It was in March 20 last year that US-UK invaded Iraq, even as millions of people over the world demonstrated their protest and opposition to the war. Today, a year after, more people are protesting the continuing Iraq occupation of US and its allies. The presence of foreign troops in Iraq, under the supervision and control of US, and not of the United Nations, is causing the escalation of armed resistance.

The bombings and killings have not stopped. The number of deaths continues to rise daily. Since the declaration of the end of “major combat” on May 1, 2003, 10,000 Iraqi civilians, 500 U.S. soldiers, and 41 of other nationalities have been killed.

Among those who have been killed are Amporn Chulert and Mitr Klaharn, two non-combatant Thai soldiers from the Army engineering division. They were part of the troop of 422 soldiers sent to Iraq by the Thaksin government in September 2003. The fact that the Thai soldiers are non-combatants and were sent for “humanitarian reasons,” did not serve as any protection for their lives. Amporn and Mitr, along with other Thai troops, were sent to Iraq without the full agreement of the Thai people, and not even with the full support of the Thai senate. Amporn and Mitr left were both married and had sons.

United for Peace-Chiangmai believes that Amporn and Mitr’s lives, as well as the other deployed Thai soldiers, are being used by the Thai government as coupons for U.S. military aid, as leverage to negotiates free-trade agreement, and as a ticket for Thai businesses to bid for reconstruction contracts in Iraq. The PTT Exploration & Production Plc (PTTEP) of Thailand a state-controlled company has expressed its intention to get a share in oil and gas projects in Iraq.

On Saturday, the group will have a bicycle-motorbike-car motorcade for peace around Chiang Mai city, dressed in red and carrying red balloons. The assembly point is at 9 a.m., at the PTT petrol station, at CMU near Cholpratarn Road. From there, the motorcade for peace will end at the U.S. Consulate. On our way to the U.S. Consulate, the group will stop at Gawila military barracks to invite the soldiers to join our call for the withdrawal of Thai troops from Iraq. A stop at the British Consulate will be made, as the United Kingdom has been the strongest supporter of the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq. Along the entire route the group will distribute peace leaflets and invite people to join the protest. A map of the route follows this press release.

United for Peace-Chiangmai calls for –
the immediate withdrawal of Thai troops from Iraq.
an immediate end to the sacrifice of lives for profit, lives for oil.
an immediate end to the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

For more information, please contact:
Thai language: Bee at 097002575 mapnet@cm.ksc.co.th
English language: Judy at 01-724-0580 judyp@apwld.org or 053-404613
Global March 20 website: http://www.unitedforpeace.org

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