Red C Syria poll shows public against involvement

» Mark Moloney

"We called a vote on the plans to send troops to Syria and only seven other TDs, all Independents, supported us in this vote. Yet 61% of Irish citizens agree with us" - Seán Crowe TD

A NEW poll by Red C Research and commissioned by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) shows that the majority of Irish people are opposed to the deployment of Irish troops as part of a UN force in Syria.

The findings revealed that 61% of Irish people are opposed to deploying Irish Defence Forces to Syria. Irish soldiers are due in Syria in the coming weeks as part of a UN Observer Force to maintain peace in the Golan Heights. 30% of people surveyed support troop deployment while 9% were unsure.

115 Irish troops were due to arrive in Syria in early September to bolster the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the region after Austria withdrew its 400-strong contingent due to the 'unacceptable risk' posed by the Syrian Civil War. The Irish deployment has been delayed due to administrative reasons.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin this morning, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, welcomed the findings saying they show continued strong support for neutrality and also highlight the attitude of Irish people to the conflict in Syria. 

"We called a vote on the plans to send troops to Syria and only seven other TDs, all Independents, supported us in this vote. Yet 61% of Irish citizens agree with us," he said.

The poll findings also show that 78% of people support the policy of military neutrality with only 16% disagreeing. Seán Crowe hit out at comments made by Defence Minister Alan Shatter earlier this year when he told Nato Review that Ireland's policy of neutrality was no longer relevant.

"While Minister Shatter may believe neutrality is outdated, the vast majority of Irish people disagree," he said. The Sinn Féin TD also highlighted how the strongest support for neutrality came from those aged between 18-35, at 85%.

There is increasing concern for the safety of peacekeepers in the Golan Heights following the use of chemical weapons in Damascus in August and previous attacks on peacekeepers in the region.

In May, a detachment of Philippines troops was kidnapped from their outpost in the Golan Heights and held for several days by rebels in southern Syria before being released after their equipment and armoured vehicles were stolen. This week concerns have been raised that UN peacekeepers may become targets after rebels released a video showing their fighters being wounded during a clash with Syrian troops. In the clip (still - below), some of the rebels are seen wearing stolen blue UN bullet-proof vests during an ambush attempt.

In July, Sinn Féin opposed the decision to deploy troops to Syria as part of a UN mission. Seán Crowe TD said at the time: "The lifting of the EU arms embargo has robbed Irish troops of their neutrality in a Syrian conflict that has already seen foreign peacekeepers come under fire and some even held hostage. In essence the EU’s decision, led by Britain and France, means the impartiality of the peace mission is no longer maintained."

Seán Crowe told An Phoblacht that the Government needs to take heed of this new poll and realise that the vast majority of Irish people want a policy of positive neutrality as advocated by Sinn Féin.

• Syrian rebels release a photo showing Filipino UN troops whom they kidnapped from an outpost in the Golan Heights. The peacekeepers were eventually released.

• A wounded Syrian rebel is shown wearing UN vests which were stolen from kidnapped Filipino troops