Media Release

Rally calls for Troops out of Afghanistan

On Saturday October 10 a rally will be held to mark the 8th anniversary since the invasion of Afghanistan.

The protest is calling for Australian troops to be withdrawn immediately; for refugee status for asylum seekers fleeing the war; genuine civilian based reconstruction aid; and funding for independent women's rights groups in Afghanistan.

Rally organiser Trent Hawkins said, “Australia’s military presence has served to legitimise America’s war, and after 8 years ordinary Afghans have seen little benefit while the Taliban has only grown stronger.

“Recent polls have shown that 65% of Australians oppose sending more troops, and 51% oppose the war.

“Meanwhile the US is considering sending more troops to continuing propping up this failed war, and it’s only a matter of time before our government follows suit.”

The protest will march onto the Victoria Army Barracks, where a number of large photos showing the victims of the war will be displayed.

Trent Hawkins said, “The aim of this symbolic action is to show governments and those who still support the war, the real impact of our military presence.”

“This is not a protest against the troops, but rather we want to appeal to their conscience and convince them not to participate in this war.”

“Moreover we want to put pressure on Rudd to listen to the majority of Australians and bring all troops home.”

The rally has been endorsed by a number of Trade Unions including the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Vic Branch), Electrical Trades Union (Vic Branch), Maritime Union of Australia (Vic Branch), National Tertiary Education Union (Vic Division), and the Victorian Trades Hall Council. It has also been endorsed by a number of peace groups, left wing organisations and women’s rights groups.

Speakers include Melbourne University Chaplan Wes Campbell, MUA State Secretary Kevin Bracken, US anti-war activist Nellie Wong, Refugee Rights advocate Pamela Curr, and a speaker from the Afghan community.

The rally starts at 12 noon at City Square, Cnr Collins and Swanston Sts, in Melbourne.

More information is available online at troopsoutofafghanistan.blogspot.com

For media comment ring Trent on 0407 070 841

Text for promoting

March & Rally

8 YEARS OF WAR ON
AFGHANISTAN
HAS NOT BROUGHT DEMOCRACY

END IT NOW!
Bring the troops home!

*Refugee status for asylum seekers fleeing the war
*Genuine civilian based reconstruction aid
*Fund independent women's rights groups in Afghanistan

Life is getting worse for ordinary Afghans, life expectancy is now only 43 years, adult literacy is just 24% and the UN estimates that 4654 civilians have died since January 2007. 65% of Australians oppose sending more troops, and 51% oppose the war. Meanwhile the governments of the world are planning to send more troops to prop up this failed war.

Rally is being held during an international month of action against the war.

Assemble 12 noon Saturday October 10
@ City Square, cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, City

Followed by a march to the Victoria Army Barracks where photos of the real victims of the war on Afghanistan will be displayed.

For information, phone Trent 0407 070 841

troopsoutofafghanistan.blogspot.com

Endorsed by 3CR, Australia Asia Worker Links, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Vic Branch), Campaign for International Cooperation & Disarmament, Communication Workers Union, CEPU Communications Division (Victorian Telecommunications and Services Branch), CFMEU (Victorian Mining and Energy division), Electrical Trades Union (Vic Branch), Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth, Feminist Peace Network, Freedom Socialist Party, Geelong Trades Hall Council, Global Sisterhood Network, Hills Peace Committee, Japanese for Peace, Maritime Union of Australia (Vic Branch), National Tertiary Education Union (Vic Division), Radical Women, Resistance, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Socialist Alliance, Socialist Alternative, Solidarity, Stand Fast, Victorian Trades Hall Council,

Eight reasons to get out of Afghanistan

1. Life is getting worse for most Afghans under occupation. Life expectancy is 43 years. Access to water is 31% of households. Adult literacy is just 24%. Some 50% of children are malnourished.
2. More and more people are dying. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has estimated that 4654 civilians have died between January 2007 and June 2009, however total deaths haven’t been collected. 1370 coalition troops have died since beginning of war.
3. The coalition forces are spreading the war into Pakistan. Military raids and unmanned drones have taken the war into the North-West Frontier regions of Pakistan. Under US pressure the Pakistan army has attacked the Swat valley and displaced some 2 million people.
4. The war has cost us billions over the past 8 years. The Rudd government has budgeted the Afghanistan war to cost $1.2 billion in 2009-10, a 50% increase over previous years along with another 500 troops.
5. We were told that the war in Afghanistan would liberate women. Recent figures show that only 4% of women reach 10th grade schooling, and violence against women is endemic. In a bid for fundamentalist support, the Karzai government has passed a law allowing rape in marriage.
6. The war has not brought democracy. Preliminary figures indicate that only 30% voted in the recent elections. US backed Hamid Karzai has been implicated in fraud involving up to 800 fake polling booths and another 800 were used to register fake votes. Many are comparing Karzai with South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem.
7. The majority of the world wants the troops to leave. An Age/Nielsen poll in March revealed 65% opposed Kevin Rudd's decision to send more troops there and 51% opposed the war outright. These figures are mirrored in America and Britain. 75% of Americans are opposed to any troop increases.
8.The majority of Afghans do not want the war. Malalai Joya, an elected Afghan MP and women’s rights advocate, recently toured Australia saying that “people are squashed today between two enemies: an internal and an external enemy ... if the troops withdraw, then it is an easier fight with one enemy”.

Poster and leaflet