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CND in the News
CND in the News: 7-14 July 2005
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1 Protesters call for British army pull-out from Iraq
Cape Times, July 11, 2005
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=272&fArticleId=2620193
London: Several hundred demonstrators have called for a British military
pull-out from Iraq in the wake of the terror bombings that hit the centre
of this city last week. The choice of location by the protesters on Saturday
was poignant: the Garden of Peace near King's Cross station and Tavistock
Square where two of the four bombs that killed over 50 people exploded
on Thursday.
Flags of all colours fluttered and hundreds of pacifists and Muslims
observed a minute of silence for those killed in the London attacks. "Tony
Blair has to move troops from Iraq," shouted Azzam Tamini, director
of the Institute of Islamic Political Thoughts. Loud applause broke across
the crowd, there to denounce the policies of the British premier's government.
Stop the War Coalition activist Vivek Lehal nodded his head. "We
should never have gone there. None of this would have happened if there
was no war against Iraq. "We must stop the politics that bring only
death and destruction in the world, be it in London, Baghdad or Kabul."
The coalition organised the rally with the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament (CND) and the Muslim Association of Britain. At the
forefront of the demonstration, Tamini railed against Blair's policies.
"Nothing in Islam permits killing innocent people.
"But in Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, in all the four corners of the
planet, innocent people die every day. "Muslims have to help fighting
ideologies that advocate the death of innocent people. But that will mean
nothing so long as Tony Blair keeps troops in Iraq." CND
president Kate Hudson told the crowd: "The violence must stop. We
want peace, not revenge. "Many thought that our communities would
be divided. The way the people of London are resisting, that is remarkable.
We have to stay united."
Lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, a member of the Labour Party said: "No policy
and no army can end the terrorist threat as long as innocent people die
in Fallujah, Kabul or elsewhere in the world. "It's the same death
everywhere, under bombs and in the middle of terror."
Laura Alvarez, a volunteer with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign among
the crowd, clapped her hands. "The policies of Great Britain have
to change," said the Mexican who has lived in London for five years.
……………………………………………..
2 Protesters call for British army pull-out from Iraq
July 11, 2005
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=272&fArticleId=2620193
London: Several hundred demonstrators have called for a British military
pull-out from Iraq in the wake of the terror bombings that hit the centre
of this city last week.
The choice of location by the protesters on Saturday was poignant: the
Garden of Peace near King's Cross station and Tavistock Square where two
of the four bombs that killed over 50 people exploded on Thursday. Flags
of all colours fluttered and hundreds of pacifists and Muslims observed
a minute of silence for those killed in the London attacks.
"Tony Blair has to move troops from Iraq," shouted Azzam Tamini,
director of the Institute of Islamic Political Thoughts. Loud applause
broke across the crowd, there to denounce the policies of the British
premier's government. Stop the War Coalition activist Vivek Lehal nodded
his head. "We should never have gone there. None of this would have
happened if there was no war against Iraq.
"We must stop the politics that bring only death and destruction
in the world, be it in London, Baghdad or Kabul." The coalition organised
the rally with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
and the Muslim Association of Britain.
At the forefront of the demonstration, Tamini railed against Blair's policies.
"Nothing in Islam permits killing innocent people. "But in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Iran, in all the four corners of the planet, innocent people
die every day. Muslims have to help fighting ideologies that advocate
the death of innocent people. But that will mean nothing so long as Tony
Blair keeps troops in Iraq."
CND president Kate Hudson told the crowd: "The
violence must stop. We want peace, not revenge.
"Many thought that our communities would be divided. The way the
people of London are resisting, that is remarkable. We have to stay united."
Lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, a member of the Labour Party said: "No policy
and no army can end the terrorist threat as long as innocent people die
in Fallujah, Kabul or elsewhere in the world.
"It's the same death everywhere, under bombs and in the middle of
terror."
Laura Alvarez, a volunteer with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign among
the crowd, clapped her hands.
"The policies of Great Britain have to change," said the Mexican
who has lived in London for five years.
……………………………………………..
3 UK parliament lobbied to end Israel's weapons of mass destruction
July 12, IRNA
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0507120886152055.htm
Peace groups are joining MPs Wednesday in a national lobby of parliament
to end the world's "hypocrisy governing attitudes to Israel's weapons
of mass destruction." The lobby comes after 166 backbench MPs signed
an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons last week calling for a "viable,
independent Palestinian state" to be established in all of the occupied
territories.
The campaign, jointly organized by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee, is demanding that the "UN
inspects facilities in Israel for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and
puts in place verification and monitoring." It is also urging the
British government, while it holds the EU presidency, to work for Israeli
compliance with, and ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) and other international arms conventions.
CND, Europe's biggest single issue peace group with over
32,000 members in the UK, pointed out that the UK government already officially
supports the setting up of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East but does
not support Israel's so-called Star Wars programme.
"The central message of the lobby is that Israel's weapons of mass
destruction have been tolerated for far too long," the chair of CND,
Kate Hudson, said.
The lobby is also calling for an embargo to be imposed on the sale of
all arms between Israel and the UK and EU and for the breaking off all
military contacts with the Zionist regime.
The Early Day Motion to Parliament, supported by over 100 Labour MPs,
expresses support for Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and parts
of the northern West Bank but only as a "first step." It "condemns
the continued expansion of the illegal Israeli settlements in the West
Bank and the continued building of the Israeli barrier where it falls
in occupied territory."
Other organizations supporting the lobby include Al-Awda, Bertrand Russell
Peace Foundation, Campaign Against Arms Trade, Campaign to Free Vanunu
and for a Nuclear Free Middle East, Friends of Sabeel, Labour Action for
Peace, Pax Christi, Stop the War Coalition, World Court Project.
……………………………………………..
4 Vigil sends 'message of commiseration'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4668373.stm
In the shadow of the London bombings, hundreds of anti-war protesters
and Muslims came together to send a "message of commiseration"
to the victims and their families. In the gardens of the Friends Meeting
House in Euston, yards from the scene of Thursday's bus explosion and
the tube blast at King's Cross, hundreds of people shared a two-minute
silence - all wearing black ribbons in tribute to the dead and injured.
Saturday's vigil was called by the Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign
for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain.
Present were the anti-war politicians MPs George Galloway and Jeremy Corbyn,
along with poets, campaigners and ordinary people who wished to show they
cared.
Mr Galloway said he was there as a "mark of respect" to those
killed and maimed "by those criminals". "These were ordinary
people, heading for work, who were cruelly killed - and no-one can justify
that," he said.
Muslim woman Yasmyn Atalluah, 31, said she wanted to "express her
sadness for all the innocent lives lost". "We are all part of
humanity and it is a tragedy and I think it is important to come together
and show solidarity."
Organiser Chris Nineham, of Stop the War Coalition, estimated around 1,500
people had come to the vigil. "The whole population has the feeling
'it could have been me' and that is a terrible situation to be in really,"
he said. He had arranged the event in just 24 hours, he continued. "It
is very important that the anti-war movement moves very quickly to make
its statement, because it really is a case that peace is the only answer
and as soon as troops come out of Iraq the better," he said.
But it was Dr Assami Tamimi, of the Muslim Association of Britain, who
drew the biggest response from the crowd. "This wasn't an attack
on a certain creed or race. This was on everybody in London." He
told the BBC News website a "three-pronged" approach was needed
to combat such attacks. "Firstly, we have to be vigilant as citizens
and co-operate with the security services. "Muslims also need to
kill the ideology behind this, that justifies the killing of innocents
- this is Machiavellian and is anti-Islamic. "And we need to pressure
the government to change its policy. If we hadn't had the war in Iraq
this would never have happened."
………………………………………………
5 Anti-war and Muslim groups condemn bombings
From Green Left Weekly, July 13, 2005.
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/633/633p15b.htm
Across Britain, anti-war and left-wings groups were quick to condemn the
July 7 bombings in London. The Stop the War Coalition, which has organised
some of the world’s biggest anti-war protests in London in recent
years, was quick to respond, posting a statement that “unequivocally
condemns today's terrorist attacks on the people of London”.
Arguing there was “no justification” for such attacks, StWC
went on to say, “We urge everyone to resist any attempts which may
be made to use these crimes to stir up anti-Muslim hysteria or attack
the Muslim population of this country. “We emphasise the importance
of solidarity, peace and justice as our guiding principles in addressing
the crisis scarring the world today, of which today's bombings are a dreadful
manifestation.”
Jointly with the Muslim Association and the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, the coalition organised a vigil for the victims.
Anti-war MP George Galloway issued a statement on behalf of his party,
Respect, that said “no-one can condone acts of violence directed
at working people going about their daily lives”. It went on to
urge an end to the occupation of Iraq.
The Muslim Association was also quick to condemn the acts, expressing
its “disgust with the contempt in which the perpetrators appear
to hold human life.” It went on: “Islam holds the sanctity
of human life in the highest possible regard and shedding the blood of
an innocent person is seen as a crime most heinous and repulsive.”
The Scottish Socialist Party, whose members were involved in organising
the huge protests against the G8 the day before the bombings, issued the
following statement: “ The SSP condemns outright the bombings which
were targeted at working class Londoners going about their daily lives.
Many of those dead and injured would have participated in anti-war protests
and would have taken part in the Make Poverty History protests over the
past week. “Meanwhile, the men responsible for the war on Iraq and
the massacre of 100,000 civilians were safely cocooned behind fortified
walls 500 miles away, protected by thousands of police and armed forces.
“Today's horrific events further expose the falsity of the claims
by Tony Blair and George Bush that the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq have
turned the world into a safer place. Exactly the opposite: the world is
now darker and more dangerous than ever before.
“Today's wave of destruction also underlines the futility of trying
to defeat terror by ever more repressive legislation. “As the escalating
violence in Iraq and Afghanistan illustrates, even the most ferocious
repression cannot quell violence and terror. “The most effective
action Tony Blair could now take to make the UK a safer place is to pull
all British troops out of Iraq.
“We note that neo-Nazi extremists are already trying to exploit
today's tragedy to whip up fear and hatred towards the Muslim population,
the vast majority of whom completely reject acts of violence carried out
against innocent civilians. “The SSP pledges to stand shoulder to
shoulder with the Muslim community against all forms of racism and Islamophobia.
“Today's horrific events are a further indictment of the world that
the G8 leaders have created. “Until the swamps of poverty, war and
injustice are drained, countless thousands more innocent people will die
needlessly in the months and years to come.”
The Socialist Workers Party cancelled the first day of its annual Marxism
conference as a consequence of the attacks, issuing a statement explaining
that the attacks were “in no way” an attack on imperialism.
The attacks were also condemned by Sinn Fein, and by the chair of the
European Left party.
………………………………………………
6 Vigils for London bombing victims
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4667631.stm
Vigils and rallies have been held following Thursday's bomb attacks across
central London. A rally - Keep Newham United - organised by several Muslim
groups at East Ham Town Hall in east London called for solidarity among
locals.
Meanwhile Muslims held a vigil outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
Another vigil, organised by the Muslim Association of Britain, Stop the
War Coalition, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,
was held in Euston.
………………………………………………
7 UK parliament lobbied to end Israel's weapons of mass destruction
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0507120886152055.htm
Peace groups are joining MPs Wednesday in a national lobby of parliament
to end the world's "hypocrisy governing attitudes to Israel's weapons
of mass destruction." The lobby comes after 166 backbench MPs signed
an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons last week calling for a "viable,
independent Palestinian state" to be established in all of the occupied
territories.
The campaign, jointly organized by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee, is demanding that the "UN
inspects facilities in Israel for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and
puts in place verification and monitoring." It is also urging the
British government, while it holds the EU presidency, to work for Israeli
compliance with, and ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT) and other international arms conventions.
CND, Europe's biggest single issue peace group with over 32,000 members
in the UK, pointed out that the UK government already officially supports
the setting up of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East but does not support
Israel's so-called Star Wars programme.
"The central message of the lobby is that Israel's weapons of mass
destruction have been tolerated for far too long," the chair of
CND, Kate Hudson, said.
The lobby is also calling for an embargo to be imposed on the sale of
all arms between Israel and the UK and EU and for the breaking off all
military contacts with the Zionist regime.
The Early Day Motion to Parliament, supported by over 100 Labour MPs,
expresses support for Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza and parts
of the northern West Bank but only as a "first step." It "condemns
the continued expansion of the illegal Israeli settlements in the West
Bank and the continued building of the Israeli barrier where it falls
in occupied territory."
Other organizations supporting the lobby include Al-Awda, Bertrand Russell
Peace Foundation, Campaign Against Arms Trade, Campaign to Free Vanunu
and for a Nuclear Free Middle East, Friends of Sabeel, Labour Action for
Peace, Pax Christi, Stop the War Coalition, World Court Project.
……………………………………………..
8 Vigils for London bombing victims
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4667631.stm
Vigils and rallies have been held following Thursday's bomb attacks across
central London.
A rally - Keep Newham United - organised by several Muslim groups at East
Ham Town Hall in east London called for solidarity among locals.
Meanwhile Muslims held a vigil outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
Another vigil, organised by the Muslim Association of Britain, Stop the
War Coalition, and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament,
was held in Euston.
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