Anti-War Activism Works!

1. Anti-War Activism Works!
The recent leaks by the web site WikiLeaks shows that the Irish Government were worried about the public reaction to the continued use of Shannon Airport by the US Military, during the 2007 Elections. This cable, which you can read in full by following this link (http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2006/09/06DUBLIN1020.html) demonstrates that the government tried to impose more restrictions on the US Military as the election approached.

A prolonged campaign of anti-war activism by people like YOU had an affect on the Government and we can do more we can remove the US Military from Shannon for good.

During the 2007 general election campaign the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM), The Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and other anti war activists published a pledge, which we asked politicians to sign stating that they would not be part of a coalition that did not stop the US Military from using Shannon. The Irish-Anti War Movement intends to work with other anti-war activists again during this election campaign; more details on this will follow.

The point of campaigning in the elections is to highlight that Shannon is still an issue in an election campaign that will be dominated by the economy.



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2. What can I do Right Now to Get the US Military out of Shannon

1.Reply to this e-mail if you want to make the war an Election issue and leave your contact details so that we can work with you.
2.Attend the Shannon Vigil that is held every month see (www.shannonwatch.org) for details.
3.Read the WikiLeaks information, which is linked to in this e-mail.
4.Prepare yourself to argue against those who are in favour of the use of Shannon below are some common arguments which are often used to justify the use of Shannon.
5.Organise with other anti-war activists you know to make the war an election issue.
6.Join us on FaceBook.
7.Contact your local TD and ask them for their position on the use of Shannon Airport. (TD’s respond better to their constituents than to a bunch of activists).
8.Register to Vote to see if you are registered go to http://www.checktheregister.ie.


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3. Defeating the Arguments in favour of the US Military Presence in Shannon.

3-1. If The US Military Leave the Airport Will Close
There are people who say, "If the US Military leave then Shannon Airport will close therefore we need to put aside our dislike of what is happening and allow them to stay".

This is a horrible argument, not only is it untrue it also ignores the fact that hopefully very soon the wars in the milled-east will end. What happens then do we live in hope that another war will start!

3-2. All The US Companies will Leave
Another argument that is often used in favour of the US Military being allowed to stay is "All the US Companies will leave Ireland if we ask the US Military to leave". This is nonsense the US companies who come to Ireland do not care whether we allow Shannon airport to be used by the US Military they are here to make money nothing more. The fact that the US Military was allowed to use Shannon did not stop DELL from leaving Limerick.

3-3. There is No Evidence that prisoners have been transported through Shannon
This is one of the arguments that is used by the government. They say that there is no evidence that anyone has been rendered (kidnapped from a country without due-process) and brought through Shannon.

This is true the planes have never been searched so there would not be any evidence.

Julian Assange interviewed by David Frost

Poets for Human Rights

Words of Freedom

A message to all members of Poets for Human Rights

2010 Poets for Human Rights Annual Awards event was

held Sunday, December 12, 2010 at the Artists in Action Gallery in Clearwater, Florida



The event was hosted by Stazja McFadyen, Poets for Human Rights co-founder, who opened the program by reading the "Clearwater Human Rights Week" proclamation, presented to Poets for Human Rights and Youth for Human Rights Florida by the Mayor of Clearwater.



The 2010 Anita McAndrews Award poetry contest was introduced by Kate Sweet, one of the contest sponsors. Kate discussed the humanitarian works of Anita McAndrews, including tutoring disadvantaged youth and exposing human rights violations of patients at a mental institution in Panama. Anita was also a prolific writer, poet and fine artist.



The winning poem and two honorable mentions were presented:



2010 Anita McAndrews Award Winner – “I Ask My Granddaughter...” by Elizabeth Thomas.

Elizabeth is a widely published poet, performer, teacher and advocate of the arts. As an outstanding advocate of youth in the arts, Elizabeth Thomas is a coach and organizer with Brave New Voices: International Youth Poetry Slam and Festival. She is also the founder of UpWords Poetry, a company dedicated to promoting programs for young writers and educators, based on the belief that poetry is meant to be heard out loud and in person. She lives in Connecticut.



“When I saw the award email in my inbox, I didn’t expect my poem had won. I am thrilled to receive this award. As a poet and educator, I’ve worked with young people from around the world. I like to think the writing we do together offers a voice to many who would otherwise be silent or sad or alone.”



