road protests 2000   |   road protests (current)   |   movement links

From: (felixbadanimal@hotmail.com)
Subject: letter from glen of the downs, to the minister
Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2000 10:30:26 GMT

GLEN OF THE DOWNS

letter to Sile De Valera + background info

GLEN OF THE DOWNS
COUNTY WICKLOW
IRELAND
ADDRESSED TO SILE DE VALERA, MINISTER FOR ARTS, HERITAGE, GAELTACHT AND THE ISLANDS

DEAR MS DE VALERA,

WE THE PUBLIC WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN OF PROTEST AGAINST THE ROAD WIDENING SCHEME AT THE GLEN OF THE DOWNS ARE HERE TO UNDERLINE OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE CLOSURE OF A NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE AND THE CONTINUED VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE FOUR CAMPAIGNERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN BOTH CLOVER HILL PRISON AND MOUNTJOY WOMEN'S PRISON. THE FOUR PROTESTORS, DIANE, TONY, HUGH AND DOMINIC WERE WILLING TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING NOT TO IMPEDE WORKS AT THE LAND NOW OWNED BY WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT NOT WILLING TO UNDERTAKE NOT TO UTILISE WHAT IS BOTH A PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND A NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE. THE RIGHT OF PROTEST WAS EFFECTIVELY TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM: THIS IS A DIRECT VIOLATION OF THEIR HUMAN RIGHT TO PROTEST ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF CONSCIENCE. THE CLOSURE OF THE NATURE RESERVE TO THE PUBLIC WAS AN ILLEGAL ACT, FOR WHICH YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO VISIT AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF THE GLEN OF THE DOWNS: WE WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY REGARDING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO QUESTION THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF NATIONAL LAND. THIS IS A STATEMENT OF PROTEST AND INTENT. THE CLOSURE OF THESE LANDS IS UNENFORCEABLE AND ILLEGAL. WE DEMAND A REVIEW OF THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE NATURE RESERVE TO THE PUBLIC AND A PROPER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TO BE CARRIED OUT. OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THE UNDERTAKING ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR LIBERTY IF THEY VISIT THE GLEN OF THE DOWNS. THIS IS A DISTURBING WAY TO DEAL WITH THE RIGHT OF PROTEST IN WHAT IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY.

"NEVER SURRENDER OUR SOUL"-EAMONN DE VALERA

...........ENDS..........................................

background info on the glen of the downs

THE RIGHT TO LAWFUL PROTEST?

The dispute between the Glen protestors and Wicklow County Council is a civil matter. None of the protestors have been found guilty of a criminal offence, or even accused of one for that matter! Misuse of the Contempt Of Court law has seen thirteen of us imprisoned without trial for exercising our legal right to protest.

On the 25th of February, 9 protestors came out of prison to continue campaigning. 4 activists however remain in Clover Hill prison. Tony Baird, Deglan O Muiris, Domonic Woolf and Hugh McLoughlin are prisoners of conscience.

They remain incarcerated for refusal to give a pledge not to enter a public nature reserve belonging to the people of Ireland. It is in the care of Duchas, whose role is to conserve and to protect our natural heritage as enshrined in the wildlife act of 1976 - they are not fulfilling their role.

Barring these people from public land is denying their right to lawful protest. Is this the future? Deemed the right to protest yet unable to give expression on environmental and social issues.

This issue is not going to go away. We are all responsible for protecting the environment and the right to protest. The campaign can be contacted at glenprisoners@ireland.com

If this situation is allowed to go unchecked where will it lead? What price civil liberties?

Glen of the Downs   |   road protests 2000   |   road protests (current)   |   movement links