Meetings oppose US troops, call for an independent and peaceful foreign policy

Vanguard July 2012 p. 6-7
Alice M.

Public outcry to the Australian government’s deeper integration of Australian defence forces into the US imperialist war machine has been widespread.

Malcolm Fraser, Hugh White, several retired army officers and academics have all condemned the Australian government’s subservience.

Malcolm Fraser called for an independent foreign policy that serves the national interests of Australia, not big dominant powers.

Peace and community groups, churches, the Greens and some unions have come together in a growing nation-wide movement calling for independence from the US military and expelling all foreign military bases from Australia.

In May and June well attended public meetings were held in Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with similar meetings being planned by communities in Adelaide and Freemantle.

Darwin held several public meetings with a rally planned on 4th July outside the Robertson barracks where US troops are being stationed. The rally is called Independence (from US) Day.

In Brisbane, a very successful public meeting was held with main speakers Peter Stanley (war historian), Felicity Hill (advisor to the Greens Senator Scott Ludlum) and long time activist from the Philippines “Ban the Bases” movement, Boyette Jurcales Jnr, broadcast on Radio National’s Big Ideas programme.

In Melbourne, a meeting of over 130 people heard several speakers, including the experiences of mass struggles and mobilisations by the people of Okinawa in Japan and in the Philippines against US military bases and forces and US economic and cultural domination.

The Melbourne meeting passed the following resolution:

“This public meeting in Melbourne on 19 June, endorses the establishment of a broad-based community campaign to promote public discussion around the US influence over the Australian government’s foreign policies and Australia’s military facilities; and to build solidarity between the peoples of Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

“This meeting opposes the expansion of US military facilities and activities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific, and calls on the Australian government to adopt an independent foreign policy based on genuine Australian sovereignty that promotes peace in the region.”

The people’s demands for Australian sovereignty and independence from the US military are part of the overall direction of Australian people’s struggle for economic, political, military and cultural independence from imperialism. It will grow and spread.

Taking this important campaign to the working class and unions will strengthen the rising movement for sovereignty, peace and independence from US military war plans and activities.

Real sovereignty and independence from domination and dependence on imperialism can only be guaranteed in a truly independent and socialist Australia where the working class runs the country.