BY PIP HINMAN
Despite the federal government's attempts to restrict the protests against US President George Bush, organisers of the Canberra rally on October 23 are confident it will be huge. Buses from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and towns across NSW, including Cooma, Narooma and Bathurst, will be converging on the capital to take part in what organisers promise will be a colourful and lively event.
Bush's declaration that PM John Howard is not his deputy, but is "a sheriff" in his own right, has fuelled interest in the protests, say organisers.
"While this not true — Howard is very much Bush's deputy — it reveals the true nature of the Washington-Canberra view of Asia and the rest of the Third World", Nick Everett, a convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in Sydney, told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly. "Howard and Bush think that they have a god-given role to police the world. We, and millions of others around the world, disagree."
According to an October 16 Sydney Morning Herald report, the Speaker of the House of Representatives said that amplification outside Parliament House would be banned. The government's decision to prevent people getting into parliament — supposedly the "people's house" — or even getting close, has backfired.
"This is democracy, Howard-style", said James Vassilopoulos, convenor of the Canberra organising group ACT Network Opposing War (ACT NOW). "Even Bush says he is not afraid of protests, that it's normal in a democracy. It seems this basic democratic right is lost on Howard."
Vassilopoulos told GLW that protest organisers are keen to make the mobilisation broad and peaceful. "But attempts to stop us having a decent amplification system will make that difficult", he added.
ACT NOW, at its October 14 meeting, decided unanimously that the protest will be peaceful and that decisions about peaceful mass civil disobedience will be made democratically on the day by rally-goers. This is because there will be massive numbers of security personnel deployed.
"When US President Bill Clinton visited Australia in 1996, helicopters were used and snipers were on hand", said Vassilopoulos. "Police say that they are prepared for 'all eventualities. But the huge level of security is unnecessary. It is designed to intimidate people and prevent them from joining the protests." Vassilopoulos said that the protesters may move on from Parliament House to the prime minister's lodge, where Bush is expected to have lunch with a few select ministers and business tycoons.
ACT NOW is encouraging all anti-war federal MPs to join the protest, which will begin at 9.30am. Labor's Carmen Lawrence and Harry Quick, and the Greens' Bob Brown, have said they will address the gathering.
Quick, who had urged MPs to turn their backs on Bush as addressed the joint sitting of parliament, is also campaigning for MPs to wear white armbands in protest at the US-led war against Iraq.
Sydney's Stop the War Coalition has suggested that protesters turn their backs to Parliament House when Bush begins his address.
Some Labor "left" MPs, including Martin Ferguson, have described the idea that politicians turn their backs on Bush as a "silly, school-boy stunt". Others have said that this is "not an Australian way to protest".
But Sam Watson, a Murri leader from Queensland and a member of Socialist Alliance, disagrees. He said that the decision by Aboriginal leaders to turn their backs on Howard at a reconciliation convention on May 27, 1997 was a most effective form of protest.
"He was embarrassed and humiliated, that's not a bad thing given that his policies have done far worse things to our people. Aboriginal leaders were not duped, and their poignant and silent protest came across loud and clear. Whoever says this form of protest is 'not Australian' is just wrong."
Watson also said that Bush should seek permission from the traditional owners of the Ngunnawal land before he goes to Canberra. "My tribal nation north of Queensland — Biri Gubba — regards Bush as a warmonger and the most dangerous terrorist on the face of the planet", Watson said, adding that permission wouldn't be given if it were asked.
In Sydney, the rally organised by the Stop the War Coalition for October 22 is gathering support and has an impressive line-up of speakers. They include: Father Brian Gore; Greens Senator Bob Brown; Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja; Kylie Moon from the Books Not Bombs anti-war youth group; Rihab Charida from Sawiyan — Coalition for Palestine; Ariel Guides from the Freedom from Debt coalition and Solidarity of Philippines Workers; David Barsamian from the US Alternative Radio network,; a speaker from the NSW Fire Brigades Union; and a Muslim community representative.
Everett told GLW that the Sydney police had been cooperative, and that all measures were in place for a peaceful rally and march. "We are keen to avoid any repeat of the police-instigated violence that took place at anti-war rallies earlier this year", he said.
Nikki Ulasowski from the WA NoWAR group told GLW that in Perth, a long distance from where Bush will be, interest in the Canberra rally on October 23 is strong. "Late last week, our phones started to run hot. People everywhere want a chance to protest against this warmonger."
Building the anti-Bush protests at the huge Livid music festivals in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne has been an amazing experience, said Zoe Kenny, Melbourne Resistance organiser. "Young people are really keen to protest against Bush's visit. They lined up to take leaflets and snapped up anti-war badges."
Aboriginal activist and film maker Richard Frankland will speak at the Melbourne protest on October 22, at 5pm, alongside Bishop Hilton Deakin and Martin Kingham, state secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Hobart's Peace Coalition is organising a protest to coincide with national protests on October 22 at 5pm in Franklin Square. Sandy Trousselot told GLW that activists are keen for people in Tasmania to have the opportunity to "send a message to Bush". The coalition is attempting to organise computer equipment and an internet connection to allow rally participants to send messages directly to the White House from the rally.
"George Bush is a killer. He is the one that gave orders to execute an illegal and immoral war against Iraq, even though he knew that innocent people would die", Socialist Alliance activist Alex Bainbridge, a member of the Peace Coalition, added.
In Brisbane, the rally will be on the steps of King George Square, on October 22 at 5pm. The rally will take the form of a mock trial, at which Bush will have to defend himself against the people. Buses are travelling from Brisbane to join the mass convergence in Canberra. The Queensland Peace Network has endorsed both actions.
Anti-Bush protest rallies are also being held in most capital cities at 5pm on October 22. For details of rallies in your city, see the listing in the Activist Calendar on page 27.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, October 22, 2003.
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