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Najaf, Iraq. Urgent Action Update.

Colchester Peace Campaign | 17.08.2004 23:18 | Cambridge | London

Protest against latest imperialist murder and repression. News from local and national campaigns. More info on:
 http://www.easf.org.uk

1) Fri. 20th Aug. London. Emergency Picket of 10 Downing St.
5pm - 7pm.

Stop the Slaughter in Najaf - Troops Out of Iraq!

Called by Stop the War Coalition, CND & MAB.

 http://www.stopwar.org.uk/



2) Sat Sept 11th. Colchester. Vigil for Peace.

End the Cycle of Violence.

1pm. War Memorial.

Colchester High St, Outside Castle Gates.
 http://www.colchesterpeace.org.uk



For the latest news of protests in the region, also check the
website of the

East Anglia Social Forum:
 http://www.easf.org.uk


As the cycle of violence escalates in Iraq, the UK peace
movement must now try and make its voice heard once again.
The US/UK occupation is using its new Allawi government as a
fig leaf for its actions. In an ominous move, this new authority has
ordered all foreign journalists out of Najaf, with threats of violence.


But thousands of ordinary Iraqis, unarmed civilian men and
women, are now marching to Najaf to defend one of the holiest
sites in the Islamic world. As this escalates, Bush, Blair and their
puppet Allawi government must know that the eyes of the world are
watching.


This latest round of fighting is a result of the Bush/Blair/Allawi
regimes desire for total domination of Iraq. They want to
marginalize ‘troublesome’ groups, and exclude them from the
political process. Thus they have picked a fight with the Sadrist
movement, which represents some of the poorest and most
oppressed of Iraq’s people. These people who inhabit the slums
of Iraq’s cities suffered under Saddam’s vicious repression. Now
the west has a new puppet, who only promises more of the
same.


Fighting is now breaking out and intensifying across Southern
Iraq and involving British Troops. Many people are being killed
every day.


The US/UK military cannot bring peace or democracy to Iraq.
Rather their presence and actions provokes more resistance. As
the situation for the US/UK occupation and their stooge
government gets worse, their only answer is yet ever more brutal
force, repression and violence.


We must call on our government to bring the troops home and
end the occupation of Iraq. Rather than force, the west must give
massive reparations to the Iraqi people. Only this can approach
an apology for the massive death and suffering we have caused
to the Iraqi people over 20 years, by first arming Saddam
Hussein, and then causing so much damage through war,
sanctions and occupation.


For more, see the recent ‘Voices in the Wilderness’ bulletin.
 http://www.voices.uk.org




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***


NEW PETITION LAUNCHED.


The Stop the War Coalition have launched a new petition calling
for an end to the occupation of Iraq. Download a copy from
 http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Resources/endoccpet.pdf
and collect names from your friends.


This petition will be launched on Thursday 19th Aug, with relatives
of British Troops killed in Iraq. Here is the Coalitions press
release on the issue.


AN OPEN LETTER TO TONY BLAIR:

Nearly 70 British troops have been killed in the illegal war on Iraq. Many
were teenagers sent to war with only rudimentary training.

One of those killed was 19 year old Gordon Gentle from
Glasgow. Gordon received only 6 weeks military training before
being sent to Iraq.

The Stop the War Coalition is proud to host the visit of Gordon’s
mother Rose and his sister Maxine [14] to London.

They will be handing in a letter to Tony Blair, written by Maxine, to
Downing Street at 11am this Thursday calling for the withdrawal of
British troops from Iraq.

This open letter has the support of people from their local
community, including many of Maxine’s school friends.

The Stop the War Coalition supports their brave initiative and we
are launching a national petition calling for the immediate end to
the occupation in Iraq.

The Iraqi people have made clear their desire to determine their
own future free from foreign interference. A majority of people in
Britain want an end to the occupation in Iraq.

It is clear that British troops will continue to be killed in increasing
numbers. Their immediate withdrawal is essential for the future of Iraq.

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****

European Social Forum. (ESF) 14-17th October, London.

Stop the war. Defend Civil Liberties. For Global Justice.

As part of the ESF, there will be an international demonstration
through London on Sunday 17th Oct. This will be the next mass
mobilisation of the Anti-War movement in the UK. See:
 http://www.stopwar.org.uk
 http://www.fse.esf.org


Colchester Peace Campaign
- Homepage: http://www.easf.org.uk


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