Fifth Anniversary of the World-Wide Anti-War Demonstrations of Unprecedented Scale

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Fifth Anniversary of the World-Wide Anti-War Demonstrations of Unprecedented Scale

Forthcoming Events:
Public Meeting: UK's State Responsibility for Torture, Mutilation and Killings
Event: Southend Vigil and Leafleting
Event: South Shields: February 15 – Five Years On

As February 15 approaches, which will see the anniversary of the biggest anti-war demonstration in British history, the anti-war movement is building and needs to continue to be built as strong as ever. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the horror of what has been unleashed on these two nations since 2001 is very clear. These are crimes against humanity in these countries committed on a daily basis. These crimes of Anglo-US imperialism do not even have a geo-political aim, and those responsible cannot escape the accusation of acting out of some of the most brutal and bestial motives. Stability and humanity are the last thing on the minds of the occupiers, as they terrorise the people. The millions who marched on February 15, 2003, represented the majority of the British people, and it is now clear that the people need to be mobilised again into taking part in the anti-war movement, creating a mass movement that can effect lasting change.

Now in 2008, while the US has thousands of troops in the north of Iraq, Britain has 5,000 troops in the south, while in Afghanistan the war is escalating with 7,700 British troops being deployed there and over 42,000 NATO troops in total. After a meeting between Gordon Brown and Condoleezza Rice, discussing continued occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and their plans to intervene in Iran and Kosovo, the big powers are showing they are not going to end these wars, which highlights that only a mass movement of the working class and people can achieve an end to war.

While the people of Britain and the world oppose their governments’ actions and atrocities in the illegal occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, those sovereign nations who are under attack or threat of attack are strengthening their movement to defend their sovereignty, resist and get rid of foreign occupation, and make social progress through their own efforts.

This anti-war movement reflects a mass sentiment, and this must become a foundation to build resistance to the government’s policy of war and aggression, and to firmly make the stand of the people for peace and friendship towards other sovereign nations.

Despite the great achievements of the anti-war movement, like the February 15 march, the People’s Assemblies and the World Against War Conference, the working class and people of Britain are still faced with the need to resist the Anglo-American dictate, and take up for solution the question of organising to bring into being an anti-war government.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008, College of Law, Store Street, London, 7-00pm

Phil Shiner, Keir Starmer QC – Gagging Order Lifted by Court on the Majar Incident in Iraq in May 2004

Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Silber agreed on January 31 to lift the gagging order that had been put in place to prevent publication of the issues surrounding the incident on May 14, 2004, in Majar in southern Iraq, when 31 Iraqis were taken into custody by the British Army at their headquarters at Abu Naji. The application to remove the gag was from both the Iraqi Claimants and from the BBC, Guardian and Times.

Two legal cases have resulted from the incident, the first an application that a public inquiry be held into the events that led to the death of 22 of the Iraqis detained and the alleged torture and abuse of the nine survivors and the second that the nine survivors and the families of the dead be compensated for what happened. The Court made an order in December preventing the publication of any information relating to the events that underpin the issues in the two cases.

The senior partners of the two law firms involved, Phil Shiner of Public Interest lawyers and Martyn Day of Leigh Day and Co, travelled out to Istanbul earlier this month to meet with some of the survivors and the other witnesses to the events. Hearing the testimony of those men decided the two firms on the making of this application to remove the gagging order.

Phil Shiner said on January 31: "The testimonies of these five men taken over 5 days in Istanbul by myself and Martyn contain shocking material and combine to give a harrowing account of what took place. I have never heard such evidence in nearly 30 years of being a solicitor." Martyn Day said on January 31: "Phil and I are clear that what took place in Majar is of massive consequence not just for the British Army and the British Government but for the British people. Today is the first step in ensuring what happened in Majar is brought out into the open." The two firms are completing the review of the evidence that emerged in their work in Istanbul. On the conclusion of that work they intend holding a press conference that will set out the position. It is anticipated that the press conference will be held very shortly.

Event: Southend Vigil and Leafleting

Friday, February 15 at 03:30 PM

Protest to mark five years since February 15, 2003. Meet from 3:30pm onwards, outside Southend Victoria station, for leafleting and vigil. Bring a placard or a banner to make your feelings known! Bring a candle and a jam jar as we'll have a candlelight vigil as it gets dark.

Event: South Shields: February 15 – Five Years On

Friday, February 15 at 07:30 PM

Discussion Forum, February 15 – Five Years On, 5th Anniversary of Mass Anti-War Demonstration

South Tyneside Stop the War Coalition will hold a discussion on this topic: Friday , February 15, Trinity House Social Centre, 134 Laygate South Shields. (Nearest Metro Chichester) 7.30pm – 9.00pm. For further details of the Forum contact: 07958171205

February 15, 2008, is the 5th anniversary of the mass anti war demonstration where 2 million marched through London to oppose the invasion of Iraq. Tony Blair and the New Labour government threw aside this mass censure of their war plans and joined Bush and the US in invading Iraq the following month on March 15. Five years later there is no end to the carnage and destruction of the sovereign country of Iraq caused by this invasion and continued occupation.

Five years on, Blair has gone to be replaced by Gordon Brown as Prime Minister yet the state terrorism of occupation continues with US forces in the north and some 5,000 British troops in the south of the country. What is more, the 2001 invasion and occupation of Afghanistan is being stepped with 5,800 British forces being deployed there. At the same time, using their naked aggression the Anglo US rulers have stepped up their interference backed up with the threats of military action against Iran and other sovereign countries of the Middle East. Their aim is to impose the interests of the Anglo US global companies and plunder these countries of their wealth and resources.

Five years on the people of Britain and the world are building their resistance to the Anglo US dictate in world affairs. In Britain the question of ending the dictate of pro-war cabinet government is a problem taken up for solution, whilst the people of other countries threatened by the Anglo US dictate are strengthening their mass movements to defend their sovereignty and make social progress based on their own efforts.

These events make it even more imperative for the British people to bring into being an anti-war government and reiterate the right of countries such as Iran to defend their sovereignty.

Come to the forum and take part in informed discussion. Think, discuss and act on the here and now. Another world is possible, it is the necessity to change it.

For full events calendar, see: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=91