I Ask My Granddaughter...

And she says
"School was fun today.
I didn't worry at all."
As she rocks in my lap
black curls sweep my cheek,
subtle scent of cinnamon rises.
I wrap her close and ask,
"Honey, why would you worry?"

No stray bullets
track through her neighborhood.
She can pull a chair to the living room window
and look out
without fear,
watch birds eat from the feeder
she made at school.

There are no IEDs,
no unexploded cluster bombs
near her jungle gym,
nothing to detonate
when dug from the earth
with a plastic red shovel.

No janjaweed militia
rides horseback through the streets
to force her chubby finger
around the trigger of a gun,
no men dressed as monster
to push her to the front line.
She will not be asked
to strap explosives to her belly,
to martyr herself in a marketplace.

When she goes to school
the shelves overflow
with books,
the room with teachers.
After lunch,
she'll nap
with her favorite Dora the Explorer blanket -
while outside the window
a large black bird
pecks at the glass
trying to break in.



(Read by Stazja McFadyen)



Honorable Mention - “Dilemma” by Jack Thompson, Florida



Dilemma

(What to do with Man)



You can teach him to obey the law

and follow every sign;

You can teach him not to think

but think the thoughts that you opine.

You can even drug his senses

into catatonic sleep –



But when he dreams, he dreams of freedom.



You can train him like a monkey

and put him through his paces;

Tax and sweat and drive him

and make him run rat races.

You can work him dawn to dusk

‘til he collapses with exhaustion –



But when he dreams, he dreams of freedom.



You can cage him like a beast

and he’ll forget about ambition;

You can force obedience, at least,

or trick his willful submission.

You can carve his body slowly

‘til he begs for bliss unconscious –



But when he dreams, he dreams of freedom.



You can kill a man again, and again, and again,

but he will always come back –



And when he dreams, he dreams of freedom.

And when he dreams, he dreams of freedom.



(Read by Sioux Hart)



Honorable Mention - “A Teenager Ponders a New Kind of Knownness” by Lynn Veach Sadler, North Carolina



A Teenager Ponders a New Kind of Knownness



Social activist Nancy Pocock, a Quaker,

Refugees called her “Mama Nancy.”

She sounds a lot like Mother Teresa.

Both of them are dead now.



The refugees had her name

scrawled on little pieces of paper

they carried in their hands from

Guatemala, El Salvador, Iran, wherever.

Even draft dodgers from the USA

during The War in Vietnam.

Wonder if she ever met Jane Fonda?



Can you imagine

the kind of being knownness

Mama Nancy had?

Rad awesome!



© Lynn Veach Sadler



Winners of the 2010 Year of Youth Poetry Contests, youth category and children's category were announced.



2010 Year of Youth Poetry Contest Winner – “Questions” by Andrew David King.

Andrew is 18 years old, and attends U.C. Berkeley. This is his second contest win. He was awarded the Alex Popoff Youth Poetry Contest Award in 2009 for his poem, “Eggshells Tiananmen Square, June 5, 1989.”

Questions

The small daisy he stuck between
my helmet strap and stubbly chin
had already begun to wilt. Slowly, it returned its borrowed color
to the earth, leaving a brown stem in place of vivid green.
I kept walking on as the leaves and petals cascaded toward
the rutted street. Only I did not feel them fall—I felt a small hand
reach past my face to fasten a flower to me,
and touch something deeper.


This is what Ali did the day his father left.
If I could return to that time,
I wouldn’t ask any questions.
I wouldn’t ask Ali if his father was returning
sometime soon. His father always came back, Ali told me—
always. I wouldn’t question the low, flat horizon,
the edge of the earth waiting for me to fall off of it.
Nor would I have anything to ask of the wind and its
pressured air, spilling out from lungs
squeezed too tight by armor.


Sometimes, after a day when I have been strong
in the face of danger, I want to ask
what it is, exactly, that makes my muscles loosen
and quiver—I know it is not solely bullets or the thunder of gunfire.
But I do not ask these questions any longer—
instead, I look to the horizon in twilight
and watch how the flaxen daylight dissipates into onyx,
punctured only by the sporadic fires
of cities and hearts;
how a small boy waits by a window
for a familiar light down the road to draw nearer
night after night.



