“SYRIA needs peace! The region needs peace! The world needs peace!” – This was the message delivered by the ruling Peope’s Progressive Party and a group of trade unionists yesterday as they urged the Guyana Government to stand firm against war in Syria.

The US accuses the Syrian Government of killing hundreds in a chemical attack in the Ghouta area of the capital, Damascus, last August 21. The government has denied the allegation, and has blamed rebels.
PPP leaders and supporters, along with representatives of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), and Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA), yesterday morning staged a protest in front of the United States Embassy in Georgetown.
Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee told reporters that Guyana has its opinion but does not intend to fight against the US government on the issue. “We are fighting against unleashing military strike. We will continue to take this position.”
While not sure if more protests of this nature will be organised, he said the next activity may very well be a panel discussion on the issue that could possibly take place sometime next week. “We are against military intervention in any country,” he said.
According to Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Chairman Julius Faerber, who was a part of the protest, the PPP/C and other bodies feel that the matter involving the US and Syria can be settled through peaceful negotiations.
Meanwhile, the following is a joint statement from the above mentioned bodies: “We strongly oppose the US administration threats to conduct military actions against the Syrian Arab Republic. We believe that military strikes against Syria will be unjust, illegal and will be a grave war crime based on international law. It will be a violation of that country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“US-led military bombing of Syria hold no solution to the Syrian crisis but will only result in greater destruction of the country and aggravation of the suffering and misery of people already traumatized after two years of civil strife.
“We see sense in the view that a military action – missile strikes and/or boots on the ground – called for by the hawkish US ruling class, its allies and vassals are intended as support for the rebels whose ranks consist of significant number of foreign mercenaries and psychopathic and cannibalistic elements which British M.P. Calloway recently referred to.
“Military strikes of whatever duration can only add to the grave troubles that currently engulf the world and which the US must take a large responsibility for.
“We say Syria must not be added to crimes on humanity. The military-industrial complex must not have its way.
“The pretext for the intended military strikes is the accusation that the Syrian Government used chemical weapons and which the government categorically rejected. But no believable evidence is forthcoming and UN personnel are still to make known their findings. Such statements coming from spokesmen of the ruling elites of the imperialist centres are laced with hypocrisy.
“We stand with and support those many governments, prominent individuals and organisations which are in opposition to war on Syria. The rejection of the British Parliament of PM Cameron warmongering motion is most welcome at this time.
“Unleashing war on Syria threatens to envelope that region further into disastrous conflicts. The prospect that military strikes on Syria could even encompass the world with dire consequences cannot be easily dismissed.”