The Galway Alliance Against War will be joining the monthly vigil which takes place at Shannon Airport on the second Sunday of every month from 2pm to 3pm.
Amnesty International and Shannon Watch have been consistently running the vigil for nearly two years now to highlight how Shannon’s International Airport has become what GAAW calls “a US military installation”.
The Minister for Defence Dermot Ahern this week released the security bill incurred by the State for protecting the US military in Shannon, a bill which comes in at €3 million.
“The movement of the US Forces through Shannon is estimated to be worth €7 million to the airport in 2009,” said GAAW spokesperson Niall Farrell. “For this we have abandoned all traces of neutrality, our respect for human rights, and international humanitarian law.”
Speaking at the GAAW New Year’s Day Peace Party the Afghan MP and women’s rights activist Malalai Joya said: “Your governments have replaced the fundamentalist rule of the Taliban with another fundamentalist regime of warlords. The majority of Afghans want a withdrawal of the foreign troops; they know that the ongoing occupation serves US/UK/NATO interests but not theirs.”
Weather permitting GAAW will be running cars to the Shannon Airport vigil on Sunday. Those interested in travelling should contact 087 - 9159787 or email [email protected].
