February 2003

NO TO A WAR IN IRAQ, YES TO A LONG LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST!


 

Greens all over the world re-assert their opposition to any armed intervention against Iraq.

The Global Greens continue to condemn the regime of Saddam Hussein, in particular its blatant violation of human rights and the rights of minorities such as the Kurdish people.

The preparedness of the United States, Britain and supporting governments to act unilaterally against Iraq, despite the fact that the United Nations weapons inspectors have been accepted by the Iraq government and are still at work, despite the fact that Iraq has not attacked any country and is not a threat to world and regional peace, is worrying.  The control over oil production and distribution in the area should not be the cause of suffering for millions of innocent civilians.

The Global Greens call on all governments in the Security Council of the United Nations to oppose or veto any decision in favour of armed conflict.

The Global Greens support the French-German peace plan for Iraq, to be presented to the United Nations Security Council on 13 February 2003, and call on all governments to support it.

If the United States, Britain and other countries such as Australia attack Iraq without a United Nations mandate, the Global Greens call on all governments to refuse the involvement of their armed forces, and to refuse logistical support such as use of air corridors and harbours.

A war against Iraq will destabilise the whole Middle East region and is contrary to the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Convention. We Greens are convinced that United Nations resolution 1441 can be implemented through means other than military intervention.

The Global Greens welcome the decision of Belgium, Germany and France to veto war preparations by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) in Turkey.

The Global Greens appeal to members of the Security Council not to give the go ahead to any military attack on Iraq.

For more than ten years the implementation of an economic embargo has imposed huge suffering on the Iraqi people while failing to dislodge the government.

The Global Greens call for an immediate end to economic sanctions against Iraq.

Greens all over the world together with citizens who want peace are determined to resist a war in Iraq.  We will continue to support and participate in the fast-growing worldwide movement against such a war.

The Global Greens will oppose war against Iraq with every nonviolent means at our disposal.

 

February 2003

The Global Greens support the following statement adopted by the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States on September 19th, 2002:

Green Party of the United States Statement in Opposition to U.S. Plans to Invade Iraq

 

The Green Party of the United States is adamantly opposed to President George W. Bush's plans to continue and expand military operations against Iraq.  The Bush administration claims the invasion of Iraq would improve the security of citizens of the United States, but it would do just the opposite.  A U.S. war on Iraq would undo decades of progress in international conflict resolution and make the world a more dangerous place for everyone.

 

The United States should not undertake military operations against Iraq for the following reasons:

An attack on Iraq would be illegal.  The United States must hold to the highest standards and abide by international law if it expects other nations to do so. The United Nations Security Council has not authorized any military attacks on Iraq for its failure to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors.  In fact, no UN Security Council resolutions concerning Iraq, including SC Resolution 688 of 1991, have ever authorized the "no-fly zones" over Iraq, declared unilaterally by the U.S. and Britain.  Yet these two countries have bombed Iraq in these zones nearly daily for a decade.

Peaceful means for addressing the possibility that Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction have hardly been exhausted.  The threat posed by Iraq must be confronted through multilateral action by the United Nations, and not by the U.S. acting alone.

Allies in the region of Iraq are opposed to the U.S. plans for an invasion.  Anti-Americanism would be fueled further by U.S. military action.  Terrorist activity against U.S. citizens would increase.  Islamic countries would be less likely to cooperate with the U.S. in anti-terrorism strategies.
 

The overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime through a U.S. invasion is unlikely to lead to a democratic government there.  Iraqis, already suffering for a decade from the effects of UN sanctions, would be likely to suffer more in the ensuing chaos.

There is no evidence that the security and safety of the United States are directly threatened by Iraq.  Iraq has not been linked to Al Qaeda or other currently active anti-American terrorists.  Even if such evidence were to be presented, unilateral attacks by the U.S. on Iraq would not be the most effective, legal or moral option available.

A war against Iraq would be immensely costly at a time when resources are desperately needed for the eradication of poverty both domestically and globally.

We therefore urge our fellow citizens of the United States to raise their voices against the U.S. invasion of Iraq.  We must encourage the President and Congress to build a true foundation for peace and security in these ways:

Act in concert with the United Nations to address any potential security risks posed by the regime of Saddam Hussein.  Support arms control initiatives in the entire Persian Gulf region, as already specified in UN Security Council Resolution 687.
 

Take substantial steps to free our foreign policy from distortion by U.S. economic dependency on energy from non-renewable fossil fuels.  Encourage energy conservation and invest heavily in the development of renewable energy.
 

