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Update Dec. 6, 2019

Both Ken and Tarak are now back home. Tarak arrived Dec. 3 and was greeted with signs and songs by friends at Newark Airport. Ken arrived in the United States Dec. 4 and flew back to New Mexico Dec. 5. He was greeted by supporters at the weekly peace vigil on Friday, Dec. 6.

Their trial is currently set for April 13, 2021, but Tarak is planning on returning before then to attend the trial of Colm Roddy and Dave Donnelly in March 2020. Roddy and Donnelly were also arrested for protests on the airfield at Shannon Airport.

 

 

And both Ken and Tarak will be continuing their work against U.S. violations of Irish neutrality and Irish complicity in U.S. wars in the Mideast.

Update Nov. 29, 2019

Both Ken and Tarak now have up-to-date passports and tickets back to the United States. Ken will get to New York on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and fly home to Santa Fe, N.M., Thursday, Dec. 5. Tarak will arrive Tuesday, Dec. 3, and go up to his home in Woodstock, N.Y. Their trial is currently scheduled for April 13, 2021, and they will be returning then, but also quite possibly before then for more efforts to bring attention to U.S. wars and Irish complicity therein.

Thanks to everyone–both in Ireland and the U.S.–for all their support, including donations to cover legal and other expenses, signing petitions, sending postcards, visiting the Irish Embassy and consulates, writing letters, visiting the “lads” in Ireland, housing and feeding them, arranging speaking and other events for them, and just general moral support for them and their families back home. Every bit has been an important contribution to this effort. Together, we have pushed the issue of illegal U.S. military flights through neutral Ireland into the spotlight in Ireland, and have even made some inroads in the saturated U.S. media environment. There is always more to do, but this has been an incredible start. Thanks.

Update Nov. 27, 2019

The High Court ruled today that Ken and Tarak’s passports should be returned to them so that they can finally come home, after being held hostage in Ireland for more than eight months. The Shannon police officer who came to the hearing actually brought the passports with him (probably sensing which way the wind was blowing), so they don’t have to go across the country to the Shannon police station to retrieve them.

The only hitch now is that Tarak’s passport expired this month. And now the U.S. Embassy is saying that it will take a week to renew it. He has an appointment Friday morning (they are closed Thursday for Thanksgiving), and is hoping that they will be able to expedite the process. I know, you are all thinking (as am I), we should start flooding the U.S. Embassy in Dublin with calls, but PLEASE WAIT until after his appointment Friday morning to see what happens.

Here is video from today:

Update Nov. 26, 2019

Tarak and Ken’s High Court hearing to change their bail conditions will be heard Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 2 pm. If the judge rules that their passports can be returned to them, they will have totravel to the west coast of Ireland to collect the docuents, which are being held at the police station nearest Shannon Airport. Then, Tarak will have to go to the U.S. Embassy in Dublin to get his passport renewed, since it expired this month. Embassy staff have said they will give him an appointment the same day. So, if the judge rules in their favor, they will home for Christmas.

Meanwhile, European Parliament Member Clare Daly has placed the ad pictured below in two Irish newspapers. We are grateful to Clare and her fellow MEP Mick Wallace for their steadfast support. Besides raising Tarak and Ken’s situation in the European Parliament, they have mentioned their case when they have spoken at various political events. Both Clare and Mick have been arrested themselves for going onto the Shannon airfield to protest U.S. military flights.

 

 

 

Update Nov. 22, 2019

Tarak and Ken will be back in the High Court on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to apply for a change in their bail conditions. Now that their trial has been moved to Dublin, meaning that it is at least two years off, perhaps the court will see the injustice of keeping them in Ireland until their trial. Keep sending in those postcards. Pressure on all fronts! If you want postcards to send to the Minister of Justice, please email ellen.davidson@verizon.net with your mailing address and how many cards you think you can get signed (they require $1.15 postage each to mail to Ireland, or you can collect them back after getting them signed and send them in batches for less). Card is pictured below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update Nov. 8, 2019

Tarak and Ken will be back in the High Court on Tuesday, Nov. 26, to apply for a change in their bail conditions. Now that their trial has been moved to Dublin, meaning that it is at least two years off, perhaps the court will see the injustice of keeping them in Ireland until their trial. Keep sending in those postcards. Pressure on all fronts!

Today, Tarak and Ken’s case was transferred from the Circuit Court in Ennis to the Dublin Circuit Court. This means that the trial date will probably be at least two years off, but it also means that they can re-apply to the High Court to change their bail conditions and get their passports back. Since the soonest the case can be heard in the High Court is Thursday, November 21, the lawyer is going to approach the prosecution to ask them to voluntarily withdraw their objections to the passports being returned (which is based on the prosecution assertion that they are a flight risk). If that doesn’t work, the application to the High Court will be made.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, they finished their second series of “Boots on the Ground for Freedom” walks, from Dún Laoghaire to the border at Dundalk. Reports on that coming soon.

Update Nov. 6, 2019

Yesterday, Sinn Fein Member of Parliament Martin Kenny addressed Justice Minister Charles Flanagan in the context of legislation regarding bail and probation supervision reciprocity between Ireland and other EU countries. Flanagan stressed the importance of people being considered “innocent until proven guilty” and of avoiding undue interference in people’s lives when they are awaiting trial or serving probation–saying they should be able to be with their families and not lose employment or educational opportunities. Although the bill does not cover Ken and Tarak’s situation exactly, the ideas the minister raises certainly apply, and Kenny makes this point well. Click here to see Kenny’s speech. The minister’s underwhelming response was: “An individual case was referred to at some length by Deputy Martin Kenny. It would be imprudent of me to make mention of any particular case.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, Veterans For Peace President Gerry Condon gave an excellent interview to John Kiriakou on his radio show Loud and Clear. Gerry talked about his recent letter to Minister Flanagan, hitting many important points about Irish neutrality and U.S. militarism, as well as suppression of protest. Click here for Gerry’s interview. Next week we will have more pre-printed postcards for you to send a message to Flanagan–email ellen.davidson@verizon.net with your mailing address and how many you want, put “postcards” in the subject line. The text of Gerry’s heartfelt letter is below:

October 31, 2019

Charles Flanagan
Minister of Justice
Government of Ireland

Dear Minister Flanagan,

I am writing to you on behalf of Veterans For Peace in the United States.  We are a 34-year-old organization with chapters in over 100 U.S. cities and a growing number of international affiliates, including in Ireland.  Our mission is ultimately to abolish war altogether.  In the meantime, we work to expose the true costs of war, to seek justice for veterans and victims of war, to abolish nuclear weapons, and to restrain our government(s) from intervening in the internal affairs of other nations.

As you must know, two U.S. members of Veterans For Peace, Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff, were arrested in Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day of this year after walking on to the tarmac at Shannon Airport with a banner protesting the misuse of this civilian airport in neutral Ireland by the U.S. military and CIA on their way to and from illegal wars and occupations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

These two peace activists are charged with misdemeanor offenses and yet they have been treated as dangerous criminals.  They spent 13 days in an Irish jail.  They are not being afforded a speedy trial.  Their U.S. passports have been seized by Irish authorities.  For over seven months they have not been allowed to leave Ireland and return to their families in the United States.

As Minister of Justice, you must know that this amounts to cruel and unusual punishment for two men who have not been convicted of any crime.  The rationalization that there is a risk they would not return to Ireland for their trial does not make any sense at all – these are nonviolent peace activists who very much look forward to their day in court.

It is apparent that these U.S. military veterans are not victims of incompetent Irish authorities, but rather are being held hostage for political reasons.  This is unacceptable, and may require the intercession of international human rights organizations and/or international courts of justice.

