STOP THE WAR COALITION
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet British prime minister
Gordon Brown tomorrow in Downing Street.
PROTEST 1.30-3pm TOMORROW, Tuesday 25 August opposite Downing Street (nearest
tube Westminster)
Please come to send a clear message to Gordon Brown:
# Israeli settlements block peace – they must be dismantled, not just frozen
# End Israel’s siege on Gaza
# End Israel’s ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem
If you are unable to come to the protest, write to Gordon Brown to insist that
real peace means delivering justice for the Palestinians. The British
government must act to ensure Israel ends its numerous violations of
international law.
# Fax a letter to 10 Downing Street : 020 7925 0918.
# Email David Miliband at the Foreign Office reaquesting his office convey your
message to the Prime Minister: msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk
Monday 24 August 2009
Protest Israeli PM Netanyahu meeting Gordon Brown
Monday 17 August 2009
Naming of the Dead ceremonies, Sat 22 Aug in Hackney and Mon 17 Aug at the Cenotaph
Hackney Stop the War will be holding a Naming of the Dead ceremony next Saturday 22 August at 1.30pm outside the Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, E8 (opposite Dalston Kingsland Station).
Please join us to commemorate the soldiers who have died - and the tens of thousands of Afghan civilians who have also died so needlessly.
***************************************************************************************
NAMING OF THE DEAD AT THE CENOTAPH
MONDAY 17 AUGUST 12 NOON
To commemorate all the soldiers who have died, Stop the War will hold a Naming of the Dead ceremony at The Cenotaph in Whitehall at 12 noon on Monday 17 August, when we will read out all 200 names, together with the names of Afghan civilians to represent the tens of thousands who have also died so needlessly.
Stop the War is asking those who can attend to bring flowers if possible.
***************************************************************************************
Sunday 16 August 2009
Naming the Dead in commemoration of 200 soldiers killed The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London. Monday 17 August, 12 noon
The passing of the milestone of the 200th soldier to be killed in Afghanistan is no less tragic for being all too predictable. The Stop the War Coalition has mourned the death of every soldier sent into a war which we -- along with the majority of people in Britain -- regard as both unjustified and unwinnable.
Gordon Brown's insistence that sending British troops to die in Afghanistan is "the only way to make Britain safe" sounds ever more threadbare each time he and his ministers repeat it after the announcement of yet another senseless loss of life.
We are in complete agreement with MP Jeremy Corbyn, who, on hearing of the latest futile death of a British soldier, said: "What a tragedy, what a waste. And for what purpose? It's time to bring the troops home."
To commemorate all the soldiers who have died, Stop the War will hold a Naming of the Dead ceremony at The Cenotaph in Whitehall at 12 noon on Monday 17 August, when we will read out all 200 names, together with the names of Afghan civilians representing the tens of thousands who have died so needlessly.
Over the coming week, Stop the War's local groups will be holding Naming the Dead ceremonies in towns and cities across the country.
Details of local Naming the Dead ceremonies...Saturday 15 August 2009
JERUSALEM DISPOSSESSED
The "JERUSALEM DISPOSSESSED" exhibition of photos is going ahead at the Foundry on Gt. Eastern St/ Old Street second week of October, including a launch with a talk by the chair of ICAHD (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions).
Put it in your diary and come to the launch event!
The exhibition will also be a part of Photomonth, which will hopefully attract a different group of people.
DETAILS:
JERUSALEM DISPOSSESSED
An exhibition by the Palestinian Israeli
collective ActiveStills documenting the
dispossession of indigenous Palestinians
from their native city, Jerusalem, amid
rapid expansion of Israeli settlements,
Separation Wall and home demolitions.
TUE 6th TO SUN 11th OCTOBER
The exhibition is produced by ActiveStills and the
ICAHD and organised by Hackney PSC
(Palestine Solidarity Campaign).
Talk on Wed October 7th, 8pm
With 20,000 Palestinian homes currently
under demolition orders in East Jerusalem,
the director of the Israeli Committee Against
House Demolitions (ICAHD) talks about the
on-going Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing.
T H E F O U N D R Y
84-86 Great Eastern St, London E2
www.foundry.tv
www.palestinecampaign.org
http://hackneypsc.wordpress.com
Put it in your diary and come to the launch event!
The exhibition will also be a part of Photomonth, which will hopefully attract a different group of people.
DETAILS:
JERUSALEM DISPOSSESSED
An exhibition by the Palestinian Israeli
collective ActiveStills documenting the
dispossession of indigenous Palestinians
from their native city, Jerusalem, amid
rapid expansion of Israeli settlements,
Separation Wall and home demolitions.
TUE 6th TO SUN 11th OCTOBER
The exhibition is produced by ActiveStills and the
ICAHD and organised by Hackney PSC
(Palestine Solidarity Campaign).
Talk on Wed October 7th, 8pm
With 20,000 Palestinian homes currently
under demolition orders in East Jerusalem,
the director of the Israeli Committee Against
House Demolitions (ICAHD) talks about the
on-going Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing.
T H E F O U N D R Y
84-86 Great Eastern St, London E2
www.foundry.tv
www.palestinecampaign.org
http://hackneypsc.wordpress.com
200 dead and no support on the home front?
STOP THE WAR COALITION
NEWSLETTER
No. 1111 14 August 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk ;
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) 200 DEAD AND NO SUPPORT ON THE HOME FRONT?
2) WE'RE LOSING SAYS US ARMY COMMANDER
3) RESOLUTION: OCT 24 NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
4) NATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE: 19 SEPTEMBER
5) ORGANISING AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
6) VIDEO: THE QUESTIONS THE IRAQ INQUIRY MUST ASK
7) LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON: UPDATE
8) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: 19 AUGUST
9) LINDSEY GERMAN'S BLOG
10) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
*******************************
1) 200 DEAD AND NO SUPPORT ON THE HOME FRONT?
As we approach the milestone of the 200th soldier to be killed
in Afghanistan, defence minister Bob Ainsworth seems to be
ever present in the media grieving over yet another death but
insisting that the "sacrifice" was for the worthy cause of
"defending us from terrorists and extremists".
The idea never passes Ainsworth's lips that the terrorism on
British streets -- such as the 7/7 bombings in 2005 -- have
all been home grown and directly linked to the extremism of
British and American warmongering, which has slaughtered
hundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Instead we now get Ainsworth berating the British public "on
the home front" for not giving enough support to the troops in
Afghanistan. In fact, the majority of people in this country
do support the troops, but think the only way to do this is by
bringing them all home from a senseless and unwinnable war.
This will be the main message carried by local Stop the War
groups around the country when they hold NAMING THE DEAD
ceremonies on the first Saturday following the 200th British
soldier to be killed. The names of Afghan civilians -- tens of
thousands of whom have died -- will also be read out.
If you would like to join in a NAMING THE DEAD ceremony in
your area, a list of Stop the War groups planning events is
available here: http://bit.ly/3cPI3i
If no event is listed for your area, and you want to be
involved, please contact the national Stop the War office:
email office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7801 2768.
*******************************
2) WE'RE LOSING SAYS US ARMY COMMANDER
General Stanley McChrystal, the recently appointed commander
of the US army in Afghanistan, has given an extraordinary
interview to the Wall Street Journal, in which he says America
is losing the war and the military has got one year to get
results before public support evaporates. Read the interview
here: http://bit.ly/1mQ50M
*******************************
3) RESOLUTION: OCT 24 NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
Stop the War has produced the following model resolution on
the Afghanistan war, for use by trade unions and other
organisations or groups:
This {branch/group} notes that nearly 200 British soldiers
have now died in Afghanistan alongside a far greater number of
Afghan civilians and that the military situation there
continues to deteriorate. It further notes that the Afghan
government has lost all domestic and international credibility
due to its corruption, involvement in the drug trade,
warlordism and repressive legislation, which is aimed against
women in particular.
We also note that the military conflict is spilling over into
Pakistan with potentially catastrophic consequences.
We believe that there needs urgently to be a political
solution to the crisis in Afghanistan, which can only be
achieved by the Afghan people themselves without external
interference. One of the essential pre-requisites for such a
solution is the ending of the war and the withdrawal of all
foreign troops.
We therefore support the demonstration on troop withdrawal
called for October 24 in London and pledge to mobilise for a
large turnout.
The Resolution can be downloaded as a Word file here:
http://bit.ly/g1VQa
*******************************
4) NATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE: 19 SEPTEMBER
This has been a momentous year in student anti-war activity,
not least following Israel's barbaric attack on Gaza in
January. Occupations of universities and colleges swept the
country, many of which were successful in winning scholarships
for Palestinian students, the commitment of aid and support to
Gaza and twinning with Palestinian universities.
The Stop the War National Student Conference will take place
on Saturday 19 September and will bring together students and
young people from across the country for discussions and
debates on strategy and tactics, the rise of Islamophobia,
Barack Obama, the "war on terror" and much more.
Keynote speakers include the Israeli historian Ilan Pappe,
Shamiul Joarder from Friends of Al Aqsa and the musician/MC
Lowkey.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DETAILS OF HOW TO REGISTER, GO TO:
http://bit.ly/3fxLpu
*******************************
5) ORGANISING AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
The level of Islamophobia is at alarmingly high levels in
Britain. Recent media articles have included tabloid
journalists reporting on wearing the burka -- like a prison
was their verdict -- and a scare story in the Telegraph
claiming that within 40 years Europe will be dominated by
Muslims.
The anti-Muslim demonstration in Birmingham last weekend --
with its slogan "Muslim bombers off our streets" -- was
thankfully met with a much larger counter demonstration. But
the organisers, calling themselves the English Defence League,
threaten to repeat their racist parades elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the fascist British National Party continues to
make Muslims and Islam the main focus of its poisonous
campaigns seeking the racist vote.
It is against this background that an organisation against
Islamophobia, titled Kafa (Arabic for Enough) was set up
recently, with support from Stop the War Coalition. A series
of public meetings in major cities and towns is planned for
the autumn months.
If you would like more information about Kafa/Enough or would
like to help organise a public meeting in your area, please
contact Shamiul via the Stop the War office: Email
office@stopwar.org.uk Tel 020 7801 2768
*******************************
6) VIDEO: THE QUESTIONS THE IRAQ INQUIRY MUST ASK
This 20 minute film, written and presented by Stop the War
officer John Rees, gives the background to the Iraq Inquiry,
exposes the decidedly worrying opinions of its panel and
defines the questions which will need to be answered if
widespread cynicism as to the inquiry's real purpose is to be
refuted. It can be watched here: http://bit.ly/4kJQuH
TOEING THE LYNE
Arising from the research John did for the film is this
article revealing the extent to which Sir Roderic Lyne is an
"independent" member of the Iraq Inquiry panel:
http://bit.ly/9kqlx
*******************************
7) LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON: UPDATE
The next hearing in the court martial proceedings against
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton -- for refusing to return to
Afghanistan -- will be in September. He now faces an
additional charge for opposing and speaking out publicly
against the war.
Many messages of support for Joe have been sent from around
the world, this one, from Clare Tremper in Seattle USA, being
typical:
"I detest the US wars/occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq. I
thank you for standing up for what is just at the cost of a
threat to your personal freedom. You are what is noble and
right in humanity."
EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT TO: joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk.
DOWNLOAD THE DEFEND CORPORAL JOE GLENTON PETITION:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb
ANOTHER SOLDIER SPEAKS OUT
Since Joe Glenton made his stand, another soldier has spoken
out against the war. He is a captain serving on the front line
in Afghanistan, who gives a brutally honest account of a
conflict that seems unending and unwinnable, which you can
read here: http://bit.ly/Jhn9g
*******************************
8) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: 19 AUGUST
Appearing at the Beats Not Bullets fundraising gig for Stop
the War in London on 19 August are Ras Kwame, DJ Kayper,
Deadly Hunta, Purple Simba and Lowkey: 8pm Vibe Bar, 91 Brick
Lane, London E1 6QL. Full details are on the Start the Music
website: http://bit.ly/iL0HG
*******************************
9) LINDSEY GERMAN'S BLOG
Lindsey German, national convenor of Stop the War writes a
regular blog for which recent subjects include the lack of
home support for the war in Afghanistan and the continuing
rise of Islamophobia. You can read the current blog here:
http://bit.ly/C9Obf, or by selecting it from the News &
Analysis menu on the Stop the War website.
*******************************
10) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
Go here to sign up to follow Stop the War:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
NEWSLETTER
No. 1111 14 August 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk ;
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) 200 DEAD AND NO SUPPORT ON THE HOME FRONT?
2) WE'RE LOSING SAYS US ARMY COMMANDER
3) RESOLUTION: OCT 24 NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
4) NATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE: 19 SEPTEMBER
5) ORGANISING AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
6) VIDEO: THE QUESTIONS THE IRAQ INQUIRY MUST ASK
7) LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON: UPDATE
8) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: 19 AUGUST
9) LINDSEY GERMAN'S BLOG
10) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
******************************
1) 200 DEAD AND NO SUPPORT ON THE HOME FRONT?
As we approach the milestone of the 200th soldier to be killed
in Afghanistan, defence minister Bob Ainsworth seems to be
ever present in the media grieving over yet another death but
insisting that the "sacrifice" was for the worthy cause of
"defending us from terrorists and extremists".
The idea never passes Ainsworth's lips that the terrorism on
British streets -- such as the 7/7 bombings in 2005 -- have
all been home grown and directly linked to the extremism of
British and American warmongering, which has slaughtered
hundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Instead we now get Ainsworth berating the British public "on
the home front" for not giving enough support to the troops in
Afghanistan. In fact, the majority of people in this country
do support the troops, but think the only way to do this is by
bringing them all home from a senseless and unwinnable war.
This will be the main message carried by local Stop the War
groups around the country when they hold NAMING THE DEAD
ceremonies on the first Saturday following the 200th British
soldier to be killed. The names of Afghan civilians -- tens of
thousands of whom have died -- will also be read out.
If you would like to join in a NAMING THE DEAD ceremony in
your area, a list of Stop the War groups planning events is
available here: http://bit.ly/3cPI3i
If no event is listed for your area, and you want to be
involved, please contact the national Stop the War office:
email office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7801 2768.
******************************
2) WE'RE LOSING SAYS US ARMY COMMANDER
General Stanley McChrystal, the recently appointed commander
of the US army in Afghanistan, has given an extraordinary
interview to the Wall Street Journal, in which he says America
is losing the war and the military has got one year to get
results before public support evaporates. Read the interview
here: http://bit.ly/1mQ50M
******************************
3) RESOLUTION: OCT 24 NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
Stop the War has produced the following model resolution on
the Afghanistan war, for use by trade unions and other
organisations or groups:
This {branch/group} notes that nearly 200 British soldiers
have now died in Afghanistan alongside a far greater number of
Afghan civilians and that the military situation there
continues to deteriorate. It further notes that the Afghan
government has lost all domestic and international credibility
due to its corruption, involvement in the drug trade,
warlordism and repressive legislation, which is aimed against
women in particular.
We also note that the military conflict is spilling over into
Pakistan with potentially catastrophic consequences.
We believe that there needs urgently to be a political
solution to the crisis in Afghanistan, which can only be
achieved by the Afghan people themselves without external
interference. One of the essential pre-requisites for such a
solution is the ending of the war and the withdrawal of all
foreign troops.
We therefore support the demonstration on troop withdrawal
called for October 24 in London and pledge to mobilise for a
large turnout.
The Resolution can be downloaded as a Word file here:
http://bit.ly/g1VQa
******************************
4) NATIONAL STUDENTS CONFERENCE: 19 SEPTEMBER
This has been a momentous year in student anti-war activity,
not least following Israel's barbaric attack on Gaza in
January. Occupations of universities and colleges swept the
country, many of which were successful in winning scholarships
for Palestinian students, the commitment of aid and support to
Gaza and twinning with Palestinian universities.
The Stop the War National Student Conference will take place
on Saturday 19 September and will bring together students and
young people from across the country for discussions and
debates on strategy and tactics, the rise of Islamophobia,
Barack Obama, the "war on terror" and much more.
Keynote speakers include the Israeli historian Ilan Pappe,
Shamiul Joarder from Friends of Al Aqsa and the musician/MC
Lowkey.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DETAILS OF HOW TO REGISTER, GO TO:
http://bit.ly/3fxLpu
******************************
5) ORGANISING AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
The level of Islamophobia is at alarmingly high levels in
Britain. Recent media articles have included tabloid
journalists reporting on wearing the burka -- like a prison
was their verdict -- and a scare story in the Telegraph
claiming that within 40 years Europe will be dominated by
Muslims.
The anti-Muslim demonstration in Birmingham last weekend --
with its slogan "Muslim bombers off our streets" -- was
thankfully met with a much larger counter demonstration. But
the organisers, calling themselves the English Defence League,
threaten to repeat their racist parades elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the fascist British National Party continues to
make Muslims and Islam the main focus of its poisonous
campaigns seeking the racist vote.
It is against this background that an organisation against
Islamophobia, titled Kafa (Arabic for Enough) was set up
recently, with support from Stop the War Coalition. A series
of public meetings in major cities and towns is planned for
the autumn months.
If you would like more information about Kafa/Enough or would
like to help organise a public meeting in your area, please
contact Shamiul via the Stop the War office: Email
office@stopwar.org.uk Tel 020 7801 2768
******************************
6) VIDEO: THE QUESTIONS THE IRAQ INQUIRY MUST ASK
This 20 minute film, written and presented by Stop the War
officer John Rees, gives the background to the Iraq Inquiry,
exposes the decidedly worrying opinions of its panel and
defines the questions which will need to be answered if
widespread cynicism as to the inquiry's real purpose is to be
refuted. It can be watched here: http://bit.ly/4kJQuH
TOEING THE LYNE
Arising from the research John did for the film is this
article revealing the extent to which Sir Roderic Lyne is an
"independent" member of the Iraq Inquiry panel:
http://bit.ly/9kqlx
******************************
7) LANCE CORPORAL JOE GLENTON: UPDATE
The next hearing in the court martial proceedings against
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton -- for refusing to return to
Afghanistan -- will be in September. He now faces an
additional charge for opposing and speaking out publicly
against the war.
Many messages of support for Joe have been sent from around
the world, this one, from Clare Tremper in Seattle USA, being
typical:
"I detest the US wars/occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq. I
thank you for standing up for what is just at the cost of a
threat to your personal freedom. You are what is noble and
right in humanity."
EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT TO: joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk.
DOWNLOAD THE DEFEND CORPORAL JOE GLENTON PETITION:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb
ANOTHER SOLDIER SPEAKS OUT
Since Joe Glenton made his stand, another soldier has spoken
out against the war. He is a captain serving on the front line
in Afghanistan, who gives a brutally honest account of a
conflict that seems unending and unwinnable, which you can
read here: http://bit.ly/Jhn9g
******************************
8) BEATS BEAT BULLETS: 19 AUGUST
Appearing at the Beats Not Bullets fundraising gig for Stop
the War in London on 19 August are Ras Kwame, DJ Kayper,
Deadly Hunta, Purple Simba and Lowkey: 8pm Vibe Bar, 91 Brick
Lane, London E1 6QL. Full details are on the Start the Music
website: http://bit.ly/iL0HG
******************************
9) LINDSEY GERMAN'S BLOG
Lindsey German, national convenor of Stop the War writes a
regular blog for which recent subjects include the lack of
home support for the war in Afghanistan and the continuing
rise of Islamophobia. You can read the current blog here:
http://bit.ly/C9Obf, or by selecting it from the News &
Analysis menu on the Stop the War website.
******************************
10) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
Go here to sign up to follow Stop the War:
http://twitter.com/STWuk
Thursday 6 August 2009
Solidarity with Ibrahim Avcil: defend the right to protest
Yesterday's protest outside Stoke Newington Police Station saw around 30 people gather to support Ibrahim Avcil, chair of Refugee Workers' Cultural Association (GIK-DER) and Stop the War activist.
Ibrahim has been charged with common assault and with threatening words and behaviour and will appear before Bow Magistrates Court on Thursday 13 August. These charges are connected to the protests that Hackney Stop the War has been holding to get the Army Showroom in Kingsland Shopping Centre closed down. They are designed to try and gag protest, as is shown by Ibrahim's outrageous bail conditions: he is not allowed within 30 metres of the Shopping Centre entrance.
Hackney Stop the War is asking its supporters to show their solidarity with Ibrahim by assembling at 9am on Thursday 13 August, at Bow Magistrates Court, 58 Bow Road, E3 4DJ. This is very near Bow Road tube station and on the 425 bus route.
Gareth Jenkins
Sec. Hackney Stop The War
Stop the War Coalition Newsletter
No. 1109 05 August 2009
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) SOLDIER FACING COURT MARTIAL JOINS STOP THE WAR
2) JULY THE MONTH OF WORSTS: CAMPAIGN NOW FOR 24 OCTOBER
3) DON’T DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR – OR ELSE
4) STOP THE WAR’S LETTER TO THE IRAQ INQUIRY
5) ANTI-WAR SONGS OF THE WEEK
6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
*******************************
1) SOLDIER FACING COURT MARTIAL JOINS STOP THE WAR
Court martial proceedings have began against Lance Corporal
Joe Glenton, the first British soldier to speak out publicly
against the war in Afghanistan. Joe has joined the Stop the
War Coalition and intends to deny desertion, calling an expert
on international law to argue against the legality of the war
in Afghanistan.
Joe delivered a letter to Gordon Brown last week at Downing
Street giving his reasons for refusing to fight an unjust war
(read letter here: http://bit.ly/eO3V0).
His case has received widespread media coverage, including the
BBC TV News discussion between Lindsey German, national
convenor of Stop the War, and Major-General Sir Patrick
Cordingly, who led the British army in the first Gulf War
against Iraq (see the video of the discussion here:
http://bit.ly/GZU3s)
EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT TO: joeisinnocent@hotmail.co.uk.
DOWNLOAD THE DEFEND CORPORAL JOE GLENTON PETITION:
http://bit.ly/10gDKb
*******************************
2) JULY THE MONTH OF WORSTS: CAMPAIGN NOW FOR 24 OCTOBER
July was the worst month since the invasion in 2001 for Afghan
civilian deaths and for British and US soldiers killed. It was
also the worst month for serious injuries to British troops.
(See here for more details: http://bit.ly/ztpvo)
There have now been 192 lives of British soldiers lost in the
senseless war in Afghanistan. The 200 threshold will sadly be
passed in the near future. Stop the War’s local groups across
the country will be organising Naming the Dead ceremonies on
the following Saturday (contact the Stop the War office if you
would like to participate: office@stopwar.org.uk; 020 7801
2768)
With Gordon Brown still having the nerve to call July’s
military operations a "success", the importance of the
campaign to build the biggest possible Troops Home Now
demonstration on 24 October – called by Stop the War, CND and
BMI -- was never clearer. (Download initial leaflet here:
http://bit.ly/1UxUut)
Over the past few weeks, Stop the War’s local groups have
experienced unprecedented feeling against the war in
Afghanistan, with people queuing at street stalls to sign
petitions calling for the troops to come home.
Another sign of growing anger over this war has been the sharp
increase in people contacting the Stop the War national office
offering to help in our campaign. If you would like to get
involved too: office@stopwar.org.uk; 020 7801 2768.
*******************************
3) DON’T DEMONSTRATE AGAINST WAR – OR ELSE
Lindsey German’s latest blog discusses the proposal suggested
under new procedures for becoming a British citizen, whereby
applicants may be penalised for demonstrating against British
troops, which apparently could be seen as "an active disregard
of UK values".
As Lindsey writes, "Since public opinion, according to all
polls, wants a rapid withdrawal of all troops from
Afghanistan, then anti-war demos more represent 'UK values'
than the vociferous pro war lobby of military and
politicians."
You can read Lindsey’s blog here: http://bit.ly/C9Obf
Lindsey also had the pleasure of a confrontation on BBC Radio
this week with Colonel Tim Collins, the army officer who
gained some notoriety from his speech to his regiment on the
eve of the Iraq war, when he clearly saw himself as a
reincarnation of Shakespeare's Henry V.
Collins accused Lindsey of "sailing close to the wind" in her
support of Lance Corporal Joe Glenton’s right to refuse to
return to Afghanistan. This, said Collins, was tantamount to
inciting mutiny in the army!
*******************************
4) STOP THE WAR’S LETTER TO THE IRAQ INQUIRY
The Stop the War Coalition has written to Sir John Chilcot,
chair of the panel for the Iraq inquiry requesting that we be
given the opportunity to present evidence to the inquiry into
the Iraq war and to propose expert witnesses. We await his
reply.
You can read Stop the War’s letter here: http://bit.ly/cxOHZ
*******************************
5) ANTI-WAR SONGS OF THE WEEK
Many thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions for our
anti-war song of the week, which is a feature of our website.
We have made one of the suggestions, Hero of War by Rise
Against, this week’s selection (our thanks to Richard), which
you can listen to here: http://bit.ly/10HLlX
You can see the full list of songs so far here:
http://bit.ly/nsHxo
*******************************
6) FOLLOW STOP THE WAR ON TWITTER
Follow us here: http://twitter.com/STWuk
Sunday 2 August 2009
Solidarity needed with Ibrahim Avcil, arrested and assaulted by the police for protesting against the Dalston army showroom
Solidarity needed with the army showroom protestors arrested and charged by the police. Further to last week's peaceful protestor's arrest, please read below the circumstances of Ibrahim's arrest in June:
Please find below a text that I have written explaining the circumstance of my arrest by the Police. We will be having a vigil on the day I return for my bail which is Wednesday the 05th of August at 10.30am. The vigil will be hold in front of the Stoke Newington Police station. It has happened to me today, it could be anyone else tomorrow, so I beleive we shall not stay silent, and get organised against the attacks on our right to protest and organise.
