Lucas Calls for Return Of Troops From Iraq At Protest Rally Outside RAF Base
25 November 2006
“Families are losing their sons and daughters, children are being orphaned, and with every month that passes Iraq becomes a more and more dangerous place to be,” she said during the national demonstration, which was organized by Stop the War and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
“It’s time to wake up to the fact that the UK occupation is part of the problem – not the solution – and bring the troops home safely now in time to spend Christmas with their families here in the UK.”
RAF Brize Norton is the UK ’s largest military base, and transport hub for all British troops going in and out of Iraq . It has been used to forcibly expel asylum-seekers back to Iraq .
The demonstration, which attracted thousands of peace protestors from across the country, heard calls for an end to British involvement in conflict across the region. RAF Brize Norton should be used to co-ordinate bringing the troops home.
Participants laid flowers outside the RAF base as a mark of respect for all who have died, of any nationality, in Iraq and Afghanistan .
Dr Lucas, who is a member of CND’s national decision-making council as well as co-founder and co-president of the European Parliament’s cross-party Peace Initiatives Intergroup, said: “Our message today is very simple: Tony Blair, bring the troops back home from Iraq now – men and women are dying and all the while your disastrous policy is making conditions in Iraq worse, not better.”
The rally assembled at Caterton before marching past the base. The Green Euro-MP for South-East England addressed the rally at about 2.15pm, shortly after the march passed RAF Brize Norton. Other speakers included Jeremy Corbyn MP, CND Chair Kate Hudson, Stop the War’s Lindsey German and Andrew Murray and a speaker from the British Muslim Initiative.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The rally was called by CND and Stop the War. Click here for more details.
To hear Caroline’s speech, please click here.
