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The Irish Republican Socialist Party has been informed that Fintan Lane has
been returned to Limerick Prison for his participation in demonstrations
against the US military's use of Shannon Airport in violation of Irish
neutrality. The IRSP's International Department takes this opportunity to add its voice to all those calling for Fintan's release and for an end to the American usurpation of Irish sovereignty.
Though it has been many years, we in the IRSP have not forgotten that Fintan's father, Jim Lane, was once the chairperson of our party and that Fintan was an energetic and talented member of the IRSP as well. Even were this not the case, however, the IRSP would continue to demand his release. Fintan's participation in the demonstrations against the US military's use of Shannon during its war with Iraq should not have resulted in his being treated as a criminal. Rather, he should be recognised as a defender of Irish sovereignty and Irish neutrality, as should all those who protested and continue to protest the US presence in Shannon. The Irish government's decision to allow US war planes to use Shannon Airport reflects the profound contradiction inherent in the partitionist Dublin regime--the very entity which should be asserting and defending the sovereignty of the Irish nation and its historic neutrality instead acts in slavish promotion of the interests of the imperialist nations which dominate its economy. The surrender to US imperialist pressure is akin to the Irish government having actively promoted a constitutional change surrendering its claim to the entire island of Ireland in support of efforts to spare the British government from having to continue to defend itself from republican and republican socialist paramilitaries engaged in armed struggle in the occupied six counties. The great majority of the population of Ireland--its working women and men--deserve a government whose priorities are aligned with the interests of Ireland and the masses of its people, instead of the interests of those nations whose multinational corporations feed like parasites on the wealth created by Irish labour. The IRSP call upon the Irish government to immediately release Fintan Lane and cease the harassment of those demonstrating against American imperialism in Ireland. Moreover, we call upon the Irish government to ensure that its actions are in the best interests of the majority of the Irish people, regardless of whether this coincides with the interests of the world's leading imperialists.
Peadar Baile STATEMENTS ENDS |