10.10.2001

Introducing politics

The founding meeting of the Newport Coalition against the War took place on Monday October 8. This followed a demonstration in Cardiff on Saturday October 6 against the war, with around 150 marching.

The meeting was attended by members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Socialist Workers Party, CPGB, Communist Party of Britain and the Socialist Labour Party, as well as other members of the Welsh Socialist Alliance, anti-capitalist campaigners and anarchists. It was chaired by Robert Griffiths, general secretary of the CPB and its parliamentary candidate for Newport East at the general election.

In a refreshing change from typical organising meetings of the anti-war movement led by the SWP, comrade Griffiths began the meeting by inviting those present to discuss the political issues surrounding the war. The ensuing discussion contained a wide variety of views, ranging from the opinion of a CND member that the United Nations should indict bin Laden and the Taliban to that of the CPGB that, for both workers in the west and for the Afghan population, ?The main enemy is at home? and that this should become the central slogan of the anti-war movement.

Such political discussion is an essential prerequisite for determining what action is necessary and should become the norm for all anti-war groups.

The meeting then moved on to organisational matters and it was agreed that a regular Saturday stall would be put up Newport, whilst continuing with the regular vigil already taking place. It was also agreed to support the October 13 demonstration in London.

Cameron Richard