[antiwar-van] For Immediate Release: Vancouver Antiwar Coalition Responds to Canadian Soldier Injuries in Afghanistan

[shannon bundock]

For Immediate Release

Date: October 6, 2005
Released by: Mobilization Against War and Occupation
(MAWO)
Press Contacts: 
Shannon Bundock 778.891.1470
Kira Koshelanyk 778. 881. 6156	  
 
Bomb in Afghanistan Wounds 3 Canadian Soldiers
Call for an Independent Public Inquiry Issued by
Vancouver’s Antiwar Coalition

Three Canadian soldiers were wounded when a bomb blast
went off near a Canadian military convoy on the
outskirts of Kandahar, Afghanistan on October 5, 2005.
Canada has recently deployed 250 soldiers to the
Kandahar region, with 1000 more set to deploy in 2006.


Last week Defense Minister Bill Graham warned that the
move by Canadian troops from the capital of Kabul to
Kandahar could boost the odds of Canadian soldiers’
deaths and injuries.

“Minister Graham is correct in his estimation that
death and injuries will increase, not only for
soldiers, but for Afghan people as well,” said
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)
co-chair Shannon Bundock. “First and foremost, these
soldiers are moving outside the relative stability of
Kabul into a serious war zone.” 

On July 14th 2005, General Rick Hillier of the
Canadian Armed Forces announced in a press conference
that 2000 more troops would be added to those already
stationed in Afghanistan. He made it clear that these
soldiers would be engaged in combat. He also stated
the purpose of the Canadian military is “to be able to
kill people.”

The injuries of October 5th prove that these troops
are not on a peaceful mission, but rather are in the
center of armed conflict. This development has
enforced the need for Mobilization Against War and
Occupation’s (MAWO) recent call for an independent
public inquiry into the increase in Canada’s military
presence in Afghanistan.

“With the degree of death and destruction that comes
with occupation, the question that remains for people
in Canada is ‘What, if anything, are these soldiers
improving in Afghanistan?’” said MAWO co-chair Kira
Koshelanyk. She went on to state, “With the absence of
public and parliamentary discussion, this is one of
many questions that was not asked or answered before
the decision was made to increase forces.” 

Koshelanyk continued, “We have responded to these
backroom decisions by putting out a Canada-wide call
for an independent public inquiry to open the question
for independent, public and parliamentary debate.” 
  

-30-

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)
info at mawovancouver.org
www.mawovancouver.org
602.322.1764



	

	
		
__________________________________________________________ 
Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca