EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
PARLIAMENT SQUARE EDINBURGH
SATURDAY APRIL 17TH 2004

An emergency protest against the massacres at Fallujah was organised today by Edinburgh Stop the War. A crowd of around 250 assembled in West Parliament Square at noon. Placards and banners read `End the Occupation`, `Iraq for Iraqis`, `Wanted for war crimes Bush and Blair`, `Scotland did not want this war` and `No more lies`.
Speakers, chaired by Ian Hood of Edinburgh Stop the War denounced the occupation and called for the withdrawal of British troops. Carole Abudaid of WIB [Women in Black] said remember the million men who died in the Iran Iraq war in the 1980’s. She reminded the crowd of the million plus people who died during the 13 year sanctions regime. Former US secretary of State Madeleine Albright once infamously said on CBS `60 minutes` that the death of half a million children was a price worth paying. Carole told us of the threat posed by Depleted Uranium, over a 1,000 tons of which were dropped on Iraq. “It will affect everyone of us eventually.”
Second speaker was Paul O’Hanlon of Edinburgh Stop the War, he mentioned George Bush’s comical press conference performance on Wednesday and said it made Ronald Reagan look articulate. He read out a statement from Susan Karim who was unable to attend due to illness. Susan, an Iraqi who has lived in Scotland since 1980, organised a sponsored walk from Dundee to Edinburgh for Iraqi orphans. She went to Iraq in March to visit family and to check on the progress of the orphanage. Her two walks raised £17,000 for the orphans, which drew loud applause. Susan has been rundown over the past two weeks after her trip to Iraq. The situation was so bad that it has left Susan totally depressed and sadly she couldn’t make it today. Despite all the propaganda about how things get better day-by-day, there is only intermittent electricity even in the Capital Baghdad – 2 hours on, 2 hours off. The water from the taps is not drinkable – it has to be boiled or treated with purification tablets. There is now an epidemic of street kids, mostly girls apparently, between 3 years old and 15 years old. She visited her sister’s home and described the cracks in the walls made by cluster bombs. Susan will be giving a talk on Wednesday 5th May, details to be finalised. She has lots to tell us and will be giving a talk and slide show with a discussion afterwards.
Third was an eyewitness from Palestine called Caroline who was in Bethlehem and told us of the anger of the Palestinian people after Sharon’s meeting with Bush. She told us of the tunnels being built between Palestinian towns, which will help to make the Palestinians invisible. The apartheid wall must come down, she said.
Fourth was Zahid Ali of the Scottish Palestine Campaign who said that Bush had unilaterally erased UN resolution 194, which gave the Palestinian refugees the right to compensation and return to their homes. Just three days ago settlements had been seen as an obstacle and today they’re seen as the future. Bush has also given Israel the green light to carry on its pre-emptive assassination attempts. What Bush is offering the Palestinians is not even 1% of historic Palestine. The British government must disassociate itself from this.
MSP Margo MacDonald who was unable to attend sent a message of solidarity.
Green Party spokesperson Chas Booth spoke next and reiterated his party’s opposition to the war, which was based on lies about WMD. He said: “Where are they Tony? Did you find them? I’ll tell you where they are. Go up the road to Helensburgh, that’s where you’ll find the weapons of mass destruction, let’s end the hypocrisy, let’s get rid of our weapons of mass destruction before we start looking in Iraq.”
The occupation was illegal and it was not liberation. Was the firing by helicopter gun ships at a mosque in Fallujah an act of liberation? He urged that the troops be brought home. He said that Blair and Bush had united the Sunnis and Shias against the occupation. He urged people to vote for an anti–war party on the June 10th elections.
Next speaker was Colin Fox MSP of the Scottish Socialist Party who asked “Is Tony Blair the most dishonest Prime Minister Britain has ever had?” (Loud shouts of Yes!) Blair was using discredited arguments for the attack on Iraq such as WMD or Iraqi involvement in September 11th. He spoke of the `craven hypocrisy` of Bush and Blair in turning to the United Nations after they had “kicked the UN up the arse” only a year ago. The war was supposed to make the world a safer place but look at the massacres in Fallujah and the Madrid bombings. He called for the troops to be brought home. He told of how he had protested against the dictatorship of Saddam when Britain was supporting him. He ridiculed the so-called handover of power on June 30th. The Iraqi National Council are stooges who are detested by Iraqis. Like other speakers he urged people to vote for anti-war parties on June 10th.
Concluding remarks came from Green Party member Simon Byrom who said that the peace movement had the moral high ground. He said he did believe things would get better. He urged people to come to the weekly meetings of Stop the War at friends meeting house on Victoria terrace.

Photos:1/Women in Black, West Parliament square, Edinburgh.
2/Colin Fox MSP addresses rally.