BY
KERRYN WILLIAMS
CANBERRA — On March 23-24, thousands of people will converge on parliament,
in a national protest against the Coalition government’s support for an
attack on Iraq. Green Left Weekly spoke to James Vassilopoulos,
one of the central organisers of the convergence. Vassilopoulos, who stood
for parliament with the Socialist Alliance in 2001, is active in the ACT
Network Opposing War (ACT NOW).
“I think many people think that it is urgent and necessary to go to
federal parliament in Canberra, to make a clear statement against war”,
Vassilopoulos explained. “By the time of the protest, we will either be
on the brink of war or the invasion will have begun and we will be calling
for an invasion to stop.”
On March 24, parliament will resume. It may well be debating a vote
on war as people join the protest outside. “Most Australians oppose this
war, yet there has not even been a vote in federal parliament”, Vassilopoulos
argued. “The `mob’ will be coming to Canberra and [the government] will
not be happy. Howard and US President George Bush might want to pretend
that we don’t matter, but people won’t stop taking action while this war
is a possibility or is being waged.”
“This will not be a war, it will be a slaughter. It’s like putting heavyweight
boxer Mike Tyson in the ring with one of the Wiggles and then giving Tyson
a knife. Many Australians will be angry when 3000 cruise missiles crash
into Baghdad, killing thousands and thousands of Iraqi people.”
Vassilopoulos is urging all Australians to protest in their towns and
cities if the invasion begins, and then to come to Canberra.
Although Vassilopoulos was initially nervous about how many people would
be prepared to come to Canberra to protest, but the response has been “overwhelmingly
positive”. “I think there will many thousands at the Sunday [March 23]
protest and quite a few thousand at the Monday protest.”
“Last year in Canberra there was a successful refugee-rights convergence
of 2500 people. Washington has had a number of successful convergences,
where people came from across the US. A bold initiative was necessary following
the 1-million-strong protest in Australia on February 14-16.”
According to Vassilopoulos, people are planning to come from 22 cities
and towns. People from Armidale are likely to organise a car cavalcade
that will travel the 12-hour journey. Large numbers are expected to come
form Cooma.
Two-hundred people are expected from the Bega region. Two community
radio shows, articles in the local newspaper and the widespread distribution
of posters and pamphlets will advertise the event. Buses are organised
to come from Bellingen, Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney.
In the north-east region of NSW, near Byron Bay, television advertisements
will include details of the convergence on Canberra. Other participants
are expected from Batemans Bay, Bowral, Tamworth, Mudgee, Bathurst, Dubbo
and Young, among others.
Anti-war activists from Brisbane are also planning to organise a bus,
and even some Perth residents have expressed interest in attending.
In Canberra, 40,000 leaflets are being letterboxed across 45 suburbs.
The teachers’ union has sent out rally publicity to 3000 of its members.
The next step is to organise a more visible street presence in the lead
up to the protest.
Vassilopoulos described the enthusiasm of many involved in the campaign.
“We have many excellent stories here of people helping out. One activist
who came into the Resistance Centre to pick up leaflets is retired, has
crook knees and has had a triple by-pass heart operation — yet he is prepared
to leaflet his street.”
On the morning of March 23, Parliament House lawns will be dotted with
stalls, and music will be playing as protesters arrive. The speaking platform
will kick off at 2pm, before a march. Protesters will hear from Victorian
Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard, as well as speakers from the
Greens, Democrats and the ALP.
On March 24, ACT students will walk out of class to attend the protest
at parliament. There will be a platform of speakers from Unions ACT, the
Socialist Alliance, the student strike and the churches. A giant peace
sign will be constructed.
The convergence is being organised by a broad coalition of groups including
Greens, the churches, socialists and many individuals.
“A team of ACT NOW activists is the driving force behind the convergence”,
Vassilopoulos explained. “Without the initiatives and work of the Socialist
Alliance it would have been almost impossible to organise the convergence.
Socialist Alliance members put out the call to action, liaised with interstate
groups, produced the publicity and organised its distribution.”
Vassilopoulos believes the protests need to be escalated: “Workers should
stop work to stop the war, small businesses should boycott the payment
of the GST and opposition parties should block the May 13 budget, which
will fund the war.”
From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
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