(Read by Alan Graham)



2010 Year of Youth Children’s Poetry Contest Winner – “A World of My Dreams” by Suvansh Raj Nirula.

Suvansh, aged 14, lives in New Delhi, India and is a 9th grader at Delhi Public School.



A World of My Dreams

As I tread outside smiling
The joy of freedom seems to have gone missing
The feeling of equality and security
Overtaken by the sights of torture and misery

Trust and faith lay shattered
Families divided, growing hatred
Scarcity of food, education in shambles
Is this the gift for the next generation?

Why is there no war against poverty
Why no war against illiteracy
Why no one to fight the war against hunger
And why no one to fight War on AIDS, the biggest danger

As the bullets fly and bombs explode
The howls of crying babies go loud
The scare and pain of getting orphaned
In their mind, always embedded

Few faces of evil and cruelty
Seems to be creating havoc for the majority
Why are they using their ability
To fight this WAR ON HUMANITY

In a flash, walking, I feel so lonely
Tears flowing on feeling their hunger and poverty
Hoping for a home and education for all
I pray for universal peace and health for all

I feel, not for me, but for us all here
I pray for a world where cruelty to humans, no one hears
But, I ask, “Can my prayers ever come true”?
YES !! Only if with me I also have ALL OF YOU.



(Read by Stazja McFadyen)



Other poets who read at the event:

Elyse Van Breemen - read two poems by Anita McAndrews

Malcolm Johnson

Renee Duke

Magdy Battikha

Helen Henry - sang her poem, accompanying herself on piano.



A special presentation was made by Denise McGahee, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights Florida, who presented copies of Youth for Human Rights DVDs to audience members. Dustin McGahee, President of Youth for Human Rights Florida, sang two original human rights songs, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.



The event closed with an audience participation reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.




Visit Poets for Human Rights at: http://poetsforhumanrights.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

CIA forms WikiLeaks Task Force to gauge leaks impact

By JPOST.COM STAFF

US intelligence agency scarcely mentioned in cables, but wishes to check if ability to recruit informants hurt by whistleblower.
The CIA has decided to launch a panel, entitled the WikiLeaks Task Force, in order to gauge the effect of the leaking of thousands of US diplomatic cables by the whistleblower website, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

The US intelligence agency is launching the task force despite the fact that the CIA has been relatively untouched by the leaks.

RELATED:
WikiLeaks' Assange complains he's victim of leaks
2008 WikiLeaks cable shows US envoy’s astute insight

A major issue the panel plans to address is whether the CIA's ability to recruit informants was damaged by the belief that the US government is unable to guard its secrets.



"The director asked the task force to examine whether the latest release of WikiLeaks documents might affect the agency's foreign relationships or operations," the paper quoted CIA spokesman George Little as saying.

The release of the US diplomatic cables has caused Washington and several of its allies embarrassment.

Shortly after the initial release of the cables last month, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said the US is taking "aggressive steps" to find those responsible for the release of documents by WikiLeaks.

She explained that every country must be able to hold private conversations on concerning issues. She added that confidential communication is fundamental in the ability to serve public interest.

Clinton expressed confidence that the partnerships and relationships built by the Obama administration will withstand the challenge posed by the WikiLeaks exposure.

Commemorating 17th anniversary of Dr. Mansoor Alkikhia abduction

Dr Manssor Alkikhia is a Libyan who was a trustee of the council of the Arab Human Rights Organizations. He was known activist of human rights and he was in contact with the Libyan opposition in exile as it is revealed by document No: 1 below. Gaddafi since long time known to prepare for the revolutionary committees of the assassination squads. This was sent to Egypt, Britain and Europe to assassin and silence his opponents in exile. Few opponents were killed in the Streets of London. As it did happen in killing British police woman Yvonne Fletcher 17 April 1984, in the process of Gadafi’s assassination squad firing on Libyan demonstrators in front of the Libyan embassy in St. James’s square Piccadilly. Dr. Mansoor Alkikhia went to Cairo to attend the conference of the Arab Human Rights Organizations in the international day of human rights 10-12-1992.
Suddenly Dr. Mansoor Alkikhia was reported missing without trail to where about and how he was missing. The ambiguity of such crime is similar to many of Gaddafi’s mystery missing persons in and outside Libya. On 22nd April, 1992, Mansoor Alkikhia signed an agreement with the Libyan National salvation front which earned him Gaddafi’s rage and anger.

