ACT protest demands end to the war

BY MARK ABBERTON

CANBERRA — Despite bad weather, 175 people joined a protest in Garema Place on November 7 against the bipartisan Coalition-Labor backing of the US war on Afghanistan.

Speakers from the Socialist Alliance, ACT Greens, Women Building Peace, the Medical Association for Prevention of War, Canberra Islamic Centre, Sudanese Australian International , Activists Group, Uniting Church and the Construction, Forestry, Mining Energy and Energy Union condemned the foreign policies of the West that produce war and misery for the Third World, while denying refugees and asylum seekers access to safety.

The rally was organised by the ACT Network Opposing War (ACTNOW), which also initiated a protest outside John Howard's address to the National Press Club on November 8. One hundred unionists, refugee-rights campaigners and anti-war activists chanted "Refugees in, Howard out" and "1-2-3-4, we don't want your racist war; 5-6-7-8, stop the killing, stop the hate" as Howard and other guests arrived.

Jeremy Pyner from the ACT Trades and Labor Council outlined the Coalition government's attacks on workers' living standards and on unions' ability to wage effective campaigns.

The Socialist Alliance candidate for Fraser, James Vassilopoulos, said: "Protests like these can have an impact on the elections, hopefully helping to stop the Coalition being re-elected". But, he added, since both the Coalition and Labor support the war on Afghanistan and against refugees, people should "vote for candidates who are 100% opposed to these policies". Vassilopoulos urged the rally participants to continue campaigning against the war and racism after the elections.

From Green Left Weekly, November 14, 2001.

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From GLW issue 471