What started off as legitimate concerns by residents over the government’s handling of the situation regarding accommodation for these people, ugly scenes which in most cases were not the intentions, have taken place. Initially the vast majority of protestors were not anti-refugee or against asylum seekers per se, they were more angered by the 26 county administration's lack of consultation with themselves. In the East Wall area of North Inner-City Dublin, the government did not even notify the locals of their intentions to house a large number of asylum seekers in their area which caused much anger. The far-right latched onto this anger, as only they could being the opportunists they are, and turned many concerned heads in the wrong direction. What was a protest against government attitudes turned some, though by no means all or even most, heads towards the ‘get them out’ way of thinking, meaning get the asylum seekers out. The initial concerns were soon forgotten as the fascist groups began threading their racist filth into the resident’s legitimate concerns. This worked on a minority of the protestors but I cannot say, unfortunately, a tiny minority. The numbers of people voicing racist sentiment which I have heard first hand have grown and though still a minority the poison seems to be spreading. This does not only apply to Dublin and certainly to East Wall but across the 26 counties.
Since the protests at East Wall which made the news in 2022 many more incidents have occurred over the 26 counties and some have been less than savoury. The far-right groups in their pursuit towards some variant of fascism in Ireland are latching on across the state to any discontent which they perceive holds any water to their ideas. I saw similar tactics by groups in Britain, the NF in the seventies, the BNP in the eighties and nineties and today the Britain First group, supported openly by former US President Donald Trump are the face of racist Britain. Slightly more clandestine than the overtly fascist Britain First are people like Nigel Farage and parties such as UKIP. The list is long and there is no necessity to name them all here. The more sinister gangs have been known to burn out immigrant families on more than one occasion.
In Ireland today we have witnessed the clearing and then burning of tents in areas where asylum seekers were camped by these fascist louts. How much longer before they forget about the clearing and just set the tents alight occupied or not? They may be under the influence of the British far right, who have very cordial relations with the loyalist paramilitaries in the six counties. Most recently just outside the township of Inch, County Clare, anti-refugee and asylum seekers protests have taken place. Again, and initially the government's lack of communication has been voiced as the reason for the protests.
The far-right, now a little more accustomed in the art of diplomacy and knowing that going in feet first with the racist argument may not gain traction, are now using the reasonably sounding argument of ‘not being consulted’ along with the residents. This strategy is to get the ear of the locals, or some of them, before introducing the ‘get them out’ agenda a little later. Remember the people demonstrated against are seeking ‘international protection’ from the terror in their homelands like in the Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria and many other regions, not to forget Palestine. The Movement for Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) are saying “the government is allowing such action to happen by not showing authority and protecting people fleeing to Ireland.” The organisation went on to comment; “the men were made to feel extremely unwelcome on arrival.” Lucky Khambule, spokesperson for MASI, said; “the government and gardai had not dealt with protestors and anti-migrant groups in a string of incidents he listed out stretching back to 2018” (The Journal). Are the government in a clandestine way, or perhaps not so covertly, trying to give the far-right ammunition in their campaign to keep Sinn Fein and any left-wing partners out of government? Are refugees and asylum seekers being used as pawns in a dirty game of political chess?
Suddenly the protests at Inch have shifted from the anger over government lack of communications to being worried about the conditions the refugees are living in. Presently the asylum seekers and refugees are housed in a now disused hotel, Magowna House, which normally accommodates holidaymakers and is described as “a quaint little three-star hotel in the heart of the county, about ten minutes-drive from Ennis” which means about half an hour to forty-minute walk, that is if the refugees dare venture out alone. The protestors argue the conditions and services are not adequate for these people who are fleeing terror in their own countries. The question must be asked; would the same concerns about poor conditions and “disposal of sewage” be voiced if the guests were not asylum seekers but holidaymakers? How does a “quaint little three-star hotel” become a kip unfit for human habitation in such a short period of time? The demonstrators have blocked the road leading to the hotel and again the question must be posed, how does this blocking the road improve conditions at the hotel?
Suddenly the protests at Inch have shifted from the anger over government lack of communications to being worried about the conditions the refugees are living in. Presently the asylum seekers and refugees are housed in a now disused hotel, Magowna House, which normally accommodates holidaymakers and is described as “a quaint little three-star hotel in the heart of the county, about ten minutes-drive from Ennis” which means about half an hour to forty-minute walk, that is if the refugees dare venture out alone. The protestors argue the conditions and services are not adequate for these people who are fleeing terror in their own countries. The question must be asked; would the same concerns about poor conditions and “disposal of sewage” be voiced if the guests were not asylum seekers but holidaymakers? How does a “quaint little three-star hotel” become a kip unfit for human habitation in such a short period of time? The demonstrators have blocked the road leading to the hotel and again the question must be posed, how does this blocking the road improve conditions at the hotel?
