The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Dear all Press release phoned through from Baghdad this evening, of interest to those engaged in anti-bombing campaigning. Cheers Mil PRESS RELEASE For immediate release US/UK ANTI-SANCTIONS CAMPAIGNERS TO VISIT SITE OF LATEST US/UK BOMBING In an act of solidarity, a delegation of US and British citizens will journey to Tell A'afer in northern Iraq on June 22 to visit the victims of the recent US/UK bombing. According to the Iraqi News Agency, 23 people were killed by the bombs on Wednesday 20 June. 'This appears to be a further violation of the sovereignty of Iraq's airspace by the countries from which we come. There is no justification for this continuing violence, which is illegal under international law,' said Lauren Cannon (31), delegation leader. The US and UK have denied any loss of life. The delegation consists of a British lawyer and doctor and three American educators, all members of Voices in the Wilderness, a human rights organisation campaigning for the lifting of economic sanctions against Iraq. Each US member of Voices in the Wilderness risks 12 years imprisonment and up to $1 million in fines by travelling to Iraq. Each British member risks up to 5 years imprisonment for taking goods to and from Iraq without a government licence. On June 20, the group further violated the US/UK mandates by travelling within the no-fly zones on a domestic flight from Basra to Baghdad. The current "smart sanctions" proposal by the UK, under consideration by the United Nations Security Council, would include inspection of Iraqi domestic flights as well as stationing observers at international airports. Laurel Severns of Chicago stated this would be funded by the UN- controlled escrow account of Iraq's oil-for-food revenues, forcing Iraq to pay for its own seige. In addition the delegates have openly and publicly bought goods in Iraq such as native dates and date palm fans. They play to auction these items in the UK to further expose the US/UK-led policy that Iraq may not even export such simple items 10 years after the Gulf War. Any proceeds will directly benefit campaigning against the economic sanctions. Upon returning to Baghdad, the group will give a full press conference on their findings at Tell A'afer at the headquarters of the Iraqi Airways office on 28 April Street, Baghdad, on Saturday 23 June at 6pm. ENDS Milan Rai Joint Coordinator, Voices in the Wilderness UK milanrai@btinternet.com 29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea East Sussex UK TN38 0HE Phone/fax 0845 458 9571 local rate within UK Phone/fax 44 1424 428 792 from outside UK Pager 07623 746 462 Voices website http://viwuk.freeserve.co.uk -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk