Demonstration: Civil society condemns US stance on Syria

Say US is using human rights violations as excuse to further its imperialist agenda in region.

ISLAMABAD:

Civil society members held a protest outside the Islamabad Press Club on Tuesday to condemn possible US military action against the Syrian government. They raised slogans and held up placards against US imperialism and militancy.

They also urged the United Nations to take notice of a recent statement from US President Barack Obama expressing his intent to initiate military action against Syria.

“The US has repeatedly violated fundamental human rights around the world — whether it was using nuclear bombs in Japan, chemical weapons in Vietnam, or supplying chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war,” said rights activist Farzana Bari.

She opined that the US had no moral authority to speak about human rights and use it as an excuse to engage in military action to expand its own imperialist agenda in the region.



Dr Yasmeen Zaidi, a civil society representative, maintained that instead of attacking peaceful nations, there is a need to condemn the military industrial complex and security apparatus of the US.

“War has become a business and has claimed innocent lives all over the world. However, it is by no means a solution to the [Syrian] uprising,” said Zaidi. On the other hand, engaging in diplomacy and dialogue can lead to a peaceful solution, she added.

The protesters called upon all democratic forces in the world, saying they must unite against US aggression and imperialist interests in the region. They observed that US military action in Syria could potentially spark another world war.

They also condemned the 30-month-long civil war in Syria and the alleged use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians. Over 10,000 people have died in the conflict and 1.7 million have become refugees.

The protest was organised by Movement for Social Justice, Constituency Relations Group, Women Councillors Network, Pattan Development Organisation and Labour Qaumi Movement.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2013.