Nazias
27-02-07, 07:55 PM
The Debate Parliament Won't Have
Few people in this country, other than Tony Blair, would deny that the Iraq war has been a disaster and one of the worst foreign policy decisions in British history. An illegal and unnecessary war, now entering its fifth year, has left Iraq in ruins, with as many as 650,000 Iraqi civilians dead, and the country on the verge of civil war. Democracy in the country is a sham, with the Iraqi government routinely ignored by the US occupiers. At home, Britain has suffered terrorist atrocities as a result of the war and in its wake Tony Blair has implemented sweeping attacks on our civil liberties and basic freedoms.
It is therefore a scandal almost beyond belief that the British parliament has rarely debated the war. The voice of the majority in this country, which has always opposed the war, has rarely found expression in the democratic process.
That is why Stop the War has convened a special People's Assembly at
Westminster on Tuesday 20 March – the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion – to hold THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE, which will be open to all. Tony Benn, who will be chairing the debates, says, "The Assembly will provide an opportunity for a full and open debate on the war and how to end it."
The escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the threats of an attack on Iran have reinforced the pressing need for this debate. Fifteen MPs from five different parties have already agreed to attend and more will be added soon. Academics, other expert witnesses and politicians from the United States will also participate. (For a list of speakers, see
http://tinyurl.com/2ut7jh)
Political parties, trade unions, faith organisations, campaigning and community groups have been invited to send delegates, the aim being to give the greatest possible weight to the debates.
The Assembly is already attracting very high interest and early registration is advisable to secure places. For details of THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE and how to register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2kgcou
PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY: TUESDAY 20 MARCH
CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER 2.00-8.00PM
THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE
DELEGATE FEE: £7: INDIVIDUALS: £5
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Bob Wareing MP (Lab), John McDonnell MP (Lab), Michael Meacher MP (Lab), Linda Riordan MP (Lab), Jeremy Corbyn MP (Lab), Katy Clark MP (Lab), Harry Cohen MP (Lab), Sarah Teather MP (LibDem), John Hemming MP (LibDem), Lynne Featherstone MP (LibDem), Alex Salmond MP (SNP), Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru), Elfyn Llwd MP (Plaid Cymru), George Galloway MP (Respect). Also attending will be playwright David Edgar, Iraqi academic Sami Ramadani and comedian and broadcaster Mark Thomas. More speakers will be added soon.
REGISTRATION FORMS: To receive a registration form by post:
* Telephone 020 7278 6694
* Send an email with the subject title PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY and your
address to office@stopwar.org.uk or telephone 020 7278 6694
* A registration form is also available online for downloading and printing, here: http://tinyurl.com/2upj7l
Few people in this country, other than Tony Blair, would deny that the Iraq war has been a disaster and one of the worst foreign policy decisions in British history. An illegal and unnecessary war, now entering its fifth year, has left Iraq in ruins, with as many as 650,000 Iraqi civilians dead, and the country on the verge of civil war. Democracy in the country is a sham, with the Iraqi government routinely ignored by the US occupiers. At home, Britain has suffered terrorist atrocities as a result of the war and in its wake Tony Blair has implemented sweeping attacks on our civil liberties and basic freedoms.
It is therefore a scandal almost beyond belief that the British parliament has rarely debated the war. The voice of the majority in this country, which has always opposed the war, has rarely found expression in the democratic process.
That is why Stop the War has convened a special People's Assembly at
Westminster on Tuesday 20 March – the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion – to hold THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE, which will be open to all. Tony Benn, who will be chairing the debates, says, "The Assembly will provide an opportunity for a full and open debate on the war and how to end it."
The escalation of the war in Afghanistan and the threats of an attack on Iran have reinforced the pressing need for this debate. Fifteen MPs from five different parties have already agreed to attend and more will be added soon. Academics, other expert witnesses and politicians from the United States will also participate. (For a list of speakers, see
http://tinyurl.com/2ut7jh)
Political parties, trade unions, faith organisations, campaigning and community groups have been invited to send delegates, the aim being to give the greatest possible weight to the debates.
The Assembly is already attracting very high interest and early registration is advisable to secure places. For details of THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE and how to register, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2kgcou
PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY: TUESDAY 20 MARCH
CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER 2.00-8.00PM
THE DEBATE PARLIAMENT WON'T HAVE
DELEGATE FEE: £7: INDIVIDUALS: £5
SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Bob Wareing MP (Lab), John McDonnell MP (Lab), Michael Meacher MP (Lab), Linda Riordan MP (Lab), Jeremy Corbyn MP (Lab), Katy Clark MP (Lab), Harry Cohen MP (Lab), Sarah Teather MP (LibDem), John Hemming MP (LibDem), Lynne Featherstone MP (LibDem), Alex Salmond MP (SNP), Adam Price MP (Plaid Cymru), Elfyn Llwd MP (Plaid Cymru), George Galloway MP (Respect). Also attending will be playwright David Edgar, Iraqi academic Sami Ramadani and comedian and broadcaster Mark Thomas. More speakers will be added soon.
REGISTRATION FORMS: To receive a registration form by post:
* Telephone 020 7278 6694
* Send an email with the subject title PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY and your
address to office@stopwar.org.uk or telephone 020 7278 6694
* A registration form is also available online for downloading and printing, here: http://tinyurl.com/2upj7l