Veterans to lead Anti-War Protest

An Anti-war protest will be going ahead in Auckland on Saturday 28th September as part of an international day of action against the US plans for war against Iraq.

The march is planned for Queen Street on Saturday 28th leaving Queen Elizabeth square at 12.00noon for a rally in Aotea Square.

Several long time campaigners will be dusting off their shoes to lead the march up the Queen Street tarseal yet again in the cause of peace with justice. One 76 year old is a veteran of dozens of anti-war campaigns.

It is clear that even if the immediate threat of US attack recedes, the American government will wait, like the bully around the corner, for any pretext to attack.

We have been appalled at the monosyllabic war mongering from the leadership in America. Just what is this war for?

Is the war to support UN resolutions? NO - Israel has been in violation of UN resolutions for 30 years and the US has supported Israel to the hilt. Is it to stop oppression of the Iraqi people? NO - it is US sponsored sanctions which have led to the deaths of more that 500,000 Iraqi children over the past decade according to United Nations agencies. Is it because Iraq poses a threat to another country? NO - not more so than any other country according to former UN weapons inspectors.

So why does America want war?

We believe it is simply to control the second largest oil reserve in the world. American oil companies have been locked out of Iraq for the past 10 years and are champing at the bit to get back in.

It is no surprise that these companies have already begun negotiations with "American friendly" Iraqis whom President Bush has earmarked for leadership roles in an American appointed regime in Baghdad.

We believe the most positive role New Zealand could play would be to sponsor a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly calling for illegal war threats to cease and for United Nations sanctions to be lifted to stop the humanitarian crisis facing the civilian population of Iraq.

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