２０２０年９月１３日（Sun.） 昨日と同じくアイルランドからの情報ですが、内容は真逆のもので、マスクの義務化やロックダウンに対する反対を意思表示するデモが行われました。こうした規制に対する抗議活動は、ロンドンやベルリン、パリ等でも行われました。しかし、個人的には、感染を広げる恐れがある場合に関しては、一定の規制・制約が一時的に課される（自由が束縛される）ことが、本来の“自由“よりも優先すると考えます。但し、一時的措置であることが条件です。そして、こうした措置を講じない場合は、ズルズルと第n波と収束の繰り返しとなって、いつまでも経済活動・行動は結果としてブレーキがかかったままが続くのです。（ニュースソース： The Liberal.ie ９月１２日発 ）
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Freedom! Thousands march through central Dublin chanting “freedom” during anti-mask anti-lockdown rally
（抜粋）“自由“を叫んで、ダブリンの中心街を行進しました。（注： 原文参照）
Image source: TheLiberal.ie
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Thousands of protesters marched across the centre of Dublin on Saturday afternoon in an event titled ‘Time for Change’ organised by grassroots activists Yellow Vests Ireland. The Liberal.ie joined them to hear the voices of a growing movement ignored by the mainstream media.
Beginning at Customs House at 2PM, the crowd swelled in numbers rapidly. Gardai manned barriers on both sides of the quay with barriers, searching the bags of some attendees. People came from all corners of the country and all walks of life to protest a variety of issues against the government, including Covid-19 restrictions such as mandatory facemasks and lockdown. Among the crowd participants could be heard speaking in English, Gaeilge, Spanish, Portugese and a variety of Slavic languages.
We spoke to a man and woman who had travelled down from the north west who stressed that today’s event should not be labelled ‘far right’. The gentleman said that he was there to protest against what he saw as a reduction of his personal freedoms, a sentiment echoed by many others we spoke to. Those who accuse the movement as racist would perhaps be surprised to see the vast variety of nationalities in attendance.
After a short speech from organiser Glenn Miller, an activist from Toronto, Canada named Chris Sky gave a speech in which he described the day’s protest as ‘government versus the people.’ He told the audience that ‘fear and ignorance’ are the fuel of tyranny and promoted the Canadian ‘Hugs Over Masks’ movement.
Shortly after the crowd reacted with cheers when organisers announced ‘we’re going on a walk.’ The crowd surged over the bridge around the Quays, flanked by Gardai, and continued along through the city centre. Dublin’s shoppers, workers, and pedestrians were taken by surprise to see an enormous amount of protesters taking over the streets chanting ‘Ole!’ with flags and banners. Passing through D’Olier Street onto College Green, they continued up Dame Street and George’s Street before pausing on Golden Lane.
Here speaker Ben Gilroy, founder of Direct Democracy Ireland, criticised RTE and other mainstream media outlets for their coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and for their allegations against the anti-lockdown movement. It seems a major problem has arisen in the Irish media with a growing volume of the public distrusting major outlets, and the major journalists in turn doing little to represent alternative voices such as the day’s march and its thousands of participants.
In scenes not witnessed in the capital since perhaps the water charge movement, the crowd continued in its thousands around St Stephen’s Green and onto Merrion Row via Baggot Street where the crowd congregated at the imposing gates of the Taoiseach’s office. The crowd was in high spirits by this point, and sang the national anthem.
A young couple from rural Mayo told us they were here, primarily, to protest against the current government. They both pointed out that Sinn Fein won the democratic vote and should therefore be in office over the current neoliberal coalition. Two men from county Wexford said that they saw the Irish government as ‘puppets’ to globalist forces such as the EU and corporations, but said that they didn’t support the anti-mask rhetoric of much of the crowd. A distrust of ‘elites’ was echoed by an older gentleman from the North, who pointed out the enormous profits reaped by top billionaires and their companies during the pandemic.
By 5PM the protests had wound down, with many heading home to towns and villages across the country. Whatever anyone thinks about them, one thing for certain is that this growing form of grassroots Irish politics is only going to grow. As in any democratic society, it is the duty of the public and the media to debate and discuss rather than dismiss the beliefs of an increasingly vocal minority movement.
（注： 原文を流し読みして下さい。）
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文面からは、単に感染防止策に反対する・しないとは別次元の、日頃の政府と人民の関係に依拠している面も感じ取れます。つまり、日頃から民主的で民意に沿った政策が実施されていれば良いのですが、それとは逆に、専制政治や独裁に近いものがあると、こうした非常時にも人民の心は離れているのかも知れません。
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こうしたことは、どこの国に於いても言えることなのでしょう、多分。もっと格差を縮めるような政策が必要なのでしょう。経営層等のみを優遇した政治体制はえこひいきに繋がり、さらに、こうした政治を許してしまう大元に、“小選挙区制“があるのだと思います。つまり、民意に比例的な議員数構成になっていません。例えば、得票数が30％台であっても、議席数が過半数に及ぶのは妥当性を欠いています。（これも個人的意見です。）
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