Caithfear stop a chur le mídhaonnacht Iosrael

(English version follows)

05/06/10

“Lá dorcha don chine daonna”. B’shin iad focail Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha na Tuirce Ahmet Davutoglu agus é ag tabhairt aitheasc ag an chruinniú éigeandála tionólta ar an Luan (31ú Bealtaine) ag Comhairle Slándála na Náisiún Aontaithe i ndiaidh dúnmharaithe brúidiúil Iosrael ar ghníomhaígh síocháná agus ar oibrithe cabhracha daonnúla ag tógaint cabhair chuig muintir Gaza atá curtha faoi léigear.

Tá muid go léir eolach anois faoin phíosa scannáin scanrúil atá feicthe thar timpeall an domhain de ruathar stíl chománlach Iosrael ar long ag iompar cabhair dhaonnúil agus an sléacht fuilteach a scaoil siad ar na paisinéirí, fir, mná, páistí agus daoine aosta san áireamh ag marú deichniúir ar a laghad agus ag gortú níos mó. An cur síos is fearr gur féidir a dhéanamh ar a ngníomhuithe in uiscí idirnáisiúnta ná píoráideacht. Ní raibh ach rud amháin ar intinn acu – chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an smacht olc agus mídhaonnachtúil atá acu ar Gaza.

Tá mórán agóide – ní mórán ó na Stáit Aontaithe nó na Náisiúin Aontaithe áfach – mar gheall ar an ghníomh brúidiúil seo, nuair a sheol siad ó héileacaptair anuas ar dheic an shoithigh Turcach Mari Marmara agus thosaigh siad ag scaoileadh gunnaí tazer, deorghás, piléir phlaisteacha agus babhtaí beo gan idirdhealú a dhéanamh ar na hoibrithe cabhrach neamhúrchóideacha, le bás agus gortú mar thoradh ar an bhád seo agus ar bhád eile an Spendoni. Is ráiméis amach is amach é go bhfuil Iosrael díreach ag cosaint iad féin. Níl leithscéal ar bith ach an oiread ar ghabháil agus ar choinneáil oibrithe cabhracha ina dhiaidh sin nó ar a gceistiúcháin.

Tá an agóid chomh glórach agus chomh forleathan sin toisc go raibh an t-ionsaí ó Iosrael ar oibrithe cabhracha as tíortha eile. Ní bheidh ionadh ar bith faoi ionsaithe Dé Luain ar éinne eile atá eolach faoina cruatain leanúnacha atá á riarú ar mhuintir na Palaistíne. Is tarlú laethúil é seo ar a bhfuil an iomarca taithí ag muintir Gaza agus an Bhruach Thiar, ach is annamh a bhíonn an tarlú seo sna cinnlínte idirnáisiúnta. Scaoil agus mharaigh Iosrael, ach lá amháin i ndiaidh an ionsaí ar an chabhlachán, beirt cóngarach do theorainn Gaza agus scaoil siad splancacha isteach sa cheantar. Tugadh fíor bheagán tuairisceoireacht, más rud é go raibh aon tuairisceoireacht, ar na gníomhuithe seo ag an chuid is mó de na meáin. Tá sé soiléir nach bhfuil saolta Palaistíneacha tábhachtach! Fiú i rith ionsaí míleata Iosrael 2008/2009 ar mhuintir Gaza, thóg sé an iomarca ama sula tháinig daorbhreith ar bith. Caithfear deireadh a chur le seo agus leis an ghnáthchiúnas sna meáin agus óna rialtais thar timpeall an domhain ar mhídhaonnacht brúidiúil Iosrael.

Cé go bhfuil ár náisiúnaigh féin bainteach ní chiallaíonn sé sin go bhfuil gníomhuithe an impiriúlaigh níos brúidiúla, níos uafásaí nó níos éagóra. Caithfidh an t-idirnáisiúnaí atá ionainn go léir féachaint ar mhuintir na Palaistíne mar ár muintir féin agus caithfimid ár dtacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh, díreach mar a rinne na fir agus mná cróga ar an Free Gaza Freedom Flotilla agus fós a thabhairt fad is atá an soitheach Éireannach Rachel Corrie ag taisteal. Ba chóir moladh, tacaíocht agus spreagadh a thabhairt do ghníomhuithe diongbháilte iad siúd sa chabhlachán, ar nós Fiachra O’Luain as Dún na nGall agus níos mó. Ní chóir go mhothódh aon duine nach bhfuil siad ábalta aon rud a dhéanamh mar tá an-chuid gur féidir linn a dhéanamh. Tríd baghcatáil a dhéanamh agus gan earraí Iosraelacha a cheannach nó siopadóireacht a dhéanamh i siopaí a thacaíonn le hIosrael, ar nós Marks and Spencers, is féidir linn teachtaireacht shoiléir a chuir chucu. Is féidir leat páirt a ghlacadh in agóideanna nó bí le grúpaí a thacaíonn leis an Phalaistín i do cheantar.

