Remember Iraq when voting, pleads conscientious
objector

Press release - Reading Peace Group

11th April 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


A conscientious objector who refused to fight with the
British Army in Iraq will this week urge voters in
Reading to remember the cost of the decision to go to
war when making their election choice.

Soldier Ray Hewitt, who fought in the 1991 Gulf War
and Kuwait and is still a reservist in the British
army, will be speaking at an evening organised by
Reading Peace Group to oppose the continued occupation
of Iraq by US / UK forces. The event will take place
on Wednesday 13th April at Reading International
Solidarity Centre (www.risc.org.uk), London Street,
commencing at 8.00 pm.

A video of the recent BBC Panorama television 'Iraq,
Tony, and the truth', which exposes how the government
misled the country about the threat posed by Saddam
Hussein, will also be screened.

Speaking before the meeting Ella March of Reading
Peace Group said:

"Ray made a courageous decision not to participate in
an illegal war which has left tens of thousands dead
and has seen numerous acts of torture and brutality by
the occupying forces.

"In contrast, none of Reading's politicians were
willing to stand up and speak out against the
invasion, unlike hundreds of ordinary members of the
public who took to the streets in the town to show
their opposition.

"Since the invasion took place we have seen that the
case made by the Prime Minister to justify the war was
based on lies. The war has left tens of thousands
dead, thrown the Middle East into turmoil, and
increased the risk of terrorist attacks.

"The Prime Minister is desperately hoping that voters
will have forgotten about the war by Election Day.
But how can we let him get away with deliberately
deceiving the country and making such a terrible error
of judgement?"

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available during the
evening and the event is absolutely free. All are
welcome to attend.

For more information please contact Helen Chambers on
0118 950 9427.

To interview Ray Hewitt please call 07775662499



I also enclose an open letter from Ray to Tony Blair
(below)


ENDS


Ray Hewitt
139 Vandyke
Great Hollands
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8UT


Thursday, 07 April 2005


An Open Letter to Tony Blair.


Dear Mr Blair,

Two years ago you took our country to war, and in
doing so put our young servicemen and women into harms
way. With your now customary spin and deceit you
convinced your Government colleagues that we were
under imminent threat from Iraq, and it's Weapons of
Mass Destruction.

We now know that these claims were false, and the war
that has sent more than 80 British troops to their
graves was founded on lies. I myself am a veteran of
war (I fought in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991) and I am
still a reservist in the British army. I come from a
long line of soldiers; my Father, my Grandfather and
my Great Grandfather all served their country. I
however, am the first to declare myself as a
conscientious objector, as like millions of others I
believe the war in Iraq is both illegal and immoral
and I will have no part in it.

I cannot support a party that is prepared to commit
teenagers to battle yet has a leader whom lacks the
courage to say sorry.

It is a tragic irony that many of those killed in this
disastrous war were too young to vote Labour in the
last General Election. I can assure you that on May
5th I will not insult their memory by voting for your
party. Hang your head in shame sir.

Yours sincerely


Ray Hewitt - Conscientious Objector