100,000 Rings: In Remembrance of the Iraqi Civilian and Military Dead
Two women were arrested today while holding a bell-ringing ceremony outside parliament as part of an international peace event, to mark the anniversary of the release of the Lancet study on 29th October 2004 which estimated 100,000 people had died since the beginning of the war in Iraq. Similar ceremonies have and will be occurring in nearly 100 other communities around the United States and United Kingdom.
Two women were arrested today while holding a bell-ringing ceremony outside parliament as part of an international peace event, to mark the anniversary of the release of the Lancet study on 29th October 2004 which estimated 100,000 people had died since the beginning of the war in Iraq. Similar ceremonies have and will be occurring in nearly 100 other communities around the United States and United Kingdom.
The ceremony involves ringing a bell once every minute, 100 times; each solitary ring symbolising the death of an Iraqi or military person resulting from the war and occupation of Iraq. At intervals during the bell ringing the names are read out of Iraqis as well as military personnel who are known to have died in the violence.
One of the women, Giulia, stated:
"I am here today to remember the terrible loss of life that has occurred throughout the illegal war and occupation of Iraq, to commemorate the slaughter that took place in Fallujah a year ago and in solidarity with all the courageous people who have been arrested since the introduction of the new laws preventing demonstrations in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament."
Anna-Linnéa, the other bell-ringer, said:
"The fact that two women, unarmed and totally open and accountable and nonviolent, get arrested for ringing a bell in a remembrance ceremony outside Parliament proves how much the authorities fear the truth. What we have to say is clearly important since the government clamps down on us in this way."
For more information please contact 07743 341934
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Notes:
1. This ceremony is a response to a call from Voices for Creative Nonviolence (US) and Justice Not Vengeance (UK). See www.iraqmortality.org The organisers are hoping for one hundred communities to each ring a bell 100 or 1000 times amounting to 100,000 rings.
2. In April 2004, 52 former senior British Diplomats wrote that "it is a disgrace that the coalition forces themselves appear to have no estimate of the Iraqi deaths due to the invasion and occupation. In contrast, lives lost by US and coalition soldiers are carefully recorded and mourned"
3. On 25th October Milan Rai and Maya Evans of Justice Not Vengeance were arrested for holding a similar ceremony outside Downing Street. The two womens' action that took place today outside Parliament was undertaken in solidarity with Milan, maya and all the other protesters arrested under the new legislation preventing demonstrations within 1 mile of parliament.
One of the women, Giulia, stated:
"I am here today to remember the terrible loss of life that has occurred throughout the illegal war and occupation of Iraq, to commemorate the slaughter that took place in Fallujah a year ago and in solidarity with all the courageous people who have been arrested since the introduction of the new laws preventing demonstrations in the vicinity of the Houses of Parliament."
Anna-Linnéa, the other bell-ringer, said:
"The fact that two women, unarmed and totally open and accountable and nonviolent, get arrested for ringing a bell in a remembrance ceremony outside Parliament proves how much the authorities fear the truth. What we have to say is clearly important since the government clamps down on us in this way."
For more information please contact 07743 341934
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. This ceremony is a response to a call from Voices for Creative Nonviolence (US) and Justice Not Vengeance (UK). See www.iraqmortality.org The organisers are hoping for one hundred communities to each ring a bell 100 or 1000 times amounting to 100,000 rings.
2. In April 2004, 52 former senior British Diplomats wrote that "it is a disgrace that the coalition forces themselves appear to have no estimate of the Iraqi deaths due to the invasion and occupation. In contrast, lives lost by US and coalition soldiers are carefully recorded and mourned"
3. On 25th October Milan Rai and Maya Evans of Justice Not Vengeance were arrested for holding a similar ceremony outside Downing Street. The two womens' action that took place today outside Parliament was undertaken in solidarity with Milan, maya and all the other protesters arrested under the new legislation preventing demonstrations within 1 mile of parliament.
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