[74] in peace2
Iraqi Sanctions Protest
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (F. AuYeung)
Tue Feb 15 13:34:46 2000
Message-Id: <200002151834.NAA23647@m1-142-12.mit.edu>
To: peace-list@MIT.EDU
cc: unger@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 13:34:38 -0500
From: "F. AuYeung" <auyeung@MIT.EDU>
Protests against Iraqi sanctions lead to arrests:
Why the sanctions are a humanitarian threat
------- Forwarded Message
Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:47:38 -0800
From: "Kate Reuer, FOR" <bsp@forusa.org>
Subject: 86 Arrested Protesting Economic Sanctions on Iraq
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 2000
Voices in the Wilderness: 202-258-4958 (cell phone)
Fellowship of Reconciliation: 914-358-4601
86 Arrested in Protest of Economic Sanctions Against Iraq
86 protesters from across the United States and Canada were arrested at
the US Mission to the UN, on Monday, February 14th, at 12:00 p.m. Their
nonviolent resistance was confronting the US/UN Security Council
sanctions against Iraq. Among those arrested were Kathy Kelly, Chicago,
co-founder of Voices in the Wilderness and Reverend John Dear, executive
director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
A broad spectrum of human rights groups were represented in both the
nonviolent resistance action and the legal demonstration. Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, Pax Christi USA, the American Friends
Service Committee and the Fellowship of Reconciliation, have all taken
official stands against the sanctions. Leaders from every major
religion in the US have also condemned the sanctions.
In August 1999 UNICEF used the infant mortality rate from before the
sanctions to estimate that 500,000 Iraqi children under the age of five
have died due to the effects of sanctions. "They die from dysentery,
typhus, cholera - and other epidemics of water-borne diseases which were
created when the US bombed the civilian infrastructure of Iraq during
the Gulf Warthe sanctions prevent infrastructure repair and
maintenance." noted Raed Battah from Kentucky, who recently traveled
with Voices in the Wilderness to Iraq, in open and public violation of
the sanctions.
The protesters echo the concerns of the UN Humanitarian Relief
Coordinator in Iraq, Mr. Hans von Sponeck, who has now asked to be
relieved of his duties. Von Sponeck was not available for comment.
Diplomats, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said von Sponeck will be
leaving because of the difficulties entailed with implementing the U.N.
trade sanctions, initially imposed to force Iraqi withdrawl from
Kuwait. The sanctions have crippled the Iraqi economy, leaving ordinary
Iraqis struggling to feed and clothe themselves. Von Sponeck wanted the
Security Council to separate Iraq's humanitarian needs from its
disarmament. His outspoken remarks drew sharp criticism from both the
United States and Britain, the main proponents of sanctions on Iraq. Von
Sponeck was also critical of the U.N.approved Oil for Food program.
Von Sponeck's predecessor, Denis Halliday of Ireland, resigned in 1998,
saying he did not want to be associated with the adverse impact of U.N.
trade sanctions on ordinary Iraqis. Halliday stated, "We are destroying
an entire society. It is as simple and terrifying as that."
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The Social Justice Cooperative is planning a teach-in about the Iraqi
sanctions and joining the global demand to end the parts of the sanctions
that directly affect health, medicine, and education. If you would like
to help coordinate the MIT campaign, or can help bring knowledgable and
experienced people on the field, please contact <peace-keepers@mit.edu>.
Thank you!