As an Irish American who loves Ireland, I can think of worse fates than being forced to remain in Ireland for an extended period.  In fact, Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff have enjoyed the warm hospitality and support of many wonderful Irish citizens who share their concerns about the U.S. abuse of Irish neutrality. However, I am sure you can appreciate that these two men – who are 77 and 82 years of age – have lives, families and responsibilities at home in their respective communities in New Mexico and New York.

The denial of their freedom to travel home, combined with the denial of a speedy trial, amount to an outrageous breach of justice — hardly what people expect from the government of Ireland.

If the purpose of their extended detention in Ireland is to discourage U.S. citizens from daring to protest for peace in Ireland, I think that message has been received.  As this detention continues, however, you may find that it will have just the opposite effect.  Many U.S. veterans are shocked and outraged by the behavior of the Irish government.

As president of Veterans For Peace, I appeal to your better sense as an Irish citizen and as Minister of Justice.  Please take a close look at this situation.  I am sure that Messrs. Mayers and Kauff would be more than happy to meet with you and answer any questions you might have.

Let me state clearly that Veterans For Peace is calling on Irish authorities to return their U.S. passports and restore their freedom to travel home to the United States.

These dedicated peace activists have been clear and convincing in their commitment to return to Ireland when a trial date is finally set.  To punish them ahead of their trial – or instead of giving them a fair trial – is a violation of Irish law and international law.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, Minister Flanagan.  I hope that Ireland is still sufficiently neutral that you are able to do the right thing.  The peoples of both our countries will be pleased if you do.

For Peace and Neutrality!
Gerry Condon, President
VETERANS FOR PEACE

Update Nov. 4, 2019

Ken and Tarak’s situation will be raised in the Irish Parliament (Dáil) Nov. 5 at 2:21 New York time. You can find a link to a livestream at https://www.oireachtas.ie. It will be part of a discussion about legislation introduced to regularize bail situations. The Justice Minister, in introducing it, ironically made a speech saying how it is better for those “innocent until proven guilty” to have the support of their loved ones in their own place while awaiting trial. He was referring mainly to Irish people charged with offenses while abroad, so the parliamentarians plan to quote his words back to him.

Update Oct. 24, 2019

Ken and Tarak received a warm welcome by a broad grouping of 30 TDs (Irish members of parliament) and senators today. After the meeting, many of the politicians wanted to get their photos taken with Ken and Tarak. Let’s hope that this connection translates into some action, both on stopping U.S. military flights through Shannon and on getting Ken and Tarak’s passports returned to them so they can return home to await trial.

 

Update Oct. 22, 2019

Irish MP Richard Boyd Barrett of Dún Laoghaire (where Ken and Tarak are living), just gave a fiery speech about the military flights through Shannon and their case in the Dail (Irish Parliament), with PM Leo Varadkar present. Things might finally be headed for a breakthrough! Here is Richard Boyd Barrett (of the Solidarity – People Before Profit Party) with Ken and Tarak. Click here to see video of Richard’s remarks.

Update Oct. 17, 2019

Ken and Tarak start Phase 2 Walk from Dún Laoghaire

Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff will start Phase Two of their Boots on the Ground for Freedom walk Oct. 28 from Dún Laoghaire, where they have been living, and will finish at the border with Northern Ireland. To mark the start of the walk there will be a party in the upstairs bar in McLoughlin’s, Upper George’s Street, Dún Laoghaire, on Monday, Oct. 28,  at 8 pm (no charge but food and drink can be purchased).

Here is their tentative schedule:

Monday, Oct. 28: Dun Laoghaire Pier to Dail (Parliament) in Dublin (11 km)
Tuesday, Oct. 29: Dail to Raheny (8 km)
Wednesday, Oct 3o: Raheny to Malahide (9 km)
Thursday, Oct. 31: Malahide to Rush and Lusk (13 km)
Friday, Nov. 1: Rush and Lusk to Balbriggan (14 km)
Saturday, Nov. 2: Rest Day
Sunday, Nov. 3: Laytown to Drogheda (11 km)
Monday, Nov. 4: Drogheda to Murray’s Cross (11 km)
Tuesday, Nov. 5: Murray’s Cross to Castlebellingham (14 km)
Wednesday, Nov. 6: Castlebellinghoam to Dundalk (12 km)
Thursday, Nov. 7: Dundalk to border north of Kilcurry (10 km)
Friday, Nov. 8: Return to Limerick or Dublin

They welcome anyone who wants to join any part of the walk. To meet up with them or for more information, contact Roger Cole at 087-261-1597 (from outside Ireland: +353-87-261-1597).

Update Oct. 12, 2019

It’s been a busy week in Ireland with Tarak and Ken. On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, they attended the World BEYOND War conference in Limerick, where they spoke at the closing panel. The conference was followed by a protest at nearby Shannon Airport. Tarak and Ken were allowed to go as far as the peace camp 100 yards down the road from the usual protest spot, but they could not participate in the march that was stopped at a police checkpoint. After the march, Ken and Tarak planted an oak tree in the peace park; the tree had been donated by activists at Malin Head, where the two had finished the first portion of their Boots on the Ground for Freedom walks on Sept. 26.

On Monday and Tuesday, Tarak participated in Extinction Rebellion’s week protest in Dublin (Ken was struck by a bad cold and stayed home). He spoke to the crowd on two occasions, reminding them of the connection between militarism and destruction of the planet. On Friday, Ken and Tarak attended a meeting with Julian Assange’s father John Shipton and European Parliament members Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

They are busy planning the next stage of their Boots on the Ground for Freedom, which will start in Dun Laoghaire, on the east coast of Ireland, with a kickoff event on Oct. 28. They will travel up the coast through Dublin to the border north of Dundalk, where they will arrive on Sunday, Nov. 10, unless they have to take time off for a court hearing before then.

Update Oct. 1, 2019

Irish President Michael D. Higgins was on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show this morning. He spoke compassionately at length about immigration and migration and refugees. The last caller, who was included because she was calling from Dublin (audio below), asked him why the Irish government allowed the U.S. to violate its neutrality with its military flights through Shannon to the very wars that were creating those refugees. And she also asked about the case of two U.S. military veterans who had been held in Ireland since March after nonviolently protesting those flights. While he ducked around the neutrality question, he said that he was “familiar with the case” of the veterans and, although he could not interfere, he would “bring it to Government’s attention.”

U.S. military veterans Tarak Kauff and Ken Mayers have finished three weeks of Boots on the Ground for Freedom, in which they walked through Ireland to support Ireland’s neutrality, to protest its role in facilitating U.S. wars in the Middle East, and to demand that they be allowed to return home to the United States. Meanwhile, the Ennis Circuit Court postponed a key decision on moving their case to the Dublin Circuit Court, a key step in the process of getting their bail conditions changed to allow them to leave Ireland (see details and video blog).

Here are some video blogs about their 21-day series of walks through the northwest of Ireland:

Freedom Walk: Episode 1
Freedom Walk: Episode 2
Freedom Walk: Episode 3
Freedom Walk: Episode 4
Freedom Walk: Episode 5
Freedom Walk: Episode 6
Freedom Walk: Episode 7

View video blog about Sept. 30 court appearance.

Contact: John Lannon, Shannonwatch + 353 0878225087 (international)  087 8225087 (in-country) shannonwatch@gmail.com

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On Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 am in front of Limerick Prison, where they were incarcerated, Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff, both U.S. military veterans will begin Boots on the Ground for Freedom, a series of walks through Ireland to promote peace and, as Kauff has written, “freedom to return home to our families, freedom from war, and the freedom to respect and affirm a strong and peaceful Irish neutrality.” 

