Διακοπή των εργασιών του δημοτικού συμβουλίου, πραγματοποιήθηκε χθες στο δημαρχείο του Κόρκ και κατάληψη για την απελευθέρωση των συναγωνιστών τους από το μέτωπο ενάντια στην ιδιωτικοποίηση του νερού. Οι διαδηλωτές φώναζαν “απελευθερώστε τους 5”, οι οποίοι έχουν φυλακιστεί με ποινές από 28-56 μέρες. Νωρίτερα το πρωί ομάδα διαδηλωτών εμπόδισε την εγκατάσταση μετρητών νερού στο Rialto παρ’όλη την ισχυρή παρουσία της αστυνομίας. Φήμες μιλούν για μετακίνηση αστυνομικών δυνάμεων από άλλες περιοχές. Κάτι τέτοιο, αν ισχύει, έχει να κάνει όχι μόνο με την ενίσχυση της αστυνομίας στις περιοχές που έχουν ,τη μεγαλύτερη αντίσταση αλλά και με το γεγονός ότι σε μικρές περιοχές όλοι γνωρίζονται μεταξύ τους. Φυσικά και η ντροπή δεν είναι δουλειά. Καταγγελίες επίσης υπάρχουν για ιδιωτικούς αστυνομικούς που φωτογραφίζουν/βιντεοσκοπούν διαδηλωτές για λογαριασμό της εταιρίας εγκατάστασης μετρητών νερού.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j6b_tC-RKE[/youtube]
Άγγελος Παναγιωτόπουλος από το “The Bottom Dog”, Λίμερικ, Ιρλανδία
Νέα από τον αγώνα ενάντια στην ιδιωτικοποίηση του νερού, στα αγγλικά
All eyes on the DPP while Irish Political Prisoners Refuse Food.
The new wave of political policing has seen dawn raids and arrests of citizens including children in the early morning for attending a peaceful sit-in protest in Jobstown Co. Dublin in November that left Tanaiste and Labour leader Joan Bruton stranded in her car for two hours. Over twenty arrests took place in one week over that one particular incident and that number is expected to rise to 40 in coming weeks. Four peaceful protesters who attended meter installation protests are currently in prison. Bernie Hughes, Michael Batty and Derek Byrne were all given sentences of 28 days with a stay being placed on the sentence of Mr Batty as he was unable to present to the court due to ill-health. Both Damien O’Neill and Paul Moore were given sentences of 28 days each but will also now serve a previously suspended sentence of 28 days leaving them both with a jail term of 56 days.
An Irish Water protester, who was one of the first arrested under Ireland’s Water Services Act 2007 for preventing the work of the company GMC Sierra, could be facing a fine of up to €15 million or a term of up to five years in prison or both in a test case that could give a glimpse into the future plans of the state in relation to protesters.
Justice Halpin, who was overseeing these proceedings, acknowledged in court that there is currently a delay in proceedings because the Director of Public Prosecution has yet to decide if the case will be treated as a minor offense in a District Court or if they will proceed to the Circuit Court and treat the case as a major incident. Defence Solicitor for the protester argued that the case had been pending since October 22nd 2014 and that it should be struck out. Justice Halpin gave the DPP a six week deadline within which they must bring the case forward otherwise it will be struck out.
Stephen Bennett, a dedicated peaceful protester was charged in October in the beginning of what is deemed the biggest wave of Political Policing to hit the small state in recent times. He is one of the first people to be prosecuted under the Water Service Act and his case is widely being seen as a test case for future prosecutions. If the state chooses to bring the case to the Circuit Court under indictment it is thought they could be doing so for one of two reasons. The first possibility is to make an example out of Mr Bennett in an attempt to prevent other protesters from preventing the work of GMC Sierra installing water meters which is a vital to the government to ensure the success of their corrupt plan to charge twice for water. The second reason they might bring Mr Bennetts case to the Circuit Court is to test the waters in the courts and see if they will be able to use the Circuit Court against more peaceful protesters.
A candle lit vigil outside Mountjoy Prison in solidarity with the political prisoners attracted 10,000 people at short notice and a month of action against political policing has now began involving vigils, protests and marches at police stations, prisons, shopping centers and government buildings. The jailed protesters began a hunger strike three days ago as a means of opposing their detention for using their democratic right to protest and as of midnight tonight they will also be refusing liquids.
Video: Thousands marched in protest to Mountjoy jail
These arrests are just the tip of the iceberg, there have been widespread arrests of protesters in 2014 and 2015 with many files sent to the Director of Public Prosecution.
So as the number of arrests rise and with Mr Bennett’s case looming all eyes are on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. The office know’s their next move has consequences that can be predicted by the events in the past week. If they choose to bring the case to District Court they make stopping the installations a minor offense, if they take it to the Circuit Court it will be seen as an extraordinarily heavy headed response, or they could avoid the back lash of penalizing another peaceful protester and throw out the case or to save face, allow the case to be thrown out in April when the six week deadline runs out.
Either way the Irish protesters are not taking political policing lying down and with messages of solidarity pouring in from around the world they now know the world is watching as they continue the fight against the wrong-doings they have suffered at the hands of Fine Gael, Fianne Fail, Labour and Brussles.
Statement on behalf of Derek Byrne:
This is Siobhan Walsh releasing a statement on behalf of Mr Derek Byrne. We have been locked up/confined to a cell for the last 3 days on complete lock down in Wheatfield Prison. We were moved out of Mountjoy because of a political decision. We have taken the steps to go on hunger strike and have been on hunger strike since yesterday, If we are not moved back to Mountjoy Training Unit as we were told we would be then on Monday morning we will be taking it further and refusing fluids until we are moved back to Mountjoy. It is harder for our families to make the journey to Clondalkin to visit us. Every decision made from our court cases to our incarceration has been of a political nature. 2 young children are been kept from their Father and are now in an emotionally distraught state , their Mothers are now been denied financial aid by the Father as he is currently been incarcerated by the state as he refuses to back down from 1. a point of principle and 2. he believes there is a better way forward for the people of this country. We ask that there be daily protests at shopping centers connected to main roads and to keep our stories highlighted. We ask that the politicians (All TD’s FG LB FF) are made to pay for these decisions and for people to hold SILENT PEACEFUL CANDLE VIGILS outside their houses. David McGuiness of FF has said that the water meter protests have led to an increase of burglaries and other areas, NOT TRUE! Water meter protests have nothing to do with an increase in crime, lack of Garda resources and funding by the government have led to an increase in crime, Water meter protesters have committed No crime!. These are the people that are standing and fighting for a better future for everyone in this country. We again ask that Enda Kenny & his government resign. We’d like to thank everyone for their support and continued support. Derek Byrne.
UPDATE
Water charges protesters stormed a meeting of Cork City Council this evening, forcing it’s suspension. BreakingNews.ie reports that the action followed a failed attempt by Socialist Party Cllr Mick Barry to get a motion on the jailing of five water campaigners in Dublin discussed at the start of the council meeting.
Despite a strong security presence outside the council chamber, about 20 protesters pushed their way in to the council chamber. They were cheered by about 70 supporters in the public gallery. The protest forced the suspension of the council meeting. Campaigner Brian Gould made a speech on the floor of the chamber, calling on councillors to condemn the arrest and jailing of the Dublin protesters.
The stand-off has since resulted in the council meeting being abandoned.
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Get ready for a month of sustained water protests — starting today in Dublin (and in Enda’s home town) Analysis: The jailing of protesters will provide a focal point for campaigners. From here till Paddy’s Day (and beyond) there’ll be no escaping the issue.
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