So, we have moved away from the legitimate argument about the government not consulting with local people to these same local people being concerned about the standard of living conditions and level of services for the refugees! I find this a little hard to believe, and see it as a convenient cover for the agenda of a few which would be more akin to; ‘get them out’. According to the Irish Daily Mirror, on Saturday 20th May, if they are to be believed ,“false stories” are being spread about these refugees. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has asked “stop false stories being spread about refugees” in reference to false anecdotes put about by the far-right. This is akin to asking the Pope to bless divorce! The far-right rely on these scaremongering tales to create ignorance and fear among a population.
Coming a little more up to date and events have moved a further step in an ugly direction. Demonstrators, concerned about the level of services and living conditions of course, boarded a bus taking the guests to the nearest town. They then videoed the frightened asylum seekers making it plain they are not welcome, and counted their number, a ‘headcount’. This was to ensure that no more came back than went out. I remember back in the nineties returning from Derry to Belfast having been to an IRSP commemoration, the RUC boarded our coach for questions and a ‘headcount’ and we considered them fascists. So, by that criteria what does this act at Inch make the protestors? According to The Journal this boarding of the bus carrying asylum seekers amounted “to a further escalation in protests against asylum seekers”.
Coming a little more up to date and events have moved a further step in an ugly direction. Demonstrators, concerned about the level of services and living conditions of course, boarded a bus taking the guests to the nearest town. They then videoed the frightened asylum seekers making it plain they are not welcome, and counted their number, a ‘headcount’. This was to ensure that no more came back than went out. I remember back in the nineties returning from Derry to Belfast having been to an IRSP commemoration, the RUC boarded our coach for questions and a ‘headcount’ and we considered them fascists. So, by that criteria what does this act at Inch make the protestors? According to The Journal this boarding of the bus carrying asylum seekers amounted “to a further escalation in protests against asylum seekers”.
There have been calls from one Green Party TD, Neasa Hourigan who said “the alleged headcount incident needed to be met by gardai stepping up to a new level.” Eimear O’Connor, manager of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre, said; “this was a privately hired bus to take a private group of people on a journey and these people boarded the bus and took video footage. That’s very intimidatory, in particular when they’re newly arrived into the country.” Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, said “there is no need for blockades or protests in communities where refugees are being housed.” On this one he is correct, that is if he means it, and we all should be concerned about people boarding busses to conduct a ‘headcount’ of refugees and asylum seekers.
How long before we see them all wearing brown shirts with a swastika style armband? This is exactly how these things start and the bus boarding and, in Dublin, the burning of tents once housing these refugees is certainly a very, very dangerous step in the wrong direction. The fascists have not yet got a majority on their side, or even a sizable minority though the “I’m not racist but” brigade are growing in numbers, something which should cause all of us who are anti-fascist concerns. What is the next step around County Care, men in brown uniforms patrolling the streets at night asking for identification?
Thugs in unforms organising open ‘deportation’ campaigns which is only one step away from late 1920s Germany, are we witnessing the slow degeneration into such an abyss in Ireland?
🖼 Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist.
How long before we see them wearing shirts with a sickle & hammer ? Excellent reporting by Josh Crosbie on Newstalk yesterday - he interviewed two asylum seekers , one from Tunisia who travelled from his home in France via Belfast to claim asylum in Ireland & a chap from the Caribbean who arrived via Amsterdam ! 8,000 asylum seekers arrived @ Dublin airport during the past year with no i d ! Why aren't asylum seekers house in Dalkey , Killiney , Dartry & Rathgar ? During past attempts , the well connected locals put a stop to it #Pronto
ReplyDeleteThat is a symptom of a class based society Ron. The ruling class are exactly that, for those behind the rest of play the clue is in the word, ruling, and these capitalist parasites do not want anybody, indigenous or newcommer in their areas who might "lower the tone". I don't like it, in fact if I had my way this strata as a class in society would be eliminated, those now constituting this useless gang would come in with the rest of us. The entire structure of society would change, for the much better for most of us, as equality and true democracy would prevail. Everybody would have somewhere to live.
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile