Dave Riley, Brisbane
Four-hundred anti-war activists — mostly young people — gathered on March 18 to protest the continuing occupation of Iraq. "Bring the troops home" was the main theme hammered home from a speaking platform that included Juanita Wheeler, national convener of the Greens; Grace Grace, Queensland Council of Unions general secretary; Terry Hicks, the father of Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks; Louay Alzaher from the Iraqi Solidarity Committee; Salam el Merebi from the Muslim Women's Association; and Murri activist Sam Watson, representing the Socialist Alliance.
Terry Hicks reminded the crowd that his son has been incarcerated for five years and is yet to face trial. "There are two people in the world at the moment", Hicks said, "that are token white people: one for the American system, David Hicks and one for the Australian system, Jack Thomas. They need to find these people guilty, to show credibility in what they are doing. This is to show that Westerners can be charged with terrorism regardless of whether they are guilty or not. It comes down to your human rights. Regardless of what people are supposed to have done you have to look after them properly — not stick them in a cage like an animal."
Wheeler called for the Australian troops to be brought home. "We should make sure that every cent that is being diverted to fund this military expedition in Iraq is turned to civilian aid to help the Iraqi people make the decision about the way they want to be governed."
Wheeler warned the federal government that "We will not be going away; and we will continue to speak out until you bring the troops home."
Watson asked the protestors to look back over the last three years of occupation of Iraq. "Because of what the families in Iraq go through everyday, we should be here — be seen to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Iraq."
"We have to take back control of our own political agenda. We have to stay committed to this global war against terror. And the three most dangerous and violent terrorists on the globe today are George .W. Bush, Anthony Blair and John Winston Howard. They have to be held accountable."
Salam el Merebi told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that the Howard government should leave the Iraqis alone. "If he is calling this a democracy in Australia", she asked, "then why did he send troops to Iraq when more than 70% of the population said that they didn't want troops sent there?"
The rally was followed by a boisterous march through Brisbane streets.
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, March 22, 2006.
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