3 STEPS
gabriele zamparini | 15.11.2004 18:30 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles | London | Sheffield
To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.
To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.
Judgment of the International Military Tribunal for the Trial of German Major War Criminals - Nuremberg, Germany 1946
The supreme international crime of the invasion of Iraq needs to be addressed with the instruments of the international law. We, the people around the world who have strongly opposed this invasion, need to have our objective clear in our minds and to focus our energy and time to a sensible and daring plan. It’s time for the international anti-war movement to step in with concrete propositions and face our own responsibilities.
1. Occupation forces have no rights. Occupation forces have only obligations. The first obligation is WITHDRAWING. If United Nations troops are required in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawing, they must exclude totally those from the countries that have been responsible for the supreme international crimes of invasion and occupation.
2. Withdrawing is the first step. The second is REPARATION. The international community has the legal and moral responsibility to provide NOT AID but REPARATION to Iraq and its people. Reparation for what has been done to the people of Iraq since 1990: a brutal and terroristic war of aggression against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi economy that’s been going on for the last 14 years.
3. The third step is the most difficult but at the same time the most important for the prevention of future supreme international crimes. We must bring those responsible for political decisions to JUSTICE, applying to ourselves the same moral and legal standards we always demand from others. International law provides plenty of instruments to do so. The most important of them are:
a. United Nations Charter
b. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
c. International Criminal Court
d. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
e. Geneva Conventions of 1949 and 1977
We, the people of the world who opposed this supreme international crime, must take on ourselves the responsibility of what our governments have done (or have let happened) in our names and with our tax money. We have many peaceful means to do so. Demonstrations, vigils, civil disobedience, strikes, pressure on the media, keep organizing and work together. Martin Luther King Jr. is still reminding us “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
http://TheCatsDream.com/blog
Judgment of the International Military Tribunal for the Trial of German Major War Criminals - Nuremberg, Germany 1946
The supreme international crime of the invasion of Iraq needs to be addressed with the instruments of the international law. We, the people around the world who have strongly opposed this invasion, need to have our objective clear in our minds and to focus our energy and time to a sensible and daring plan. It’s time for the international anti-war movement to step in with concrete propositions and face our own responsibilities.
1. Occupation forces have no rights. Occupation forces have only obligations. The first obligation is WITHDRAWING. If United Nations troops are required in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawing, they must exclude totally those from the countries that have been responsible for the supreme international crimes of invasion and occupation.
2. Withdrawing is the first step. The second is REPARATION. The international community has the legal and moral responsibility to provide NOT AID but REPARATION to Iraq and its people. Reparation for what has been done to the people of Iraq since 1990: a brutal and terroristic war of aggression against Iraqi civilians and Iraqi economy that’s been going on for the last 14 years.
3. The third step is the most difficult but at the same time the most important for the prevention of future supreme international crimes. We must bring those responsible for political decisions to JUSTICE, applying to ourselves the same moral and legal standards we always demand from others. International law provides plenty of instruments to do so. The most important of them are:
a. United Nations Charter
b. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
c. International Criminal Court
d. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
e. Geneva Conventions of 1949 and 1977
We, the people of the world who opposed this supreme international crime, must take on ourselves the responsibility of what our governments have done (or have let happened) in our names and with our tax money. We have many peaceful means to do so. Demonstrations, vigils, civil disobedience, strikes, pressure on the media, keep organizing and work together. Martin Luther King Jr. is still reminding us “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
http://TheCatsDream.com/blog
gabriele zamparini
e-mail:
info@thecatsdream.com
Homepage:
http://thecatsdream.com
Comments
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Step one?
19.11.2004 07:55
I do NOT know the answers, but, MANY PEOPLE say that Step one is finding real peace (the truth) within ourselves, each of us, individually. A very long process, I grant you, but likely to be rather less destructive of people and the environment than the current trend of me, me, me prevailing in some capitalistic, democratic, cicilised(HA) nations.
With regard to the UN Charter.....it HAS to be realised that the UN Charter is purely a military charter for the evil powers to hide behind(Article 51 for example).
We are being told, constantly that China is going to become a strong, superpower. Told by who? The western imperialstic media of course. In any event, China, like the USA, UK, France and Russia are the five PERMANENT members WITH VETO ..This UN Charter MUST be totally restructered, re-thought and recognised by ALL the worlds nations/states/territories etc. There MUST be NO supreme powers residing in/withion the United Nations, or whatever its new name might become.
In the meantime, I agree that we, somehow, have to bring the perpretators to some kind of Internationally recognised justice, for the sake of equity....
In my sight every life is equal.... If only....
Thankyou, finally, for the Martin Luther King quote.... I certainly DO remember my silent friends..... remember them well, with great love and sadness, but positively respecting and regarding their special, determined and happy contributions to our lives. THANKYOU, silent friends.
Smiley Steve
Smiley Steve