The two veterans were arrested at Shannon Airport on St. Patrick’s Day for attempting to inspect an Omni International aircraft they believed were carrying U.S. troops and weapons in direct violation of international law. The plane was on its way to Kuwait. Mayers, 82, a former Marine Major, and Kauff, 77, a former U.S.Army paratrooper, were remanded to Limerick Prison where they spent 12 days before being released on 2500 euros bail each and surrender of their passports. Five months later, the two  peace activists are still here, but they are not silent.

“The U.S. military is using this civilian airport as a U.S. base, thereby contributing to death and destruction throughout the Middle East and North Africa. What I find particularly heart-rending is that some of this material goes to support the Saudi attack in Yemen where there are over a million people on the verge of starvation. After the starvation that devastated Ireland in the 19^th century, it is particularly tragic and bitterly ironic that this nation should be complicit in the starvation of over a million people.” said Mayers.

“It’s hugely important to us here in Ireland that these two veterans did this. It internationalizes the situation. These two gentlemen didn’t commit a crime, they were trying to prevent crimes being committed and crimes being facilitated at Shannon Airport. The following day after they did their action, ten children from one extended family were killed in a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan. According to our research up to one million children have died as a result of these wars.” Edward Horgan, retired Irish Army Commandant 

The walk in September will go from Limerick to the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head. The first section of the walk will go from Limerick Prison to the steps of the Ennis Court House, arriving on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The courthouse is where the two men were remanded to Limerick Prison. 

Clare Daly, a member of European Parliament commented, “Instead of allowing the case to go to trial, we had the judge denying them bail which is an absolute violation of human rights. It’s an appalling treatment of two elderly gentlemen, to take their passports and effectively almost intern them in Ireland. If you compare that to the treatment myself and Mick Wallace got when we did essentially the same thing, to try and exercise our public duty to do what the government won’t do, to examine U.S. aircraft to see whether the undertaking that we are told exists, if they are unarmed and not involved in any military action is indeed true. We had a trial, we were issued with a fine, which we didn’t pay and in defiance of that we were sent to prison, supposedly for a month but we served about 2 hours of that. The discrepancy in their treatment and ours is really regrettable.” 

From Ennis Courthouse, Ken and Tarak will then walk from Ennis to Eyre Square in Galway, arriving there on Monday, Sept. 16. 

From Galway they will be driven to Manorhamilton on Sept. 18 to speak at 8 pm at the Caife Bia Slainte.  

They will then walk to Sligo, a distance of 24K, arriving there on Friday, Sept. 20. 

From Sligo they will be driven to Letterkenny and from there will walk to Bridgend, arriving on Monday, Sept. 23. 

The final section of the September walk will be from Buncara to Malin Head, where the two freedom walkers will arrive on Friday, Sept. 27. Malin Head in Donegal is particularly significant to the two veterans because of the WW II Eire neutrality sign that has been restored there. 

Update July 11, 2019

BAIL APPEAL DENIED

Today the Irish High Court denied Tarak Kauff and Ken Mayers’ appeal of their bail conditions requiring them to stay in Ireland until their trial. “As soon as the judge opened his mouth,” said Tarak, “I could tell he was going to deny the appeal. It’s clearly political.”

This means that Tarak and Ken could be required to stay in Ireland for years, much longer than any possible penalty for their charges should they be found guilty.

The judge said that if their charges are moved from the Circuit Court in County Clare (where it’s not possible to get a fair trial regarding Shannon Airport) to Dublin, he might reconsider the question, as the Dublin Circuit Court is backed up for years.

Update July 3, 2019

It looks like the bail appeal hearing will definitely be Thursday, July 11. And the next appearance in the District Court (where the trespass charge is still) is July 10. So next week will be a busy week for the “American lads.” If their bail appeal is successful, and we manage to pull together funds for any additional bond the court might require (this could be up to $20,000, but it will be returned at the time of their trial), they could be coming home as soon as July 18, after the fundraising event on July 17 in Dublin. Keep fingers crossed, everyone!

Update July 1, 2019

Great news today! Here is Tarak and Ken’s report:

We crossed a milestone today.  Our affidavit for the High Court requesting a change in our bail conditions to allow us to go home to await trial has now been filed with the Court.  We will go to the High Court at 11am on Thursday, which is the day they hear bail appeals from outside of Dublin.  There is no assurance that our case will be heard this Thursday, but we have to be there in case it is.  Cases are queued, with cases for those appellants currently in prison taking priority.  So we won’t be surprised if they don’t get to us this week; in that case we’ll go again next week and hope for the best.  And successive weeks if necessary.  But the good news is that we are finally in that process.

At our  most recent appearance in District Court, the judge refused jurisdiction on the damage charge and elevated it to the Circuit Court.  However, the trespass charge remains in the District Court for the time being.  We are due back in District Court either on July 10 or 15 (we heard the judge say July 10 when we were in the courtroom, but the paperwork says July 15).  We’ll be calling the courthouse this week to get the date nailed down.  When we do appear, we will ask for a “long adjournment” in the case until the Circuit Court has an opportunity to pull the trespass charge up to the Circuit Court to be heard at the same time as the damage charge.

It turns out that our Circuit Court case was called last Tuesday, but we were not notified.  As a result we missed the hearing and are now scheduled in Circuit Court on September 30.  At that time our solicitor will ask that he be allowed to represent us without our presence at subsequent court appearances up to the actual trial.  At the September 30 hearing we will also request that the case be moved from County Clare to Dublin because it would be tough to get an unbiased jury that close to Shannon Airport.

Our solicitor, Michael Finucane, continues to be fairly confident that the High Court will agree to a change in our bail conditions but it may require a significant cash surety which could take up to a week to arrange.  If, contrary to expectations, the judge refuses to let us get our passports back, our solicitor will then ask the judge to “fast track” the trial since otherwise it is likely to take 18 months or more before the trial will be held.

A wonderful Irish Human Rights organization, AFRI (Action FRom Ireland) has offered to hold a fundraising event for us in Dublin on July 17.  If we get a positive ruling on our bail appeal,  we will be home soon after the fundraising event on July 17th.

Update June 16, 2019

On Wednesday, June 19, Tarak and Ken will have a status hearing on their case. They are hoping to receive the Book of Evidence (the prosecution’s case against them, which they are required to provide) at that hearing, since they are required to receive this in person. After that, status hearings on their case will not require them to attend in person.

The only other obstacle to them leaving the country is that their bail conditions include the confiscation of their passports. We are hoping to have an appeal of those bail conditions filed in the next week or so, and a hearing soon thereafter (the High Court hears such cases on Thursdays).

Meanwhile they are keeping busy. They travel to Dublin every week on Tuesday to stand in front of the Dail (parliament) with a banner or sandwich boards, passing out brochures about Shannon and their case to passersby and interacting with members of parliament, some of whom are quite supportive. They couldn’t go to peace encampment near Shannon Airport when Trump was in the country (bail conditions forbid them to go “near any Irish airport”), but they support the action with banner drops on overpasses to the highway leading to the airport, and also they took their banner to Trump’s golf course in Doonbeg. They have also been interviewed on national television, and have gotten plenty of other media coverage in Ireland of the event. People everywhere they go are supportive of what they are doing.

From Tarak and Ken:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We are still in Ireland, courtesy of the Irish government. Many of you have most generously contributed and/or spread the word about our defense fund and many more have made us feel so welcome here in Ireland through your comradely friendship and warm hospitality. My words are not adequate to express the respect and gratitude I feel but I do want you to know that the support Ken Mayers and I have received is deeply appreciated. Also we wish to thank Roger Whelan and AFRI for producing that truly exceptional video about Shannon, U.S. wars and Irish neutrality.