Ba cheart do chomhlachtaí trádála diúltú le hIosrael agus diúltú earraí Iosraelacha a stocáil.

Déan stocaireacht ar d’ionadaithe poiblí áitiúla chun beart a dhéanamh agus Iosrael a cháineadh agus a ngníomhuithe in aon bhealach gur féidir leo, ar nós an rúin a chur comhairleor neamhspléach Thomas Pringle os comhair Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall ar lá na n-ionsaithe ar an chabhlachán a dúirt “Cáineann Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall gníomhuithe chabhlach Iosrael in ionsaí a dhéanamh ar an chabhlachán ag tabhairt cabhair dhaonnúil chuig Gaza agus glaoigheann sé ar rialtas Bhaile Átha Cliath ambasadóir Iosrael a chaitheamh amach mar agóid.” D’éirigh leis an rún seo d’aon ghuth agus ba chóir do gach comhairle ar an oileán an rud céanna a dhéanamh.

Tá ról ríthábhachtach dá gcuid féin ag rialtas Bhaile Átha Cliath. Ar a laghad ar bith ba chóir dóibh ambasadóir Iosrael agus a fhoireann a chaitheamh amach. Dhéanfadh sé difríocht mhór aon chomhaontuithe trádála le hIosrael a ghearradh agus rialtais eile a spreagadh chun an rud céanna a dhéanamh. Ba chóir dóibh éilimh go gcuirtear deireadh le hidirbheart trádála an AE le hIosrael agus glaoigh ar dhíbirt láithreach Iosrael ón OECD.

‘Sé an bunlíne ná gur cheist dhaonnúil é seo agus is iad na daoine Palaistíneacha na híospartaigh. Bhí dúnmharuithe brúidiúlacha Iosrael Dé Luain ar oibrithe cabhracha neamhúrchóideacha uafásach agus gan leithscéal. “Lá dorcha don chine daonna” a bhí ann cinnte. Ach ní raibh sé níos dorcha ná lá ar bith eile a fhulaingíonn na Palaistínigh faoi réimeas cinedheighilte Iosrael agus caithfimid cuimhneamh ar seo.

Dúirt duine de na céad oibrithe cabhracha a scaoil na hIosraelaigh saor i ndiaidh ruathar ar an chabhlachán agus an gabháil a tharla tar éis go bhfuil eagla ar Stát Iosrael “roimh dhaonnacht”. Má tá eagla orthu roimh an airm seo, seo an t-arm a úsáideann muid. Faoi dheireadh bhí gníomhuithe Iosrael ann chun daoine a dhíspreagadh ó dhaonnacht a thaispeáint do dhaoine imshuite Gaza. Ní oibreoidh sé seo. Caithfidh ár dtacaíocht leanúint ar aghaidh agus méadú. Caithfidh deireadh teacht le forghabháil Iosrael agus léigear Gaza láithreach. Ní féidir le gníomhuithe Iosrael tarlú gan phíosós. Tá sé in am dúinn gníomhú!

Israel's Inhumanity Must be Stopped

01/06/2010

“A dark day for humanity”. Those were the words of the Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu as he addressed the emergency meeting convened on Monday (May 31st) by the UN Security Council after Israel's brutal murder of peace activists and humanitarian aid workers bringing aid to the much beleaguered people of Gaza.

We're all now aware of the horrific footage beamed around the world of the Israeli military's commando style raid on a ship carrying humanitarian aid and the bloody massacre they unleashed on the passengers, including men, women, children and the elderly, killing at least ten and injuring countless more. Their actions which were carried out in international waters can be described at best as piracy. Actions with only one sole intent - to continue the evil and inhumane strangle-hold of Gaza.

