The Hindu : Bush's visit to U.K. sparks protest threats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003

International

International

Bush's visit to U.K. sparks protest threats

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON NOV 11. The first-ever state visit of the U.S. President, George W. Bush, to Britain next week has provoked such widespread hostility that the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has been forced to defend it saying he believes that "this is exactly the right time for him to come''.

Mr. Blair's intervention came as anti-war campaigners claimed that up to 100,000 people were expected to join demonstrations against the visit and an opinion poll showed that 60 per cent Britons were opposed to Britain's "special relationship'' with the Bush administration in the wake of the Iraq war.

Mr. Bush is likely to spend most of his time in `purdah' to avoid ugly scenes. To prevent any embarrassment from anti-war MPs, he is likely to be kept away from Parliament as well in sharp contrast to Mr. Blair's high-profile address to the U.S. Senators and Congressmen when he visited Washington recently.

Reports suggested that the three-day visit did not include any of the "traditional haunts for a state visit''. "Not for Mr. Bush the dreaming spires of Oxford, nor the relaxing spas of Bath. Neither will he be venturing to Wordsworth country or crossing the border to see Scotland's historic capital, all traditional haunts for a state visit,'' The Times noted.

Security concerns were said to be verging on paranoia with U.S. officials reported to be demanding that large parts of Central London — the potential venue of protests — be shut down and all demonstrations banned during the visit.

A "battle of wills'' was reported to be going on between U.S. security agents and the British police. The anti-war Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, wants all legitimate protests to be allowed putting him at loggerheads with American officials who want the area around Buckingham Palace, where Mr. Bush would be staying, to be closed.

Mr. Blair, in a speech on Monday, scoffed at critics. "For many, the script of the visit has already been written. There will be demonstrations. His (Mr. Bush's) friends wonder at the timing.

His enemies rub their hands at what they see as potential embarrassment. I believe this is exactly the right time for him to come,'' he declared as the Stop the War Coalition and a host of civil rights groups rolled up their sleeves to take to the streets.

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