In 2004, the left-hand side of Divis Street, Belfast had yet to be painted (with Kieran Nugent) and the Palestinian V-for-victory sign led the lineup. The International Wall has its own Visual History page.
This is a three-part mural condemning the US invasion of Iraq. On the left, President George W Bush is sucking on a tube of oil while pocketing a fistful of dollars, while oily bubbles with dollar signs float out of his ears. In the middle, a “British support hook” belittles the role of the UK in the “coalition of the willing”. And on the right, a Vietnam-era poster is repurposed for the current situation: a tattered stars and stripes is still flying, over a scene of death and mass destruction. The invasion began on March 20th, 2003; US troops did not leave until 2011.
“Fuera fascistas de Castilla” (Out fascists of Castile!) The protester on the right is waving the flag of the Castilian Left, a political party working for recognition of the Castle region of Spain, roughly the north-central portion of the country, including Madrid (WP). Signed and dated “Juventades Castellanas Revolucionarias – Septiembre 2003”.
Freedom for the Catalan Countries, Freedom for Ireland (Saoırse d’Éırınn). The ‘Catalan Countries’ include (in Spain) Catalonia, parts of Valencia, and the Balearic islands, Andorra, and (in France) the Roussillon region.
For a similar pairing (llibertat-saoırse) with portraits of international heroes, see Llibertat.
Seven years after it was originally painted in 1997, the pro-Catalan mural in Beechmount Avenue is showing its age. “Not Spain, not France. Free Catalonia. Since 1714 the Catalan nation is military [sic] occupied for the Spanish and French states. Catalonia has their own culture, language, and history. Our country have [sic] more than 1000 years of history as a nation. The Catalan flag is the first European flag. Our fight flag is the “Estalada”. The white star means the freedom, and the blue triangle stands for the sky of humanity. Free Catalonia! United Ireland! El nostre dia arribarà! Tıócfaıdh [sic] ár lá. 11/8/97”
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade is the military wing of Palestinian party Fatah, which was led by Yasser Arafat until his death in 2004. Fatah was the largest faction of the PLO (on the left). On the right is Basque militant group ETA. “FTH” is “f*ck the huns”.
The mural in support of East Timor begins to show its wear (originally painted in 2000), not least because the hoarding for Duffy’s bookmakers has come off. The falling bombs are made by Raytheon, who will be back in the forefront of Derry consciousness in 2006 for their part in the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
August 6th, 2003, was “Palestine day/Lá na bPalíneach” on the Falls Road in Belfast, involving “a panel of Irish and Palestinian women; a live video link-up with Palestinian women in Bethlehem; showing of the films “Caoımhe”, “The Return”; and “Jenin”; a photo exhibit entitled “55 Years of Endurance”; and a television show “West Belfast Talks Back””. (UNISPAL)