[IMC-UK-Features] Rossport Feature request

[iggyp imc]

Hi,
I'd like to put this up today, unless there are any objections?
There are some additions to be added from more recent happenings.

Iggy.


2009/4/23 katie t <katiet2007 at gmail.com>

> Rossport: Shell move into Glengad
>
>
>
> On Wednesday the 22nd April Shell attempted to restart work on the
> offshore pipeline at Glengad, County Mayo, Ireland. At 6-30am a workforce of
> about 20, backed up by around 50 private security guards erected fences to
> re-establish a compound. Works were seriously hampered when local people and
> solidarity camp activists occupied machinery. During the day Gardai atacked
> the protesters, including throwing rocks at them. One of those who occupied
> machinery was Willie Corduff of the Rossport 5. Willie planned to remain
> under the truck for the night. The local community maintained a presence to
> support him. They removed the fence beside the truck where Willie was
> positioned. Soon the entire southern exterior perimeter was dismantled;
> Shell’s initial works were almost undone. At 3am, many at the vigil had
> moved to the road and Willie was left with just his brother-in-law. Up to
> ten Shell security personnel in black and wearing balaclavas “appeared out
> of nowhere”. The men pushed Willie to the ground and started kicking him and
> hitting him with a heavy object that appeared to be a baton or torch. They
> knelt on his head and twisted his arms behind his back as they beat him. His
> brother-in-law attempted to aid Willie but was pushed back repeatedly and
> forcibly removed by the masked Shell security into an adjacent field where
> he was then knocked to the ground, kicked and beaten.
>
> Rest of article
>
>
>
> Willie was removed by an ambulance to Castlebar General Hospital, where he
> is being treated for nausea and severe bruising to the head and body.
>
>
>
> Early Thursday morning the Gardai released the following press statement:
>
>
>
> Gardai in Belmullet are investigating an incident which occurred at the
> Shell compound at Glengad, Belmullet.
>
> Gardai in Belmullet, Co. Mayo are investigating an incident which occurred
> at the Shell compound at Glengad, Belmullet at approximately 11.30pm, last
> night, the 22/4/09.
>
> Up to 15 men wearing balaclavas and armed with iron bars and chains entered
> the compound and threatened the security staff.
>
> A digger which was secured on the site was started by the intruders and
> used to cause damage.
>
> One member of the security staff received an injury to his arm and received
> medical attention.
>
> A protester who was present on the site since yesterday was this morning
> removed from the compound by security staff. He was taken to hospital by
> ambulance as a precaution.
>
> Garda Press Office
>
> 23rd April 2009 9.23am
>
>
>
> The statement is a total fabrication, but the Irish media has run with the
> story. There is very little coverage of the attack on Willie, but there are
> numerous fictitious reports of the “15 masked men who attacked the
> compound”. It is a clear attempt to use misinformation to cover up the
> attack on Willie and to turn public opinion against the community
> resistance. Corporate and state collusion is highlighted once again.
>
> On Thursday, work was suspended, but it is expected to resume shortly.
> Putting up fences for the compund took several weeks last year. It is a key
> time when work can be successfully resisted. Last summer, sucessful direct
> action saw off-shore pipe laying halted. With enough determination, and
> support, the same can be true this year.
>
>
>
> Considering the brutal attack on Willie Corduff there are good reasons to
> be wary of the security at Glengad. BUT, it is important to note that the
> behaviour of Shell security during the daytime when their actions were
> recorded on camera and there were many people around was considerably more
> restrained. Direct action will continue in Rossport and safety comes in
> numbers: People are urged to travel to Mayo now to stand with Erris people
> to resist Shell.
>
>
>
> Links to recent articles:
>
> http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/428211.html
>
> http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/428212.html
>
> https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427270.html
>
> https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/04/427095.html
>
>
>
> More info:
>
> www.indymedia.ie/mayo
>
> www.corribsos.com
>
> http://www.rossportsolidaritycamp.110mb.com/
>
>
>
> --
> Indymedia United Kollektives editorial mid-column features
> http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-uk-features
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.indymedia.org/pipermail/imc-uk-features/attachments/20090501/1f9e8576/attachment.htm