Rallying against conflict abroad

Several thousand protesters could converge on Wollongong’s CBD next month for a scheduled anti-war rally – if the size of previous gatherings organised by the same committee are anything to go by.

The rally is planned for Saturday, March 15 and is designed to pressure the Federal Government into removing all Australian troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Wollongong NoWar Committee has organised the rally to protest what they see as the damaging continuation of two unjust invasions.

The rally will almost coincide with the five-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by American, British and Australian forces on March 18, 2003.

The NoWar Committee believes Prime Minister Rudd’s promise to remove combat troops from Iraq this year does not go far enough.

The committee want all Australian troops brought home as soon as possible.

Local activist Chris Williams is on the NoWar Committee.

According to Mr Williams the majority of people in the Illawarra are against having troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Williams said his opinion is that foreign troops are causing violence in these countries and should be removed and substituted with aid programs.

“I think the source of violence in Iraq and Afghanistan is the foreign troops there who really have never been there for any democratic humanitarian assistance,” he said.

Federal Member for Cunningham Sharon Bird defended Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan, saying the action in that country had been sanctioned by the United Nations.

Speaking on the situation in Iraq, Ms Bird said there were only about 100 Australian soldiers staying in the country after July – with their key responsibility being the protection of the Australian Embassy.

Ms Bird said the soldiers would also be involved in defensive or re-building roles, while the remaining 400 combat troops would be brought home.

“We’ve said we do not believe we should have a continued combat role in Iraq and it was an election promise that we will withdraw from that role – and we will,” Ms Bird said.

A rally against Australia’s part in the invasion of Iraq held by the NoWar committee in 2003 managed to attract a crowd of several thousand people in support of their cause.