Protest at Iraqi embassy
CANBERRA -- Fifty angry protesters gathered outside the Iraqi embassy here on January 25, chanting "Long live political freedom! No to dictatorship! No to terror!" The demonstrators were cordoned off from the embassy, which was surrounded by about 15 federal police. Seven activists were arrested in Iraq in mid-October for campaigning for a "no" vote in the referendum orchestrated to rubber stamp Saddam Hussein's continued presidency. Organisers of the protest, including the Workers Communist Party of Iraq and Iran (Australian Committees), called on socialist groups and those concerned about human rights and political freedom to support the campaign.
US N-sub protest
BRISBANE -- Members of the Queensland Greens, Catholic Workers and Democratic Socialist Party picketed Fishermen's Island wharf here on January 21 to protest against the presence of a US nuclear submarine in the Brisbane River. Despite the Brisbane City Council's nuclear-free zone declaration, US nuclear-powered and armed warships continue to visit Brisbane port regularly. Speakers at the protest, including Catholic Worker peace activist Ciaron O'Reilly, DSP secretary Jim McIlroy and Greens federal candidates Willy Bach and Angela Jones, called for an end to nuclear ship visits and explained the role of the US Navy in carrying out the genocidal Gulf War aimed against the people of Iraq. They also linked the issue of nuclear ship visits with the ongoing campaign against nuclear testing by France and other powers.
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