Sydney makes history on 'No War on Iraq'

(Exclusive and Latest by Syed Atiqul Hassan, Sydney Australia)

Sydney (Tribune Report, Sunday, 16 February 2003); Sydney created history when about ½ a million people gathered, today, in Hyde Park and then marched on the streets of Sydney shouting for one cause “No War on Iraq but Peace”. This is the biggest anti-US rally in Australian history. This was the largest demonstration ever held in Sydney since the Vietnam War. Contrary to the past demonstrations where mostly the people from ethnic background participated, the majority in this demonstration were Australians beside the historic volume of ethnic communities.

The crowd in hundreds and thousands turned out from every corner of Sydney and around New South Wales using every possible transport on Sunday morning. Usually, one could not find so many people on Sunday morning at the train stations but today every station was packed of people going towards Sydney city. Children, women, youth and seniors holding different banners and placards in their hands wearing colourful dresses with anti-war and anti-Bush sentiments printed, in families and groups, enthusiastically going to city like an annual celebrations.

The people in large groups representing different social, political, human rights, religious and professional organisations from various parts of New South Wales came through Hyde Park from different entrances. The people were raising and waving various banners and shouting anti-war and anti-US slogans. Among those "No War on Iraq", "We want peace not War", "Howard Says Yes, the People Say No", "Bush don't be World's Bully", "War is terrorism", “Bush, Blair, Howard axis of Greed”, “The World neesd Peace not War” were very prominent displays in the protest.

The parliamentarians, representatives of Human rights organisations, the Greens, The Democrats, some members of Labor Party, Public representatives from various peace organisations addressed to the people gathered in thousands and thousands around Hyde Park. All the speakers commonly condemned Prime Minister Howard’s decision of sending Australian troops to Iraq to participate in possible war against Iraq. They all protested to the Howard administration for immediate return of their brothers, husbands and loved ones (soldiers) back home and to save the lives of the Australian soldiers from the war which is not our game.

The most interesting thing seemed in this demonstration was the active participation of Christian and Islamic organisations on the common grounds of peace, condemnation of terrorism around the world and war against Iraq. A Group of doctors was another addition to this demonstration in the ongoing peace rallies. A man was continuously playing peace songs in his audio system which was fitted in a garbage bin.

Many anti-war and peace supporting stalls from various organisations were placed across the roads and in Hyde Park where pamphlets and flyers on war against Iraq and the plans for future demonstrations were distributing. One organisation was calling an appeal to join a nationwide boycott of petrol stations on 20^th of February to demonstrate that a war on Iraq is unjust and just for control of Oil fields in Iraq by Bush administration.