In the coming weeks, Ireland will host two of the most recognizable personalities in the world: Queen Elizabeth II and President Barack Obama. And that the country is preparing, Dublin taxi drivers see the careful planning - and sometimes inconvenient - close. "The police have been to the bottom of every manhole in Dublin twice at this stage" said, describing the increase in security which includes the inspection of the sewers of the city of bombs.
Ireland takes no chances with its prestige guests: reports say that about 10,000 police officers and soldiers will be deployed during two visits. But it is the arrival of the Queen in Dublin on Tuesday which is the more nervous Irish police force. Not everyone in Ireland is pleased to see the Queen, whose four-day visit--the first ever by a British monarch to the Republic - has implemented action the State ever more great security operation. (See pictures of the world most beautiful handcuffs).
The reluctance of the Queen and her father King George VI, before visiting nearby nearest of England stems from centuries of British occupation of the Ireland. While the Republic of Ireland fought the path of independence with the foundation of the free State in 1922 and the establishment of the Republic in 1937, Ireland of the North remained under British rule. Sectarian tensions between Catholic Republicans and Protestant Unionist in the region increased, up to what they were broke out in three decades of violence in which more than 3,600 people have been killed.
Disorders, as they are called, ended with the agreement of the good Friday in 1998. But until recently, historical problems made a visit of the Queen of the Republic seems impossible. If the announcement of his visit last month was considered by some as a sign of maturity. But the symbolism of the visit also sparked resentment among some Irish. Easter Monday, a representative of the sectarian group called the real IRA splinter is appeared in a video statement wearing a balaclava and military clothing and called the visit "insult to come" and to invite the Government as not representative of the will of the Irish people. "The Queen of England is sought for war crimes in Ireland and did not want on Irish soil", he said. "We will do our best to ensure that it and the class [corrupted] gombeen which act as its cheerleaders get this message." The Declaration also included a threat to kill the most Northern Irish police officers a few weeks after the murder of the Roman Catholic officer Ronan Kerr to Omagh. (Read "tragic but not troubled: the murder of an Irish policeman North.")
During this time, the Republican group Eirigi (Rise Up) has placed a countdown timer on its website, calling for the visit of the Queen to meet with "widespread opposition." and protest The Group application to those against the visit to occupy the garden of remembrance, a Park Memorial in Dublin dedicated to those who fought for the freedom of the Irish, which is part of the official route of the Queen. It will also at Croke Park Stadium, the headquarters of two national sports, Gaelic football and hurling, the Ireland and the site of one of the days of the bloodiest of the war of independence, when 14 civilians were killed by British forces in retaliation for the assassination of British secret agents earlier in the day.
For supporters, visit of the Queen is an opportunity to show how the United Kingdom and the Ireland have "moved on"-a term which irritates some Irish. But even Sinn Fein, party political most staunchly Republican of the Ireland, seems to have relaxed its outright opposition soon. In a statement on the Web site of the Saturday party leader Gerry Adams said, "I am for a new relationship... between the people of Ireland and Britain based on equal and mutual respect." I hope this visit will hasten that day, but a lot will depend of what the British monarch. "(See more information about the recent election of the Ireland).
But given that the Irish are living under tight austerity measures after having obtained a rescue of 96 billion of the e.u. and the Monetary Fund International, the country would dare to its famous guests? Costs of security for the visits of the Queen and Obama a week later will reach approximately $ 42 million, according to unconfirmed reports.
James Connolly Heron, great-grandson of James Connolly, an icon of the Irish struggle for independence, calls into question the relevance of spending the money of the taxpayers to the host when the country is bankrupt. "It seems did not reduce to the bottom of the visit in regard to where we are economically", he said, adding that he feels talk of the Ireland "pass" is absurd, given the level of security required in the time of the Queen in the country. (See the photos of the British army, leaving the Ireland of the North).
But Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny called the two visits "an investment for the future" citing the benefits they will bring tourism and business. Given all the bad news surrounding the country in the end, Kenny added, they could also be good for the image of the Ireland. And many Irish hope that he is right. "In the eyes of the world will be on the Ireland, we hope, that the Royal visit will present the country," explains Stuart Batt taxi driver. "It is an opportunity for the world to see us positively in a negative time."
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