One woman was so incensed by the war in Iraq that she exercised what we all thought was her freedom of speech and read out the list of British soldiers killed there at the Cenotaph on the Day of Rememberance in 2005.
So Kafkaesque is life under Labour that peacenik Maya Anne Evans was arrested and fined £250. She now finds herself facing prison for acting on a point of principle and not paying a fine that most people would consider an absurd waste of the police and court's time anyway.
But in the greater scheme of things, her moving expression of a wish for peace is regarded as a bigger travesty than an invasion that has left over a million Iraqi war dead and 171 dead British soldiers.
Maya reminds us that, three years ago this Thursday, when allied forces bombed the town of Fallujah with white phosphorous bombs - a substance that burns to the bone - 550 out of the 700 bodies recovered were of women and children. What a horrible way for anyone to die. It cries out for protest, not a slapping down of dissent.
I'm actually in awe of people like Maya and her associate, Milan Rai, for their courage even to the point of going to prison, as Milan has already done and Maya may yet have to do. If the Left was stronger and hadn't been hobbled by sociopathic cliques over the years, perhaps Maya and her fellow activists would find themselves better supported by a wider vibrant anti-war movement. As it goes, best of luck, Maya.
3 comments:
I have heard Milan speak many times he never disappoints. And has written a couple of piece of Labour Left Briefing.
Glen Rangwala and Ewa Jasiewicz (she has done fantastic work in highlighting the oil law in Iraq and has made links with Iraqi Oil Workers Union).
There was a play last spring, Fallujah, that took a more interactive and audience participation at looking at the war. Very good play and the music by Nitin Sawhney was brilliant.
Good post to highlight the likes of Maya and Milan.
Thanks, Louise. Wish I'd seen the play.
A
Thanks for reminding us of Maya Anne Evans unselfish act, I find it so encouraging that there are still such great people around who are not prepared to sit back helplessly.
Post a Comment