Over 10 Cambridge protesters were arrested today at the peaceful anti-war demonstration outside Whitehall. Unprecedentedly, Cambridge students made
up a third of all arrests made at the event.
up a third of all arrests made at the event.
Tuesday 3 Dec 2002
Over 10 Cambridge protesters were arrested today at the peaceful anti-war demonstration outside Whitehall. Unprecedentedly, Cambridge students made up a third of all arrests made at the event.
The demonstration outside Whitehall was in protest at a possibly imminent war on Iraq. People arrived in the morning from all over the country to express their concerns at the likely civilian toll of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, and their doubt that this war will achieve a positive result. Demonstrators lay down in the road, as part of a 'die-in' to bring the reality of human suffering to Tony Blair's doorstep. Whitehall was partially closed for most of the day, with bodies scattered all over the ground outside.
According to the recent Medact report on the likely consequences of war on Iraq, the expected figure for deaths on both sides is 48,000 to 261,000. The report also predicts huge problems from the collapse of internal infrastructure systems such as railways, roads, sewage plants, water and electricity supply which a war would bring about, and will have a much worse effect than normal in a country weakened by ten years of economic sanctions.
One of the Cambridge students arrested said: " We are very unhappy with the idea of this war being waged in our name, and we don't feel the government is listening to us. We are attempting to show them what a war really will mean for those civilians on the ground, by this symbolic act of protest. We hope they will take notice that a vast number of British citizens feel extremely strongly that they do not want thousands of their Iraqi counterparts to be killed by British and allied forces. Especially given the doubts as to how effective in strategic terms this war would actually be.'
The grounds for arrest were 'obstruction of a public highway'. Several of those arrested will be appearing in the Magistrate's Court in the coming week. Cambridge Students Against the War will be organising fundraising and other events in support of those arrested.
For more information please contact David Babbs on 07931 855888
Notes:
1.Medact is an organisation of health professionals that exists to highlight and take action on the health consequences of war, poverty and environmental degradation and other major threats to global health. It is the UK affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). See www.medact.org
Over 10 Cambridge protesters were arrested today at the peaceful anti-war demonstration outside Whitehall. Unprecedentedly, Cambridge students made up a third of all arrests made at the event.
The demonstration outside Whitehall was in protest at a possibly imminent war on Iraq. People arrived in the morning from all over the country to express their concerns at the likely civilian toll of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, and their doubt that this war will achieve a positive result. Demonstrators lay down in the road, as part of a 'die-in' to bring the reality of human suffering to Tony Blair's doorstep. Whitehall was partially closed for most of the day, with bodies scattered all over the ground outside.
According to the recent Medact report on the likely consequences of war on Iraq, the expected figure for deaths on both sides is 48,000 to 261,000. The report also predicts huge problems from the collapse of internal infrastructure systems such as railways, roads, sewage plants, water and electricity supply which a war would bring about, and will have a much worse effect than normal in a country weakened by ten years of economic sanctions.
One of the Cambridge students arrested said: " We are very unhappy with the idea of this war being waged in our name, and we don't feel the government is listening to us. We are attempting to show them what a war really will mean for those civilians on the ground, by this symbolic act of protest. We hope they will take notice that a vast number of British citizens feel extremely strongly that they do not want thousands of their Iraqi counterparts to be killed by British and allied forces. Especially given the doubts as to how effective in strategic terms this war would actually be.'
The grounds for arrest were 'obstruction of a public highway'. Several of those arrested will be appearing in the Magistrate's Court in the coming week. Cambridge Students Against the War will be organising fundraising and other events in support of those arrested.
For more information please contact David Babbs on 07931 855888
Notes:
1.Medact is an organisation of health professionals that exists to highlight and take action on the health consequences of war, poverty and environmental degradation and other major threats to global health. It is the UK affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). See www.medact.org
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