Malalai Joya, dissident author and former member of the Afghan parliament, addressed a packed Marrickville Town Hall on September 9. More than 500 people braved the cold to hear Joya speak defiantly about the war waged on her country by US/NATO forces for the past decade.
On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which became the pretext for the invasion of Afghanistan less than a month later, Joya advocated for immediate removal of all occupying troops.
鈥淚 agree with my people that democracy never comes by bombing wedding parties, by committing war crimes,鈥 she said.
Joya exposed Obama鈥檚 much-publicised 鈥渢roop draw-down鈥 as a mere exercise in 鈥渋mage-management鈥. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to permanent US control of military bases in the nation.
She said 鈥渢hey don鈥檛 want to leave Afghanistan because it鈥檚 in the middle of Asia, so it鈥檚 a base for US control in the whole region鈥.
Refuting Prime Minister Julia Gillard鈥檚 claim that removing the troops will leave Afghanistan in the hands of the terrorists, Joya said: 鈥淪omeone should tell Gillard that Afghanistan is already in the hands of terrorists.鈥
Joya was famously expelled from her parliamentary position after denouncing the warlords and war criminals holding seats in the Afghan parliament.
She identified three forces embattling her people鈥檚 lives: the warlords, the Taliban, and occupying troops.
While the Taliban posed right-wing resistance to the occupation, it is 鈥渢he resistance of ordinary Afghani people that gives hope for the future鈥.
Joya openly acknowledged that Afghanistan would still face problems even after the removal of troops, and appealed for humanitarian support.
鈥淣obody says when occupying troops leave, it will be heaven,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no question we need a helping hand, but that never means we want occupation.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want troops, but we want your solidarity 鈥 we need educational support, teachers, health clinics 鈥 When war-makers and fundamentalists can unite, so can we.鈥
The , which organised the public meeting, announced a protest to mark the 10th anniversary of the invasion, on October 8 at noon, Sydney Town Hall.
[The September 9 event was supported by the , the and the . Malalai Joya's trip to Australia was organised by Stop the War Coalition Sydney and Melbourne Writers Festival. For more information about Stop the War Coalition Sydney visit .]