Shift investment from military spending to address the basic needs of humanity, both within the United States and around the globe: clean air and water, access to education and health care, adequate housing and transportation, and civil liberties.

In sum, the Green Party's key value of non-violence implies that war is neither an effective nor justifiable means for resolving disputes between nations.  The United States is in a position of unprecedented economic and military power in the global scene.  We should use that power to work towards security and peace through justice, rather than through intimidation and military destruction.


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PhilippineGreens News Update

Feb. 14 anti-war protests in Manila and around the world
 

Morning of Feb. 14:  A number of Philippine Greens members, together with Greenpeace volunteers, and other cycling brigade members, had earlier left UP Diliman on a bicycle caravan, visiting embassies of the UN Security Council.  They also left a Note for Peace during every stop.

Salubungan in the morning: The  small contingent of  greens (3 from Philippine Greens, 4 from BWF) joined a big group of MASP/Akbayan  (about 100 of them), most of them students with their youth leader, Eman, while waiting near Jollibee Kalaw.  We had two streamers made "Global disarmament through peaceful diplomacy ! No to war of aggression ! - Philippine Greens" and "IGALANG ANG DAIGDIG AT BUHAY. KAPAYAPAAN, HINDI DIGMAAN !- Balik Kalikasan"  Mabibilib ka sa enthusiasm ng kabataang estudiante ng MASP. Ang mga taga MASP had been also well prepared with two jeepneys, a soundsystem, banners, streamers , placards (Make Love Not War -- literally with an illustration: a couple making love).

Later a contigent of PMAP urban poor demonstraters marched with anti-war slogans (Gloria - Tuta ng Kano ! slogans) and anti-demolition slogans  too, but they did not join us and instead marched to the Embassy (this was the pro-Erap group of Edsa III), and later turned  away from Roxas boulevard because of a phalanx of riot policement waiting.

Nagsimula na kaming magmartsa bandang 11:30 p.m. patungong Embassy, pero kami ay hinarang ng mga riot police . When the marchers moved to the other side of Roxas Boulevard, leaving behind their jeepneys, a big group of Discovery Crusade para-military group attacked the jeepney, scaring away the remaining female passenger and driver. In the presence of policemen just a few feet away, they stole the soundsystem, water supply, and other stuff of MASP.

Anyway, the harrassment by the Discovery Crusade paramilitary outfit did not discourage the salubong group to continue with the program on the other side of Roxas boulevard, where riotpolicement were also blocking the road. (We heard that this same group also destroyed the flaglets of the green cyclists led by Red Constantino, Beau, Francis, and other greens on the other end of the segment of Roxas boulevard fronting the U.S. embassy. the cyclists had to retreat, as they were surrounded by the goons, and proceeded to Malate park at around noon.

The salubungan did not take place as planned. (Earlier, before our foot marchers salubong contigent arrived , a group of BMP female marchers were also attacked by the same goons.)

If these unlawful activities can happen in Manila, under the watchful eye of policemen, what more could happen to people in Pikit Cotabato who have been displaced by a recent military assault. Can we all believe what is reported in the papers?

Much thanks to MASP/AKBAYAN for their presence in the morning!  They would later march together in the afternoon with other allied member organizations of AKBAYAN in the afternoon to join the Gathering for Peace rally in Malate, and later near the U.S. embassy in the evening. AKBAYAN allied member organizations formed one of the biggest group in that rally.


AFTERNOON RALLY (Feb. 14):  A one hour rally, about 5,000, under the banner of GATHERING FOR PEACE COALITION, was held in the Raja Soliman Park, where speakers including former Senator Tanada spoke against the impending war in Iraq. The Malate rally was a rainbow coalition.  The rallyists later marched near the U.S. embassy where a program was held for about two hours, kicked of by a fiery speech by Fr. Roberto Reyes of PEACE CAMP, who ended  his speech humorously with calls "I-deport si Gloria !" severa times, for betraying the national interest as she did not think of our nation when she personally gave a statement in support of the impending war in iraq a week ago.

On the other segment of Roxas boulevard, another rally, including several Muslim organizations, were holding another anti-war rally.

 

Feb. 15, around the world:  Around 8 million people were reported to have joined mammoth street rallies in various capitals of the world urging the United States not to attack Iraq, and push for disarmament through diplomacy.  The UN Security Council would later hear the UN Inspection Team's report, under Blix, urging for more inspections to carry out disarmament of Iraq. London reported abut 2 million joining the rally, with about 1 million in Madrid. These are countries whose governments support the pro-war position of Bush.  Would this resounding call for peace be heeded by the President of the United States of America?