The following articles were published in "The Guardian", newspaper of
the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, February
19th, 2003.
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Worldwide the people say NO WAR
"Why is it wrong to kill innocent people if you are Saddam Hussein and
right to kill innocent people if you are Bush, Blair, Howard or
Murdoch", asked John Pilger addressing the huge rally in Sydney last
weekend.
"This weekend more than 30 million people all over the world are doing
what you are doing. They are your comrades - two million in London, five
million across the [European] continent, 42 cities in the United States
are protesting.
"Never has there been such a massive opposition to a war before it
began. Never has there been such a worldwide resistance to the terrorism
of state power.
"Let me assure you finally - our movement is too big to be defeated.
This is not to say that the Bush gang can be stopped immediately but the
power of public opinion, the moral power and the political power, your
power, is far greater than perhaps even many of you realise.
"Howard fears public opinion, Blair fears public opinion, and Bush fears
public opinion. They fear the best of Australia, they fear the best of
Britain and they fear the best of America.
"That's why their propaganda is so virulent and their apologists are so
shrill. They prefer the old lie that people are apathetic . So let us
reassure Bush, Blair and their hangers-on that they have every reason to
be afraid. For they and not the Iraqi people are the enemy and we are
the majority!" John Pilger said to rousing applause and cheers.
Close to a million people rallied and marched in Australia last weekend
sending a clear message to the two major parties that a majority do not
want war. Their voices were echoed around the globe, as John Pilger told
the Sydney rally.
The actions were remarkable for the breadth of participation. Many were
taking part in a political action for the first time. Families,
individuals; all ages, all backgrounds.
The trade unions, environmental groups, the churches, peace
organisations, ethnic community groups, Indigenous Australians, doctors,
teachers, students, pensioners, feminists, gays and lesbians and many
others found unprecedented unity.
Members of left and green political parties marched alongside members of
more conservative political parties, including some from Howard's own
Liberal Party.
"The huge groundswell of support for the demand for 'No War on Iraq' and
'No Australian involvement' will not go away", said Hannah Middleton
from the Walk Against the War Coalition in Sydney.
"We will go on demanding peace - in many different ways - until Prime
Minister Howard listens and brings the troops home", Hannah Middleton said.
SYDNEY:
No one can remember anything like it in Sydney.
Up to half a million people crammed into Hyde Park North and overflowed
into the surrounding streets. The head of the march had circled six city
blocks and returned to Hyde Park before the majority had even started.
So large was the crowd that organisers were diverting the marchers as
they returned to the Domain.
The public transport system failed dismally, with thousands crammed into
trains or left to walk five or 10 kilometres to the city. They were
still arriving an hour or more after the start.
It was an overwhelming experience, everyone so patiently understanding
the difficulties - they were for the very best of reasons.
Speakers included big names such as documentary maker John Pilger, actor
John Howard, radio personality and "North Shore mother" Wendy Harmer and
jazz musician Jackson Brown.
Ray Richmond from the Wayside Chapel, Grenan Dadoun from the Muslim
Women's Council, Randa Khadan from the Australian Arabic Communities
Council, Greens Senator Bob Brown, ALP MP Laurie Brereton, Democrats
Senator Lyn Allison and Peter Baume from Liberals Against the War were
amongst the other speakers.
BRISBANE:
The Roma Street forum was packed to capacity and the people kept coming.
One hundred and fifty thousand at least. There has never been a protest
rally as large.
The rally was opened with a speaker against the development of a US
military base in Western Australia. Jim Soorley, Brisbane's Lord Mayor
said that this was the largest march ever.
The speaker's list was altered to accommodate ALP Opposition leader
Simon Crean. He was given a mixed reception, except when he finally
declared opposition to war. The people were there to oppose war, to
oppose genocide and the mass infanticide proposed by Bush and Howard.
Many individuals and groups made their own banners and placards. The
most powerful feeling was that the majority wants peace and that the
liars are being exposed.
"The children in my house are still singing the songs they heard on the
march and are exclaiming in youthful astonishment on the arrogance of
Howard and his declaration that children will be killed and that this
would be the fault of Saddam Hussein", reports David Matters.
ADELAIDE:
The largest protest ever to take to the streets of Adelaide - around
100,000. They blocked King William Street, Adelaide's main street that
can carry six lanes of traffic.
