Pitstop Plowshares On Trial, July 5, 2006

Deirdre Clancy, Nuin Dunlop, Karen Fallon, Damien
Moran, Ciaron O'Reilly

Dublin Four Courts, July 5th. 2006

A letter from the Pitstop Plowshares to friends and activists:

Dear Friends,
It has been a long journey to
trial for the "Pit Stop Ploughshares" community, since
our February 3rd, 2003, non-violent disarmament of a
U.S. Navy War Plane at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare,
Ireland.

It has been a long 3 years for our ploughshares
community, but a much longer three years for the
people of Iraq suffering an invasion, occupation and
plunder of their homeland.

The Irish State's attempt to criminalise our
non-violent act of peacemaking complements their
militarisation of the civilian Shannon Airport to
service the U.S. war machine. We are not alone, as
other peace activists, and also resisters within the
British and U.S. military are being dragged before
courts & court martials, imprisoned in jails &
stockades for their non-violent resistance to this
war. In war, authentic peacemaking is criminalized,
as killing, theft, torture, incineration, internment,
rape and sexual abuse are legitimised as policy.

TRUTH THE FIRST CASUALTY OF WAR

Over the past three years the lies that were employed
to market this "illegal war" have been exposed;

A WAR AGAINST WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

No WMD has been found during the two years of
U.S./U.K. military occupation of Iraq.

-A WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

U.S. destruction of Iraqi civil society through its
1980's support for Saddam Hussein, 1990's imposition
of a genocidal sanctions regime and now a brutal
bombardment and military occupation has transformed
Iraq into a swamp of vengeance and a breeding ground
for terrorism.

A WAR TO BRING SUPERIOR WESTERN VALUES TO THE
MIDDLE EAST

U.S. colonial rule by decree from Saddam's former
palace, trans-national privatisation of Iraqi
resources, and evidence of crimes Abu Ghraib &
Fallujah puts lie to this mirage.

Over the past three years, 150,000 Iraqis mostly women
and children have been slain. Over the last three
years, over 2,400 U.S. soldiers, many who passed   
through Shannon Airport, have returned in body bags.
Uncounted thousands of Iraqis, Americans, Britons and
others have lost limbs, sanity, loved ones and homes.

As the late Peter Ustinov reflected, "War is the
terrorism of the rich; Terrorism is the war of the
poor"

Over the past three years, following our remand time
in Limerick Prison, the State has tried to keep the
Pit Stop Ploughshares in a state of suspended animation
on bail. In both March & October of 2005 we were tried at Dublin's Four Courts. Both trials collapsed when both judges had to rule "that an ordinary person could have possibly perceived their behavior as prejudicial". We believe if we had a fair trial in Ireland we would be acquitted of all charges. We hope the Irish state can afford to give us a fair trial on their third attempt. During these 3 years, we have tried to remain faithful to the non-violent disarmament we undertook and vigilant to continued Irish complicity in this war.

We have refused to see our jail time, bail time,
trials and the threat of future punishment as a
personal predicament to evade or disown. We have seen these
phases of our non-violent disarmament witness as
opportunities to speak truth to power and to express
solidarity with the people of Iraq & the young
Americans being shuttled through Shannon to Iraq, to
kill and die for the rich and powerful.

We are on a journey inspired by the ancient prophecy
of Micah and Isaiah to "beat swords into ploughshares
and study war no more".  We invite you to join us on
this journey.

We see our act of "beating swords into ploughshares"
at Shannon Airport as a non-violent gift of faith
enfleshed, hope enacted and freedom offered at a
time when the war machine is deployed at full throttle
to invade, occupy and plunder. In turn, we have been
sustained over the past three years by the gifts of
solidarity from old friends and new. Gifts of
hospitality, friendship, transport, musical talent,
legal expertise have accompanied us through the
roller coaster ride of the courts. A judicial process
designed to isolate, intimidate, and defeat the war
resister. The only sustenance we have is our faith
and your solidarity.

We hope to join with you as we go to trial a thrid time at Dublin's Four Courts from July 5th., 2006.

We hope our trial, beginning on July 5th., will
be a catylyst for celebration and non-violent opposition to
the war. We hope friends from around Ireland, and
from overseas, will gather in Dublin to celebrate
non-violent disarmament as an authentic option for
the human family.

We hope the trial will non-violently confront the
U.S., British and Irish institutions that continue
to wage war on the people of Iraq.  We hope other acts
of nonviolent resistance and solidarity will grow out
of the trial and our time together - whether we are
acquitted or imprisoned.

WE ARE IN URGENT NEED OF FUNDS TO BRING RELEVANT
WITNESSES TO COURT TO TESTIFY TO THE NATURE OF THE
HIGH CRIMES INFLICTED IN IRAQ AND TO FACILITATE
OUTREACH IN THE LEAD UP AND THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL.

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO:                

"Ploughshares Defence Fund"                        
134 Phibsborough Rd.                              
Dublin 7
IRELAND

Donations can be lodged at any
Bank of Ireland branch:
"Ploughshares Defence Fund"
Account No. 80965573 Sort Code 900551              

More information
www.peaceontrial.com
ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie


*If you are planning to come to Dublin for the trial. Please make contact with us on ploughshares@yahoo.ie . We presently cannot guarantee you accomodation during the trial but will be able to advise on cheap options in Dublin