The Hindu : Hundreds join anti-war rally

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Hundreds join anti-war rally

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM April 25. The capital city today joined the global outrage against the U.S. attack on Iraq when hundreds of citizens including women and children lined up for an anti-war rally organised by the local bodies in the district.

The rally which commenced from the Museum junction concluded with a peace meet at the Tagore centenary hall. In a symbolic gesture signifying the ultimate triumph of peace, a bell tolled inside the hall and a flight of white doves were released against the backdrop of a huge hoarding that reconstructed the poignant picture of a Vietnamese girl fleeing from napalm bombs dropped by U.S. forces.

The rallyists held aloft flags, banners and placards reading `No War'. The Mayor, J. Chandra, the district panchayat president, Sasikala Sivasankar, and presidents of block and grama panchayats in the district led the procession. A large number of city residents lined up behind the banner of the Federation of Residents Associations.

The former Chief Minister, E.K. Nayanar, inaugurated the peace meet. O.N.V. Kurup, poet, presided over the function. The audience took a pledge reading `Down with imperialism, Let peace prevail'. This was followed by a peace song rendered by Kallara Gopan. The meeting expressed solidarity with the suffering Iraqis.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Nayanar said the U.S.- British axis of imperialism was threatening world peace. He alleged that the BJP- led Government at the Centre had surrendered to the pressure of the imperialist forces. ``As a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, India had always stood against colonialism and imperialism. But now, we have been reduced to a mute spectator as the evil forces of imperialism try to gain dominance over the world,'' he said.

Terming the military action as unjustifiable, Mr. Nayanar said U.N. weapons inspectors had failed to unearth weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. ``By launching heavy attacks on populated cities, the U.S.-British forces have violated all U.N. regulations. The murderous bombardment added to the lakhs of children who were killed by years of sanctions,'' he said.

Mr. Nayanar said the attack on Iraq was borne out of the avarice for the rich oil resources of the region. ``The U.S. wants to install a puppet regime in Iraq to ensure that American oil companies get a foothold while U.S. and British firms are vying to bag reconstruction contracts in Iraq. The U.S. has no right to decide the future of a sovereign country like Iraq,'' he said.

Mr. Nayanar said the BJP Government at the Centre had failed to realise the implications of the U.S. threat to intervene in Kashmir. ``While the Government has been weak in its response, the Congress as the principal Opposition party has failed to mobilise public opinion against the evil designs of the U.S.,'' he said.

Prof. Kurup said the U.S.-British axis of imperialism was raising a challenge to the whole world. He said the `Live and Let Live' policy of the erstwhile Soviet Union and the Socialist Bloc was more relevant today in the light of the threat posed by imperialist forces. India had to take a strong stand to promote world peace and international cooperation. He stressed the need for the public to exert pressure on the Government to condemn the war on Iraq.

N.A. Karim, social activist, said the military action in Iraq had highlighted the need for the world to remain vigilant against any threat to peace and stability.

The Mayor welcomed the gathering.

The former Speaker, M. Vijayakumar, Pirappancode Murali, MLA, the district panchayat vice-president, Anavoor Nagappan, the Deputy Mayor, Sujanapriyan, the UDF leader in the Corporation Council, K. Maheswaran Nair, and the Corporation secretary, Venugopal, were among those who addressed the peace meet.

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