[antiwar-van] For Imm Rls: Antiwar Protest Against Cdn Occupation of Afghanistan (Apr 23, Van)

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Mobilization Against War and Occupation – MAWO
www.mawovancouver.org | info at mawovancouver.org
Ph. 604-322-1764 | Fax. 604-322-1762

NEWS ITEM
For Immediate Release
April 23, 2006

Press Contact: MAWO Co-Chair Shannon Bundock
778-891-1470

-------------------------
Anti-War Rally
CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN! INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY
NOW!
US/UK OUT OF IRAQ!
SELF-DETERMINATION FOR SIX NATIONS AND ALL INDIGENOUS
NATIONS IN CANADA!

Sunday April 23,
3pm
Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson St at Hornby St)

**Featured speakers available for 3pm press statement:

LISA BARRETT, Councilor/former mayor of Bowen Island &
SHANNON BUNDOCK, Co-Chair of MAWO about the occupation
of Afghanistan;
LINDSAY BOMBERRY, Onondaga Nation of the Six Nations
Confederacy &
ANITA MCPHEE, Tahltan Nation about the current
struggle of the Six Nations Confederacy in Ontario
-------------------------

ANTI-WAR PROTEST TARGETS CANADA’S OCCUAPTION OF
AFGHANISTAN AS FOUR MORE SOLDIERS DIE IN KANDAHAR

Four more Canadian soldiers died Early Saturday April
22nd when their armoured vehicle was struck by a
roadside bomb 75 Km north of Kandahar in Southern
Afghanistan. Sixteen Canadian soldiers have died since
Canada first sent troops to Afghanistan in early 2002
– nine of these sixteen have died in only the past
month and a half, since Canada took over troop command
in a self described ‘combat mission’ in Southern
Afghanistan.

Canada’s Defense Minister Gordon O’Connor responded to
these deaths by reminding, “We are in Afghanistan
because of our national interests (…) we are not going
to let the terrorists stop us.” He also explained that
the Parliament buildings will not lower their flags to
half mast because "all casualties of war” will be
remembered on November 11th.

MAWO Co-Chair Shannon Bundock responded, “These four
more ‘casualties of war’ are a sign of just how real
the war drive really is that Canada is carrying out
against the Afghan people. There is no more pretending
that Canada is carrying out a ‘peacekeeping’ mission
in Afghanistan. In the last week we have heard in the
media about the shooting of families at check points,
the bombing of schoolchildren, and again more and more
attacks on Canadian soldiers. This is not in the
‘national interest’ of people in Canada or Afghanistan
and we are here to demand that Canada get out of
Afghanistan now.”

“Beyond rhetoric, the government of Canada has never
explained why 2,300 Canadian troops are occupying
Afghanistan,” Bundock continued. “The so-called
‘debate’ in parliament was a charade with no party
coming out in opposition. This is why we are also
calling for an INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY into
Canada’s occupation of Afghanistan – to ask the
question: WHY does Canada has 2,300 troops in
Afghanistan to kill and be killed?”

Lisa Barrett, Councilor and former mayor of Bowen
Island will speak at the demonstration about Canada’s
occupation of Afghanistan. Also speaking at the
demonstration will be Lindsay Bomberry, Onondaga
Nation of the Six Nations Confederacy and Anita
McPhee, Tahltan Nation about the current crisis of the
Six Nations Confederacy in Ontario.

Bundock explained this connection, “It is no
coincidence that the government has carried out
vicious police actions and are considering deploying
the military to steal the land of the Six Nations;
this is the same method that they are using against
people in Afghanistan. We are protesting today to say
that this military action to steal and control
oppressed peoples’ land, resources and territory is
not in the interest of any working or poor people in
Canada. This is why, along with demanding CANADA OUT
OF AFGHANISTAN! and US/UK OUT OF IRAQ! We are also
demanding SELF DETERMINATION FOR SIX NATIONS AND ALL
INDIGENOUS NATIONS IN CANADA!”

-30-

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