* * * * CASWI * * * * Iraq Sanctions Challenge; Ramsey Clark letter

["Hugh" <justice@DELETETHISeasynet.co.uk>]

Campaign Against Sanctions and War on Iraq (CASWI)

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The following two items have been circulated from New York today:

 

(1)  Alert on UN Security Council Review of Sanctions.

 

(2)  Letter from Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark to US rep. at UN.

 

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(1)  Alert on UN Security Council Review of Sanctions

On Mon., April 27, the UN Security Council will start its six-month
review of the genocidal sanctions imposed on Iraq. On every previous
Security Council review, the U.S. has fabricated "new evidence" or
provoked an "incident" in order to pressure the Council members into
continuing the sanctions.

Especially for the next 12 days, the International Action Center is
asking all anti-sanctions activists and organizations to be on special
alert for any and all U.S. provocations and fabrications and be ready
for emergency actions.

In light of this stepped-up U.S. propaganda offensive, the Iraq
Sanctions Challenge becomes all the more important and timely. On May
6, some 100 people will take millions of dollars of vitally needed
medicine to the people of Iraq in defiance of the sanctions. It will
be the largest delegation carrying the most humanitarian aid coming
from the United States. Please do all you can to politically and
financially support this challenge.

On April 15, Ramsey Clark sent the following letter to all members of
the Security Council demanding that they immediately lift the
sanctions.

 

 

(2)  Letter from Former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark to US rep. at UN.

April 15, 1998

H.E. William Richardson
Permanent Mission of U.S. to the UN
799 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017


Dear Ambassador Richardson,

The Security Council must acknowledge that its sanctions
against Iraq violate the Genocide and Geneva Conventions. 
Those sanctions are made "... with intent to destroy...
the national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as
such... [by]... deliberately inflicting... conditions of
life calculated to bring about [its] physical destruction
in whole or in part..."  The Geneva Conventions prohibit
"starvation of civilians as a means of warfare." 

A death occurs in Iraq on the average every two to three
minutes as a direct result of the sanctions.  More than
1,500,000 human beings have died in Iraq, the vast
majority infants, children and the elderly, since August
6, 1990, the 45th Anniversary of the bombing on Hiroshima
when the sanctions were first voted by the Security
Council. 

To delay the end of sanctions for one day because of the
"fear" of deputy chief inspector Charles Duefler reported
today, arising from the claim that he was told by an Iraqi
official that U.N. visits are not part of an "indefinite"
process would trivialize the lives of the children of
Iraq.  See N.Y. Times, April 15, 1998, p. A9, attached. 

Imposition of such sanctions against the people of Iraq
cannot be justified by, or linked to any act, threatened
act, or failure to act by the government of Iraq.  The
Security Council is bound by international law.  Even in a
lawless world, no act, or threatened act by the government
of Iraq, can compare rationally in sheer human horror with
these sanctions to support their imposition.  And in a
merely intelligent but heartless world, it is senseless to
think that such sanctions can prevent the very conduct
falsely claimed to justify them.  The conduct of national
leaders cannot be coerced by such foreign punishment of
the general population as all experience with sanctions
shows.  The hope for effective foreign inspection of an
entire nation is sheer folly. 

It is essential to the honor of the United Nations and its
support by the peoples of the world that these genocidal
sanctions be ended now by your initiative.  Without such
leadership a fatal despair will follow from the authorship
of this tragedy.  If the organization created to end  the
scourge of war commits genocide, where will the people
find peace? 

I am enclosing a copy of a resolution of the elected City
Council of the City of Detroit, Michigan, its governing
legislative body, which was enacted yesterday.  It urges
an end to this "genocidal policy of sanctions."  With a
population of one million people, Detroit is the 10th
largest city in the United States.

These sanctions are the greatest crime against humanity in
the final decade of the most violent century of the
millennium.  This truth is emerging irresistibly despite
the control and manipulation of the international media
which ignores, or supports them.  The Security Council
must recognize the truth before it is called to account.

Sincerely,


Ramsey Clark

 

Campaign Against Sanctions and War on Iraq (CASWI) (for details see end)

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Campaign Against Sanctions and War on Iraq (CASWI)

 

For further information, contact the Co-ordinator, Hugh Stephens, at:

Phone: [44] 171 436 4636

Fax: [44] 171 436 4638

E-Mail: justice@easynet.co.uk

Address:

BM 2966

London WC1N 3XX

Britain

Donations: Make cheques out to "ICIES"

Campaign Against Sanctions and War on Iraq (CASWI) (for details see end)

========================================

 

 

 

 

========================================

Campaign Against Sanctions and War on Iraq (CASWI)

 

For further information, contact the Co-ordinator, Hugh Stephens, at:

Phone: [44] 171 436 4636

Fax: [44] 171 436 4638

E-Mail: justice@easynet.co.uk

Address:

BM 2966

London WC1N 3XX

Britain