that Sunday’s [May 15] protest at the Garden of Remembrance will be going ahead despite the security operation that is taking place in advance of the state visit by Elizabeth Windsor next week.
Speaking in Dublin he said:
“It is now clear that large parts of Dublin city are to be locked down for up to a week to facilitate the visit of Elizabeth Windsor. Those who are promoting this visit have claimed that it will promote better relations between the people of Britain and Ireland. The same apologists have also been telling us that the Windsor visit will be good for business and tourism.
“As the Garda lockdown of Dublin begins, the lies of these British apologists have been exposed. How exactly does the closure of a city, and the inconveniencing of hundreds of thousands of people, make for better relations between the people of Ireland and Britain? And how will the banning of parking in the city centre, the closure of motorways and random searches of pedestrians and motorists help business? And how does it help tourism to close key tourist attractions like Dublin Zoo, the Garden of Remembrance, the Croke Park museum and Trinity College?
“From the outset we in Éirígí have been saying that this visit had nothing to do with improving relations between the people of Ireland and Britain, or providing a boost for business and tourism. This visit has one purpose and one purpose only – to consolidate British rule in the Six Counties and British influence in the Twenty-Six Counties. The architects of this visit ultimately want the Twenty-Six Counties to join the British Commonwealth as a first step on the road to the Twenty-Six Counties rejoining the so-called United Kingdom.
“Anyone who has walked through Dublin City in recent days cannot but have noticed the many hundreds of uniform and plain clothes Gardaí that are now patrolling the streets. Many of these Gardaí have been witnessed illegally pulling down posters and stickers opposing the royal visit. Our activists are being continuously harassed throughout Dublin as they legitimately distribute leaflets and erect posters. The atmosphere in Dublin City is closer to that of Pinochet’s Chile than that of a free Ireland.”
Leeson concluded: “We in Éirígí will not be intimidated by the bully-boy tactics of the Gardaí. The battle-lines are now drawn. On one side are the politicians, the bankers, big business and the British royals. On the other are the people who have been betrayed, robbed and cheated by our so-called leaders. We are calling on people to get on the streets over the coming week to send a message to the ruling class that cannot be ignored and will not be forgotten.”