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DEFEND
FREE SPEECH, ASSEMBLY AND ACTIVITY
Monday,
September 1st, 2003
Mass
Protest on 8th Sept to defend free speech, assembly and activity
New
bye-laws are draconian, anti-democratic, and against human rights
NGO’s,
political parties, writers, artists and academics unite on free speech
Community, Non-Government and Voluntary Groups, Political
Parties, writers, artists and academics in
Galway have united under
the umbrella name “Defend free speech, Assembly and Activity” (DFSAA). The
groups are up in arms about two proposed bye-laws which they say are
draconian, anti-democratic and against our Civil Liberties. DFSAA will be
staging a Mass Protest outside City Hall on Monday 8th
Sept. The draft litter pollution bye-law simply proposes to ban all
leafleting, including that of Community, Non-Government and Voluntary
Groups. The draft parks bye-law is a much more comprehensive document which
includes restrictions on the right to assemble, busking and a wide range of
leisure activities.
For assembly, the bye-law requires written permission from
City Hall to hold or address a meeting or religious service by groups of 100
or more people. The bye-law can also restrict where a protest can and
cannot take place. Kieran Cunnane, PRO for DSFAA says that this proposal
removes our Civil liberties, pointing to Universal declaration on Human
Rights Article 20, which states “everyone has the right to peaceful
assembly and association”. We also point out that the proposals are
against the Constitution of Ireland, Bunreacht na h’Eireann “the state
guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to
public order and morality” Article 40.6.1 [II] “the right of the Citizens to
assemble peaceably and without arms”. All political parties voted against
similar proposals in
Dublin,
so why are we going through this all over again in
Galway? Mr. Cunnane also points to the irony of requesting
written permission, when in many instances, it is City Hall driven proposals
which we are protesting against.
In relation to leafleting, DFSAA says that free speech and
anti-littering are two completely separate issues, and again point to the
Universal declaration on Human Rights Article 19, which states “everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”. The Councilors
must get into their heads that Democracy is paramount and that in tackling
litter, we cannot attack Democracy.
Mr. Cunnane, outlined the group’s demands. Firstly, we will be asking
the Councilors to remove sections of the bye-laws requesting permission to
hold meetings and religious services in public space, and restrictions as to
where assembly can take place. We will then be asking them to defend the
right to leaflet by Local, Community and Voluntary Groups and Non-Government
Organisations. Many of our members are in environmental organisations, but
across the board we are unified in seeing this blanket ban as an attempt to
clamp down on free speech. Mr. Cunnane stated “opposition
does not confine itself to political parties during an election campaign
once every 4 or 5 years. The Media are not obliged to print all the public’s
issues. Leafleting is a very effective tool and many groups have limited
resources”. The feedback we’re getting from the various activist groups is
that they don’t like where this is headed and that this bye-law should be
thrown out rather than amended.
The group is also very concerned over proposals to make buskers seek
permission to perform from City Hall and restrict where they perform. We
will be asking for this proposal to be removed as it is unworkable, goes
against the whole spirit of busking and has a negative cultural impact on
Galway and its tourism. Said Mr. Cunnane, “people come to
Galway because of its colorful image and its buskers; we don’t
agree with killing the goose that lays the golden eggs”. We will also be
seeking clarification on the proposals relating to leisure activities such
are roller blading, skating, skate boarding, swimming, fishing and flying
kites. Several anomalies have already been pointed out in relation to these
proposals. We are not clear where they are headed, would like reassurance
that nothing will be banned unless facilities are first provided, that the
people participating in all of these leisure activities are consulted, and
that each activity should be discussed separately.
DFSAA’s have a rapidly growing list of supporters which currently
includes the Green Party, Socialist Worker’s Party, Labour Party, Sinn Féin,
Worker’s Power, Mandate Trade Union (Galway), SIPTU (Galway), Galway
Alliance Against War, Galway Environmental Alliance, Galway for a Safe
Environment, Galway Anti-Capitalist Movement, The Western Writer’s Centre
(Galway), The Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Irish Council of Civil
Liberties, Galway Cycling Campaign, Women in Media and Entertainment, Cáirde
Na Gallaimhe, Galway Peoples’s Resource Centre, Denis Halliday (former UN
Assistant Secretary General), Dr Joshua Castellino (Lecturer, NUIG Irish
Centre for Human Rights), John Behan (Sculptor and Art Teacher), Jim Cotter
(President, Galway Council of Trade Unions), Des Bonass (Dublin Council of
Trade Unions), Martin Ward (Mayor of Tuam), Fed Johnson (Writer), John Arden
(Writer), Kevin Higgins (Poet).
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