fw: [focus-on-trade] International sign on: Demands regarding the invasion, occupation and 'reconstruction' of Iraq

[media at ezaic.de]

Dear Friends,

Given the speed at which events are unfolding in Iraq, we felt the urgent need 
to set out some basic demands that we, as peace and social justice activists, 
should be putting to the US, the UK, the UN and the international community.  

We have consulted widely, including with Iraqi friends and activists from 
various social movements and campaigns, and we hope that the demands 
reflect a clear and common position that many will support.  

If you agree with the demands and would like to add your name or your 
organisation to the list, go to http://www.focusweb.org/demands/demands.html 
  
The statement will be presented to the "Iraq and the Global Peace Movement: 
What next?" conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, 19-21 May (see 
http://focusweb.org or email herbert at focusphilippines.org) and at the peace 
and anti-war movements events during the G8 in late May.  

We also hope that everyone endorsing the demands will use them in their own 
work against the war and for peace-building.   

In solidarity,

Focus on the Global South

------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS REGARDING THE INVASION, 
OCCUPATION AND "RECONSTRUCTION" OF IRAQ


The US-lead invasion and occupation of Iraq is illegal  

In 1946, the Nuremberg Tribunal judged that "To initiate a war of aggression 
is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing 
only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil 
of the whole."  

Consequently, we demand  

An immediate end to the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States and 
the United Kingdom and the immediate withdrawal and removal of all foreign 
troops, military advisers and representatives, military equipment and 
armaments.  

We insist that:

The Iraqi people have absolute and sovereign right to determine their own 
future and any decision about the need for international assistance rests solely 
with the Iraqis.  

The United States' and United Kingdom's occupation of Iraq is illegal, as is 
any administrative authority or interim government established by the 
occupying forces. Therefore, any decisions made by the occupying forces or 
their representatives are not binding on the Iraqi people.  

The UN-held escrow Iraqi oil account must not be used to foot the bill for 
reconstruction of the damage caused by the illegal war and UN sanctions. The 
funds must be held in trust for the Iraqi people until there is a legitimate and 
genuinely representative government elected by the people.  

The United Nations and its agencies, other governments and non- 
governmental organisations should not serve as a cover to legitimise, or profit 
from, the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Humanitarian aid must not b e 
used to support or promote the military, political and economic objectives of 
the occupying force s.  

The UN, other governments and NGOs should not use their own resources or 
public money to fund human itarian assistance, aid, reconstruction or other 
development activities which are the legal and mor al responsibility of th e 
invading and occupying forces, nor should they characterise as "aid" that which 
is the entitlemen the of the Iraqi people  

The Iraqi people have sovereignty over all natural resources and utilities. The 
invading and occupy ing forces or their private sector proxies have no right to 
make any decisions about who controls or benefits from the exploitation of 
natural resources or the construction and delivery of basic services and utilities. 
 
The full costs of all reconstruction, compensation and reparations for the 
physical, social, econom ic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage 
destruction caused by the US-lead invasion of Iraq must be borne by the 
aggressors.  

Reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, 
cultural and heritage lo ss, damage and suffering caused by the UN Security 
Council mandated sanctions must be borne by the Permanent Members of th e 
UN Security Council.  

In addition, reparations must be paid to all persons who have suffered 
physical, economic and psych ological loss and trauma resulting from twelve 
years of sanctions and the 2003 invasion based on in dividual and collective 
claims and dispensed by an independent compensation tribunal.  

We call for

A Peoples War Tribunal based on the Geneva Conventions and Nuremberg 
Tribunal principles and precedents to investigate and prosecute the war crimes 
of, amongst others, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul 
Wolfowitz, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Tommy Franks, Tony Blair, Jack 
Straw, and John Howard.   

International sanctions on the aggressor nations for their illegal, preemptive 
attack on a sovereign nation.   

The United States Government to desist from threats of force and use of force 
against all sovereign nations.   


Focus on the Global South
8 May 2003

To endorse the demands, go to:
http://www.focusweb.org/demands/demands.html

Focus on the Global South (FOCUS)
c/o CUSRI, Chulalongkorn University	
Bangkok 10330 THAILAND
Tel: 662 218 7363/7364/7365/7383	
Fax: 662 255 9976		
E-mail: N.Bullard at focusweb.org
Web Page   http://www.focusweb.org