Public Discussion Meeting with Minister of Defence

Was Every Friday - suspended until further notice

VIGIL TO PROTEST AMERICAN ATTACKS IN IRAQ
FROM 5.00PM TO 6.00PM BY THE CHALICE IN CHRISTCHURCH SQUARE.
Bring signs or posters if you have them

Vigil to Protest the Iraq War

every Friday, from 5.00pm to 6.00pm at the Chalice in Christchurch Square

A vigil is held every friday night by Peace Action Network and the Iraqi Community until further notice. It's purpose is to protest the war and draw public attention to:

1)The illegal, unjust, deceitful US, UK, Australian & others invasion and occupation of Iraq, in violation of the UN Charter and international law.

2) The continued and increasing killing and maiming of thousands of Iraqis and destruction of property, justified by a litany of lies and excuses.

3) The US imprisonment, foul torture and shameful treatment of thousands of Iraq citizens. This is creating far greater resistance in Iraq and elsewhere

4) For Iraq to have a genuinely elected government - not one pre-selected by the US, and to be assisted, and aided, in the transition to self-government by a group of acceptable nations.

5) For the occupiers to withdraw from Iraq and pay reparations, for having committed war crimes against Iraq citizens.

PAN email: pannz@yahoogroups.com
Please note new email address for NZ Nuclear Free Peacemaking and Larry Ross: nuclearfreenz@lynx.co.nz
web site: http://www.nuclearfree.org.nz

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Below is an excellent article on the bloody quagmire in Iraq that Bush is still trying to sell as a "war on terrorism". It shows why increasing social action and public education is essential today to stop this crazy war and avoid
re-election of a Bush-led facism in the US. This kind of action is not anti-American. It is anti-Bush and neocon policies which are creating a hell on earth for Iraqis today. Tomorrow it is planned for others. Whose next?
Our opposition is pro-American constitution, and for the real higher values of freedom and democracy that Bush is trampling on, while falsely claiming to defend.

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April 30, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE FROM
PEACE ACTION NETWORK AND THE IRAQI COMMUNITY

Vigil For Iraq

Contacts:
Claire Dann: 3861025, Mohammed Tawfik: 3436733, Mohammed Al-jabawe: 342-1328
Larry Ross: 337 0118

At a meeting of the Peace Action Network and the local Iraqi Community, it was decided to hold a Vigil in the Square on Friday April 30 at 5.00pm. The purpose is to protest US-led military attacks in Iraq particularly on Fallujah, Najaf and Sadr City. Many more men, women and children could be killed and injured, and property destroyed, if the attacks continue and expand.

The U.S. had no reason to invade Iraq. It has no reason to continue occupying Iraq and killing citizens. Iraq had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre or with Al-Qaeda. Iraq had no nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction. It had not attacked it's neighbours . It did not, nor could it have, planned attacks on the immeasurably stronger U.S. or U.K. Iraq was being contained by sanctions and extensively inspected by the UN. No weapons of mass destruction were found.

The war on Iraq is one of the most senseless and unnecessary in human history. It was based on a litany of false accusations, which have proved to have no validity.

If continued and intensified, the war on Iraq could lead to a general uprising and involvement of other countries. There would be many more deaths and billions of dollars wasted to perpetrate a pointless, bloody massacre which cannot be justified.

The meeting wants Helen Clark to follow Spain, Honduras and Dominion Republic and withdraw NZ military forces from Iraq before the situation worsens, further endangering New Zealanders. Also, the meeting requests that New Zealand use it's influence with the U.S. and the UN to halt hostilities immediately, and allow the UN to negotiate a just peace.

With assistance from the international community of nations and the UN, Iraq should be allowed to
decide it's own future.

Falluja deal would hand security to Iraqis The Torronto Star

U.N. envoy connects dots between Iraq, Israel The Torronto Star