Against violence (From Stroud News and Journal)

Against violence

MARCHERS turned up in their thousands to take part at a demonstration at Fairford airbase on Saturday, March 22.

The protest was organised by the Stroud-based Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors.

A star-studded line-up of speakers included political comedian Mark Thomas, Radiohead singer Thom Yorke, journalist George Monbiot and Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas.

Campaigning journalist George Monbiot spoke about America's own biological warfare programme and its efforts to usurp the United Nations as the source of international law.

"What we're seeing at the moment is a slow motion but inexonerable international coup," he said.

"In Iraq we are witnessing an attack on the world against all the norms of international law."

Author and comedian Will Self was also on the march.

"Now it's under way I don't think our role is over by any means at all," he told the SNJ.

He said accusations of disloyalty while British forces were in danger was absurd.

"I feel we are the loyalists and the patriots," he said.

Mark Thomas said: "This is the belly of the beast, the place where the barbarity starts which will define this century."

Valerie Lucznikowska of September 11 Families for Peaceful Resolution: "We are dedicated to peace, finding the terrorists behind the attacks and trying them in an international court of law.

"We are also dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence. "We see no connection between Saddam Hussein and September 11

* For more news from the Fairford protest see the thisisstroud.com features section.