There has been much – although not that much from the US or UN - international outcry about this brutal act, when Israeli commando's ab-sailed from helicopters on to the deck of the Turkish vessel Mari Marmara and began indiscriminately firing tazer guns, tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds at the innocent aid workers on board, causing death and injury on this and another boat the Spendoni. The nonsense that the Israeli's were merely protecting themselves almost beggars belief. The subsequent kidnap and holding of the aid workers and their interrogation is also inexcusable.

But the outcry is only as loud and widespread as it is because the attack launched by Israel was on aid workers coming from other countries. Anyone else aware of the ongoing hardships meted out on the Palestinian people will not have been one bit surprised by Mondays attack. This is a daily occurrence that the people of Gaza and the West Bank are all too familiar with, but an occurrence which rarely makes international headlines. Only a day after the attack on the flotilla Israel shot and killed two people near the Gaza border and fired shells into the area . Little, if any, coverage was given to these actions by most media outlets. Obviously Palestinian's lives aren't that important! Even during the 2008/2009 military assault by Israel on the people of Gaza, it took much too long before widespread international condemnation was forth coming. This, and the normal daily silence in the media and from the governments around the world of Israel's brutal inhumanity must end immediately.

Just because our own nationals may be involved does not make the imperialist's actions any more brutal, horrific or wrong. The internationalist in all of us must see the Palestinian people as our own and we must act accordingly in giving them our support, just as the brave men and women on the Free Gaza 'Freedom Flotilla' have done and continue to do as the Irish vessel Rachel Corrie is still underway. The determined actions of those in the flotilla, such as Donegal's Fiachra O'Luain and countless others should be commended supported and encouraged. No-one should feel unable to do anything for there is much that can be done. Simply by boycotting and not purchasing Israeli goods or buying in shops who support Israel, such Marks & Spencers, can send a clear message. You can take part in protests or even join Palestinian support groups in your area.

All businesses should refuse trade with Israel and refuse to stock Israeli goods.

Lobby your local public representatives to take action and publicly denounce Israel and their actions in any way they can, such as the motion put before Donegal County Council by independant councillor Thomas Pringle on the day of the attacks on the flotilla which read “That Donegal County Council condemns the actions of the Israeli navy in attacking the flotilla delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and calls on the Dublin government to expel the Israeli ambassador in protest.” This motion was passed unanimously and all councils on the island of Ireland should follow suit.

Indeed the Dublin government have their own, very crucial role to play. Expelling the Israeli ambassador and his staff is the very least they can do. Cutting off any trade agreements with Israel and encouraging other governments to do likewise could make a huge difference. They should demand that the EU's trade deal with Israel should be scrapped and call for Israel's immediate expulsion from the OECD.

Bottom line is that this is a humanitarian issue and the Palestinian people are the victims. Monday's brutal Israeli murders of innocent aid workers were horrific and inexcusable. Indeed it was “a dark day for humanity.” But it was no darker than any other day which the Palestinian people have to endure under Israel's apartheid regime and this is what we have to remember. One of the first aid workers to be released by the Israelis after the flotilla raid and kidnapping which followed, said on his release that the state of Israel are “afraid of humanity”. If this is the weapon which they are afraid of, then this is the weapon we use.

Ultimately Israel's actions were to deter people from showing humanity to the besieged people of Gaza. This will not work. Our support must continue and if anything, be increased. Israel's occupation must end and the siege of Gaza must be ended immediately. Israel's actions must not go unpunished. Its time to act!

éirígí Backs Emergency Motion

31/05/2010

éirígí have backed an emergency motion that is to be put to Donegal County Council today [Monday] in response to the Israeli attack on the international aid flotilla for Gaza.

The motion, to be proposed by independent councillor Thomas Pringle, reads: “That Donegal County Council condemns the actions of the Israeli navy in attacking the flotilla delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and calls on the Dublin government to expel the Israeli ambassador in protest.”

Spokesperson for éirígí Tir Chonaill Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig said: “Action must be taken now in response to the latest Israeli massacre of innocent people. To date, the zionist government has acted with impunity, this situation must come to an end.

“The Israeli ambassador in the Twenty-Six Counties and all the embassy staff should be expelled without delay. Trade with Israel should be suspended and all preferential agreements negotiated by the EU with Israel should be cancelled. It is time to treat the Israeli state like the moral pariah that it is.

“To this end, éirígí welcomes the emergency motion being put before Donegal County Council and calls on all councillors to vote in favour of it. Councils around Ireland should begin passing similar motions. Ireland must take a stand on this issue.”

