13 countries and growing
International actions set for Jan. 18-19
By John Catalinotto
As of Dec. 31, anti-war demonstrations have been scheduled
in at least 13 countries for the weekend of Jan. 18-19, which
is the 12th anniversary of the first U.S. assault on Iraq. The
appeal for these actions originated with the International
ANSWER coalition in the United States.
ANSWER is organizing national demonstrations in Washington,
D.C., and San Francisco on Jan. 18 to demand "No war on Iraq."
These are expected to be the largest such protest actions so
far in the United States as the growing anti-war movement tries
to stop a Bush administration hell-bent on war.
The 13 countries are Egypt, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Italy,
Japan, Indonesia, Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Russia and
the United States. ANSWER organizers expect that anti-war
movements in other countries will also take on this effort,
especially as the threat of war grows closer. U.S. military
bases are targets of the demonstration in several
countries.
Groups from many other countries have sent statements of
solidarity or have publicized ANSWER's call.
The call for the Egyptian demonstration comes from
the Cairo Conference, held on Dec. 18-19, which also issued a
call for international demonstrations on Jan. 18-19. The
International Action Center web site at www.iacenter.org
contains a report on the conference, the conference declaration
and other documents.
In Belgium, the Stop USA (United States of
Aggression) Coalition has called a demonstration in Brussels
for Jan. 19. The slogans are "No war," "No sanctions" and "Stop
the bombardment." The Belgian demonstration also supports a
Palestinian state and the resistance of the Palestinian people.
More information and posters can be found at
www.stopusa.be/.
In Spain at least two major actions are planned. On
Jan. 19 a coalition of anti-war and social groups is holding a
protest demonstration at the Torrejon airbase to "Stop the war
on Iraq before it starts." It will demand "No more blood for
oil," "No participation by the Spanish state" in the war, "No
to NATO, bases out" and "Against globalization, a Europe run by
capital and war." A national discussion of the threatened war
takes place on the previous day.
In Zaragoza, Spain, on Jan. 18, a group of conscientious
objectors to the war will present their pledge of resistance to
the government of that city.
Anti-war groups plan demonstrations across Canada on
Jan. 18-19.
In Italy there have been various appeals for
demonstrations. A coalition, also named ANSWER, has called a
demonstration at Camp Ederle near Vicenza in northern Italy.
Its statement says, "Our goal is to stop the war that Bush and
his allies (among whom are our own Berlusconi) want to unleash
at all costs against Iraq, with immediate repercussions in all
of the Middle East. Their real goals are to continue to assert
control of the oil resources of the region, and to have a free
hand with the Palestinians, with Iran, with Syria, with the
countries in the Caspian Sea region."
For more information, see: www.venetocontroguerra.net.
The Anti-imperialist Camp will support Jan. 18
demonstrations in Italy and Austria and "will organize
or take part in sit-ins, demonstrations and meetings already
planned."
In Japan, different coalitions will be holding
regional demonstrations in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and
other major cities on both Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. Some will also
demand that U.S. bases leave Japan, especially Okinawa, where
there is a strong popular movement against the U.S.
occupation.
In Indonesia, an organization in Bandung, West Java,
pledged to demonstrate on Jan. 18. In Britain, there will be a
regional demonstration in Yorkshire on that day, plus a weekend
of protest and civil disobedience in London at the Northwood
Military Base.
French groups that held a protest in Marseilles Dec.
28 protesting the passage of a U.S. battle group led by the
aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman plan to protest again on
Jan. 18.
In Germany, a group in Heidelberg will demonstrate at
the U.S. military headquarters. Web sites of groups based in
Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Italy and other places around the
world are publicizing the ANSWER protest.
Reprinted from the Jan. 9, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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