5,000 march in London against Afghan war
Published: 24 October, 2009, 23:25
Edited: 28 October, 2009, 02:38
Protestors hold banners and placards as the Stop the War Coalition march on October 24, 2009 in London, England. According to reports the protest is being attended by over 10,000 anti-war protestors who are calling for the withdrawl of troops from Afghanistan (AFP Photo / Getty Images)
(7.8Mb) embed videoAt least 5000 demonstrators have marched in London to protest against the Afghanistan campaign. They want the government to withdraw UK troops and end Britain’s role in the conflict.
The anti-war supporters gathered in Hyde Park before marching to Trafalgar Square.
A British soldier who has disobeyed orders by refusing to return to the Afghan conflict, led the demonstration.
Meanwhile, Britain recently pledged to send 500 more troops, but only if NATO and the US increased their numbers as well. More than 200 British soldiers have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.
One of the organisers of the Stop the War Coalition protest says the number of people against the war continues to rise.
“Obviously, for a lot of time people thought this was the good war. But the truth is, that a year ago we couldn’t have gotten a demonstration on Afghanistan at all because people wouldn’t oppose it. So now people are begging to campaign and we think this campaign will grow because this is a reflection of public opinion,” says Lindsey German, Protest Organiser.
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4 comments
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Here in the UK there is considerable disatisfaction with the way the war is being conducted. It has however been made very difficult for the ordinary person to be critical, let alone any representative from a major political party. This is because the government have very cleverly linked critisism of the war with critisisim of our forces personnel. Anyone who dares speak out against the war is now percieved to be 'against our heroic milititary who are giving their lives for our security'. It therefore takes a brave person to stand up and be counted. As for a surge in troops by the UK, given the state of our economy I can't see how we could afford to send more than a few hundred extra. As for the conservative party taking the next election, yes, this is the most likely outcome. Recently however there has also been a significant and noticable swing to the far right. A recent poll (carried out by a government agency) showed that over 20% would consider voting for the leading far right party at the next election - a worrying development in the UK.
From what i've read the conservative party is set to take control of the UK following the next elections, and this party is for the surge in Afghanistan. As the present ruling party is also for the surge, there is no dominant UK party supporting these protesters' stance on this issue. The general trend at this time seems to be conservative parties taking control in Europe; as the US recently elected a liberal government, the divide across the Atlantic has lessened because basically an American liberal and European conservative are roughly the same in terms of foreign policy, albeit we have yet to see what decision Obama will make; either way he would distinguish himself from a Merkel. I am for giving the Generals their final chance; if we give them the additional resources, and they still can't save the situation then we leave. This was my same attitude for Iraq in 06; albeit, maybe the stakes this time don't warrant that attitude. The only particularly compelling argument for continuing the war is that it might allow Afghanistan to modernize and therefore lose less lives to poverty. It's not worth continuing this war merely for the sake prestige and security; as many have suggested, drones could serve the latter purpose quite well; though people will complain of them.
A massive issue, a tiny crowd tells me that the people of Britain are holding firm with the Government for now,