From TCSW
Sunday, 30 January 2005

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA -- The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War strongly supports the right of people in Iraq to democratically determine their own future. That must include choosing a legitimate and representative government through free and fair elections. However, the exercise taking place under foreign occupation on January 30 will be neither free nor fair.

"An election cannot be legitimate when it is conducted under illegal foreign military occupation. Nor is it legitimate when the country is ruled by, and the election run by, a government put and kept in place by an occupying army," says Sue Spratt, of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War.

The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War (TCSW) asserts that an election is not legitimate under conditions of continuing warfare, which prevents the majority of the population from participating in either the campaign or the vote.

This election contravenes official policy of Elections Canada which states that elections are legal only when all citizens are free to vote without fear for personal safety. TCSW firmly opposes the Government of Canada's plans to send Elections Canada officials to oversee the process. An election during an occupation of over 140,000 troops is not democratic. It is a farce.

The 14 permanent US military bases under construction in Iraq make it clear the occupying army has no intention of allowing the people of Iraq to decide their own future.

The so-called election in Iraq also casts a degree of doubt on Canadian democracy as well. Despite the fact that over 70% of Canadians are opposed the war and occupation, the Canadian federal government thinks it can fool the general public into believing an election at gunpoint is democratic. This runs in direct opposition to the demands of Canadians for peace and justice in Iraq.

The planned "election" will merely elect an assembly to draft a constitution for a future election, while endorsing an executive government that will continue to operate under foreign military occupation and control.

TCSW must point out that the Government of Canada supports U.S. policy in the Middle East by its participation in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan thus freeing US forces for Iraq.

Canadian companies continue to sell war material to the American war machine, including providing billions of bullets to be supplied by SNC Lavalin.

In addition the Canada Pension Plan is investing in numerous military corporations which are profiting from the suffering of the people of Iraq.

The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War has mobilized hundreds of thousands of people to end the occupation.

On March 19, 2005 - the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq - TCSW, along with peace groups across Canada and around the world, will demand: Troops Out Now!