Archbishop Tutu expresses concern over attack on Irish campaigner

AFRI, Action From Ireland
Press Announcement: 11-05-09
Afri, 134 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0)1 882 7563/7581 Fax: +353 (0)1 882 7576

e-mail: afri@iol.ie
web:

www.afri.ie
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STATEMENT FROM THE REVEREND DESMOND M TUTU
Archbishop of Cape Town
11 May 2009

As patron of the justice and peace organisation Afri, a disturbing development
in the ongoing resource conflict in Erris, County Mayo, has been brought to my
attention.

A peaceful protestor, Goldman International Environmental Award Winner Mr.
Willie Corduff has been physically attacked, under cover of darkness, by the
agents of a multinational corporation, resulting in his being hospitalised and
left severely hurt and traumatised.

(Ref: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0424/1224245293902.html)

I am aware that the conflict centres around attempts by a consortium comprised
of Shell, Statoil and Marathon to bring raw gas ashore in Erris, by means of a
high-pressure pipeline running through the community, to a processing plant at
Ballinaboy.

This is opposed by local people, particularly in the parish of Kilcommon where
the project is based, because of fears for their health and safety (including
possible contamination of their drinking water).

A compromise proposed by three members of the Catholic clergy and supported by
a majority of people in the locality, would have seen an onshore processing
plant located in an unpopulated area away from the community’s water supply,
eliminating the need for high pressure pipelines.

This proposed compromise has, unfortunately, been rejected by Shell and the
lrish government.

The strength of feeling in the community regarding this issue is illustrated by
the fact that five people, who became known as the Rossport 5, spent 94 days in
prison for their non-violent opposition to the project going ahead in its
current form. Mr. Corduff, one of the Rossport 5, went on to win the
prestigious Goldman international environmental award, known as the Green Nobel
Prize, in 2005.

It is in regard to the attack on Mr. Corduff that I particularly wish to make
my concerns known. Mr. Corduff is a small farmer who has lived all his life and
raised his family in this area. His only interest and motivation is the
protection of his family and the welfare of his community. His opposition to
the gas project has always been entirety peacefuI and non-violent.

ENDS
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BACKGROUND
Goldman International Prize: info + video on Willie Corduff
http://www.goldmanprize.org/node/605

Willie Corduff on BBC World: + video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/6960111.stm

Willie Corduff on Late Late show
http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/20050930.html

Independent background report on Corrib gas
http://www.publicinquiry.ie/reports.php#ld197