Last week the Oread Daily reported on a mission of the South Armagh Demilitarization Committee (SADC) to the European Parliament to discuss the on going British occupation in Northern Ireland. It can now be reported that according to Sinn Fein News key European Parliamentary leaders may visit south Armagh to view the occupation close up.
The meeting with the European MEPs took place at a conference entitled Military Bases in Europe hosted by the Intergroup on Peace Initiatives. The Intergroup on Peace Initiatives acts as a forum where MEPs of different political groups can discuss peace & conflict issues, and further the political debate on these issues. The Intergroup works on issues and initiatives which will bring peace, disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution a step nearer and act as a driving force for parliamentary political initiatives on the European Union’s policies relating to peace and disarmament.
Damian McGenity of SADC said that the MEPs were given DVDs about the British Occupation and its negative effects. "The president of the Intergroup was amazed at the level of militarization in south Armagh,” he said.
Crossmaglen-based councillor Terry Hearty said, "We have established contacts with MEPs from a number of European countries and apprised them of the plight of the people of this area …A number of MEPs have expressed an interest in visiting the area and we anticipate even greater interest as the more MEPs become aware of the situation here.”
Hearty also commented on contacts his group made with a similar organization from Cyprus. "We have also been fortunate in establishing contact with the Cyprus Peace Council who are engaged in a similar campaign to remove a British occupation force from their island," Hearty told Sinn Fein News.
On Cyprus the British maintain what are known as Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs). A British garrison force is stationed at the bases, and they contain a British listening post, and the only fully fledged RAF station in the Mediterranean), RAF Akrotiri. In total, some 3,500 British personnel are based in Cyprus
The bases have been used extensively as support for the War in Iraq.
As in south Armagh, a huge antenna array built on the British occupied area has been the scene of much controversy. The giant antenna systems comprise a huge spy installation, part of a world system of monitoring and guiding missiles, aiming at the countries of the Middle East region and farther away. Workers Democracy says the system is, “a menace to the health of the people in the area due to the emission of electromagnetic radiation, which may cause various forms of cancer. They say it is also having a disastrous impact on the Akrotiri Wetland, "one of the most important ecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
Many cypriots believe the antenna systems to be a menace to the health of the people in the area due to the emission of electromagnetic radiation, which may cause various forms of cancer.
British experts claim that there are no adverse repercussions to the environment. Contradicting the British reports the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, is another study conducted by two Greek experts, who warned that the operation of the antenna would have serious repercussions on the evnironment because it will cause a "break-down of the delicate structure of the area."
The Cyprus government has declared opposition in the past to the antennas, but has taken no steps to stop them from construction or use. The Government says that due to the Treaty of Establishment and its obligations stemming from it that "it cannot afford not to respect".
The Greek Cypriot party Workers Democracy asks, “Does the Treaty though allow the British imperialists - in defiance of the people's sentiments - to threaten the health of the people and the environment of the island and does it permit them to spy the peoples and the anti-imperialist movements of the region?”
Several demonstrations and protests haven taken place against the spy post, with the most memorable incident occuring when MP Marios Matsakis chained himself to one of the antenna.
Sources: HR-Net, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Wikipedia, Sinn Fein News, Workers Democracy, Quaker Council for European Affairs, Ireland Information Guide
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