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No welcome for war criminal Blair

07/05/07

British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives in Ireland on Tuesday (May 8) in a final and hopeless attempt to write himself into the history books as a man of peace.

The man who helped bring ‘shock and awe’ aerial bombardment and thuggish military occupation to the peoples of Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq will fly into Belfast dressed as a peacemaker and a democrat.

Recognised as a war criminal in the Arab World, reviled in much of Europe, mistrusted in England and a liability for his party in Scotland, Blair is seeking refuge in occupied Ireland to parade credentials he doesn’t posses.

When the devolved Six County administration is convened on Tuesday, the British PM will be there to metaphorically pat the natives on the head, in the best traditions of his predecessors, and forget about the growing resistance to the US-British writ in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

However, in the best traditions of the people of Belfast, protestors will meet Blair at Stormont Castle to ensure his hypocrisy and lies do not go unchallenged.

Calling on people from around the country to make an effort to attend Tuesday’s demonstration, which is being organised by the Belfast Anti-War Movement, éirígí spokesperson Daithí Mac An Mháistír said:

“It is patently absurd for Tony Blair to be masquerading as a peacemaker, whether that be in Ireland, Iraq or anywhere else. With upwards of 600,000 people dead as a result of his and his cohort George Bush’s actions in Iraq, the man should be up in front of a war crimes tribunal, not celebrating in Ireland.”

Daithí continued: “Tony Blair has lead an unrepentantly imperialist government over the last decade that has no intention of creating genuine peace in Ireland, never mind Iraq.

“For example, the Force Research Unit which directed the murderous activities of the pro-British death squads in the Six Counties has been redeployed to Baghdad to utilise their counter-insurgency experience.  It is hardly a coincidence that sectarian atrocities witnessed a dramatic upsurge with this group’s arrival in Iraq.

“Tony Blair’s epitaph will undoubtedly be that of a colonialist, pro-capitalist butcher.  If his government were really interested in fostering peace, they would announce their intention to withdraw their armies from all of those countries which they are currently occupying. Until then he and his government should be treated with the disdain and outrage they deserve – wherever they go.”

Anyone who is interested in giving Tony Blair the message on Tuesday (May 8) is asked to assemble at the gates of Stormont Castle at 10.00am. Alternatively, a bus will leave Belfast City Hall at 9.30am.

Bígí Linn!