We do hope to  be traveling back to our respective homes as soon as our bail conditions, hopefully are modified in the courts so that we can get our passports back. We understand that there is no guarantee of that and we may possibly be here in Ireland for years waiting for trial.

In the mean time, and as long as we are here, we want to continue to be actively involved in the work for peace and justice here in Ireland. We will make ourselves available, as needed and  requested, as U.S. military veterans, to speak on the issue of U.S. war-making and the abuse of Irish neutrality at Shannon.

We also have been profoundly dismayed by the oppression and occupation of the Palestinian people, which its similar in many ways to what the Irish suffered for centuries under the cruelty of British rule. We have been to Palestine with VFP Veterans Peace Teams and have seen the oppression first hand. We are very much aware how deeply our own U.S. government is intwined economically, militarily and politically with Israel and it repulses us. Since there is strong support here in Ireland for justice in Palestine, as long as we are here want to be involved with that as well.

Veterans For Peace supports the BDS campaign and every other nonviolent means to end the occupation and system of apartheid imposed by Israel on Palestine and supported by the criminal U.S. ruling oligarchy and our unfortunately subservient Congress.

We ask our comrades in Ireland to allow us to be of service in any way we can. We have been speaking out and participating and want to continue to do so. Please contact us either through Ed Horgan, Ken or myself.

In Solidarity and gratitude,
Tarak and Ken

Action Points
Ed Horgan’s Talking Points.
Resources (sample letters)
Photos

Update May 14, 2019

From Tarak today:

Ken and I are in Dublin for a few days, staying at our friend Garry Kilganon’s house in Dun Laoghaire, south of Dublin. Very beautiful. Today we were in front of Parliament with our banner and sandwich boards along with a fairly large anti-Pesco gathering. (Permanent Structured Cooperation is the part of the European Union’s security and defense policy in which 25 of the 28 national armed forces pursue structural integration.) Many people are opposed to Ireland getting involved with what will amount to yet another European army being formed.

A number of Irish parliamentarians stopped and chatted with us. A few wanted their picture taken with us. Irish senators and MPs, at least the ones we’ve met, don’t seem to have the same elitist arrogance many US politicians have, and they are much easier to approach and talk with.

Tomorrow we’ll do a big banner drop during morning rush hour at an overpass above a heavily trafficked road into Dublin fair city. In the afternoon we’ll join a pro-Palestinian event. Then we see our lawyer to talk about the appeal so we can get our passports back.

Saturday we will join the Famine Walk and meet up with Kathy Kelly, who we’ll spend some time with. We’ve been asked to carry our Respect Irish Neutrality banner. Afri, the organizer of the walk, by  the way, was the producer of the video about Ken and me and Shannon.

We’ve also been following as closely as possible what’s going on at the Venezuela Embassy in DC. We have so much respect for our friends who have been holding it down there. If we weren’t in Ireland, we’d be there. Very proud of and grateful to Kevin and Margaret, Ken Ashe, Gerry Condon, Ann Wright, Medea, Tighe, Ariel and others who have been on the scene and resolutely standing up to the Trump, Bolton, Abrams, Pompeo gangsters and their agents in the Secret Service. The scene yesterday with the police putting eviction notices on the doors was ludicrous.

I have to say I appreciate being here with Ken. I couldn’t ask for a better comrade. And we both are very grateful for the support and friendship we’re getting here in Ireland and also from folks back home. Thank you all.

Our next court appearance is June 19th.

Solidarity,
Tarak

Update May 8, 2019

Excellent report from Edward Horgan on today’s hearing in Ennis District Court:

Very good progress today for Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff. The DPP director of public prosecutions recommended that their case be dealt with at lower District Court level. Judge Durcan, however, refused to accept jurisdiction and has referred the case up to Ennis Circuit Court and eventual trial by jury. This is what we had hoped for. They will be back in the district court briefly on 19 June for receipt of book of evidence and then later to Ennis Circuit Court. Their next stage then will be to apply to have trials transferred from Ennis Circuit Court in County Clare to the circuit jury court in Dublin and this is likely to happen. Separately and in the meantime, they will need to go back to high court in Dublin to try and amend their bail conditions so they can return to USA pending trial. No guarantees but good progress so far.

Update May 1, 2019

Great news on the legal front! Renowned Irish human rights lawyer Michael Finucane has agreed to take Ken and Tarak’s case. Michael is no stranger to seeking truth, as his father was murdered by British loyalists in 1989, and he has been working to expose the facts of this case for decades. Tarak, Ken, and Ed Horgan met with him on April 30, and were quite impressed, and Michael is eager to be involved in the case.

Their next court date is in Ennis May 8, when they are planning to request a change of jurisdiction from the District Court in Ennis to the Circuit Court in Dublin. This is important for two reasons. First, it will guarantee that they will have a jury trial, and second, they have a much better chance of getting a fair hearing in Dublin, since Shannon Airport is an important economic driver in County Clare, and the U.S. refueling stops are quite profitable.

After this court date, when we hope the prosecution will finally have prepared their “book of evidence,” for the case, Michael plans to move forward with an appeal of the bail conditions, which must be heard by the High Court in Dublin, which set the conditions to begin with. Hopefully, this will result in Tarak and Ken’s passports being restored to them, at which point they will finally be able to come home to the U.S.

Meanwhile, they are continuing to use their time to draw attention to the situation of illegal U.S. military flights through Shannon Airport. They have carried out several banner drops in Limerick, Dublin, and on the roadway leading to Shannon Airport (although they are not allowed to go near any Irish airport under their bail conditions). They have also been holding banners and wearing sandwich boards in front of the Irish Parliament and elsewhere, where they have engaged with passersby and distributed a brochure explaining the issue.

Finally, be sure to watch this excellent video about their case with Ken, Tarak, Ed Horgan, and Irish MP Clare Daly, all speaking eloquently about why it’s wrong to allow U.S. troops to pass through neutral Ireland on their way to illegal wars in the Middle East:

 

Update, April 11, 2019

Thank you, everyone, for your efforts April 8 and 9. Many people reported calling and writing the Irish Embassy and consulates. In New York, about a dozen supporters gathered outside the Irish Consulate, where they were met by the Vice-Consul, who accepted letters delivered by VFP-NYC President Susan Schnall. He said he was unable to comment on the issue. Please send reports and photos from other actions, including any responses from Irish or U.S. authorities, to ellen.davidson@verizon.net.

Legal Update

On the legal front, Ken, Tarak, Ed Horgan and possibly Ellen Davidson will be meeting with lawyer Darragh Mackin next week to discuss filing an appeal to the High Court in Dublin to amend the conditions of Ken and Tarak’s bail to allow them to return to the United States. Since the original bail conditions were set by an appeal to the High Court, only the High Court can change those conditions.

In the Ennis District Court, meanwhile, the next hearing is set for May 8. At this hearing, Ken and Tarak are planning to submit a motion to have their case moved to the Circuit Court in Dublin. This is important for two reasons. First, it will guarantee that they will have a jury trial, and second, they have a much better chance of getting a fair hearing in Dublin, since Shannon Airport is an important economic driver in County Clare, and the U.S. refueling stops are quite profitable.

April 8 and 9, Bring Ken and Tarak Home Days

Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9, are hereby declared “Get Ken and Tarak Home Days.” We are asking people to concentrate calls, letters, and visits to Irish Embassies and Consulates, the State Department, and elected officials on these days so that these institutions experience a flood of support for Tarak and Ken and protest against U.S. military flights through Shannon. Letters to the editor of your local paper are also important. We should be demanding that being forced to stay in Ireland amounts to punishment before being convicted. We should stress that it is damaging to their health, their finances and their families. And, of course, that they were only arrested because they were trying to stop the illegal U.S. military flights through Shannon that bring troops and weapons through meant for illegal wars in the Middle East that have already killed up to a million children, and displaced millions of refugees.

