Just before the dissolution of the last parliament in May 2005 New Labour rushed through its Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. Part of the bill limits the right to protest in the vicinity of parliament.
Brian Haw is a 56-year-old former furniture maker and merchant seaman, who in June 2001, following Labour’s re-election, set up a one man demonstration against policies – especially the continued sanctions on Iraq – that were killing children in their hundreds of thousands. His demonstration has now lasted four years. During that time the invasion of Afghanistan has taken place, as have the subsequent invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Brian has fought off attempts to remove him by the Royal Parks and, most famously, Westminster Council, who he defeated in the High Court, where the judge upheld his right to protest as a basic human right. In 2003, when war fever was at its height, he was twice brutally attacked and hospitalised. Each time he returned to his pitch. Neither of his attackers has been brought to justice. Twice Brian has been accused of assaulting police officers. Both times he was dragged through the courts only to be exonerated. Over the years he has suffered much verbal abuse (whilst at the same time receiving great support from people from many nations). Despite the harassment and aggression he has stayed put, determined to keep to his task.
So why has the government brought in a law to remove Brian? Why is he such a thorn in its flesh? It is true that he sometimes uses a megaphone to put across his message. It is also true that he has erected a display of placards and banners along most of one side of Parliament Square.
However, it is not the level of noise from his megaphone or his alleged spoiling of the ‘visual aspect of Parliament Square’ that so upsets this government and its supporters. It is the words he speaks and the pictures he shows. Tony Blair fervently wishes to move on from the Iraq War, but Brian will not let him. He continues to speak of the lies Blair used to take this country to war. He displays pictures of Iraqi children suffering cancers and terrible deformities as a result of the use of depleted uranium weapons by Allied forces in the first gulf war (a crime repeated in the second war) and others injured or killed by Coalition bombing in the second war.
The liberal press seeks to portray Brian as a lone eccentric (see The Guardian editorial 27 June 2005) and the privileged politicos of Westminster (with a few honourable exceptions) as nothing more than an irritant and hindrance to the successful operation of the tourist industry, precisely because they do not want to deal with what he is actually saying.
During the Vietnam War the Labour government stonewalled attempts in the House of Commons to discuss civilian casualties resulting from the obscene bombing of North Vietnam by the United States, as such discussion would inevitably show Britain’s support for the US to be indefensible. Today, Labour will not discuss casualties in Iraq for the same reason. That is why they are determined to remove Brian.
On 1 August the Stop The War Coalition will demonstrate in Parliament Square against the new laws. One hopes that they will be there to support Brian on the following day. According to the Evening Standard, it is from the 2nd that the police will make arrests.
All opponents of British imperialism should support Brian. To find out more, log on to his website at: http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/, contact me on: 07792 119 469; visit Brian at Parliament Square.
Peter Tajasque
FRFI 186 August / September 2005
