Anti-War Forum Held in Winnipeg

Over 250 people participated in an anti-war meeting held at the University of Winnipeg on January 18 as part of the international day of action to oppose an American-led war against Iraq.

The meeting was organized by the No War Against Iraq coalition, with participation from trade unions, political organizations, youth and student groups, religious organizations, Aboriginal groups and others.

The event began with spiritual and cultural presentations, followed by a panel discussion with representatives of some of the organizing groups.

Speaker after speaker during the panel discussion made it clear that despite the coy games the Chretien Liberals are playing, the Canadian people oppose participation in any American aggression against Iraq.

Mark Golden of Jews for a Just Peace pointed out that there already is a war against Iraq. Military actions have been carried out for ten years to enforce the no-fly zones over much of Iraqi territory, resulting in direct attacks on Iraqi civilians and the destruction of much civilian infrastructure. He also spoke about the devastation caused by more than a decade of crippling economic sanctions.

Roger Dubois of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace called on people of faith to reject the war "whether the United Nations Security Council authorizes it or not." Economic justice, true development and international solidarity are what is needed in the world today, he said, not a rush to war.

Paul Moist spoke on behalf of both CUPE and the Manitoba Federation of Labour. He urged Prime Minister Jean Chretien to establish an independent Canadian foreign policy and take a stand internationally in opposition to the U.S. war preparations. The Bush doctrine of "you're either with us or against us" has created a dangerous worldwide situation, he said, and human beings together must reject this doctrine.

Terry Nelson, of the Okijiida Warriors Society, spoke in detail about the plight of the Iraqi people. Nelson, who participated in a fact-finding delegation of First Nations people to Iraq in 1998 to investigate the impact of economic sanctions, also described the aftermath of the use of depleted uranium against Iraqis during the 1991 war. "What is depleted uranium if not a weapon of mass destruction? What are economic sanctions if not weapons of mass destruction?" he asked to applause.

A representative from the World Peoples Resistance Movement condemned the governments of the richest and most powerful nations on earth for bombing small, poor countries into submission.

Judy Wasylicia-Leis, the NDP MP for Winnipeg North Centre, challenged the notion that might makes right. She called on the Chretien government to hold a full debate in Parliament on the question of Canada's participation in any attack on Iraq. "The federal government has been at best passive and at worst complicit with plans to attack Iraq," she said. Instead, she said, Canada had a special responsibility to try and convince our American neighbours to embrace constructive diplomacy instead of war.

Esther Epp Theissen, from the Mennonite Central Committee, described the suffering she witnessed during a visit to Iraq a few months ago. "It is an obscenity that anyone should contemplate bringing further death and destruction on the Iraqi people," she said.

Cheryl Edwards, of the Okijiida Warrior Society and the Native Youth Movement, was the final speaker. She pointed out the absurdity of Canada preparing to participate in an attack against Iraq when it can't even resolve problems with its Aboriginal people in its own backyard.

The event ended with smaller group discussions and informal discussion.