If you are in New York City, join us at the Irish Consulate, 345 Park Avenue, at 10:45 am, Tuesday morning, to deliver letters demanding that Tarak and Ken be allowed to return home and that the Irish government honor its own neutrality and stop allowing U.S. military flights to refuel at Shannon Airport.

Click on “Action Points” above for details on who to call, and click on “Talking Points” above for Ed Horgan’s detailed notes about why Ireland should not be allowing the U.S. flights through Shannon. Under the “Resources” link above are samples of letters to the Irish Embassy, Secretary of State Pompeo, and to local newspaper editors.

Update April 4, 2019

Legal Update

Ken and Tarak had a hearing before a judge at Ennis District Court this morning. As expected the prosecution said it was not ready with its “evidence book,” and requested another hearing. which was scheduled for May 8. Tarak and Ken tried to raise the issue of being allowed to return home to the United States (in particular in Tarak’s case because his blood pressure has been very high from the stress) but the judge refused to hear anything about the terms of the bail, saying that since these terms had been set by the High Court in Dublin, they would have to be taken up there. He did seem favorable toward the notion that he should refuse jurisdiction and bump the case up to the Circuit Court in Dublin, which would guarantee a jury trial and would have a better chance of being a fair trial than anything in County Clare. We are optimistic that we will be able to get this move made at their next hearing. The other good thing about this morning is that there was a good media presence, including TV.

Activism Update
Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9, are hereby declared “Get Ken and Tarak Home” days. We are asking people to concentrate calls, letters, and visits to Irish Embassies and Consulates, the State Department, and elected officials on these days so that these institutions experience a flood of support for Tarak and Ken and protest against U.S. military flights through Shannon. Letters to the editor of your local paper are also important. We should be demanding that being forced to stay in Ireland amounts to punishment before being convicted. We should stress that it is damaging to their health, their finances and their families. And, of course, that they were only arrested because they were trying to stop the illegal U.S. military flights through Shannon that bring troops and weapons through meant for illegal wars in the Middle East that have already killed up to a million children, and displaced millions of refugees.

Click on “Action Points” above for details on who to call, and click on “Talking Points” above for Ed Horgan’s detailed notes about why Ireland should not be allowing the U.S. flights through Shannon. Under the “Resources” link above are samples of letters to the Irish Embassy, Secretary of State Pompeo, and to local newspaper editors.

Update, April 2, 2019

From Tarak this morning: Ken and I are encouraged by the ongoing support here in Ireland and the US for the action we took and the reasons for it. We love Ireland and the spirit of the Irish people but it would be great to get our passports back and return to the US until our trial, which could be years away.

Tomorrow is the next hearing in their case, before a judge in the Ennis District Court, where they were twice refused bail. They will submit a motion to have the trial moved to the Circuit Court in Dublin. This will accomplish two things: It will guarantee that they get a jury trial, rather than being tried before a single judge, and it will move them out of County Clare, where Limerick Airport and the U.S. military flights are a major economic driver.

Update, March 30, 2019

“It‘s great to be (relatively) free. Of course, as we all know, none of us are really free until we all are but your support and love has literally brought tears to my eyes. We are so grateful and inspired by all of you. Great love and solidarity. We are family. Hope to see you all soon. Keep on keeping on.” So said Tarak in a comment on one of the many facebook posts about him and Ken.

They are settling in at Irish activist Sean Clinton’s home. Now that they have access to their phones and emails, they are seeing all the solidarity actions that took place on their behalf–New York, Washington (twice!), San Francisco–letters from all over, and more. They are very moved by the support that has swelled up. And they are very happy to be able to communicate directly with friends and family.

The Irish Times printed  an article about their experience in prison, which failed to note why they were on the tarmac at Shannon Airport, or to mention the illegal U.S. military flights at all. Several letters have been sent to correct the record. The two also spoke on John McDonagh’s show on WBAI-FM, Radio Free Eireann. John has been covering the issue in every show since the March 17 arrests, and you can find interviews with Ed Horgan, Ellen Davidson, and today’s show in the WBAI archives.

Ken and Tarak are also getting back on the streets. They attended a vigil in Limerick in support of Palestinian rights (Ken and Tarak have twice traveled to the West Bank with VFP Veterans Peace Team delegations). “We see the connection between the U.S. warplanes refueling at Shannon Airport to bring troops and munitions to wage death and destruction in the Middle East for the past 18 years and the Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people – an occupation supported and encouraged by almost four billion of US tax dollars as well as US political cover every year,” said Tarak.

Their next hearing is Wednesday, April 3,  at the Ennis District Court, and the lawyer plans to introduce a request to move the trial out of County Clare to Dublin, because it seems that you can’t get justice in County Clare if you are protesting at Shannon. Says Ed Horgan: “For example, bail was refused for peace activists Ken Mayers and Tarak Kauff on 18 March for their peace actions, yet on 27 March the same court granted bail to two brothers aged 23 and 24 on charges of double rape of an underage girl, which were clearly far more serious charges.”

Update, March 29, 2019

Tarak and Ken walked out of jail at about 12:35 Irish time–Ed Horgan was literally waiting outside the jail for hours after all the paperwork was done. Tarak spoke briefly with Ellen Davidson and said they were very glad to be out, but that they had made some good friends in the prison, among both the guards and the prisoners. “The memory of 1916 is very real to them,” said Tarak, “and both guards and prisoners encouraged us to keep protesting.” They will probably be busy in the upcoming days–the Irish Times has been asking for an interview with them, and there will be other media as well.

Their passports, as was expected, have been confiscated and they have been told they must stay in Ireland for the trial. We will be organizing support for a campaign to bring them all the way home in the next weeks, but we need to get a clearer picture from the lawyer about what it will take. In the meantime, they will be housed and fed by our great allies on the ground over in Ireland.

Their next hearing is Wednesday, April 3, but it is not related to their bail conditions. It will be an important hearing, however, because the lawyers are going to make the case that the trial should be moved to Dublin, since it’s clear that there is no justice in County Clare for anyone protesting at Shannon (the U.S. military refueling stops are quite lucrative, and Shannon Airport is a major economic driver in the region). There is precedent for moving such cases, as Ed Horgan and three other activists have had their venues changed for this reason.

For now, it’s a celebration, but there’s going to be more organizing needed to get them out of Ireland and home. Watch this space!

Update, March 28, 2019

Great news! Tarak and Ken will be released on bail tomorrow morning.

Ed Horgan is rushing back from Dublin to post the bail of 2500 euros each. The question of returning to the U.S. is not resolved and will require another appeal, so stand by… But meanwhile, it is great to know that soon we will be able to communicate directly, and they will be free to move around Ireland.

Further update from Ed Horgan: Just to confirm and give a brief further update – I am back in Limerick and called to Limerick Prison this afternoon. TARAK and KEN were in court in Dublin this morning and were looking very well although we did not get talking to them. They will not be back in the prison until late tonight as they are in a van with many other prisoners for other cases. Bail will not be finalised until tomorrow morning and i will be at the prison to do that. This is step one successful. Other steps to follow. The road to peace has bumps and potholes but we are getting there.

See photo of peace activists after the court, including 83 year old Margaretta D’Arcy who travelled from Galway with her Zimmer Frame. Margaretta carried out similar peace actions at Shannon on two occasions in the last few years and spent a month in prison because she refused to pay the fines imposed. Ken and Tarak are following in her footsteps. We had about 15 peace activists in court today.

