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Tuesday 8 December 2015 21.43 GMTLast modified on Tuesday 8 December 201522.22 GMT
A group of British military veterans have discarded their service medals at Downing Street in a symbolic protest against RAF airstrikes in Syria.
One by one, and in front of waiting media and supporters, the members of theVeterans for Peace UK group expressed their opposition to the bombing and to previous operations in the Middle East as they threw the medals to the ground.
The gestures were led by Daniel Denham, who served in the RAF. Holding up his medals, he told those gathered around: “If you look close enough at these medals, you can see the reflections of dead Iraqis. You can see the embers of Libya. And you can see the faces of the men and women of the British armed forces who didn’t return and also those who did with lost limbs and shattered souls. I no longer require these medals.
Britain has the most dynamic veteran's movement in the world in @vfpuk #Syria #Iraq #Afghanistan #Libya
Others taking part included Daniel Lenham, who served in the RAF from 2002 to 2014. He said bombing was never a solution.
“These invasions, occupations and attacks have caused great destruction, killed hundreds of thousands of people and have led to the destruction of societies. Bombing is never a solution; it is time to stop,” he said.
Veterans For Peace UK describes itself as a voluntary ex-services organisation of men and women who have served in every war that Britain has fought since the second world war.
It says it works to educate young people “on the true nature of military service and war”, as well as resisting “war and militarism” through non-violent action and standing in solidarity with others doing the same.
David Smith, who served in the Royal Green Jackets, said he wanted to express “utter disgust” at what he described as the unlawful bombing of Syria.
Kirk Sollitt, who served in the Gulf War, said: “By bombing in Syria, we are killing innocent, vulnerable, sentient beings, men, women and children. You cannot sow bloodshed and reap peace. I no longer want these medals.”
Source : Forces veterans protest at Downing Street against British airstrikes in Syria | UK news | The Guardian