stop the war! stop the occupations! MAWO Statement Against Escalating Imperialist Wars & Occupations www.mawovancouver.org Unite Against the New Era of War & Occupation! 2 Wednesday July 8th, Vancouver, Canada Under the pressure and full financial and military support from the US government, the government of M AW O Since the 2001 US/Canada/NATO invasion and July 2009 3 Pakistan launched a brutal military operation in so occupation of Afghanistan, our world has been facing called Taliban strongholds in Pakistan. Media reports newsletter 1st Edition a new era of war and occupation. This increasing put the death toll of this bloody offensive at over 1,600 war drive is conducted by imperialist nations as they people, and over three million displaced people. plunder new resources and markets at the expense of mobilization against war & occupation oppressed people in the countries they are occupying. In Iraq, the US led war and occupation is continuing to deny the Iraqi people of their self-determination, In just the first week of July 2009, three more Canadian and continuing to deny them of their basic right to life. soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, bringing the death In over 6 years of war over 1.2 million Iraqi people toll to 124 soldiers. This unjust, immoral and criminal have been killed in this criminal and unjust war. The MAWO Statement on the Situation in Iran war drive is not only killing young people in military horrors of war that US soldiers are committing are uniform, but is killing innocent Afghan people. even affecting the soldiers themselves. On May 11th For over three years now the majority of people in Canada a US soldier who was at a combat stress clinic shot HANDS OFF IRAN! have been opposed to Canada’s war and occupation in and killed five other soldiers. The father of one of these Afghanistan, according to different official and private soldiers, Michael Yates Sr, stated, “They need to bring polls. MAWO’s Canada Out of Afghanistan Campaign them boys home ... it should have been over.” has so far collected more than 14,000 signatures in June 23, 2009 and discrepancies. Not to mention, the illegal In Palestine, over 61 years of heroic struggle of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland alone. More Vancouver, Canada occupation of Afghanistan itself undermines any the Palestinian people for their self-determination and more people in Canada are questioning why the legal and fair election. Where is the voice of the continues despite the recent genocidal siege on Gaza government of Canada is conducting this brutal and Since the June 12th 2009 Iranian election results, majority of people in Canada, who for over three by the Israeli racist Zionist government. In just three criminal war drive in Afghanistan, and what they have there has been constant coverage of opposition years, according to many independent and official weeks, over 1,400 Palestinian people were killed, half achieved in eight years of using bombs, tanks, bullets, protests in Iran on every major Western news polls, oppose Canada’s war in Afghanistan? of whom were women and children. and weapons whose purpose is to kill not to heal. Oppressed people at home and abroad are coming Currently the Afghan people are facing a major US- under vicious attack. However, their heroic resistance led offensive, “Operation Khanjar” on the Southern and fightback to demand and restore their basic rights Afghanistan province of Helmand, made up of over to life, dignity and self-determination continue. As this 4,000 US marines as well as other forces. We can new era of war and occupation is devastating humanity remember the huge massacre of Afghan people from and mother nature, peace loving people must join previous offensives, such as the Canada-led Operation together, in one united front, to demand an end to all Medusa in 2006 which killed over 1,500 Afghan imperialist wars and occupations. people. We can expect this offensive to be even bloodier and more destructive. According to Brigadier- General Larry Nicholson, “What makes Operation END THE OCCUPATIONS OF Khanjar [Strike of the Sword] different from those that Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine & Haiti! have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert and the fact U.S. HANDS OFF that where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we Iran & Pakistan! will hold.” On May 4th, 2009, occupation forces in Afghanistan SELF DETERMINATION FOR committed what was the deadliest massacre since the Indigenous Nations & All Oppressed Nations! 2001 invasion, in which over 140 Afghan people were killed by US air strikes in the Western Farah province, as reported by Afghan authorities. This brutal and indiscriminate attack adds to the over 50,000 Afghan people that have been killed in eight years of war by March on the Pentagon, Washington DC Canada, the US and NATO. On Monday June 8th, the US military admitted that they had made mistakes in source, with all sorts of “experts” on the Perhaps most directly interfering of all was the the May 4th air strikes in Farah, Afghanistan. So called situation in Iran and statements from the leaders statement on Sunday from German chancellor “mistakes” is how they excuse the terrorizing of Afghan of imperialist countries, as well as countless cell Angela Merkel, who was the first leader of a people and indiscriminate killings. phone videos replayed despite their origin and major Western power to publicly demand a authenticity being unconfirmed. As the internal recount. There are claims that there were election The ongoing massacre of Afghan people has been met issues of the Iranian people are suddenly the discrepancies, and there are claims that there were with protests and demonstrations from people across prime concern of media outlets and imperialist not – it isn’t the job of the German chancellor to Afghanistan, including on Sunday May 17th when hundreds of Kabul University students protested the governments, this begs the question, where is judge which claim is correct, and it is not her job attacks and mourned the death of their people. At the the coverage of the US atrocities in Iraq, or the to demand a recount. Not only does the German protest, Afghan student Ahmad Fahim said “We call Canada/US/NATO crimes in Afghanistan? Why chancellor have no clear evidence to claim a on the international community, Afghan government do protests of civil dispute warrant a media recount is in order, this is a direct interference to stop the killing of innocents, stop the killing of an frenzy, but there is barely any reporting on the into the internal matters of a sovereign country! Afghan generation.” US drone attack on Northwest Pakistan which If Ms. Merkel is suddenly so concerned about on Tuesday June 22nd killed at least 80 Pakistani the votes of Iranians, why does she not care The US government have now extended their brutal war people? As was done with the May 4th US air about the racist and vicious attacks on Turks and drive to Pakistan, with indiscriminate US missile drone strikes in Afghanistan which killed over 140 Muslims in Germany, and the 2.5 million out attacks which have killed over 460 Pakistani people since August 2008. On Wednesday July 8th, over 30 Afghan people, will this be excused by the US of 4 million Turks who can not vote because of Pakistani people were killed in two drone attacks on government with another claim of “mistakes?” Germany’s undemocratic and reactionary laws? Pakistan’s South Waziristan district in just one day. soon... Coming 2009 september One only needs to look at the progression (or While imperialist countries are playing out the regression) of US, EU and UN policy towards situation in Iran on an international stage, the Iran in the last few years. While crocodile rights of Iran, as a UN nation-state member and tears are being wept for the Iranian opposition sovereign nation, are being violated according MAWO Statement Against protesters now, the US government and their EU to the UN’s own charters and resolutions. allies and UN lackey have no problem imposing According to resolution 52/119 adopted by the the Coup in Honduras four sets of crippling sanctions against the people UN general assembly in December 1997, the July 8, 2009 every day all across of Iran. Remember the impact of the US/UK/ UN resolved “Recognizing that the principles Vancouver, Canada Honduras, and UN sanctions on Iraq, and the over 1.5 Million of national sovereignty and non-interference fighting the coup Iraqis, mainly women and children, who suffered in the internal affairs of any State should After two decades, d’etat regime has and died under these sanctions? This does not be respected in the holding of elections.” reactionary become the main sound like they really have the interests of the imperialist forces agenda of hundreds Iranian people at heart. Furthermore, the bloody Iran’s elections and disputes are an internal with the help of of thousands of occupation of surrounding countries of Iran’s matter, to be resolved by the Iranian people and a bankrupt and people. neighbours Iraq and Afghanistan, military bases not the governments of imperialist countries corrupt military The coup d’etat in every surrounding country and a massive build with agendas of dominating Iran and a track establishment once will not succeed up of military in the Persian gulf, show more and record of using internal issues to justify military again conducted because the social more that the US is acting upon their agenda of invasion. The Iranian people and government a coup d’etat movement for having complete hegemony in the Middle East, a do not need “Big Brother” to tell them what against the will change in Honduras goal that is only possible with the control of Iran. to do. Throughout history, the Iranian people of the people of had already started have constantly been in movement for change. Latin-America. July 5, protest demands return before this coup. The hypocrisy of the heads of imperialist countries Since the Tobacco Movement against the British On June 28th, the of President Zalaya In fact, the military is staggering, as they condemn the actions of the empire in 1891 to the present day, the great democratically- coup was the Iranian government while sweeping their own Iranian people have managed three revolutions elected President of response of the oligarchy and pro-imperialist crimes under the rug. On Tuesday June 23rd, US and ten mass movements or national movements Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, was forced to leave army to stop or at least to slow down this his office by special army units. He was taken progressive movement. president Obama said to the press that the Iranian in Iran. With such a track record for Iran, what to Costa Rica and then Nicaragua. Honduran government “must govern through consent, and credibility does any imperialist country have people were completely caught by surprise The coup d’etat has provoked worldwide not coercion,” and that “We mourn each and every to lecture the Iranian people on how to fight and shocked by the course of this brutality and condemnation from Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba innocent life that is lost.” Where is the consent of for their rights and how to achieve change? suppression. The armed forces took over all and other Latin American countries, as well the American people, who have seen over 5000 One truly wonders what arrogance, trickery the important institutions including the radio as the European Union. The Organization of American soldiers killed in the wars in Iraq and and racism these imperialist countries display. and television stations, and rapidly cut off all American States (OAS) has condemned this Afghanistan, wars carried out without the consent lines of communication in order to suppress the illegal action and called for the reinstatement of of the American people and despite not only In this current time, the Iranian people will population and potential news leaks to outside President Zelaya. The coup d’etat regime has protests in the US but protests world wide. While determine for themselves what they will do for of Honduras. People soon began to protest, and been completely isolated and has no choice but Obama claims to mourn the reported 17 lives lost the future of themselves and their nation. As the illegal military junta found itself at odds to step down. in Iran, where is his conscious for the 1.2 million peace loving people, let us turn our attention to with the resistance of the population against the coup. On July 5th, almost 200,000 people We strongly condemn this coup d’etat, as Iraqi lives cut short by US war and occupation? these civilized criminals sitting in Washington well as the brutal kidnapping and beating and Ottawa, whose crimes in this new era of war gathered in the airport outside of Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital, to welcome back their of the Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan The government of Canada is also participating in and occupation are committed every day against Ambassadors to Honduras. We demand the this increased campaign to demonize the Iranian the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Haiti, President who was unsuccessfully attempting to return to the country. immediate release of Patricia Rodas, the government. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Pakistan, Cuba, Indigenous nations, and yes, Foreign Minister of Honduras. Cannon issued a statement saying Canada also Iran. This is where our human obligation Zelaya was overthrown by military thugs “will continue to call for a fully transparent lies, in pointing the finger at the governments of because his line of progressive measures was We invite all peace loving people in Vancouver, investigation into electoral discrepancies,” and the imperialist countries we live in, rather than helping people to improve their standard of and Canada to join millions of protesters around “The Iranian people deserve to have their voices countries under imperialist attack. living, and they were gaining confidence to fight the globe to condemn this coup and demand heard.” Yet the government of Canada upholds an for their rights - especially against imperialist that President Zelaya be returned to office illegitimate puppet government in Afghanistan, Hands Off Iran! domination. Since the military coup people have immediately whose election under the barrel of the gun of No Imperialist Intervention in Iran! been resisting by strikes and all other forms Imperialists Hands off Honduras! foreign occupation was wrought with fraud Self-determination for Iranian People! of protest. Marches and rallies are happening Re-instate President Manuel Zelaya Right Now!