Figure 1

Similar abduction of the Libyan Sheikh M. Albishti happened in the eighties and after more than 20 years in 2004 Gaddafi’s son confirmed that he was killed by the regime. In another incident in under two hours Gaddafi terminated the life of 1200 prisoners of conscience who were never been tried in Abu Salim Prison in Tripoli in 29th June 1996. The families of those killed were coming to the prison with food and clothes to the prison gates and the guards took them thinking they will be given to the prisoners of conscience. This phenomena continued to happen up to 2004 when Gaddafi openly said they were killed. More likely a similar event was the abduction of Mosa Assadr a shieht clerk founder of Amal movement who was in Libya at that time. In 1978 Gaddafi alleged that Mosa Assadr took the aeroplane to Italy while the Italian confirmed no such a person came through its airports. His family still insisting that they should know the real story. Gaddafi offered Mosa Assadr’s family blood money or compensation but they turned it down and they insisted he is alive and they want him back.
The abduction of Mansoor Alkikhia seems to be similar to that of Mosa assadr where it happened while travelling. Therefore, the offender is one in many ways. Although it is a speculation up to now whether he was abducted or killed, indeed it was his contact with the Libyan opposition in exile that made Gaddafi and his followers to abduct him.
Araya Human Rights Organization holds Gaddafi and his regime responsible for the abduction of Dr. Mansoor Alkikhia. There should be an independent international inquiry into the case involving Libya and Egypt to determine Dr. Mansoor Alkikhia fate once and for all.

Administration

JOHN PILGER'S NEW FILM: THE WAR YOU DON'T SEE on ITV

JOHN PILGER'S NEW FILM: THE WAR YOU DON'T SEE on ITV this Tuesday 10.30 - 12.00pm ...... and threats to WIKILEAKS.

This is a must watch for all anti-war activists. Pilger's latest film explores how the media beats the drums for war.

It is particularly important now given the attack on Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, who is interviewed in the film. Assange is currently under arrest in Britain on spurious charges and is now under threat of extradition to Sweden where he may then be deported to the USA. Some politicians and right-wing commentators in America are
calling for him to be jailed for decades or even executed. The Swedish Government, as Wikileaks exposed, is deeply incriminated in George Bush's 'War on Terror'.

Over the past two years Wikileaks has proved itself repeatedly to be a true servant of democracy and an enemy of lying warmongers. All anti war activists should support it and support the campaign for its founder, Julian Assange, to be granted bail which would be normal for the type of charges brought against him.

Julian Assange next appears in court on Tuesday 14 December. The British based Stop the War Coalition has called a protest at 1.00 pm outside the Westminster Magistrates Court. It has also initiated an open letter (LINK BELOW) of support for Wikileaks and Julian Assange, signed by among others, John Pilger, former UK ambassador Craig Murray, actors Miriam Margolyes and Roger Lloyd-Pack, Salma Yaqoob, writers Iain Banks and A L Kennedy, artists David Gentlemen and Katharine Hamnett and comedians Alexei Sayle and Mark Thomas.

OPEN LETTER / PETITION SUPPORTING WIKIPEDIA
Signed by John Pilger, Craig Murray, Mark Thomas, Salma Yaqoob and many more.
READ LETTER & FULL LIST OF SIGNATORIES HERE: http://bit.ly/hkUVKS

Watch Pilger's new film on ITV this Tuesday ...... and support Wikileaks and its founder Julia Assange.

* The War You Don't See: trailer: http://bit.ly/gwzqRE
* Interview with John Pilger about the film: http://bit.ly/fQ4roG
* Cinemas in Britain where the film is showing: http://bit.ly/goNuIc

The Film Interview: John Pilger
How journalists help to promote war - and what can be done to stop it.

John Pilger is a journalist, documentary maker and New Statesman columnist. His new film, "The War You Don't See", is in cinemas from 13 December and will be broadcast on ITV1 on 14 December. More details here.

Q. The War You Don't See is about the media's role in promoting and sanitising contemporary wars. Why make this film at this particular moment?