Speakers included Allan Badrow. He was just five weeks old and living in
Iraq when the last Gulf War broke out. His family suffered the
devastating effects of that conflict. He spoke on behalf of the children
of the world and pressed the real demands of children - playgrounds, fun
and lollies!
He denounced the crimes committed and being planned against Iraqi children.
Brian Deegan spoke as a parent who had lost a child to war and hatred.
Josh Deegan died in the Bali bombing, an event that propelled Brian to
become involved in the no war movement. He insisted that this latest war
for geo-political advantage would not be fought in his name or that of
his son.
PERTH:
Twenty thousand, many of them young people, marched through Perth streets.
Wally Pritchard, Secretary of the WA branch of the MUA and President of
Unions WA, spoke of the plans for the take-over of the whole oil
industry, while there were no plans for the reconstruction after the
destruction from war.
He spoke of the role of unions in times of war and the lead given by the
Seamen's Union against the Vietnam War. He condemned the millions that
would be spent in a futile war.
Dee Margetts, MLC (Greens) criticised the proposals for a free trade
agreement that could only lead to further control by the US over
Australia financially.
She spoke of the danger of anthrax vaccine to our servicemen and of the
proven damage from depleted uranium shells.
Brian Gregg, (Australian Democrats), called for the immediate return of
Australian troops.
Other speakers were Peter Stewart of the Catholic Church, Ian Bolus
CFMEU, and spokespersons from the Kurdish community, the Fremantle
anti-nuclear group and the organisation helping refugees.
MELBOURNE:
The Melbourne demonstration was held on Friday evening and the crowd was
immense. An old timer said that this was bigger than any rally at the
time of the anti-Vietnam War campaign.
Natasha Stott Despoja (Democrats) stressed her total opposition to war
under any circumstances - whether sanctioned by the UN or not.
Bob Brown (Greens) said it was essential that the campaign should be
continuous and that it should resort to the methods of civil disobedience.
Other speakers included Peter Watson, the Anglican Bishop of Melbourne
and singer Peter Garrett.
The demonstration sent a clear message to Bush and his satellites that
the only civilised way of seeking a solution to a problem is through
negotiations and that the sacrifice of human lives is a criminal price
to pay for the greed of the US for oil.
In Armidale (northern NSW), a remarkable turnout of 5000 people was
perhaps one of the strongest messages to the Government of all. Armidale
that has a total population of about 20,000 and is usually regarded as
the heartland of the conservative National Party.
Other demonstrations in Darwin, Hobart and elsewhere drew large
attendances, well beyond the wildest expectations of organisers.
Last weekend's actions followed on from the many highly successful
regional and country protests the weekend before. (See last week's
Guardian.)
INTERNATIONAL:
The hundreds of demonstrations in cities and towns around the world are
too numerous to cover - an estimated two million people in London, two
million in Madrid, three million in Rome, tens of thousands or hundreds
of thousands in other countries.
In Israel, 3000 Jewish and Arab-Palestinian Israelis marched. "Bush,
Blair and Sharon are the monsters of the Evil Axis" was one of the
central slogans.
A joint Israeli-Palestinian declaration read, "Down with the war against
Iraq! End Israeli occupation! For a just peace in the Middle East!
"It is not a war for security or justice, but a war for power, hegemony
and greed. War, violence and bloodshed will never achieve security,
freedom and a just peace for all the people of the Middle East", read
the statement.
Other reported demonstrations include Amsterdam, (up to 100,000), Berlin
(500,000) and other German cities, Stockholm (100,000), Oslo (60,000),
Paris (800,000) and 50 other French cities and towns, New York (500,000)
and in 150 other US cities and towns, Athens (200,000) and other Greek
cities, Mexico City, Lima (Peru), Buenos Aires (Argentina); Sao Paulo
(Brazil), Mexico City, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Japan, New Zealand, Moscow,
Johannesburg and Capetown, Helsinki, Moldova, Sofia (Bulgaria), Dublin
and Belfast.
The people of the world have united as never before in human history
with a single voice demanding: NO WAR!
Thanks to Vernon Abeysekera (Melbourne), Vic Williams (Perth), Bob
Briton (Adelaide) and David Matters (Brisbane) for their contributions
to the above report.
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