Global Peace And Justice Auckland http://www.gpja.pl.net

Israeli conscientious objector to speak at antiwar protest Saturday

A 21 year old Israeli conscientious objector who was jailed for refusing to continue to serve in the Israeli Defence Forces, will be speaking at the protest march planned for Auckland this Saturday lunchtime.

Rotem Dan Mor was released from the army in February this year after 18 months on active service and a further 6 months refusing to wear his uniform or carry out any duties "for an army whose ways I don't believe in". One month of that time was spent in jail. Rotem Dan Mor says that he hopes that "by speaking out about my experience I can offer some insights into how a peaceful life can be achieved for the people of Israel/Palestine."

The Saturday march has been called by Auckland peace groups to oppose current threats of war against Iraq and to call for justice for the Palestinian people. Mike Treen, spokesperson for Global Peace and Justice Auckland, says the latest dossier produced by the British government shows just how thin the justification for war is. "This is a war about oil and US strategic domination of a region that holds two-thirds of the world's known oil reserves", he said.

The march will leave Queen Elizabeth Square at 12 noon and rally at Aotea Square where there will be a number of speakers including representatives of the Iraqi and Palestinian communities living in Auckland.

"The real threat too international security comes from the Bush administration in Washington which holds most of the worlds weapons of mass destruction and opposes any form of international arms control treaty," said Mike Treen

"Today The US will be conducting another 'sub critical' nuclear test at its Nevada Test site and just a week ago walked away from an agreement to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention. The US refuses any inspections of weapons facilities on its own soil while arming the Sharon regime in Israel which both possesses nuclear weapons and defies the United Nations over its illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

"Saturday is a chance for Aucklanders to join a international day of action to stay the warmongers hand."

You can visit Rotem's website at: http://geocities.com/rotemmor/

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