Across the world, hundreds of thousands demonstrate

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday April 14, 2002 13:49 by Friend of IAWM and Aoife! - Irish Anti War Movement 087 7955013

ANTI WAR NEWS – WEDNESDAY 11TH APRIL

War Update Last Saturday over 2,000 people marched in Dublin in protest at Israel’s war on Palestine. In the past 2 weeks, Sharon has used Bush’s rhetoric of a ‘war against terrorism’ to brutally escalate his attacks on the Palestinians. Helicopter gunships and tanks have ploughed into Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Jenin and many other cities across Palestinian Authority controlled areas killing hundreds and injuring thousands more.

As journalists have been expelled no one knows exactly what is going on, but even the Israeli Defence Forces admit that at least 250 Palestinians have been killed – many of them children. This latest escalation of Israeli State terrorism seems to be one final attempt to wipe out all Palestinian resistance. The basic infrastructure of Palestine is being systematically destroyed – hospitals and ambulances have been targeted by helicopter gunships, electricity and telephone cables ripped up and water pipes have been destroyed – so much so that Palestinians in refugee camps in Jenin have resorted to drinking sewage water.

All across the globe massive protests have erupted against Israeli State terrorism and its chief sponsor George Bush. Anti war activists everywhere do not buy Bush’s calls on Sharon to pull out of recently occupied cities. We know all too well what lies behind the US’s new found support for UN Resolutions. Before Ramallah, Bush was secretly moving missile guidance systems from Saudi Arabia to friendly Qatar as massive popular anger would have prevented any attack on Iraq being launched from Saudi. However with millions demonstrating across the Middle East in solidarity with Palestine, Bush’s hands are now temporarily tied and he cannot attack Iraq until he reins in Sharon.

From the outset, the anti war movement said that the ‘war on terrorism’ would only serve to create new conflicts and worsen existing ones. From Colombia to Palestine, we are seeing the brutal consequences of Bush’s war. However, we are also witness to massive protests against this brutal new world order. In the past week, over 1 million marched in Rabat (Morocco), 10,000 in Qatar, 250,000 in Tripoli 25,000 in Banha (South Egypt) and hundreds of thousands more from Brussels to Jakarta calling for Justice for Palestine. We must go from last Saturday’s demonstration to build a huge national anti war demo on April 27th that not only condemns US & Israeli State terrorism but calls on our own government to immediately withdraw all offers of support to Bush’s war.

WHAT WE CAN DO …

Boycott Israeli Goods
· Protest to Brian Cowen

Yesterday the European Parliament voted through a resolution calling on the EU to suspend trade links with Israeli until Sharon withdraws from all recently occupied territories. Unfortunately, the final decision rests with the European Commission and Council. Patricia McKenna MEP (Green Party) is handing in the European Parliament Resolution to Brian Cowen at the Department of Foreign Affairs (80 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2) at 11.30am tomorrow (Friday 12th April) and demanding immediate action on the trade boycott. Be there tomorrow at 11.30 to show your support.

· Hand out Boycott Israeli Goods leaflets.

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (01 6770253) and the Socialist Workers Party (087 6329511) are both organising boycott Israel campaign stalls outside major shopping centres across Dublin this weekend. If you can give out leaflets or collect petitions between 11 and 3pm this Saturday ring them at the numbers above.

Israeli Embassy Demo 8am Monday 15th April, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

8am Early morning protest at the Israeli Embassy (across from Jury’s in Ballsbridge) on Monday (15th April) organised by the Alliance for Palestine who organised last Saturday’s demo. Contact 087 7955013 for information.

National Anti War Demonstration 3pm Saturday 27th April Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin

In recent months over 7,000 people have demonstrated on the streets of Dublin against war and against US foreign policy – not that the Irish Times have noticed! It’s very important that we build a massive demonstration on the 27th to show our solidarity with Palestinians and Iraqis. Posters and leaflets for the demonstration and details of local buses being organised to Dublin on the 27th are now available. If you are free to help leaflet or poster please contact 087 7955013.

Protest to local politicians

A general election is now due and the Irish Anti War Movement is currently sending TDs a questionnaire to find out their attitude to the ‘war on terrorism’, Irish neutrality, Ireland’s involvement in the arms trade and sanctions on Iraq. When the responses are available we will publish them and make sure that the war is an election issue. If you would like a copy of the questions to harrang canvassers who call to your door then email in for a copy.

Next Steering Committee Meeting
Next Steering Committee meeting will be Monday (15th) at 7pm upstairs in Bowe’s Bar, Fleet St., Dublin 2. All welcome. Also, weekly anti war news will be emailed from now on – if there are local events which should be included please let me know.

Website
David & Caspar have done great work on the website which is now available complete with discussion lists and links to anti war articles at: http://irishantiwar.org (Note: no www in address). Check it out.

Finally – well done to the TCD One World Society & the TCD Anti War Group for winning Trinity’s Society of the Year Award. If anyone wants to get involved in the anti war group in Trinity ring Khalid on 087 2374103.

Best wishes,

Aoife
087 7955013