www.mawovancouver.org A Suicidal Error Message of Support to Zelaya Fidel Castro’s Reflection on the Coup in Honduras In my reflection written last Thursday night, June Many other things happened today. Cubavision 25, I said: “We do not know what will happen dedicated itself totally to unmasking the coup, tonight or tomorrow in Honduras, but the brave informing our population all the time. conduct of Zelaya will go down in history.” There were actions of a purely fascist nature Two paragraphs before I noted: “What is which, while not unexpected, still come as a happening there will be a test for the OAS and shock. From René González on Behalf of the Cuban Five for the current United States administration.” Patricia Rodas, the foreign minister of Honduras, July 1, 2009 of lies for perverse aims. The prehistoric Inter-American institution was the fundamental target of the coup leaders. Reprinted from Daily Granma had met the other day in Washington and in Another detachment was sent to her residence. We also know of the joy inspired by the a muted, lukewarm resolution, promised to Brave and determined, she moved quickly, not Dear compañero Manuel Zelaya, the sole opportune combative expression of a daughter, immediately take the pertinent actions to seek losing a second to denounce the coup by all and dignified constitutional president of the unconditional commitment of the family, harmony between the warring parties. In other means available. Our ambassador contacted Honduras: or the clamor of universal solidarity, or the words, negotiations between the coup plotters Patricia to find out what was going on, as did incomparable love of an entire people. and the constitutional other ambassadors. Profound indignation has shaken our cells president of FREE PUBLIC FORUM At a certain point, she in the face of the brutal coup d’état in your Identifying with your dignified position, a Honduras. asked the diplomatic representatives of homeland, reminiscent of a past that is still reflection of your moral superiority over the The top military chief, Venezuela, Nicaragua fresh in the historic memory of Central usurpers, we extend to you, from the empire’s still commanding and Cuba to meet with America. prisons which, in the last 10 years, have the Honduran Armed her, given that she never been able to incarcerate our dignity as Forces, was making It would appear that the sinister failed plot was being relentlessly revolutionary Cubans, the expressions of our public statements in hunted down and needed in Caracas and then successfully applied in disagreement with unconditional support and the certainty that diplomatic protection. Haiti is now seeking, with its dress rehearsal the positions of the your people, armed with their own decency Honduras: Our ambassador, who in Middle America, to reverse the inevitable president, while People in Motion for was authorized to offer and their love of justice, will also overcome. recognizing the latter’s historic tendency of our peoples toward Social Change maximum support to authority merely the constitutional and overcoming their neocolonial conspiracies. A strong embrace from the Five. Why the Military Coup in Honduras in formal terms. legal minister from the Today it is the turn of the Honduran people, Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando and Will Not Succeed The coup plotters did outset, left to visit her at not need anything else under your dignified leadership and in an René her own residence. America that is no longer the same, to take from the OAS. They June 28, 2009. didn’t give a damn Wednesday When he was already up the honorable challenge of permanently July 15th about the presence in her house, the coup interring fascism, as an instrument of the 6:30pm of a large number of command sent in Major outdated reactionary oligarchies for whom international observers Oceguera to detain her. Joe’s Cafe homeland is synonymous with miserable who traveled to that in the large North Hall They (the ambassadors) country to vouchsafe 1150 Commercial Drive placed themselves in privileges. a popular referendum (at William Street) front of the woman and and to whom Zelaya stated that she was under Like you, we know from first-hand experience spoke until late in the Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) diplomatic protection the brutality of being awoken by armed guards, night. Before dawn WWW.MAWOVANCOUVER.ORG and could only be being taken half-dressed from our homes, today they deployed moved in their company. the ignoble utilization of judicial power to 200 professional and Oceguera argued with July 10, 2009 justify the crime, the employment of threats to well-trained soldiers to attack the president’s them respectfully. A few minutes later, 12 to 15 Tegucigalpa, Honduras residence. Roughly pushing aside the Honor uniformed and hooded men entered the house. demand renunciation, and of the starkest use Guard squadron, they then kidnapped Zelaya, The three ambassadors put their arms around who was sleeping at that point, took him to the Patricia; the masked men, acting in a brutal air base, forcibly bundled him aboard an airplane manner, managed to separate the ambassadors and transported him to an air base in Costa Rica. of Venezuela and Nicaragua; Hernández took her arm and clasped it so strongly that the masked At 8:30 a.m. we heard the news of the assault on men had to drag them both toward a van; they the Presidential residence and the kidnapping via drove them to the airbase, where they managed Telesur. The president was unable to attend the to separate them, and took Patricia off. As he (the opening event of the referendum that was to take Cuban ambassador) was detained there, Bruno place this Sunday. It was not known what they [Rodríguez, Cuban foreign minister], who was had done with him. informed of the kidnapping, called him on his PAKISTAN

