Anti-War Ireland Condemns Collective Punishment in Fallujah / Condemns US Onslaught

international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis

Thursday April 08, 2004 23:17

by Caoimhe Butterly - Anti-War Ireland

Anti-War Ireland, a newly-formed coalition of anti-war groups, has condemned the collective punishment of civilians by US forces in Falluja and has called on Irish politicians to take a principled stand in condemning the actions of the occupation forces.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Thursday, 08 April 2004

ANTI-WAR IRELAND CONDEMNS COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT OF IRAQI CIVILIANS IN FALLUJA

Anti-War Ireland, a recently-formed broad-based coalition of anti-war groups, today condemned the onslaught of Falluja by U.S. Occupation troops as collective punishment. Reports that Occupation troops have refused entry to aid trucks carrying vitally-needed food, medicine and water into Faluja, coupled with testimonies on Arabic news networks that ambulances and civilian cars are being fired upon, would indicate that Occupation troops are again acting in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The comments of US General Sanchez that the citizens of Falluja would have to choose whether to support the occupation forces or Iraqi fighters are another worrying insight into the occupying forces' attitude to civilians. Under international law, civilian nationals of an occupied country are protected persons regardless of their political views and cannot be ordered to support military forces.

The siege of Falluja which began shortly after the killing and mutilation of four U.S. mercenaries,( employees of a N.C. security firm, Blackwater Security Consulting), has contributed to the recent death toll of over 400 Iraqis and at least 35 Occupation troops as fighting continues across Najav, Karbala, Ramadi, Kut, Baghdad, etc. The uprisings, which began on Sunday, follow in the wake of the death of twenty unarmed protestors, killed when Spanish troops opened fire on a demonstration in Najaf.

Anti-War Ireland echoes the calls of Iraqis who stress that such brutality and collective punishments will only result in an intensification of prolonged violence. Numerous non-violent demonstrations have been staged across Iraq demanding an end to the bombardment of Falluja and a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, Mustafa Abd Al-Hamid has threatened to withdraw from the council unless Occupation troops end the bloodshed . While condemning the killing of the four U.S. mercenaries a member of the Iraqi Committee of Religious Clerics stated that U.S. troops "are doing the same by mutilating residential neighbourhoods" and that the present siege only brings hatred and enmity: "they killed the elderly praying at the mosques, as well as women and children. This is indiscriminate killing."

Anti-War Ireland calls upon Irish civil society and politicians to be voices of courage and conscience in condemning the actions of the U.S.-led Occupation troops in Iraq. Anti- War Ireland will continue organising, along with numerous other anti-war groups such as AMBUSH2004 and the I.AW.M. to ensure that the upcoming visit of George W. Bush is not 'business as usual' and to highlight the Irish government's complicity, through the use of Shannon, with the U.S. war machine.

ENDS
For more information please contact:
Caoimhe Butterly(087-213-4160)