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BRIAN HAW |
This is a most deservedly tribute to
an anti-war protester. Brian Haw whose protest lasted over a decade and at the
end cost him his life, He was an idealist and a man with high principles. He
was a thorn in the government but not enough for them to stop the war. He done
what we all should have done -- protesting against their illegal war in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, most people are 'armchair protesters'.
It began in 2001 where Brian Haw
first started to protest against British support for UN sanctions against Iraq.
He was an evangelical Christian and his principals went all against it. He
increased his fight after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq which was and is
an illegal war. Other protesters joined him but only for some time and than
they drifted away. But Haw carried on with his anti war protest and set up a camp
outside Parliament on the green island. There were numerous attempts to move
him and stop the war protests.
A year after he set-up a tent and was
using a megaphone at all hours, literally, to get his message across. The
complains to the Westminster City Council increased constantly. After all the
MPs couldn't sleep during their meetings. Downing Street couldn't sleep at
night. All this will never do. The Westminster City Council managed to find a
law - the Highway Act under which they could remove him. Aha, the Highway Act
stated clearly he has to move because he was a "nuisance". Now, they
have done it and were very pleased with themselves
THE ANTI WAR
PROTEST CAMP IN FRONT OF THE PARLIAMENT
Then it turn out that Haw's
assortment of placards, anti-war banners and images of war weren't a nuisance
after all because he wasn't on the road or high way. It shows that one just
can't trust the law.
All these efforts and sacrifices
Brian Haw gave cost him his family, home and eventually his life. In 2003 his
wife Kay asked for a divorce. Unfortunately, this also lost him his seven
children because he very rarely saw them. Yet, they should have been the
proudest children of them all.
Mr Haw said: "I want to go back
to my own kids and look them in the face again, knowing that I've done all I
can to try to save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying
because of my government's unjust, immoral, money-driven policies.
Unfortunately, that was not to be granted to him and yet he gave so much to
achieve it.
Kind strangers used to bring him food
and offered emotional support. Haw knew how much his action cost him but as the
time went by and people became less interested he was called anything from an
eccentric to "a nut".
When Labour government, at that time,
passed a law that no unauthorised protest was allowed within a square mile of
Parliament he refused to go. He stated that his protest began before the new
legislation.
In 2006 the Court of Appeal decided
that he needs a police permission to continue protesting. It was granted but
only for a very small area.
Three months before his death Lord
Major Boris Johnson won a possession order to evict him and also other
protesters from the Great London Authority-owned Parliament Square gardens. I hope Mr Johnson is proud of himself. Mr
Haw objected and was determined that he would remain in the square for the rest
of his life.
Brian Haw was born on 7 January 1949
in Woodford Green, north-east London. He was a twin. He was fully aware of the
great impact war can have on individuals, families and communities. His father
was with his troops who stepped first into the concentration camp at Belsen. He
could never get over it and committed suicide.
Mr Haw joined the merchant navy for
some time. After that he ran a removals business and was a carpenter. He found
his true vocation when he went to Northern Ireland and started preaching during
their troubles. Then he worked with troubled youngsters in Redditch in the West
Midlands where he lived before his protest.
Channel 4 voted him as the most
inspiring political figure and he won an award in 2007. Mr Haw was regularly
including in the sightseeing tours of London because of his anti war protest
became so famous. When there were documentaries made about Britian's
involvement in Iraq, they also included Brian Haw and his protest.
Brian Haw died of lung cancer on 18
June, 2011. He was 62 years old. It was the lung cancer which he didn't deserve
after all he tried to do to prevent suffering. He is survived by his children.
May he RIP and we should all be proud of him trying to prevent this terrible
slaughter single handed.
WE ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND DEMONSTRATE.
SUMMARY:
Brian Haw gave his all and more for a
dream that he could save children suffering from the hands of his government.
It was over 10 years he lived there in a tent.
What must he have gone through? Day
and night being uncomfortable, hungry, cold and lonely. Lonely, especially in the night. Also, I am
sure, drunkards and yob went there to harass him. He must have missed his home,
wife and kids. He loved them otherwise he wouldn't suffer so much for them.
He really gave the
lot to his country. Will we think of him in a month time or a year of the man
who gave so much?
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