Sydney Stop the War Coalition is organizing a bus trip to Canberra on Thursday November 17 when US President Barack Obama will address the Australian Parliament.
The visit – his first to Australia as President – marks the 60th anniversary of the Australian-US war alliance. Bipartisan Australian governmental support for this war alliance has meant that Australia has been the US' “deputy sheriff” in the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond.
This has entrenched a bipartisan sycophancy which has included sending Australian troops to join wars for oil - Iraq - and other natural resources and political leverage –Afghanistan.
Australian governments are therefore not only complicit in the deaths of Australian soldiers, but of countless civilians. This bipartisanship has also led to complicity in the rendition of Australian citizens.Obama has prosecuted more whistleblowers than any other president, with Australia
compliance.
In the case of Bradley Manning, the US Army is preparing a pretrial hearing which will disclose the details of the government case against him. This case has been unfairly prejudiced by Obama’s public statement that “he broke the law”. As this case accelerates, Obama’s visit provides an opportune time to call for Bradley Manning to be released.
Julian Assange will face judgement on November 2. Should the outcome not be
favourable, he is in danger of eventual extradition to the United States, due to a legal device known as Temporary Surrender. In the event of a good outcome, Assange's visa is about to expire and, due to the US government’s financial block, Wikileaks is in jeopardy. In deference to the United States, the Australian government has given scant protection to one of its citizens.
Bradley Manning, Julian Assange and Wikileaks need the support of the Wikicitizens – especially while Obama, an alleged supporter of free speech and the internet, is speaking in Canberra.
Stop the War Coalition will be joining StandFast (veterans and former service people against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan), Wikileaks and Bradley Manning supporters among others on the lawns of Parliament House from 10.30am till 1.30pm.
To get a seat on the protest bus from Sydney to Canberra ring Christine Keavney on 0423 161 846 or email christine.keavney@yahoo.com to confirm your seat (approx $33 return) by Friday, November 5.
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