Update, March 27, 2019

Tomorrow is the big day! Ken and Tarak will be transported to Dublin in the morning for the appeal of their denial of bail. The case will be heard in the High Court before Judge Robert Eager. The solicitor who will be representing them says he is a “reasonable judge,” so we have high hopes that they will be walking out of the courtroom with their supporters after the hearing. But they will probably have their passports taken away and they will have to stay in Ireland, so we will still need to put pressure on Irish and U.S. authorities to allow them to come home. As soon as there is a ruling in the case, updates will be made to this site.

For those who want to attend the hearing in Dublin note location change below.

Meanwhile, Limerick, local Irish activists held a vigil for Ken and Tarak, displaying the larger version of the banner that Ken and Tarak took onto the airfield at Shannon. The local activists have been doing a great job supporting the guys in prison, visiting, shopping for clothing, and passing messages and photos in and out of the jail. Thanks to all of you!

Urgent update for folks in Ireland:

From Ed Horgan: IMPORTANT UPDATE ON TARAK KAUFF AND KEN MAYERS–The High Court appeal against the unlawful imprisonment of Tarak Kauff and Ken Mayers will take place this Thursday 28 March at 11 am at High Court in the Clover Hill court buildings in Clondalkin Co Dublin AND NOT IN THE FOUR COURTS BUILDINGS. We need a good turnout of peace activists at Clover Hill for this hearing. From Dublin city the easiest way to get to Clover hill may be by train from Heuston Station or by Dublin Bus. Trains from Heuston Station are at 0920, 0928 and 10.35. PLEASE SHART THIS WIDELY and bring some banners.
Please remember also that 10 Afghan children from one extended family were killed yesterday by a US air strike in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Thanks, Ed, for, as always, keeping this in context. Let’s not forget why Tarak and Ken are in jail.

Also for the Irish activists, there is a vigil for Tarak and Ken at the Limerick Prison today, March 27, 5 pm.

Update March 26, 2019

Not much to report today. Tarak and Ken are looking forward to their bail appeal hearing Thursday, and we are still looking for people in the Charlottesville, Va., area to speak to the Irish ambassador when he gives a talk about the Irish and U.S. Declarations of Independence. If you are able to attend this event, please email Ellen Davidson at ellen.davidson@verizon.net.

Ellen will be on John McDonagh’s Radio Free Eireann show on WBAI in New York (99.5 on your FM dial or streaming at wbai.org) at around 11:45 am tomorrow, March 27.

Update March 25, 2019

Ellen Davidson spoke to Tarak again today, and he and Ken are very much looking forward to the appeal hearing on Thursday about their denial of bail. He reports that many of the guards and other inmates are very supportive of their Shannon Airport action.

David Swanson has pointed out an excellent opportunity for anyone in the Charlottesville, Va., area: “His Excellency Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, will speak as part of the University of Virginia Center for Politics’ Ambassador Series in the Rotunda Dome Room on April 2 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. Ambassador Mulhall will address the relationship between Ireland and the United States with emphasis on the countries’ Declarations of Independence for which Ireland celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019.”

David himself will be in DC working on the No to NATO–Yes to Peace! festival, but it would be wonderful if there were people there to challenge the ambassador about why Ireland allows the U.S. to trample Ireland’s neutrality with its flights through Shannon to illegal and murderous wars in the Middle East. And then, of course, someone could also ask him why his country is holding two U.S. military veterans without bail for their actions trying to prevent these illegal flights.

Just sayin’.

And a final note: Tarak already has his first post-Ireland dinner invitation, extended at left by Arthur. This will be sent to Tarak at c/o Ed Horgan
Charnwood
Newtown, Castletroy
County Limerick
Ireland V94KCY6

You can write him and Ken there too! Hopefully, they will be out soon and can get the letters directly.

Update, March 24, 2019

Not much to report today. No visitors allowed on Sundays. But Zoe Lawlor added to her note from yesterday’s visit that Tarak and Ken are doing miles around the jailyard, and that Tarak is impressing the younger prisoners with his push-up prowess.

Update, March 23, 2019

Irish activists Zoe Lawlor and Sean Clinton visited Tarak and Ken and found them in good spirits. Said Zoe, “The guys are really doing well and everyone we saw seems to really like them.” There are no visits on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, and on Wednesday, they will be transported to Dublin for the appeal hearing on their bail denial on Thursday. Hopefully the next time they see our Irish comrades, it will be as free men!

In addition to the letters and visits to Irish and U.S. authorities, people are writing letters to their local media outlets. This is an excellent way to keep raising the issue of the illegal military flights through Shannon to aid the U.S wars of aggression in the Middle East.

Yesterday’s weekly peace vigil in Santa Fe (which Ken always attends when he’s at home) swelled to more than 20 in his honor. In the photo, you can see a sign that clearly shows stylistic influences from the beautiful banner taken to the Irish Embassy March 19 by CODEPINK.

Ellen Davidson did a 10-minute interview on John McDonough’s Radio Free Eireann radio show on WBAI in New York (Ed Horgan spoke on the show on Wednesday), and McDonough promised more coverage to come.

Tarak called both his daughter Melodie and Ellen today (since they had had technical problems the first few days, he was allowed an extra call–they are normally allowed one per day). Since Melodie and Ellen were together when the calls came through they had more than 10 minutes of his company, which was delightful. He said they were enjoying the photos of solidarity actions that had been printed and taken in to them and that they had figured out how to attach them to their cell wall with toothpaste.

Here’s a late-arriving photo from yesterday’s visit to the Irish Consulate in San Francisco, along with a more detailed report from Nadya Williams:

A delegation of Veterans For Peace and CODEPINK members converged on the Irish Consulate in San Francisco and met with Vice Consul Michael Treacy on Friday morning March 22, 2019.

Two members of Veterans For Peace: national board member Marti Guy Downing, member of East Bay VFP chapter 162 and Nadya Connolly Williams, associate member of San Francisco ch. 69, led the delegation, along with seven members of CODEPINK Women for Peace.

Both organizations presented the consulate with letters detailing their request for bail to be offered to the incarcerated peace activists, and both groups emphasized the violation to the neutrality of the Republic of Ireland that occurs each time United States war planes land, refuel, and transport troops and weaponry to the on-going wars in the Middle East, and elsewhere.

Update, March 22, 2019

Today, Tarak got a visit from local Shannonwatch activist John Lannon, who reports: “Tarak and Ken are in good spirits, and are being treated as well as can be expected in prison. They are looking forward to the appeal against bail refusal on 28th, and say they are determined to face and fight whatever charges are brought against them for their actions.” John brought in prints of photos from some of the solidarity actions thus far, and messages from Tarak’s daughter and some of the many supporters who have been working to get them freed.

Meanwhile, the Irish consulate in San Francisco got a visit as well–two in fact. At 11 am, a group of VFP members organized by national board member Marti Downing went in to demand Tarak and Ken’s release, and CODEPINK folks followed shortly thereafter at 11:30. Hopefully, photos will follow. They must be noticing, because Arla Artz reports: “FYI, I called the Irish consulate here in SF earlier, and Bridgit from there just called me back. She told me that they’ve been receiving calls, and reported that groups met with them today, and that our message is definitely being heard. So great job, folks!!!”

A letter also went to the Irish Ambassador in France from a dual Irish-American citizen, and one is being circulated for signatures in Japan.

There are no legal updates, and probably won’t be any developments until the appeal is heard on March 28.

