- by Denis Doherty
- The Guardian
- Issue #2184
A combination of peace groups under the banner of Sydney Anti-AUKUS Coalition (SAAC) and the Palestine Action (PA) came together on the 14 March to run a most impressive first rally against the war in Iran. Sydney Town Hall was filled with many protesters from the above groups and many from the expatriate Iranian community living in Sydney.
The aims of the rally were to condemn the outrageous and cowardly attack on Iran by two nuclear-armed countries namely Israel and the US. The attacks are illegal and immoral, yet the Australian government cannot find enough strength to condemn these acts, saying they are relying on both the US and Israel to decide if they are offending international law. It’s a ridiculous statement exhibiting a moral backbone akin to limp lettuce, tantamount to saying a criminal can decide if a crime is illegal.
Israel is currently a state conducting genocide.
Sydney’s peace, anti-war and pro-Palestine communities rallied against the US – Israel war on Iran and the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the way AUKUS and the US bases in Australia have been used to drag Australia into this illegal and disastrous war.
Australia by failing to condemn the aggression and joining in has become a villain not one of ‘the good guys.’
Australian assets are not fighting for freedom and democracy; they’re fighting for money and power.
The decision by the Albanese government to send elements of the ADF even in low numbers makes us a combatant and puts a target on those ADF personnel who have been assigned to the UAE.
The rally started with a spirited contribution by Abigail Boyd MLC (Greens) who outlined the disastrous decision of the Albanese government compared with the stance of Greens supporting opposition to the war. Dr Alex Wodak called on the world to resolved conflicts without resorting violence. Mitra, an Iranian-Australian woman, talked of her love for her country and relatives still trapped in Iran.
The march demonstrated the breadth of support from the political parties the CPA and the other parties as well as many from the Iranian.
Hosting US bases on our soil does not offer protection as been shown in the Gulf it attracts hostility. We say “US bases out!”
“Every military asset Labor sends to the Gulf frees up US and Israeli assets to continue to the illegal attacks on Iran.
The Sydney message was that the war should stop immediately and that Australia should withdraw from the AUKUS military pact and end the US – Australia military alliance.
