[antiwar-van] For Immediate Release: MAWO statement on 3rd anniversary of Iraq invasion

[Kira Koshelanyk]

Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)
www.mawovancouver.org|info at mawovancouver.org|604-322-1764

March 17th, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

COMBAT SPIKES ON THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE INVASION OF IRAQ
VANCOUVER GEARS UP FOR GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION AGAINST WAR

Media Contacts:
Shannon Bundock (MAWO Co-Chair) --------- 778 891 1470
Kira Koshelanyk (MAWO Co-Chair) --------- 778 881 6156
Nita Palmer     (MAWO Acting Secretary)-- 604 780 7604

In Vancouver on March 18th, Lower Mainland antiwar coalition
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) will be on the streets
to support an antiwar rally being organized by StopWar.ca. Protesters
will gather at Seaforth Park at 11:30AM for a march to the Vancouver
Art Gallery.

Four days before the third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the US
has launched what it is calling the "largest air assault" since the
initial invasion. This new campaign of violence in Iraq comes just two
days before March 18th, an International Day of Action Against War.
Between March 18th – 20th people all over the world will be on the
streets protesting the dawn of yet another year of a war on the Iraqi
people.

"In light of recent developments in Iraq this International Day of
Action is extremely important," says Shannon Bundock, MAWO co-chair.

"For us in Canada March 18th will also be a day to protest the
aggressive role of Canada in and occupation in Afghanistan. People in
Afghanistan have been suffering under occupation for over four years
now. The occupation has not brought anything good to the people of
Afghanistan, nor to the people of Canada,"

MAWO has organized almost daily pickets against the increased Canadian
military presence in Afghanistan in recent weeks, which have received
much attention from national media. The demands of these pickets have
been "CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!" and "CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC
INQUIRY INTO THE CANADIAN WAR DRIVE IN AFGHANISTAN!"

MAWO has been organizing to build active opposition to Canada's war
drive in Afghanistan and make Canada's occupation of Afghanistan a
main issue for the antiwar movement, alongside opposition to the
occupation of Iraq.

The antiwar rally on March 18th will be followed the next day by an
all-day antiwar conference organized by MAWO entitled "Against the
Imperialist War Drive! For the Self-Determination of Oppressed
Nations". This conference will be held at the Britannia Community
Centre, 1661 Napier St, from 10AM-7PM on Sunday, March 19th. For more
information, please visit our website at: www.mawovancovuer.org.

Press contacts will be available for interviews throughout both the
March 18th rally and March 19th conference.

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