Following is the report on the boycott bush campaign in India, Mumbai. 20th March 2004.

The campaign started at 4:30 pm (Indian standard time) at Hutatma chowk near Churchghate Station. More than 300 protesters & volunteers turned up on the streets, shouting out slogans and holding their placards. The protesters gathered an even more number of commuters making the whole protest look like a massive rally. The following was the messages on the placards: Wanted! Gorge W. Bush for crimes against humanity and the planet, US War Crimes Sponsored by Marlboro, Boycotting Marlboro reduces war victims etc. The protesters were comparing Bush with Hitler and ordering Bush to leave occupation of Iraq. Coco cola and Pepsi were not spared either.

The whole campaign was attracting a lot of journalist. Few of the campaigners were also giving brief interviews to the press. As the campaign started to get a lot of heat, the Polish started to arrest people. They started it by arresting the guy who was talking to the press; the innocent protester was resisting the arrest when suddenly he was over powered by 6 to 7 Polish men’s. Similarly a woman was also arrested. Many volunteers were pulled to the Polish trucks by their legs with their bodies lying down on the rough and hot ground. Even after the protesters were arrested, they kept on shouting the slogans. It was as if their own brothers, sisters and children’s had suffered in the WAR.

Mr. Manish Kumar and one of the volunteer Mr. Chandan Chaturvedi along with about 300 volunteers were arrested and taken to the polish station near Mumbai Central station.

I have sent the photographs of the whole campaign, taken by Mr. Hozefa Merchant in the attachment.

Report by
Mr. Hozefa Merchant.