Big peace demonstration Amsterdam F15; report
Stop Dumbya Bush - 16.02.2003 10:36
On Saturday 15 February, one of many demonstrations all over the world for peace for the Iraqi people, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Though the weather was freezing and windy, many demonstrators opposing George W. Bush’s war plans had come: over 80.000-100.000 according to organizers (bigger than the biggest anti Vietnam war demonstration in The Netherlands, in the 1970s).
Anti war demonstrators near Dam square, Amsterdam, F15
Big peace demonstration in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
On Saturday 15 February, people gathered for one of many demonstrations all over the world for peace for the Iraqi people, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This was on Dam square, in the city centre. Though the weather was freezing and windy, many demonstrators opposing George W. Bush’s war plans had come: over 80.000-100.000 according to organizers (bigger than the biggest anti Vietnam war demonstration in The Netherlands, in the 1970s); 65.000-70.000 according to police. The big Dam square was not big enough for them. Photo’s, videos, etc. of the Amsterdam demonstration are at:
 http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9339.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9348.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9364.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9367.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9376.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9388.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9404.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9414.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9434.shtml
http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2003/02/9454.shtml
http://squat.net/ascii/tmp/f15/pics/
http://www.nl.freemedia.info/
http://www.vandervlies.com/
http://www.sp.nl/service/dossiers/irak/demo/
At the same time, there were demonstrations on all continents. See http://unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=725
Already at 12, one hour before the official beginning, people crowded before the stage of the red and yellow truck of Theaterstraat theatre company. Then, members of the Dutch Socialist Party had already run out of rattles to hand out to fellow demonstrators, though they still had some red whistles.
Signs said: Oorlog oliedom (War for oil is stupid). Not one man, not one woman, not one cent, for the war. Stop Dutch participation in the war. Stop war for oil and money. Against imperialism, for international friendship. There was a replica of Pablo Picasso's famous painting Guernica (covered at the UN when Colin Powell spoke in order to "protect" TV audiences from obvious parallels). The Amsterdam replica had as caption: "Guernica 1937, Hiroshisma 1945, Halabja 1988, ... Baghdad 2003??" There were green and black Greenpeace banners; symbols of anarchist punk rock band Crass; red and black anarchist flags; red flags of the New Communist Party of The Netherlands; flags of Morocco, Iraq, and Palestine. Leaflets changed hands, like from the Activists’ School, Turkish women from Amsterdam, Iraqi refugees, Moluccans, International Socialists, and Social Equality Party of Germany. There were people from all regions of The Netherlands, and of many nationalities, including African, African American, Filipino and Chilean. Also buses from Western Germany had come, Amsterdam being closer than Berlin, where over half a million people demonstrated. 8 buses came from Cologne to Amsterdam. I met a man from Osnabrück, who had planned to go by bus to Berlin. However, the buses were full, so he went by private car to Amsterdam.
As the first demonstrators arrived, music by US antiwar singer David Rovics came from the loudspeakers.
At 12.45, the first people on stage, an Iraqi music group, started playing.
At 1 pm, the first speaker was Ms Saskia Kouwenberg. She welcomed on behalf of the organizers, the Platform “tegen de 'Nieuwe Oorlog'” (against the New War), all demonstrators, mentioning especially the US Americans and Iraqis, demonstrating together.
Then, Jan Marijnissen, chair of the Socialist Party, stated his opposition to the war, to George W. Bush’s doctrine of “preventive war” (or “primitive war”?)
Then, Faisal Nasser, of the Iraqi Platform in The Nederlands. He stated that Saddam Hussein should go. However, war was absolutely the wrong way to bring that about.
After Faisal Nasser, the Iraqi music group returned to the stage. A lady in black clothes and headdress, an Iraqi flag in her hand, liked it so much she danced on stage.
After this came Saida Kouchami, of Youth for Palestine. Then, Moroccan Dutch Miryam Aouragh of the International Socialists warned on disastrous consequences war on Iraq might have for Palestinians.
The next speaker, Jan Gruiters, was of Pax Christi and the Dutch National Council of Churches.
After him came a concert for flutes and whistles, including the tens of thousands of whistles in the audience.
The next speaker was Ms Femke Halsema, leader of the Green Left party (which interrupted its party conference to enable delegates to participate in the demonstration).
Ms Kouwenberg, as chair, to loud applause thought it wrong that Mr Wouter Bos, leader of the PvdA, the Dutch Labour Parry, was absent (some signs of demonstrators asked: Have you seen Wouter Bos anywhere?). However, she praised those PvdA members who did attend (including MP’s Godelieve van Heteren and Khadiya Arib, and ex Environment Minister Jan Pronk). J. Kohnstamm of “Left Liberal” party D66 was also present.
The last speaker was Nuri Karabulat of DIDF (Turkish workers organization in The Netherlands), who pointed out the very strong opposition in Turkey to war on Iraq.
As the demonstrators departed from the Dam, Cmon&Kypski played music. The demonstration went from the Dam to: Paleisstraat, Rozengracht, Marnixstraat, Leidseplein. After the big banner in front with “No war on Iraq”, the main slogan, a group of both Iraqi and US demonstrators, residents in The Netherlands, were supposed to come. See about them:
http://www.vredessite.nl/nieuweoorlog/2003/americansagainstwar1102.html
However, the Dam was so overcrowded that this group ended up somewhat later in the march. They got very much applause from co-demonstrators, though.
Among the slogans which people shouted or had on signs were: George Bush, terrorist! Bombing civilians is senseless violence. Peace camp Volkel (airbase in the South of the Netherlands where US nuclear bombs are hidden). Bombs don’t catch criminals. Make love, not war. The song: Give peace a chance was heard. Some teenage Dutch Moroccan boys managed to climb up the window sill of a big building, applauding the passing demonstrators and getting applause in return from them. One could also hear slogans in Turkish and Kurdish.
Many people encouraged the demonstrators from their homes’ windows. As demonstrators passed a restaurant its windows were covered with peace slogans like: Marloes is also against war. And the names of the other workers of the restaurant, all with peace messages of their own.
When people arrived on the Leidseplein, a program started there for them, presented by Sanne Wallis de Vries and Guilly Koster. It included a reading by Marcel Hensema of a pro peace poem by famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Then, rap music by Groove Click. Ms Wallis de Vries’ brother played the song Masters of War by Bob Dylan; then, joined by his sister, a song in the Frisian language by the band Twarres.
Then, Harcourt Klinefelter spoke, one of the "Concerned Americans" in The Netherlands. Mr Klinefelter is a former associate of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. for whom he recorded speeches.
Then, Omar Bashir played. He is one the most famous Iraqi players of the oud, a lute like string instrument.
There was also a speech by Ingo Kohlmorgen, a member of the German party Buendnis 90/ die Gruenen
After music by the Doorbreakers, Saskia Kouwenberg concluded the demonstration, thanking everyone.
After the demonstration started 'Dancing for Peace', in the well known Paradiso venue. Among the participants were Jan en Alleman (choir), Bob Fosko (rock), Lopend Vuurtje, poetry, Kaforka (rock), Clemens (singer/guitar player), Anas (Rai; North African music); Captain video (vj's); Rotterdam Ska Jazz Foundation, Ali B (rap and hiphop); Rude Rich and the High Notes; an Iraqi music group; THC ; DonPopo; The Licious; Harry Loco; Vrouwvolk; Kaal.
See also the websites:
http://www.vredessite.nl
http://www.omslag.nl
http://www.indymedia.nl
The national Dutch coalition against the “new war” can be reached at  o43@kerkenvrede.nl.
Web site: http://www.wereldcrisis.nl
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