The Balearics and the Pitiüses against the war

Coinciding with the start of the war in Iraq and following the call by the Plataforma per la Democràcia i la Globalització Social, some 15,000 people of all ages demonstrated in the streets of Palma last Thursday against the armed attack. The demonstrators started to assemble as from 7 p.m. in the paseo del Born, where several members of the Platform talked about the war. As was foreseen, one hour later the demonstration started along the Paseo Marítimo up to the offices of the Consulate of the United States, where a small incident took place that did not detract from the pacific character of the march, accompanied at all times by the Drums for Peace.

This was not the only demonstration of the day. Some 3,000 students of secondary education concentrated at noon spontaneously in the Plaza del Tubo in Palma to start a demonstration through the streets of the centre of Palma and to express their protest to the war. Although a youngster through a stone at the headquarters of the Partido Popular and was arrested, the demonstration was completely pacific. The protest was also seconded by many high schools all over Mallorca, such as in Felanitx, Calvià, Andratx, Artà, Son Servera, Manacor, Sóller, Inca and Capdepera, that carried out different acts and concentration pro peace. The Balearic University also manifested against the war with a silence pro peace.

After the success of this third demonstration, the first was on February 15 and the second on March 15, the Plataforma per la Democràcia i la Globalització Social has announced new manoeuvres: a human chain that will take place next Saturday March 22 at 6.30 p.m. in the paseo del Born and a moving demonstration still to be fixed for the following Saturday, March 29.

On the island of Menorca, following the call by the plataform Menorca per la Pau last Thursday silent concentrations were held before the Town Halls to protest the start of the war. The students of secondary education followed the strike called by the student unions, en masse and held different demonstrations, the most numerous in Maó with the participation of some 300 students. The platform Menorca per la Pau has called a new protest demo that will take place on Saturday March 22 at 6 p.m. in the plaza Esplanada de Maó.

As for the Pitiüses, coinciding with the start of the war, last Thursday at 8 p.m. silent concentrations were held in the paseo Vara de Rey in Eivissa and in the square of the Formentera Town Council. The students of secondary education demonstrated at midday against the war through the streets of the centre of Eivissa. For Friday March 21, the Plataforma per la Pau called a new demo that starts at 8 p.m. in the paseo Vara de Rey de Eivissa and a human chain that starts at 2 p.m. in the square of the Formentera Town Council.

Photographic report:
- 24 photographs of the demo in Palma taken by BalearWeb

Debate/Poll:
- Do you think the United States should attack Iraq?

Photos © BalearWeb

Date of publication: 21/03/2003

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