Kerryn Williams, Sydney
SYDNEY — Rallies took place around the country on June 30 to "Bring the troops home" and to protest the fake handover of sovereignty to a US-appointed Iraqi interim government.
The "handover" occurring two days early and the desperate hope of many that the new Iraqi government will change things for the better may have caused fewer people to join the protests. However the broad speakers' platforms reflected the still widespread opposition to this illegal war.
General Peter Cosgrove's admission that the violence will continue as long as the foreign occupation forces remain in Iraq gave further weight to the anti-war movement's focus on forcing the troops to withdraw.
In Sydney, 1000 people joined a rally and march at Town Hall, organised by the Stop the War Coalition. To loud cheers, former Liberal Party president John Valder said he was "pleased" that Saddam Hussein was facing trial for crimes against humanity, but that "there are three others that should be in the dock with him. Their names are Bush, Blair and Howard."
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle described the handover as a "sham" given that "the United States intends to maintain political, economic and military control of the country". She argued that "the violence and resistance will not end until the occupation ends and US troops are withdrawn", and called for the removal of Australian troops.
Palestinian representative Ali Kazak; solidarity activist Sister Susan Connelly; Meredith Burgmann, a NSW MLC and long-time peace activist; and Peter McClelland from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union also addressed the rally. Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore sent a warm letter of support.
Anthony Albanese, who spoke on behalf of the shadow foreign affairs minister Kevin Rudd, said that "Labor opposes the occupation" and would not back away from the promise to pull the troops out by Christmas. Members of the crowd then asked: "How many troops is that?"
Graham Matthews reports that 400 people braved Melbourne's winter weather for a protest organised by the Victorian Peace Network.
Lalitha Chelliah, lead Senate candidate for the Socialist Alliance, demanded that "the troops be brought home yesterday. We never supported them going in the first place."
Shafica Majdalani from Women for Palestine gave a rousing speech drawing the links between the US occupation of Iraq and the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine. "We cannot feel for the plight of the Iraqi people without feeling for the Palestinians as well", she argued. "They are also under occupation — the longest running occupation of any people in modern history."
David Ristrom, lead Senate candidate for the Greens, also called for Australian troops to come home immediately.
Radical author Tariq Ali spoke to a 350-strong protest organised by the NOWAR Alliance in Perth, reports Alex Salmon. Ali pointed out that "power in Iraq has been handed over in reality, to people handpicked, chosen by the United States and its team running Iraq today".
Reverend Neville Watson, who was a human shield in Iraq, urged people to "pray for Howard and vote for someone else". Kiraz Janicke, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Perth, called on protesters to "follow the example of the people of Spain and kick Howard out".
Renfrey Clarke reports that a June 27 rally in Adelaide attracted 200 people and heard from John Valder, ALP left identity and long-time Palestinian solidarity activist Bill Hartley and human rights lawyer Michael Hourigan, who recently returned from Baghdad.
Two-hundred people also protested in Brisbane, demanding "true independence for the Iraqi people." Sam Watson, prominent Aboriginal leader and Socialist Alliance Senate candidate told the crowd that the Iraqi uprising is a war for liberation, directed against a brutal foreign power and its "puppet regime".
The Newcastle No War Collective organised a 150-strong moonlight rally and march, reports Simon Butler. Dave Burgess, who painted "No war" on the Sydney Opera House in March 2003, was among the speakers. Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary Gary Kennedy provided flags for the demonstration.
Protests also took place in Darwin, Hobart and Launceston, and on July 3 in Canberra and Wollongong.
From Green Left Weekly, July 7, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.