Archive for May 2016 | Monthly archive page
Last week Lubnah Shomali of BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights gave a presentation to TDs and staff in Leinster House. BADIL was established in January 1998 based on recommendations issued by a series of popular refugee conferences in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its goal is the protection and promotion of the rights of Palestinian refugees and internally displaced persons.
Palestinian refugees constitute one of the largest and longest-standing unresolved refugee groups in the world today. According to recent estimates, at least 7.9 million (67%) of 11.8 million Palestinians worldwide are forcibly displaced persons. As Shomali pointed out, the displacement of Palestinians is ‘continuous and ongoing’ – an ‘ongoing Nakba (‘Catastrophe’)’.
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TDs & Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin demand end to water meter installation & political policing
2016
A cross party group of TDs have expressed concern at the jailing of two political activists, Sean Doyle and Eamonn McGrath. Both men have been remanded in custody until the 21st of May and 24th of June respectively for taking part in a peaceful protest in Kilcoole. Sean was arrested after being assaulted by an individual in front of Gardai while his attacker went unpunished. The same attacker then viciously pushed a woman to the ground. The Gardaí present saw fit to arrest the protesters for trespass while they gently escorted the assailant away. No charges have been brought against this man. The continuation of the political policing of the Irish Water protests exposes the Garda, yet again, as a force used to protect the status quo at the expense of ordinary people.
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