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DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE

official output | 14.03.2003 11:50

DECLARATION OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE




This Assembly of representatives of the British people, gathered under the threat of impending war, declares itself against any attack on Iraq by the British and US governments and asserts that any such war will not be undertaken in our name.

Representing the views of the great majority of our people, as demonstrated in the historic marches on February 15, the Assembly:

* Believes that no case for war has been made, that the war threatened is in defiance of international law, and holds that it is possible to resolve the present international crisis by exclusively peaceful means.

* Condemns the British government for its military support, almost alone in the world, for a US-led attack on Iraq and believes that the government has thereby ceased to represent the interests of the British people on this issue.

* While unreservedly condemning the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, and supporting the cause of democracy in all the countries of the Middle East, expresses its solidarity with the civilian Iraqi women, men and children who will be the main victims of any war.

* Urges Members of Parliament to act in support of this policy of peace, believing that a failure to do so will represent a dereliction of their democratic duty and an abrogation of representative democracy.

* Believes that in the event of war starting, the Prime Minister should resign.

* Invites all the British people and their organisations to express their support for this declaration and take whatever action may be required to ensure its adoption as the policy of our country.

official output
- Homepage: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

Comments

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skeptical

15.03.2003 10:38

From an account told to a group in Oxford, this 'rally' was nothing short of a pantomime of the great wannabe's in the British left.

Being shouted at from a loudspeaker is distinctly disempowering, and gives those with the loudest voices and most confidence the chance to blow their own trumpet. Next time, discussion groups should set up, with representatives meeting in a democratic structure to decide what proposals and action can be taken. This would allow the grassroots to have an accountable voice, without being shouted at by a bunch of pro-imperialist capitalist labour politicians, and 'old-labour' (ie. sell out, working class hating, war starting bastards) believers (read: vast majority of SWP believe in 'old' labour).

STOP THE WAR! GIVE THE GRASSROOTS A VOICE! SPREAD THE DISSENT! DIRECT ACTION AGAINST THE WAR!

sk


Rethoric

15.03.2003 17:58

What is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)? An undefined, loose term. A bit like the concept of 'colateral damage' that emerged during the last gulf war, and will probably be used again sometime soon.
The first (WMD) referrs to the (deemed) unlicensed possession of paricular weapons, by the supplier, of the possesser. The other referrs to acceptable destruction of innocence, and passed off as unfortunate.

I am confused, WMD's? The greatest armanda the world has ever seen is gathered around Iraq, collectively when this armanda goes into action, it will ignite the fuse of a WMD
that only speculation may perceive. What is this WMD? It's anger & hate. Which are powerful forces, more powerful than greed!
Greed has the match and is eager to light the fuse. And light the fuse it will in the name of peace. And peace well, afterward we wont' be looking at peace, we'll be looking at the pieces. And colateral damage? Well judge for yourselves, because we'll all witness it first hand, to some extent!

Alan Ryan
mail e-mail: bigalryan@madasafish.com