Bring the WAR to TRIAL

Dublin Four Courts, March 7th. 2005

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 two years for our ploughshares
community, but a much longer two 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 two 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 two years, 100,000 Iraqis mostly women
and children have been slain. Over the last two years,
over 1,000 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 two 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. 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, trial
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 two 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 to take this witness of
non-violent resistance to the ongoing war into the New
Year and to Dublin's Four Courts from March 7th, 2005.

We hope our trial, beginning on March 7th, will be a
time of 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. 18972983 Sort Code 900551

Bank Codes
IBAN: IE18D0F190055118972983
BIC No./Switch Code:BOFIIE2D

MORE INFORMATION
www.ploughsharesireland.org
 ploughsharesireland@yahoo.ie

Contact
Mobile - 087 918 4552
Land Line 01-454-9144
International Call +353-1-454-9144