Anti-war protesters plan rally against 'immoral war'

Northern Ireland’s Stop the War Coalition has called on people here to "stand up and be counted" over what they describe as an impending "unnecessary and immoral" war against Iraq.

Peter Bunting, Assistant General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which is co-ordinating the Stop the War Coalition, said: “We have been saying for some time that this war is unnecessary and immoral. The world now knows that it is also utterly illegal under international law, now that the United Nations has rejected Bush and Blair’s plans for war.

“It is now time to stand up and be counted. War will be fought in our name and paid for with our taxes. We all have a moral responsibility to publicly repudiate this war. The opportunity to do so is now upon us, in the days following military strikes and invasion. We urge people to Stand Up and be Counted at our events and use their voices for peace.”

The organisers of last month’s rally have said that they expect to bring Belfast City centre and other towns across Northern Ireland to a "virtual standstill" in the days following the start of a US/UK-led war on Iraq.

There will be a lunchtime 'silent protest' in city and town centres across Northern Ireland at 1pm on the day after military action against Iraq starts. The Stop the War Coalition has called on people to assemble in their town centre to mark their opposition to war; in Belfast the location will be at Belfast City Hall. These protests will be co-ordinated by local trades councils.

This will be followed by a demonstration on the Saturday following military action, most likely this Saturday. Marchers will gather at Belfast's Art College from 2pm, before marching to the front of Belfast City Hall where a rally will be staged from 3pm.

The Stop the War Coalition (NI) is co-ordinated by the Northern Ireland Committee of the ICTU. The Coalition has the support of a wide and growing range of individuals, organisations and trade unions.

(GMcG)