I have been writing and making films about media and war for many years. Translating this critique to film, especially the insidious power of public relations, has been something of an ambition. Peter Fincham had just taken over as director of programmes at ITV two years ago and clearly wanted to restore some of ITV's factual legacy. He was enthusiastic about the idea; he also knew the film would be critical of ITV. That's unusual.

Since I first went to Vietnam as a young reporter, I have been aware of the rituals and undercurrents and pressures within journalism that determine the news as much as the quality of the news itself. Broadcast journalism has a powerful mysticism; the BBC pretends that it is objective and impartial in the coverage of most things, especially war. The pressure to believe and maintain this pretence is almost an article of faith. For the public, the reality is very different. The University of Wales and the montoring organisation Media Tenor conducted two studies of the TV coverage in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. Both found the BBC overwhemingly followed the government line: that its reporting of anti-war views amounted to only a few per cent. Among the major western broadcasters, only CBS in America had a worse record. The public has a right to know why.

Q. Why do you think journalists who reported on the Iraq War - a number of whom you interview in the film - are now so willing to admit they did not do their jobs properly? What prevented them from realising that at the time?

The atmosphere has changed. No one is in any doubt now that the reasons for the invasion of Iraq were fraudulent, as are the reasons for invading Afghanistan, as were the reasons for invading Vietnam. Still, the journalists who describe in my film where it all - and they - went wrong are courageous. I asked a number of others to appear, such as Andrew Marr and Jeremy Paxman, and heard nothing back. Indeed, the more famous the name, the greater an apparent unwillingness to discuss why, as Paxman told a group of students, they were "hoodwinked".

Q. Do independent online sources - Wikileaks being the most prominent example at the moment - allow the public to bypass corporate media entirely?

Yes, but remember the public's principal source of information is still television. The main BBC News programmes have enormous influence. Certainly, as Wikileaks has demonstrated, the agenda of the "mainstream" is increasingly guided by the world wide web. For me, as a journalist, the web offers the most interesting and often most reliable sources because they are shorn of the consensual bias, and a censorship by omission, that pervades broadcasting.

Q. Understandably, your focus is on war reporting. But the film also suggests that our entertainment industry plays a role in disseminating propaganda. How can that be effectively countered?

There is no propaganda machine like Hollywood. As Ken Loach pointed out recently, the great majority of movies in British cinemas are American, or British with American funding. This has led to the appropriation of both fact and fiction: of art itself. Edward Said describes the effect in his book Culture and Imperialism, pointing out that the penetration of a a corporate, imperial culture is now deeper than at any time. How do we combat it? We support independent film-makers and independent cinemas and distributors. We begin to think about journalism as a "fifth estate" in which the public plays a part and media organisations are held to account.

Q. Even when the harsh reality of war is reported truthfully and accurately, audiences can simply choose to ignore it. Are there particular techniques you pursue in your film-making to avoid this happening?

Surely, the responsibility of persuading and challenging people, of exciting their imagination, belongs to us film-makers and journalists. Blaming the public is an admission of our own inadequacy. My experience is that people will respond positively if you make the connection with their own lives, or attempt to articulate the way they worry about the world, its wars and other upheavals. If you call power to account with facts, you get the reward of support from an audience. In other words, when people realise you are their agent, not an agent of a monolith called "the media", or of other powerful interests, they give you their time and interest. That makes journalism a privilege.

END

Mohamed Eljahmi’s speech about human rights in Libya At an American Jewish Committee’s event in Newton, MA - Monday, December 6, 2010

Mohamed Eljahmi’s speech about human rights in Libya At an American Jewish Committee’s event in Newton, MA - Monday, December 6, 2010

Let me begin by thanking the American Jewish Committee and its Executive Director David Harris. On December 2, 2010, the American Jewish Committee condemned Turkey’s Prime Minister for accepting the Qadhafi’s International prize for human rights. This is significant because by condemning the Turkish Prime Minister’s acceptance, AJC stood with the Libyan people while Arab and Muslim organization remain silent. Again, thank you AJC!

