THE IRISH TIMES - FEBRUARY 26, 2007
Rights group to study Corrib gas dispute
Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent
An international environmental and human rights group has sent a fact-finding delegation to north Mayo this week to investigate "police, Government and corporate actions" in relation to the Corrib gas project.
The US-based Global Community Monitor (GCM) is holding a public hearing in Glenamoy, Co Mayo, this evening when it will take testimonies from protesters who claim to have been hurt or threatened during recent protests over resumption of work on the project.
Denny Larson of GCM said its delegates would "travel to various sites in the Rossport area" this week to conduct an "independent investigation which may lead to possible legal cases before international human rights commissions and courts".
He said they were interested in gathering evidence "from all parties in Co Mayo" to determine why violence had recently erupted, among other things. His organisation had also requested interviews with the Garda and Government officials.
The delegation comprises GCM members from Holland, Belgium, England, South Africa and the USA, and includes Bobby Sven Peek, the 1998 winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize - known as the "Nobel Prize" for the environment.
Testimonies will be published and forwarded to relevant EU authorities and various international human rights commissions.
BBC Radio Ulster reported on Saturday that one protester and Glenamoy resident, PJ Moran, had a death threat made against him, while a US national living in Erris has been unable to walk since being beaten by gardaí during a protest on November 10th last.
Gardaí say they are investigating a "low number" of allegations of intimidation made by protesters and project workers. ======================================================= Press release Public Hearing Scheduled to Hear Community Evidence of Police Brutality Shell and Government Actions - Monday, February 26, 2007 - 6-9 PM
Glenamoy Community Hall
(San Francisco, USA- Amsterdam, Holland) An international Fact Finding Delegation will travel to County Mayo, Ireland to investigate a possible Human Rights Case regarding police, government and corporate actions at the controversial Shell Refinery/Pipeline Project in the area. Delegates from five nations will travel to various sites in the Rossport area next week to conduct an independent investigation which may lead to possible legal cases before international human rights commissions and courts.
"The Fact Finding Delegation is interested in gathering evidence from all parties in County Mayo about the situation around the Shell refinery and pipeline project in order to determine why violence has recently erupted, among other things," said Denny Larson of the International Human Rights group, Global Community Monitor. "We have requested interviews with the Police and Government officials as well as scheduled a public hearing to gather information from the residents."
A Public Hearing has been scheduled to hear community evidence of alleged police brutality, as well as Shell and government actions on Monday, February 26, 2007, from 6 PM to 9 PM Glenamoy Community Hall in County Mayo. The hearing will be recorded and transcribed by court reporters and video.
The Fact Finding Delegation consists of various experts from Holland,
Belgium, England, South Africa and the United States. The delegation
includes, Bobby Sven Peek, the 1998 winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize' for the Environment. Other delegates include Paul deClerk, Coordinator Corporate Campaign Friends of the Earth (FoE) International and FoE Europe, Brussels, Belgium; Hannah Griffiths, Corporates Investigations, Friends of the Earth, London, UK; Hanna Jongepier, Globalization & Environment Investigations,Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth Holland.
Evidence from the Fact Finding Delegation will be published and forwarded to the relevant authorities at the European Union and various
International Human Rights Commissions and Courts of International Law as deemed appropriate.
For More information contact: Denny Larson of the International Human Rights group, Global Community Monitor +353-87-647-507 from February 25-28 and thereafter at +1-415-845-4705 or Paul deClerk:+32-494380959, Coordinator Corporate Campaign FoE International and FoE Europe, Brussels, Belgium, www.shelladvert.org; Hanna Jongepier, Globalization & Environment Investigations, Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth Holland
http://www.milieudefensie.nl/globalisering; Hannah Griffiths, Corporate Investigations, Friends of the Earth, London, www.shelladvert.org
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