I am writing this e-mail to make you aware of my arrest and what happened.
On Monday the 8th of June 2009 at around 15.35, I was walking through the shopping centre coming from the Natwest Bank, together with my brother in Law. As I passed Sainsbury, I was approached by a member of the security personal, who pushed me from the chest and told me “You cant enter this building” when I asked why he said that I was banned from the building, I made my way again towards the exit, the security personal hold on to my arm, I refused he hold me from the back and tried to put me on to the floor, whilst calling the police, by the time the police came I saved my self from the security personal and asked him to “please call his manager”. The police came without a single question put a handcuff on my arm (A cross handcuff) and 2 other officers came as well, and they drag me inside the shopping centre to the police booth in the Ridley Road Market. While dragging me officer PC 284 (Lewington) and officer PC 485 who refused to give me his details I had to write it down myself used words such as “Bend down you wanker”, You Fucking Bustard” and as we entered the police booth the officer PC485 intentionally hit my head on the edge of the glass door. When we went in side officer PC485 made racist comments about my looks, and clearly said “Fuck of back to your country”, I said I am a British citizen and he said “He does not give a Fuck”.
RWCA- Refugee Workers' Cultural Association
GIK-DER- Gocmen Isciler Kultur Dernegi
Please find below a text that I have written explaining the circumstance of my arrest by the Police. We will be having a vigil on the day I return for my bail which is Wednesday the 05th of August at 10.30am. The vigil will be hold in front of the Stoke Newington Police station. It has happened to me today, it could be anyone else tomorrow, so I beleive we shall not stay silent, and get organised against the attacks on our right to protest and organise.
I am writing this e-mail to make you aware of my arrest and what happened.
On Monday the 8th of June 2009 at around 15.35, I was walking through the shopping centre coming from the Natwest Bank, together with my brother in Law. As I passed Sainsbury, I was approached by a member of the security personal, who pushed me from the chest and told me “You cant enter this building” when I asked why he said that I was banned from the building, I made my way again towards the exit, the security personal hold on to my arm, I refused he hold me from the back and tried to put me on to the floor, whilst calling the police, by the time the police came I saved my self from the security personal and asked him to “please call his manager”. The police came without a single question put a handcuff on my arm (A cross handcuff) and 2 other officers came as well, and they drag me inside the shopping centre to the police booth in the Ridley Road Market. While dragging me officer PC 284 (Lewington) and officer PC 485 who refused to give me his details I had to write it down myself used words such as “Bend down you wanker”, You Fucking Bustard” and as we entered the police booth the officer PC485 intentionally hit my head on the edge of the glass door. When we went in side officer PC485 made racist comments about my looks, and clearly said “Fuck of back to your country”, I said I am a British citizen and he said “He does not give a Fuck”.
Before letting me go they said they want to take me to Stoke Newington Police station but because apparently there was no space there they released on Bail and on the bail paper they wrote down the offence as “Burglary”. The officer asked me to sign the bail paper with cuffs on my hand I refused he took them of. Although I told them 10 x that my hands were about to brake they were laughing. They released me on Bail told me I am not allowed into the shopping centre, they gave me nothing in writing to confirm this. As I left the office on bail Ali Aksoy chair of HRF was there to pick me up, while officer PC 485 was going past us all he clearly said “Come to Stoke Newington police Station we will show you”.
I went to the hospital straight after the release report has been given to me after x rays and state, That” He has minor head injuries, he has been examined and is being treated for biletaral soft tissue injuriesof the wrists and a possible fracture of the bone, he has been given a wrist sprint and we will review the x rays on 12 June2009”.
I am an active person within the community and the chair of a well respected organisation within the community. These acts of the police are unacceptable, I am not able to work now until the doctors agree that I am safe to work.
I demand an investigation in to this matter as soon as possible, and I will do all I can to make it as public as I can.
Ibrahim Avcil
RWCA- Refugee Workers' Cultural Association
GIK-DER- Gocmen Isciler Kultur Dernegi
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