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Remembering the war in Afghanistan 10 years on

Peace protestors picket Downing Street as the war in Afghanistan is remembered 10 years on at a protest march and rally. London, United Kingdom. 8th...

by Steve Punter in United Kingdom on 08/10/2011

Politics

Ten Years On - Stop The War Coalition in London

Ten years after the invasion of Afghanistan, the Stop The War Coalition, CND and MAB held a lengthy mass rally in Trafalgar Square before marching to...

by Peter Marshall in United Kingdom on 08/10/2011

The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, held a public meeting at St. Paul's Church in Hammersmith, West London. Stop the War coalition demonstrated outside demanding the release of Shaker Aamer, a legal permanent resident of the UK who has been held in Guantanamo Bay since 2002 without charges. London, United Kingdom, 19/02/2010.

The public meetings over the next few weeks are seen by some to be drumming up support for labour in a number of constituencies in the pre-election period. Miliband answered a number of questions on a range of issues, not limited to foreign affairs. Perhaps this is the beginning of Miliband solidifying the process to attempt to take over from Gordon Brown, or just another step in trying to secure a victory for Labour at the polls. Either way, it was clear at the beginning of the meeting he looked nervous, as brief shouts from the Stop the War Coalition could be heard from outside.

The Stop the War Coalition really came to life at the beginning of the meeting, but could only be heard as people entered the church. They were demonstrating against a number of issues on the foreign policy agenda such as, the war in Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent occupation, the use of torture and extraordinary rendition of ‘terror suspects’ and the refusal to hold the Israeli government accountable for war crimes in Palestine. 

The main focus from the Coalition was on Shaker Aamer who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, but is a legal permanent resident of the UK, married to a British national with four children. He was working for an Islamic charity in 2001 in Khabul. After September 11th, when the US led bombing campaign in Afghanistan began, he fled fearing the Northern Alliance would take him prisoner as they were suspicious of all Arabs in the country. In the end he was captured by Afghan villagers who were fighting with the US Forces. He was taken by the Americans to Bagram Air Force base in December 2001 where he was heavily tortured and confessed to anything to stop the torture, and as a result was transferred to Guantanamo Bay in February 2002. Reprive, an organisation who enforce human rights for prisoners took up his case which helped his clearance for release. Although the British government requested his return to the UK, negotiations with the US ceased in December 2007.

Politics

David Miliband holds public meeting in West London

DMTX. The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, held a public meeting at St. Paul's Church in Hammersmith, West London. Stop the War...

by Alex Milan Tracy in United Kingdom on 19/02/2010

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