Irish Neutrality "Not For Sale"

Wales NATO summit to face protests by 20,000 people, say police

Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinane to join ‘No NATO Newport’ events

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JOHN HEDGES

AN PHOBLACHT EDITOR

THOUSANDS of people – including Sinn Féin Senator David Cullinane – are expected to travel from across Europe to south Wales this weekend for protests against the meeting of 60 world leaders at Celtic Manor, Newport, for the NATO Summit.

Commenting earlier this year, Chief Constable Jeff Farrar predicted massive protests, telling the Gwent Police and Crime Panel: “We’re expecting loosely 20,000-plus protestors; the majority will be peaceful campaigners.”

More than a hundred organisations have now backed a statement calling for a week of protests starting on August 30th issued by ‘No NATO Newport’, a coalition of Welsh anti-war, anti-cuts, trade union, community and faith groups.

Organisations backing the call include Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Veterans for Peace UK, the People’s Assembly Against Austerity, Black Triangle – The Anti-Defamation Campaign in Defence of Disability Rights, and No to NATO, a European network of peace groups.

From Wales, Plaid Cymru and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, the Welsh Language Society, are understood to be backing the call for protests. Several faith groups and leaders have also backed the call ranging from Rissho Kosei-ka, a Buddhist group, to the Archbishop of Wales, Rt Rev Dr Barry Morgan.

Outlining plans, Adam Johannes from No NATO Newport said:

“From Saturday, people from all over the world will flock to Wales, set up tents, kitchens, peaceful barricades and occupy Newport for a week of action including marches, a peace camp at Tredegar Park and a ‘People’s Summit’ to debate alternatives.”

The week of protest will open with an ‘Eve of Summit March’ through Newport City Centre on Saturday led by delegations of trade unionists, anti-war veterans and peace activists from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Greece and elsewhere.

On Sunday, there will be an all-day free  European ‘NATO Counter-Summit’ at Cardiff County Hall with speakers from around the world on alternatives to the war and austerity polices of governments.

Thursday 4th September is the opening day of the summit.

“At high noon,” Adam Johannes says, “we will meet at the Cenotaph in Newport to remember victims of war and empire before, as is traditional at summit demonstrations, attempting to march on the summit.

“Later we will reconvene on the streets of Cardiff at 6pm to get as close as we can to the Castle where US President Obama and other world leaders will be holding their banquet – ‘A Dinner of Death’, as we call it – they dine while in our city many are forced to rely on food banks, and this in one of the richest economies on the planet.

“World leaders will be making their voices heard – it is vital that the voice of millions around the world who need peace and justice is also heard.”

A host of public figures including the Archbishop of Wales, Rt Rev Dr Barry Morgan, left-wing Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, Senator David Cullinane from Sinn Féin (pictured), and prominent Plaid Cymru politicians have pledged support.

Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community