VOW Says NO to Canadian Troops in Combat Role
Janet M Eaton | 18.05.2006 05:23 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Repression | World
The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) is urging its members and other concerned Canadians to contact their MPs to vote against the motion of the government slated for debate Wednesday may 17th.
Canadian troops serving under US Command
The Government has called for a vote with only one days' notice and a six hour debate on whether or not to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan for another two years.
http://home.ca.inter.net/~vow/
MEDIA RELEASE Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) May 16th, 2006
VOW Says NO to Canadian Troops in Combat Role
The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) is urging its members and other concerned Canadians to contact their MPs to vote against the motion of the government slated for debate Wednesday may 17th.
The Government has called for a vote with only one days' notice and a six hour debate on whether or not to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan for another two years.
To further complicate the situation the motion links military action with the entire mission of diplomacy, development, funding and policing.
"To offer such short notice and limited debate on such a complex, sensitive, and critical foreign policy decision, makes a mockery of parliament, is a betrayal of democracy, and an untenable approach" said Janet M Eaton, national Co-Chair of VOW.
She went on to say "Extension of Canada's present role demands and indeed necessitates a much longer and fulsome debate, more research, stated objectives with benchmarks, contextual history, time for MPs to canvass their constituents and time for Canadian citizens to come to grips with the confounding messages and lack of contextual background .
The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace rejects a military combat war- fighting role for Canada in Afghanistan and particularly rejects Canadian troops serving under US Command and Operation Enduring Freedom which could go on for several more months before NATO takes over.
Indeed the present mode of 'search and destroy' war fighting distorts our ultimate value system as a nation and we stand fast in our insistence on a return to foreign policy which is UN mandated and principle centred which gives Canada a respected international presence. .
VOW Co-Chair Janis Alton said "Many VOW members are involved in projects supporting women in Afghanistan and we are listening to a wide range of women's voices in Afghanistan including those insisting on a stronger role for disarmament, and those questioning the failure of Parliament to address the wrongs of the past and the role of warlords in the new government.
In accordance with our role in promoting UN Security Council Resolution 1325, we continue to demand a leading role for women in the peace and security process" she said.
Media Contacts: Janet M Eaton, PhD, Co-chair Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, 133 Main St. Wolfville, NS Canada B4P 1C2 Ph # 902) 542- 1631 jmeaton (at) ns.sympatico.ca _______________________________________________
http://home.ca.inter.net/~vow/
http://home.ca.inter.net/~vow/ MEDIA RELEASE Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) May 16th, 2006
VOW Says NO to Canadian Troops in Combat Role
The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) is urging its members and other concerned Canadians to contact their MPs to vote against the motion of the government slated for debate Wednesday may 17th.
The Government has called for a vote with only one days' notice and a six hour debate on whether or not to extend Canada's mission in Afghanistan for another two years.
To further complicate the situation the motion links military action with the entire mission of diplomacy, development, funding and policing.
"To offer such short notice and limited debate on such a complex, sensitive, and critical foreign policy decision, makes a mockery of parliament, is a betrayal of democracy, and an untenable approach" said Janet M Eaton, national Co-Chair of VOW.
She went on to say "Extension of Canada's present role demands and indeed necessitates a much longer and fulsome debate, more research, stated objectives with benchmarks, contextual history, time for MPs to canvass their constituents and time for Canadian citizens to come to grips with the confounding messages and lack of contextual background .
The Canadian Voice of Women for Peace rejects a military combat war- fighting role for Canada in Afghanistan and particularly rejects Canadian troops serving under US Command and Operation Enduring Freedom which could go on for several more months before NATO takes over.
Indeed the present mode of 'search and destroy' war fighting distorts our ultimate value system as a nation and we stand fast in our insistence on a return to foreign policy which is UN mandated and principle centred which gives Canada a respected international presence. .
VOW Co-Chair Janis Alton said "Many VOW members are involved in projects supporting women in Afghanistan and we are listening to a wide range of women's voices in Afghanistan including those insisting on a stronger role for disarmament, and those questioning the failure of Parliament to address the wrongs of the past and the role of warlords in the new government.
In accordance with our role in promoting UN Security Council Resolution 1325, we continue to demand a leading role for women in the peace and security process" she said.
Media Contacts: Janet M Eaton, PhD, Co-chair Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, 133 Main St. Wolfville, NS Canada B4P 1C2 Ph # 902) 542- 1631 jmeaton (at) ns.sympatico.ca _______________________________________________
http://home.ca.inter.net/~vow/
Janet M Eaton
