News briefs 3

3

Muslims protest Iraq war

SYDNEY — Chanting "Down, down Washington!" in English and "America go to hell!" in Arabic, 400 Muslims marched down the main road of the western Sydney suburb of Auburn to the local park on April 11.

Speakers at the rally demanded an end to the US-led occupation of Iraq. Keysar Trad, director of the Lebanese Muslim Association, told the protesters that the 850 Australian soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait should be brought home. "Let Iraqis decide their own fate", he said.

"The escalation of violence in Iraq proves beyond doubt that occupation and military force have not brought freedom to Iraq. The occupation, now in its second year, is the cause of the bloodshed and destruction."

Jamal Daoud from the Greens agreed that "any change must come from the people of Iraq; no change can be enforced or imported".

Tamara Pearson

Students protest university meeting

SYDNEY — A Sydney University senate meeting on April 5 was called off when 60 students protested outside. After deciding last year to raise HECS fees, the meeting was to announce a $92 million budget surplus, angering students.

Students formed pickets after they were denied access to the meeting by security guards.

The senate meeting was rescheduled, at very short notice, for 7.30am on April 7. Despite this obvious attempt to limit student protest, 30 people gathered outside the meeting. More than 40 police were present, preventing the students from entering the meeting.

Bronwyn Powell

From Green Left Weekly, April 21, 2004.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 579