 Unarmed
protesters occupied a British army base the day before President
Clinton was due to visit. As the protesters approached, the British
army went into hiding underground, leaving their posts unmanned!
While the protesters walked around the deserted military base, the army
radioed the RUC for protection. |
 Protesters
were confronted by RUC officers, who arrived at the scene in full riot
gear. |
SAFRC TAKE OVER GLASSDRUMMOND BRITISH ARMY BASE On the eve of President Clinton's visit to Ireland, the British government and British Ministry of Defence are reeling with embarrassment following the take-over of the Glassdrummond Military base on Sunday morning, which lasted for 1 hour & 20 minutes. The peaceful demonstration, organised by the SAFRC led the 60 supporters onto the Military base taking the British troops by surprise, who immediately radioed for reinforcements, which arrived some 15 minutes later.
Following minor scuffles, as the demonstrators encroached on the base, British troops ran into hiding underground, leaving the base 'unmanned'.
Helicopters airlifting in reinforcements landed in a nearby field, with masked RUC members in full riot gear taking up position outside the military base. While the demonstrators remained within the military base, with the troops hiding underground and the RUC in position outside the base, several helicopters continued to hover above. At 12.45pm the SAFRC and supporters left the base and confronted the faceless RUC members.
Following the take-over of the military base, a number of South Armagh residents reported to the SAFRC that they had been seriously harassed by masked RUC members who stopped vehicles at random carrying out searches on their vehicles and personal possessions. Noel Keelan a Monaghan County Councillor and elected representative who was invited by the SAFRC to visit the base, was subjected to a most horrific incident, leaving one of his passengers in great shock. Noel later told the SAFRC that he feared that the masked RUC men who jumped into the path of his car with guns cocked were going to open fire. He and his passengers were held for 30 minutes.
Other protesters had lucky escape when eight members of the masked RUC team ran after a car and fired one of their batons, hitting the back window almost causing a road traffic accident.
This demonstration afforded the SAFRC & supporters to record in detail the extensive building and refurbishment that is currently being carried out at the Glassdrummond military base.
Yours faithfully
Toni Carragher
Secretary & Pro
17TH December 2000
PRESS RELEASE
The South Armagh Farmers & Residents Committee today organised a second peaceful mobilisation against the British military presence in the area.
A protest of around fifty locals entered the British Army base at Crievekeeran on the Culloville/Crossmaglen road where they confronted heavily armed soldiers. Using wire-cutters, the protester occupied most of the base for over an hour, while the soldiers retreated inside an inner cordon.
Members of the committee found no evidence of demilitarisation as promised by the British government in the Good Friday Agreement and the Hillsborough pact of May 6th.
After making their point to the English soldiers, the demonstrators left the base. As they made their way out, masked RUC police who had gathered outside battened several in an entirely unprovoked and spiteful assault. An attack dog was set upon the protest and two demonstrators were badly bitten.
A photographer for the Irish News was threatened by the RUC and forced to erase his images.
The protest followed a similar event last Sunday at Glassdrummond base, three miles to the east.
Toni Carragher, PRO for the SAFRC said:
“Today’s action demonstrates the futility of the British military occupation in South Armagh.
“If the British Army cannot secure its own bases, it should abandon its pretence to be providing security for anyone.
“In reality, of course, these spy-towers are merely an incitement to conflict and an invasion of our lives and homes. Their presence would not be tolerated anywhere else in the world and they will not be tolerated here.
“In addition, the outrageous behaviour of the RUC in attacking an entirely peaceful protest demonstrates the kind of conditions we are living in.
“Despite the injuries received by our members, the RUC assault only served to expose their true nature.
“We will not be deflected from highlighting
the injustice of being subjected to saturation military occupation in a
time of peace.”
ENDS
LinksSouth Armagh Farmers & Residents Committee |
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