With regard to this evening’s topic, let me start by saying that the UN has failed to protect human rights in countries where citizens are at their most vulnerable. It doesn’t take a great deal of wisdom to know that the Qadhafi regime is one of the world’s worst violators of human rights. Yet, in 2003 Libya was elected to chair the UN Human Rights Commission and in May 2010; Libya won election to the UN’s supposedly reformed human rights body, the UN Human Rights Council.

Libya’s record and practices demonstrate its contempt for the basics of human rights. Peaceful Assembly and organization are banned and Collective Punishment is enshrined in law.

In Libya, political parties are banned and memberships in independent labor unions or parties are crimes punishable by death. There is also the Collective Punishment law or “Honor Law”, where the State has the right to punish family, city or an entire region for the wrong doing of individual(s).

Another Libyan practice is the demand for absolute loyalty to Qadhafi:

The fulfillments of Libyan citizens’ needs are tied to their absolute and unquestioning loyalty to Mr. Qadhafi. Ordinary Libyans are accountable to a vast security apparatus. Their actions are scrutinized by Orwellian institutions. Should they fail scrutiny, they face Qadhafi’s ruthless death squads, the “Revolutionary Committees”.

Such is the structure of Libya, a country that now sits on the UNHCR and sits in judgment over democracies. Its practices are worse. Allow me to provide you with just three examples of how Libya puts its theoretical contempt for human rights into brutal practice.

The first example is the one that is the least known, the Abu Sleem prison massacre.

In June 1996, Libyan state security massacred some 1,200 political prisoners at the Abu Slim prison, south of Tripoli. To date there has never been an independent investigation into what happened or where the 1,200 bodies are buried. To this date, the families of Abu Slim victims have been unable to give traditional Islamic burial for their loved ones.

The second example is Mansour Kikhia, Libya’s former UN Ambassador. Kikhia came from the family with a long history of service to Libya. He had been a human rights activist, Libya’s foreign minister and ambassador to the UN, but grew disgusted with Qadhafi’s repressive rule. In 1980 Kikhia defected to the United States. In late 1993, he travelled to Cairo to attend an Arab human rights summit. Kikhia was US resident and married to a U.S. citizen. Yet on December 10, 1993, a day that the UN has designated as human rights day, Kikhia was kidnapped by Egyptian agents from his Cairo hotel. The Egyptians handed Kikhia over to the Libyan regime, which executed him. His body has never been recovered. Kikhia left behind a wife and two young children.

The third example is my brother Fathi Eljahmi, who dared to call for change in Libya. Fathi was a visionary, blessed with a great mind and a passion for equality and justice. Professionally, he was a civil engineer, an entrepreneur, a former governor of the Gulf province and also former chairman of the Libyan National Planning Commission.

Fathi was first imprisoned on October 22, 2002, because he presented to the Basic People’s Congress a vision for healing Libya and re-defining its relationship with the outside world. Fathi called for the creation of a constitution, a civil society, for free speech, for free enterprise, for investigation into the Abu Slim prison massacre, the war in Chad and the resolution of the Lockerbie bombing, which by the way had led to the economic blockade against Libya. He called on Qadhafi to show sincerity to his own people.

Fathi was released on March 12, 2004 thanks to the intervention of U.S. politicians, among them then Senator Joe Biden. Fathi refused to be silenced and continued his call for freedom and human rights. On March 26, 2004, Fathi was abducted by Libyan Security and held until his death on May 21, 2009.

During those five years of imprisonment, he endured intense torture, isolation and slow death. He was kept away from his family for nearly two years. He was shackled in a windowless room without sunlight and served food that was not fit for human consumption. For two years, he was deprived of medications for hypertension, advanced stage diabetes, and a heart condition.

The result of the Libyan regime’s slow medical torture and neglect was that Fathi slipped into a coma. The Libyan regime did not even allow him to die in his own country. On May 5, 2009, the Libyan regime flew my comatose brother to a hospital in Jordan where he died. He returned home in the cargo hold of a passenger jet.

By contrast, Abdelbaset Mohmed Ali al-Megrahi , the terrorist responsible for the Lockerbie bombing, was released by the Scottish authorities in August 2009 and flown home in the company of the dictator’s son and senior Libyan officials on Qadhafi’s personal plane to a hero’s welcome. Scotland released the mass murderer al-Megrahi on “compassionate grounds”—compassion being precisely what the Libyan regime has always denied its citizens.