Update, March 21, 2019

There are no legal updates today, but plenty of people have been sending great messages and photos of things they are doing. Both the current and the former governor of New Mexico are looking into the matter. The current governor’s office contacted VFP National, who put them in touch with the Santa Fe chapter head and with Ed Horgan. People in Ireland are lined up to visit Tarak on Friday and Ken on Saturday. I have sent along some of the photos of the solidarity actions for to be printed out and taken in to them. I will also collect some of the comments on FB and in emails I have received to be passed along. I have started a Limerick Limerick contest on my FB page (you have to scroll down a little to find the post) and there are many wonderful entries. Since limericks, like puns, are meant to be bad, even the worst entries are fabulous. I will try to figure out a way to allow entries by  people who aren’t on FB or aren’t connected to me on FB, and I will post some of them on this site. Over the weekend, some of the Irish activists and VFP and CODEPINK folks will discuss ways to up the ante. One idea under consideration is picking a day to pack in the calls, so that the institutions we are calling feel like they are being flooded. Other ideas are welcome–send emails or FB messages if you have some ideas.

Action March 22 in San Francisco

From Nadya Williams: Meet Marti, Nadya, Judith, etc. at 11 am (not 10 am 🙂 ON THE DOT (’cause they close at noon) @ Irish Consulate, 100 Pine St. at Front, financial district. This is not a protest with signs, etc. We’ll go in and ask to speak to the Consul General–or a consulate staffer if he’s not there–to request bail for Ken & Tarak. Please dress nicely and be polite.

Action Points

After nothing changed with Tarak and Ken’s hearing April 3, except that another hearing was set for May 8, we have declared Monday and Tuesday, April 8 and 9 “Bring Ken and Tarak Home” days. We urge people to use those two days to call, visit, or write letters to the Irish Embassy in Washington and any consulate that may be near you asking that Ken and Tarak be allowed to return home to the U.S. On May 8, it will already have been almost 8 weeks with no motion toward a trial, and forcing them to stay in Ireland amounts to punishment before they are even convicted. We also want to put pressure on the State Department and our elected officials, demanding that they look into why the U.S. is violating Irish neutrality with its military flights through Shannon, and that they look into Tarak and Ken’s cases. Let’s all try to make maximum use of the platform their action has given us to bring attention to the forgotten “forever wars”. Be sure to look at the Resources section below for some sample letters and at Ed Horgan’s talking points.

• Call the Irish Embassy and consulates in the states (see “Resources” below to locate)
• Call the State Department: To comment to the State Dept, call 1 (202) 647-6575, then press 8. Prepare your short message first, in case you get the machine. If you get a person, engage.
• Call your senators and representatives, especially if you are in New York or New Mexico, where Tarak and Ken are constituents
• Write a letter and deliver it in person to your local Irish consulate or embassy (see sample letters below under “Resources”)
• Organize a vigil at your local Irish consulate or embassy
• Write letters and op ed pieces for your local newspapers

The demand for the above is that Tarak and Ken first be allowed to return home (to the U.S.) until their trial, which will definitely take months but could take years. You should be sure to mention that they were arrested for trying to get the Irish government to enforce the law and end illegal U.S. military flights (including rendition flights) through Shannon Airport and stop Ireland’s complicity in the illegal U.S. wars in the Middle East. You can get ideas for how to frame things from the letters below under “Resources” and from Ed Horgan’s talking points listed at the bottom of this page.–>

Finally there is a suggestion from Ed Horgan: I suggest that as many people as possible should write and/or phone/email to the Shannon Airport authority and offer to pay the €2,500 Euro alleged damage to the Shannon airport perimeter fence, but put a condition on it that you will only pay for the damage if US military are no longer allowed use Shannon airport to facilitate war crimes! The address to write or email to is:
Shannon Group plc,
Chairman Rose Hynes and CEO Matthew Thomas.
Address Shannon Airport, Co Clare. Ireland,
Phone +353 (0)61 712000
email : info@shannongroup.ie

You can also donate to defray defense expenses at veteransforpeace.org. Be sure to specify that it’s for Tarak and Ken.

KEEP SPREADING THE WORD!!!

Resources

Listings of Irish Embassy and Consulates in U.S.
Ann Wright/Gerry Condon letter to Secretary of State Pompeo
Ann Wright/Gerry Condon letter to Irish Ambassador to U.S.
Douglas Lummis letter to Irish Ambassador to Japan (short and sweet)
NYC VFP letter to Irish Ambassador to U.S.
Gail Miller letter to Rep. Antonio Delgado
These sample letters may help you in framing the issue in terms of both Tarak and Ken’s human rights and the main goal of all of this–shutting down U.S. military flights through Shannon. Action Points are below.

Photos

Arrested VFP members at arraignment March 18
VFP and Irish Peace Activists Protest Outside Shannon Airport March 17
Veterans For Peace Members Arrested at Shannon Airport March 17

Legal update, March 20, 2019

At the video hearing this morning (NOT the hearing on our bail appeal, just the next administrative step in their judicial process), the prosecution asked that Tarak and Ken be remanded in custody for two weeks (until April 3). The lawyer said they were elderly and should only have to stay for one week. The judge considered this request “outrageous,” since they had “only” been held since Sunday, and remanded them for two weeks. Our appeal for bail has been filed (see the grounds below), and will be heard on March 28. This will be heard in the High Court, which is two levels up from the District Court where they case is now. It will be in Dublin, so hopefully the judges there are aware of what the law on bail is, which doesn’t seem to be true of the two we have encountered so far in County Clare (for which Shannon Airport is a major economic driver). We will definitely be working to get this trial moved to Dublin (there is precedent for this), as it is clear that there is no justice in County Clare for anyone who speaks out about Shannon. On a personal note, they were allowed to call local activist Sean Clinton, who reports that they are still in good spirits.

Legal update, March 19, 2019

Ed Horgan and I met with an experienced human rights lawyer today who explained to us that the bail appeal will be almost a formality. He laid out how the judge did not follow the law and completely mishandled the ruling (more below on this for you legal geeks). This means that our boys will probably be out of jail by late next week, depending on how long it takes to get the appeal filed and heard.

This does not mean we should stop calling the Irish Embassy, consulates, State Department, etc., because as long as our guys are in jail, it’s an opportunity to point out why they were on the airfield in the first place, and that was to try to get the Irish government put its neutrality money where its mouth is and stop allowing the U.S. to fly weapons and soldiers through Shannon on their way to illegal wars in the Middle East. I’m putting some of Ed Horgan’s talking points in a separate section down at the bottom of this page. You can also go to the website Shannonwatch.org.

Meanwhile, after they get out of jail, there is still the question of when/whether they will be allowed to return to their lives and families in the U.S., which will be our next target.

Okay, the bonus for people who care about details of the law. The three criteria a judge may use in determine whether to refuse bail are:

• Danger of witness tampering or intimidation
• Possibility of re-offending
• Risk of flight

The third question was addressed by the possibility of holding their passports (plus they pledged to return for trial and there were financial guarantees on offer to back that up). The other two issues were not raised by the prosecution or the judge.

In fact, what the prosecution raised, and the judge echoed in her refusal of bail, was that penetrating airport security was a serious matter and therefore bail could not be offered. Well, friends, the law explicitly states that the seriousness of the offense cannot be used as a criterion in determining bail.

So, there you have it, the bail appeal is a slam dunk (of course, as we learned yesterday morning, shockingly bad rulings are always a possibility, so nothing is ever 100 percent).

Personal update March 19

I spoke again on the phone to Tarak, and he repeated that they were being treated well, that the guards had a good sense of humor, and that they were actually about to be transferred to an upgraded cell (whatever that means…). He said they are both in good spirits. They are cellmates.

