No to Imperialist War and Occupation!

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No to Imperialist War and Occupation!

Letter of Stop the War Coalition to BBC Director General

Masters of War - by Bob Dylan, 1963

The demonstration on Saturday, March 18, was testimony to the persistence of the anti-war forces, and the determination to strengthen their unity and resistance and to plant the alternative of bringing into being an anti-war government on the soil of Britain. Since September 11, 2001, up to 13 major central demonstrations and activities have been organised, protesting against the aggression and war carried out by US imperialism and the British government. The mammoth 2 million strong demonstration in London on February 15, 2003, was unprecedented, and the sentiment of the people has not diminished despite the hysteria the government and monopoly-controlled media seek to create about terrorism, Islamic extremism and "our way of life".

Part of the rally in Trafalgar square at conclusion of demonstration

This situation is putting on the agenda the issue that it is the people who must decide, who must build their resistance and develop their consciousness and organisation to wage the struggle for an anti-war, pro-social and pro-worker government. It is putting on the agenda that it is time for the people to stop the cycle of history repeating, to end the headlong degeneration of parasitism and war carried out on behalf of finance capital, to counter the lies and disinformation that seek again and again to give justifications for such obscenities and for the working class and people to take up political affairs on their own behalf.

The London demonstration of March 18 was one of up to 200 organised globally on the third anniversary of the illegal aggression against Iraq. It was estimated by the organisers to comprise 100,000 participants. In the words of RCPB(ML)’s statement for the occasion: "In this weekend of global protest, humanity stands as one against war and aggression. It stands as one with all those resisting occupation, blackmail and threats. It demands an end to all aggression and interference. It is the people, mobilised and organised for justice, who constitute the power to end war and militarism and establish an anti-war government."

Despite bright sunshine, the freezing conditions could not quell the enthusiasm and vigour of the protestors who created a carnival like atmosphere with street theatre, samba bands, music, militant slogans for peace and against the occupation of Iraq and to stay the hands of the warmongers against Iran.

From 11:30 in the morning, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square in Central London was a sea of trestle tables where marchers and demonstrators added their names to veteran peace campaigner Tony Benn’s letter to the UN and Attorney Generals calling for the warmongers Bush and Blair to be brought to account. For those with mobile phones there was also an opportunity to text their name to an electronic counter set up at the rally. Winding its way from outside the now heavily fortified Houses of Parliament the march set off along Victoria Street and passed the Attorney General’s office before making its way back through Piccadilly Circus to Trafalgar Square.

As the thousands of protesters arrived – over a two-hour period – in the Square, the London landmark was transformed into a colourful display of banners, placards, street theatre, and discussions as the assembled marchers heard speeches from amongst others MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, union leaders Mark Serwotka and Bill Hayes, Bruce Kent, London mayor Ken Livingstone, Stop the War speaker Salma Yacoub, representatives of military families whose relatives have been killed in Iraq, musician Brian Eno and others. Julie Felix sang the Bob Dylan protest song, "The Masters of War".

Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition, said: "We believe that a peaceful solution to the chaos caused by the illegal war in Iraq will only be possible when the occupying foreign armies have all been removed so that the Iraqi people will be free to decide on their own political future.

Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, said there is also "grave concern" about the threat of an attack against Iran. "The US is making charges about a covert nuclear weapons programme in Iran without presenting any credible evidence," she said. "These charges are strikingly similar to the false accusations raised to justify the invasion of Iraq three years ago." She continued, "The government must listen to the voices of the people, which are calling on them to bring the troops home from Iraq and to solve the Iranian issue peacefully and diplomatically."

Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC

22 March 2006

Dear Mr Thompson,

We write to protest in the strongest possible terms against the failure of the BBC to broadcast any reports of the anti-war demonstration in London on March 18 on any of its TV news bulletins.

This demonstration was one of a large number held around the world to mark the third anniversary of the start of Iraq war, a significant landmark. We estimate that 80-100,000 people attended the London protest. Speakers at the concluding rally included the chief foreign representative of the al-Sadr movement in Iraq, a major force in that country’s politics, parliamentary figures from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Respect parties, the well-known musician Brian Eno and the parents of several of the British soldiers who have died in Iraq, as well as an SAS soldier who had recently served there.

It defies belief that you found this event unworthy of the slightest mention. Such an attitude can only undermine belief in the power of peaceful democratic protest. We would like to quote from just one of the many e-mails received on this subject:

My daughter and her friend joined the march on Saturday. It was their first independent project as 'citizens' and they were elated to be doing it. On returning home they both looked to see what coverage of the march there was on the BBC. As you say, there wasn't. This was a disappointment to two idealistic young people eager to make their voices heard. It was not a good experience of 'living in a democracy'.

We also note that the Defence Secretary John Reid was afforded the opportunity to attack the demonstration’s purpose on the Today programme on the morning of March 18 – thereby incidentally establishing its news-worthiness – without any representative of the organisers, or any alternative view, being given a chance to comment.

This would seem to us to indicate a systematic hostility to the anti-war movement and to those critical of the government’s Iraq policy, notwithstanding that we speak for most of the country on this matter if opinion polls are to be believed. We believe that this represents an abandonment of the BBC’s charter obligations to impartiality and fairness on matters of political controversy.

We would be grateful for an explanation of BBC policy on these matters, and in particular as to why news of Saturday’s demonstration was blanked out by BBC News, and would ask you to make time for a meeting with us to discuss this further.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Murray (chair)

Lindsey German (convenor)

Stop the War Coalition

by Bob Dylan, 1963

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead