January 30, 2005
Social forum activists rail against Bush
AAP

In the run-up to historic elections to choose a new Iraqi government, activists burned an effigy of US President George W Bush, railing against the occupation of Iraq amid doubts American troops will ever leave the country.

In the run-up to historic elections to choose a new Iraqi government, activists burned an effigy of US President George W Bush, railing against the occupation of Iraq amid doubts American troops will ever leave the country.

Tens of thousands of leftist and left-leaning activists from around the world at the World Social Forum are convinced Saturday's election won't bring democracy and that American soldiers face a permanent stay in Iraq to influence the region and ensure a steady flow of oil.

"The US will stay there to dominate the Middle East," Brazilian artist Jairo Silva said before an anti-Bush march on the third day of the social forum, held to protest the World Economic Forum under way in Davos, Switzerland.

He added: "They'll stay there because the oil's there and so American companies can get all the contracts to rebuild a country America destroyed."

The fifth annual social forum has drawn tens of thousands of people to southern Brazil promoting hundreds of causes, ranging from opposition to genetically modified crops to free distribution of land to poor farmers and protecting the rights of indigenous populations.

Joining hundreds of others in a march around the sprawling social forum grounds, Thai human rights campaigner Pornpen Khongkachonkiet said she doubted the Iraq elections will result in anything close to democracy.

"Occupation is not the answer," she said.

"They should have democracy developed locally, this just isn't how an election should be."

A low voter turnout amid mounting violence would serve as proof the new government won't represent its citizens, said Ivanci Vieira, a Brazilian math teacher and socialist.

"It's going to be hard to believe in the results, because all the Sunni Muslims have pulled out, so how can they call it a fair and free election?" he asked.

While activists criticised the spread of unfettered capitalism, many said they hold Bush responsible for the world's biggest problems. They believe he is forcing free trade agreements on other nations that will only benefit multinational corporations and the wealthy elite in developing countries.

Protesters used sticks to beat the Bush effigy before setting it aflame and chanting slogans against the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, a proposed 34-nation zone that would join North and South America in the world's largest economic bloc.

"Get out Bush! Get out FTAA!" they yelled, banging drums and waving bright red flags.

American David Hartsough of San Francisco's Nonviolent Peaceforce group said he's become convinced that the United States is "destroying all the good will we had throughout the world."

"This is the super ugly American who wants to control and kill countless people for his own self-interest," Hartsough said.

"I'm afraid Iraq is going to turn into another Vietnam."

Sammi Alaa, a leader of the Iraqi Patriotic Alliance group supporting the resistance, said he expected social forum activists would be sympathetic, but was surprised that many Americans support the killing of US soldiers as a legitimate move to oust the occupying power.

"There are a lot of Americans here and when I take the microphone and explain the Iraqi resistance, they come up to me afterward and say they agree with me," said Alaa, an Iraqi who lives in Denmark.

South Korean law student Cha Seung-Il, wearing a head scarf saying "Our World is Not for Sale," said Bush's push for global trade liberalisation is just as dangerous as America's invasion and occupation of Iraq.

"Bush just wants to spread his power throughout the world," Cha said.

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