Reminder:  you can write them letters at Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Street, Limerick, Ireland (not even a street number or zip code to remember).

Activism report March 19

People have been calling embassies, consulates, representatives and congresspeople. Ann Wright, Medea Benjamin, Paki Wieland, Tighe Berry and some other disreputable CODEPINK types went to the embassy in DC to hand-deliver a brilliant letter written by Ann (see photo above). Kathy Kelly (a dual Irish-U.S. citizen) will do the same to the consulate in Chicago tomorrow. Irish MPs have also been contacted. VFP chapter 34 in New York will be demonstrating in front of the Irish Consulate at 435 Park Ave. (betw. 51st and 52nd) at 4:30 pm tomorrow, March 20.

March 19, 2019

Latest press release: http://www.stopthesewars.org/two-us-veterans-for-peace-refused-bail-at-ennis-district-court-monday-18-march/

Thanks to everyone for all the support. Keep it coming!

At the arraignment March 28, Tarak and Ken were represented by the equivalent of a legal services attorney, since it was a bank holiday and we were unable to find a solicitor at 9:30 the night before when we found out they were being arraigned.

On March 19, Ellen Davidson and Ed Horgan of Shannonwatch and Veterans For Peace Ireland will be meeting with Ed’s lawyer in Belfast, who is handling a similar case for Ed. I will update after that meeting.

Tarak and Ken are settled in at the jail in Limerick. The guards so far are very friendly, it’s comfortable, and according to Tarak, the food is better than NYC jails. They are rooming together. They can make phone calls, but I imagine it’s a fairly limited privilege.

There is a crew of activists in the Limerick area who will be visiting them regularly and perhaps holding vigils at the jail.

Action Points

Currently we are asking folks to:

• Call the Irish Embassy and consulates in the states
• Call the State Department
• Call their senators and representatives
• Write a letter and deliver it in person to your local Irish consulate or embassy (see samples listed at top of page)
• Organize a vigil at your local Irish consulate or embassy

The demand for the above is that Tarak and Ken be given bail and allowed to return home (to the U.S.) until their trial, which will definitely take months but could take years. They could end up serving more time than the penalty for their charges before they even get tried, much less convicted.

You can also donate to defray defense expenses by calling the Veterans For Peace national office at (314) 725-6005 and making a donation. Be sure to specify that it’s for Tarak and Ken. Shelly at the national office will keep track of the funds. We hope to have an online donation option soon.

KEEP SPREADING THE WORD!!!

ED HORGAN’S TALKING POINTS ABOUT SHANNON AIRPORT

Legal issues at Shannon airport
1. Neutrality: Irish Government leaders since 1939 have stated that the Irish government has been and still is pursuing a policy of neutrality or “military neutrality”. Under international laws on neutrality this means that the Irish Government is obliged to comply with international laws on neutrality.
2. The Hague Convention V on Neutrality 1907:
Art. 2. Belligerents are forbidden to move troops or convoys of either munitions of war or supplies across the territory of a neutral Power.
Art. 5. A neutral Power must not allow any of the acts referred to in Articles 2 to 4 to occur on its territory.
Art. 11. A neutral Power which receives on its territory troops belonging to the belligerent armies shall intern them, as far as possible, at a distance from the theatre of war.
All these articles are being breached almost daily at Shannon airport. By allowing up to three million armed belligerent US troops and large quantities of munitions and war materials to transit through Shannon airport since 2001, on their way to and from wars in the Middle East, the Irish Government has been in serious breach of international laws on neutrality. None of the aircraft transporting these US troops and war materials through Shannon has ever been searched of investigated by Irish police.
3. Torture: Shannon airport was used, and may still be being used, by CIA aircraft involved in the US extraordinary rendition program under which hundreds of individuals were kidnapped, transported to prisons where they were tortured in breach of local, national and international laws, including the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT), and Irish law, Criminal Justice (UN Convention Against Torture) Act 2000.
UNCAT Article 4.1. “Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.”
4. Geneva Conventions on War: The four Geneva Conventions on War provide specific rules to safeguard combatants, or members of the armed forces, who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians, as well as medical personnel, military chaplains and civilian support workers of the military.
The Third Geneva Convention deals with the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and the Fourth Geneva Convention deals with the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. These two Geneva Conventions have been seriously broken by almost all belligerents in the wars in the Middle East, including the US military forces.
Since Ireland as a neutral state is not a belligerent in these wars, Ireland’s responsibility in these serious matters applies primarily to its facilitation of the US military through Shannon airport. We do not facilitate Russian, or Iranian, or Syrian or Iraqi, or even British forces in a similar manner. Irish citizens therefore bear a proportionate part of the responsibility for any war crimes committed by US forces in the Middle East.
5. Nuremberg Principles: Principle VI “The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law: (a) Crimes against peace: (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).”
Principle VII: “Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law”
(Note: Ireland is guilty especially under Nuremberg Principle V11, Complicity in the commission of crimes against peace by the US Government and US military forces in the Middle East.
6. Irish criminal laws: All Irish Criminal laws, without exception, apply at Shannon airport, including laws prohibiting torture, murder, criminal assault, conspiring to pervert the course of justice, and in most cases include facilitating the commission of such crimes by others, regardless of whether such crimes are committed on Irish territory or not.
7. UN Charter: The UN Charter is customary international law, binding on all UN Member states including Ireland and the United States of America. The fact that the USA and four other states have powers of veto over decisions and actions of the UN Security Council, does not give them any legal immunity from breaches of any of the Articles of the UN Charter, and neither does it give other countries such as Ireland any immunity that allows them to be complicity in US breaches of the UN Charter. Of particular importance is Article 2.4 of the UN Charter which states that: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.” The USA has been in clear breach of this Article of the UN Charter by using military force to overthrow the governments of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and attempting to overthrow the Government of Syria, without the approval of the UN Security Council, and Ireland has also been in breach of Article 2.4 of the UN Charter by actively facilitating the United States breaches of Article 4.2 of the UN Charter.
8. Obligations and duties of An Garda Siochana (Irish Police Force)
Garda Siochana Act 2005
Section 7.(1) The function of the Garda Síochána is to provide policing and security services for the State with the objective of—(a) preserving peace and public order, (b) protecting life and property, (c) vindicating the human rights of each individual, (d) protecting the security of the State, (e) preventing crime, (f) bringing criminals to justice, including by detecting and investigating crime, and (g) regulating and controlling road traffic and improving road safety.
Section 16. Garda Oath (1) On being appointed, each member of the Garda Síochána shall make before a Peace Commissioner a declaration in the following form:
“I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare before God that—
• I will faithfully discharge the duties of a member of the Garda Síochána with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the Constitution and the laws and according equal respect to all people,
• while I continue to be a member, I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all my duties according to law, and
• I do not belong to, and will not while I remain a member form, belong to or subscribe to, any political party or secret society whatsoever.”.
9. Obligations of Irish citizens and non-citizens.
All Irish citizens are obliged by the Irish Constitution and by law, and all visitors to Ireland who may not be Irish citizens are obliged by law, to respect and obey the laws of the Irish State, and to uphold the rule of law.
These obligations include assisting police and emergency services where necessary in the prevention of serious crimes and in preventing serious injuries to other persons, including persons who may be subject to serious injuries or death outside the jurisdiction of the Irish State.
In addition there are moral and humanitarian duties that are applicable to all members of humanity that oblige all of us to take all reasonable means to prevent serious crimes, especially crimes against humanity. We must all act in accordance with our CONSCIENCE to prevent wrongdoing.
It is not sufficient to stand idly by while such crimes are being committed.