International

Under the slogan “Support Afghanistan, Stop the War”, the organisation “Five to Twelve” organised this morning a demonstration in front of the parliament building in The Hague. The action was timed to precede today's parliamentary debate on the prolongation of the Netherlands' military presence in the troubled Afghan province of Uruzgan.

During the brief demonstration on the square in front of parliament, activists, joined by Members of Parliament from the SP and the Green Left, held up letters on placards which spelled out the call to “Support Afghanistan, Stop the War”. Five speakers from the umbrella group “5 voor 12” - 5 to 12 – including SP foreign affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel and his Green Left parliamentary colleague Mariko Peters addressed the crowd.

The demonstrators gather in front of the parliament building in The Hague.

“If we want to help Afghanistan, we must bring to an end the war against the Taliban,” Van Bommel told them. “Peace won't be achieved by means of heavy artillery, mortars, battle helicopters and F16 fighter planes. We must help people there by giving our support to reconstruction in regions where reconstruction is possible.”

Harry van Bommel addresses the demonstrators.