GREENS CONDEMN BUSH'S WAR ON IRAQ AT BRAY ANTI-WAR MEETING

Councillor de Burca referred to the proposed war on Iraq as "immoral and illegal" and expressed the Green Party's concern that by launching a pre-emptive strike on Iraq, the US would undermine the body of international law that has been built up over the past few decades. "The UN inspectors are in Iraq at the moment doing their work and they must be given sufficient time to complete this" she said. "The UN Charter clearly states that war must be a last resort, and certainly until the inspectors have completed their work a war is completely premature".

The Green Party councillor said that the rest of the world was unconvinced that a war was necessary and she argued that the proposed war had "little to do with Weapons of Mass Destruction and everything to do with the politics of oil". She said that the global financial markets are already in turmoil at the prospect of a war on Iraq and that there is every possibility that the price of oil will "sky-rocket" if the war takes place."This war will make the world a less safe place" she said."It will cause even greater instability in the Middle East region, it will increase anti-American feeling amongst many Arabs and it will certainly fuel further terrorist attacks in the future".

Councillor de Burca criticised the Irish Government's willingness to let American military aircraft use Shannon Airport as part of the military build-up in the Gulf Region and she argued that this arrangement should be terminated if the US decides to launch a military attack on Iraq without a UN mandate. She said that while many people are opposed to the war on Iraq, they felt powerless to stop it.

"People must realise that they have a lot of power and can influence the decisions made by their politicians if they get out on the streets and make their opposition to the war public" she said. The Green Party councillor encouraged the people of Bray, and County Wicklow, to join in the International Day of Action against War on Iraq on February 15th. "A public march has been organised that begins at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square at 2pm on Saturday February 15th" she said. "If people feel strongly about the war, this is their chance to join thousands of others who also wish to show their opposition".

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.