At the UN in Geneva, I have called on the UN Human Rights Council to launch an international and independent investigation in the Abu Slim prison massacre. I have called on the UN Human Rights Council to investigate Fathi’s imprisonment and to investigate torture in Libya. I also called for an investigation into the role played by the Arab Medical Centre in Amman, Jordan, where my brother died. The Arab Medical Centre in Amman refuses to turn over Fathi’s medical report to the family.

What has happened to my calls for investigations? Thus far, nothing. The UN did nothing for human rights in Libya even when Libya was an international pariah. Today Libya sits on the UN Human Rights Council. Qaddafi gives speeches by video link to students at Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

I would like to end by thanking all those human rights activists such as Joshua Rubenstein and Felice Gaer for their efforts on behalf of the victims of the Libyan dictatorship. And may every victim of Mr. Qadhafi’s terror rest in peace. Thank you.
Al Mostakbal

Wikileaks’ Libya nuclear threat ‘not yet verified’ – government

Wikileaks’ Libya nuclear threat ‘not yet verified’ – government
Mark Micallef


Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is said to have been humiliated during a trip to New York. Photo: AFP
The Foreign Ministry yesterday brushed off the latest Wikileak revelation in which Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi is said to have risked a spill of highly enriched uranium late last year in retaliation for being “humiliated” during a trip to New York.

“The ministry cannot comment on facts that have not yet been verified,” a spokesman for the ministry said.

The leaked cables, published yesterday, claim that Libyan authorities purposely delayed delivery to Russia of a consignment of spent nuclear fuel, which was left on the tarmac of the Tajura nuclear facility, 14 km east of Tripoli, with a single armed guard for almost a month.

The highly enriched uranium, which can be developed and used in a bomb, was meant to be collected in November last year by a heavy transport aircraft, as part of an international deal under which Libya’s nuclear waste is handled and disposed of by Russia.

However, the aircraft was sent back without the cargo because Mr Gaddafi had taken offence at his treatment during his visit to New York to address the UN two months earlier, according to the author of the cable, US ambassador to Tripoli Gene Cretz.

Mr Gaddafi had felt “humiliated” after he was prevented from pitching his Bedouin tent in New York and from visiting the Ground Zero site of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mr Cretz reports in the cable.

US and Russian diplomats scrambled to resolve the crisis since the uranium containers were only intended for transport not storage, meaning they could start leaking in as little as a month. The aircraft eventually left Libya on December 21.

However, the Maltese government yesterday was unwilling to say if it will ask Libya for more information.

Labour’s environment spokes­man, Leo Brincat, who as party foreign affairs spokesman in 2008 was not against France’s plan to sell Libya a nuclear-powered desalination plant, was also cautious. However, he said neighbour states should be given guarantees about nuclear safety.

“Whether the Maltese government had sought and obtained such guarantees remains a big mystery so far, particularly in the absence of adherence to certain established international conventions,” he said.

Mr Brincat expressed concern, especially in the wake of an accident at a nuclear reactor in the south of France in 2008, which reopened the debate on the safety of nuclearising the Mediterranean.

However, he stood by the stand taken in 2008, when he said that Libya should not be discriminated against if it wanted to develop civilian nuclear power plants, on the lines of those in Europe.

AD spokesman Arnold Cassola was not so guarded. “This is further confirmation of the irresponsibility of the Gaddafi administration which doesn’t think twice before blackmailing people,” he said, referring to last week’s warning by the Libyan leader to the EU that Libya would no longer block migration to Europe unless it was paid €5 billion a year.

“Of course, the Maltese should react extremely strongly to this. Beyond nuclear security considerations, nobody seems to realise that we extract 60 per cent of our water from the Mediterranean sea around us. If there is this irresponsibility concerning one of the most dangerous toxic substances like uranium which is left unguarded and which can be abused... then the Maltese people will have a problem with their daily survival.”

He insisted the government should take a strong stand and berated both the Nationalist and Labour parties for their consensual silence when it comes to crises with Libya.

“This silence is probably prompted by economic inte­rests but if any accident happens in this area, the economic interests will be of little help. So, one has to be polite but firm rather than pretend that nothing is happening,” he said.

