Monday 20 March Media Release An international delegation of activists have joined locals protesting in Afghanistan this weekend. A vigil will be held in Melbourne tomorrow, which will include the wife of an Australian participant in Afghanistan and an ex-Australian Army officer. The protests in Afghanistan included a public vigil outside the UN compound, and a candlelight vigil. The events were organised by Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers (AYPVs), an Afghan nonviolence movement, (http://livewithoutwars.org), and the international delegation organised by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, based in the USA.
In Melbourne , a group will hold a vigil in support of these actions.
Participants include Julie Moyle and her three young children whose husband is in Afghanistan joining the protests. She says, “This war does not have to affect us. We could easily choose to continue our everyday family life. Yet, while Australian troops have been in Afghanistan for nearly 10 years, tens of thousands of Afghan civilians have been killed. Husbands like mine and children like mine. How can we choose to ignore what is happening? How can war bring peace? Afghan’s need more ‘everyday people’ to say not in our name”.
Veterans group Standfast will also join the protest. Standfast local spokesperson Chip Henriss says” Our organisation is about supporting the troops. We think the best way to support the troops in this unjust war, is to bring them home”.
Jessica Morrison (35, University lecturer) an organiser of the local vigil has just returned from Afghanistan . After talking with many people in Afghanistan she has concluded “It is clear that the Australian Government has spent billions of dollars propping up a corrupt and violent regime that is harassing their own population who are working for peace and democracy” Jessica Morrison said. “Its time for the people to speak.
Candlelight vigil
Monday 21 March
5-7pm
North East corner Flinders & Swanston Sts
Comments
Re: Australians join protests in Afghanistan
Every good wish for your endeavours now and in the future. I've seen a few related posts on the net, including some by the youth movement in Afghanistan. So grateful that people are voicing their objection to wars prosecuted by a minority in the name of all Australians. I would like to learn more about how I can help oppose the war in Afghanistan.