cell phone; a masked man tried to grab it from AFGHANISTAN The official television channel was silenced. r ob s on s t .

They wanted to prevent premature broadcast him and the Cuban ambassador, who had already 18 July a t of the treacherous action via Telesur and been struck while at Patricia’s house, yelled at him: “Don’t push me around, goddamn it!” I don’t

Cubavision International, which were reporting IRAN 2 pm 2 the events. For that reason, they suspended all the recall if the word he uttered was used at any time retransmission centers and ended up by cutting by Cervantes but, doubtless, ambassador Juan off electrical power throughout the country. The Carlos Hernández has enriched our language.

Congress and the higher courts involved in the After that they left him on a highway far from hornby st.

conspiracy had not yet published the decisions 7 5 0

the embassy and before abandoning him, said Nations! Oppressed All & vancouver art gallery

that justified the plot. First they executed the that if he talked, something worse might happen Saturday IRAQ

indescribable military coup and then they Tamils Nations, Indigenous for

to him. “Nothing is worse than death!” he replied Iranian Community AgainstWar legalized it. with dignity, “and not for that do I fear you.”

U.S. HANDS OFF Iran & Pakistan! SELF-DETERMINATION SELF-DETERMINATION

END THE OCCUPATIONS END Mobilization AgainstWar & Occupation

The people awoke with People living in the www.mawovancouver.org the deed consummated July 8, 2009 area helped him to get Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Haiti Tamil& Eelam! and began to react with Tegucigalpa back to the embassy, growing indignation. where he immediately ! Zelaya’s whereabouts communicated again was unknown. Three with Bruno. hours later, the popular That coup high reaction was such command cannot

OUT that women could be be negotiated with, seen striking soldiers, they have to be made whose guns almost to resign and other, fell out their hands out younger officers who of pure confusion and are not committed to nervousness. Initially, the oligarchy should their movements resembled a strange combat take over the military command, or there will

CANADA against phantoms; later they tried to block the never be a government “of the people, by Telesur cameras with their hands, aiming their the people and for the people” in Honduras. guns shakily at the reporters and at times, when The coup plotters, cornered and isolated, have no the people advanced, falling back. They sent in possible salvation if the problem is confronted armoured transport carriers with cannons and with determination. machine guns. The population argued fearlessly with the crews; the popular reaction was By the afternoon, even Mrs. Clinton had declared amazing. that Zelaya is the only president of Honduras,

AFGHANISTAN and the Honduran coup leaders can’t even WAR DRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN!

At around two in the afternoon, working THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S breathe without the support of the United States. OF

Monthly Picket Action! Thursday July 23 4-5pm

Canadian Armed Forces Recruitment Center Recruitment

620 Royal Ave, New Westminster Ave, 620 Royal (Near New Westminster Skytrain and (Near New Westminster Douglas College) INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO in coordination with the coup leaders, a In his nightshirt up until a few hours ago, Zelaya www.mawovancouver.org domesticated majority in Congress deposed will be acknowledged by the world as the only Zelaya, the constitutional president of Honduras, constitutional president of Honduras. and appointed a new head of state, affirming to the world that the former had stepped down, and Get involved Meetings furnishing a forged signature. A few minutes Wednesdays - 6:30PM later, from an aircraft in Costa Rica, Zelaya For location, please visit our website: recounted everything that had happened and Fidel Castro Ruz categorically refuted the news of his resignation. June 28, 2009 mawovancouver.org The conspirators made themselves look ridiculous 6:14 p.m. e. [email protected] Translated by Granma International before the world. t. 604-322-1764 MAWO Newsletter #23 Created by: f. 604-322-1763 Janine Solanki, Kerri Goodwin, Andrew Berry, Shakeel Lochan, Thomas Davies, Ali Yerevani & Nita Palmer with MAWO! www.mawovancouver.org