Speak-out on Balkans war
By Bea Brear
SYDNEY — The socialist youth organisation Resistance organised a snap speak-out at Town Hall on April 16 against the NATO war on Serbia and Serbia's attacks on Kosova.
Resistance organiser Sarah Peart spoke about the massive contradiction between the US's stated aim of defending the Kosovars against Serbian aggression and the plight of the Kosovars as a result of the bombing. Peart said that the real reasons for the NATO bombing were maintaining pro-Western governments in the region and the desire to quash any independent force that may threaten those interests, such as the KLA.
Marina Carman, Democratic Socialist Party organiser, condemned the Howard government's support for the NATO bombing and its inadequate response to the refugee crisis. "If the Howard government really cares about the Kosovars, why are they only taking in 4000 refugees? Why are they proposing to place them in remote locations away from any Albanian-speaking communities?"
She also called for the closure of US bases in Australia like Pine Gap, which are being used to aid NATO's war effort.
"Passers-by stopped to read our placards — 'NATO bombing won't free Kosova' and 'Stop the war! Free Kosova!' — and to sign the petition", said Resistance member Keara Courtney. "Many people have a healthy suspicion about the motives of the US in this war, and oppose the bombing. People were refreshed to see us organising opposition to the war while supporting the Kosovar people's right to self-determination."