Protest Against Israeli Aggression

31/05/10

éirígí spokesperson Daithí Mac An Mhaistír has called on people to attend today’s demonstrations in Belfast, Derry and Dublin in response to the Israeli attack on the international aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

Twenty aid workers have been confirmed dead and dozens injured after last night’s attack in international waters when the Israeli navy opened fire on the six boats and commandos stormed the decks and opened fire. At least eight Irish people are among the humanitarians who were bound for the besieged Gaza Strip, which has suffered under a zionist blockade since the democratic election of the Hamas government.

Mac An Mhaistír said: “Yet again, Israel has been exposed as a rogue state in the eyes of the world. Their barbaric treatment of international aid workers seeking to relieve a beleaguered population bears all the hallmarks of a fascistic regime.

“Action must be taken to end these recurring massacres. The Israeli ambassador and all the embassy staff must be expelled by the Twenty-Six County government without delay.

“Trade with Israel should be suspended and the preferential agreements the European Union has negotiated should be cancelled. This apartheid state should be boycotted and shunned by the whole world.”

Mac An Mhaistír continued: “To this end, people should get to today’s demonstrations in Belfast, Derry and Dublin – as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the aid workers, as a display of outrage at the Israeli regime and as an act of protest against western complicity in the ongoing Palestinian nightmare.

“The more people there are on the streets, the more pressure will be brought to bear upon those in Ireland who insist on collaborating with the Israeli regime.”

Today’s protests are as follows: Belfast City Hall, 4pm

Guildhall Square, Derry, 5pm

The Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin, 6pm, for march to Israeli embassy.

No place for private finance in Health Service

Deireann éirígí nach bhfuil áit d'airgeadas príomháideach in ospidéal Leifir nó inár gcóras sláinte

29/05/2010

(English version follows)

Dúirt urlabhraí Thír Chonaill Mícheál Mac Giolla Easbuig nach bhfuil áit do chomhlachtaí príomháideacha i bhforáil an chórais shláinte in ospidéal Leifear nó in earnáil ar bith den chóras sláinte.

Bhí sé ag freagairt ráiteas ó Sheanadóir Fhianna Fáil Brian O' Domhnaill nuair a mhaígh sé go ndéanfadh an tAire Sláinte Mary Harney cíoradh ar fhorbairt ospidéil phobail nua i Leifear mar chuid de chomhpháirtíocht phríomháideach phoiblí.

Dúirt sé: "Tá na ciorraithe agus dúnadh atá á dhéanamh agus á phleanáil d'ospidéil ar nós Leifear, á thógáil ar bhunús buiséadach agus níl baint acu leis an chúram leighis a chuireann siad ar fáil nó le riachtanais shláinte an phobail."

"Ní amháin go bhfuil na ciorraithe seo éagórach, ach níl gá ar bith leo. Tá siad á fhorchuir trí chinntí polaitiúla réamhbheartaithe tógtha ag páirtí Sheanadóir O' Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil. Deireann siad nach bhfuil an t-airgeadas acu chun ár n-ospidéil agus ár gcóras sláinte a mhaoiniú i gceart, ach ag an am céanna níl leisce ar bith orthu teacht ar na billiúin euro chun dul i mbannaí ar a gcomhghuaillithe sna bainc."

Chuir sé leis: D'ainneon an meathlú geilleagrach, is tír rachmasach fós í Éire. 'Sí an fhadhb ná go bhfuil 34% de shaibhreas na tíre i lámha 1% den daonra. Tá na daoine seo tar éis éalú slán sábháilte fas is atá na ciorraithe fulaingthe ag oibrithe, pinsinéirí, daoine dífhostaithe, daoine breoite agus iad siúd le riachtanais speisialta. Thógadh cáin rachmais trom forchurtha ar na daoine seo ioncam ollmhór isteach ag déanamh na ciorraithe seo neamhriachtanach. An t-aon rud atá in easnamh ná toil pholaitiúil."

"D'fhéadfadh an rialtas seo chomh maith, agus ba chóir dóibh, ár n-acmhainní nádúrtha a náisiúnú. Tá níos mó ná 500 billiún euro d'ola agus gás faoi ghrinneall na farraige ónár gcósta, na cearta tugtha d'ilnaisiúnach ollmhór cosúil le Shell. Níl aon bhac dleathach ag cur coisc orthu na hacmhainní seo a náisiúnú. Ní fhágfadh an saibhreas ollmhór leithscéal ar bith do dhúnadh Leifear agus ospidéil eile. Ní bheadh leithscéal ar bith acu ar dhúnadh leapaí, baint seirbhísí, ganntanas foirne agus anliosta de chiorrathe eile forchurtha ag an rialtas fuarchroíoch seo. Arís eile, an t-aon rud atá in easnamh ná toil pholaitiúil."

Chríochnaigh sé: "Caithfear ospidéal Leifir a choinneáil agus é a choinneáil i lámha poiblí amháin. Níl áit ann do chomhlachtaí príobháideacha nó do spreagthachtaí an bhrabúis i bhforáil an chórais shláinte, seirbhís phoiblí riachtanach. Caithfidh ár gcóras sláinte a bheith faoi smacht an phobail, a bheith saor agus cothrom go fíreannach, bunaithe ar riachtanas leighis amháin, ní ar acmhainneacht chun íoctha. Maoinigh ár n-ospidéil, ní na bainc."

No place for private finance in Health Service

éirígí Tír Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig has said that there is no place for private companies in the provision of health care in Lifford hospital or any other sector of the health service.

He was responding to comments from Fianna Fáil Senator Brian O’Domhnaill in which he claimed that Health Minister Mary Harney would consider the development of a new community hospital in Lifford as part of a Public Private Partnership.

He said: “The cutbacks and closures being carried out and planned for hospitals such as Lifford's are being taken on a budgetary basis and has nothing to do with the medical care they provide or the medical needs of the community.”

“These cuts are not only unjust, but they are completely unnecessary. They are being imposed by deliberate political decisions being taken by Senator O'Domhnaill's party, Fianna Fáil. They say they haven't the finance to properly fund our hospitals and health service, yet at the same time they have no hesitation in finding tens of billions of euros to bail out their cronies in the banks.”

He added: “Despite the economic recession, Ireland remains a wealthy country. The problem lies in that 1% of the population control 34% of the wealth. These people have escaped unsacathed while workers, pensioners, the unemployed, the ill and those with special needs have borne the brunt of the cutbacks. A hefty wealth tax imposed on these individuals would also bring in massive revenue making these cutbacks unnecessary. All that is lacking is political will.”

“The government could also, and should, nationalise our natural resources. More than 500 billion euros worth of oil and gas lies under the seabed off our coast, the rights to which they have given away to private multi-national giants like Shell. There is no legal impediment preventing them nationalising these resources. The vast wealth would leave no excuse for closing Lifford and other hospitals. They would have no excuse for bed closures, removing services, staff shortages and the litany of other cuts imposed by this uncaring administration. Once again, all that is lacking is political will.”

He concluded: “Lifford hospital needs to be retained and retained solely in public hands. There is no place for private companies or profit motives in the provision of health care, an essential public service. Our health care system must be completely under public control, must be truly free and equal, based solely on medical need, not ability to pay. Fund our hospitals, not the banks”.

Prisoners Picket in Camlough

28/05/10

Around 70 republicans held a white line picket in Camlough, south Armagh on Friday [May 21] in solidarity with the protesting republican prisoners in Maghaberry jail.

Many éirígí members and supporters were in attendance, as were the families of political prisoners, former POWs and other republicans.

The picket, which fell on the 29th anniversary of the death of south Armagh hunger-striker Raymond McCreesh, highlighted the inhumane conditions that political prisoners in Maghaberry have to endure, including:

• 23 hour lock up
• Degrading strip searches of themselves and their visiting families
• Psychological torture
• Controlled movement
• Sniffer dog searches
• Assaults
• Criminalisation

During the picket, a banner was erected in the village calling for an end to the criminalisation of republican prisoners.

Meanwhile, the family of Lurgan republican Colin Duffy have challenged the decision to ban them from visiting him in Maghaberry.

Duffy’s wife and brother were informed this week that they would not be allowed to attend visits in the jail. No explanation for the vindictive move was given to them.

The Duffys’ legal representative Kevin Winters described the visiting ban as “draconian”.

“What’s more, at the minute it seems totally indeterminate,” Winters said.

“We have written to the governor asking for a reinstatement of visits. As yet, we have not received a reply.

“Should the situation carry on as it is then we have no alternative but to go before the courts to seek access regarding visits.”