Who can Attend and Vote at The AGM

1.All members may attend a general meeting provided that the current membership fee has been paid in advance of the meeting. All affiliates may send one delegate to a general meeting provided that the current affiliation fee has been paid in advance of the meeting.
2.All members and delegates have one vote each at a general meeting.
3.A decision of a general meeting of the IAWM is binding on the SC and overrides any previous decisions. This constitution may only be amended by a general meeting. However, amendments to this constitution may be made by the next quarterly delegate meeting held after the general meeting of 08 May 2004, which adopted this constitution.
4.A steering committee shall be elected at each AGM.
5.Draft resolutions and nominations for the steering committee should be submitted to the Secretary at least 14 days beforehand. The secretary shall publish draft resolutions at least 7 days beforehand.


Submitting Resolutions
Resolutions may be submitted in the following ways:

1.By E-mail:- To the secretary via e-mail info@irishantiwar.org

2.By Post:- Send the resolutions to The Irish Anti-War Movement, PO Box 9260 Dublin 1.

Mozzam Begg - My Imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay, Bagram & Kandahar

Moazzam Begg is an ordinary man who has endured an extraordinary fate, he was imprisoned in Khadahar, Bagram airbase (Afganistan) & the worlds most infamous prison Guantanamo Bay where he was abused & tortured mercilessly for a crime he never committed and released without charges by the USA without any apology. Listen to his story next week as he travels for the 1st time across Ireland.






Speaker Details:


Galway - 6pm Monday 8th November, 6pm @ Martin Ryan Institute Annex Lecture theatre 201, NUIG
2nd speaker Dr. Kathleen Cavanaugh (Lecturer & LLM Director Irish Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, NUIG)


Cork - Tuesday 9th November, 6pm @ Room C_LL_4 (392) - Boole 4, UCC


Dublin - Wednesday 10th November, 7pm @ Astra Hall, Students Centre, UCD

Dublin - Thursday 11th November, 7pm @ Johnathan Swift Lecture Theatre, Arts Block, Trinity College Dublin

2nd Speaker @ UCD & TCD (TBC): Richard Boyd Barrett [Councillor of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Chair Irish Anti-War Movement]

For further information please contact ireland.communications@fosis.org.uk & media queries on ireland.media@fosis.org.uk

Amnesty international and Libya 23 June 2010

..Libya: 'Libya of tomorrow': What hope for human rights
Libya: 'Libya of tomorrow': What hope for human rights
Categories: Libya


In a few short years, Libya has transformed itself from a pariah state to an active member of the international community. In sharp contrast, the pace of reform at domestic levels has been slow. The Libyan authorities have not kept their promises to address the legacy of past human rights violations and to introduce safeguards to prevent them recurring. Serious human rights violations continue. Victims of human rights abuses have little hope of judicial protection and redress, while those responsible for torture, unlawful killings etc enjoy total impunity.


Download: PDFIndex Number: MDE 19/007/2010
Date Published: 23 June 2010

In support of the families of Abu salim Massacre 2/10/2010, Manchester Piccadilly Gardens

Quiz for Irish Ship to Gaza

Pub Quiz for Irish Ship to Gaza
Pub Quiz for Irish Ship to Gaza
23 September · 21:00 - 23:30
The Lower Deck Pub
Portebello, Rathmines
Dublin

Act for Palestine have organized a pub quiz to raise funds for the Irish Ship to Gaza, part of the upcoming Freedom Flotilla 2, planning to break the siege of Gaza.

€10/€5 per person(waged/unwaged)

Thank you

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Open Letter to the President of the Fifteenth Session Of the UN Human Rights Council

allibyah@yahoo.com


Open Letter to the President of the Fifteenth Session
Of the UN Human Rights Council
(Geneva 13 September- 1st October 2010)
20 September 2010
Excellency,

Subject: Libya in the Human Rights Council

Libya took its seat as member of the Human Rights Council on 13th September 2010, the first day of the council’s 15th session. The new member has also been a member of the International Covenant on Civic and Political Rights since 15 May 1970. Article 22 of the Covenant prescribes in particular that:

“Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests »

The Law in Libya (Law 71 0f 1972), the new member of the Council, prescribes :

“Article 3: Anyone who advocates the establishment of, or who founds, organizes, manages, funds or provides premises for the meetings of, any grouping, organization or faction prohibited under the terms of this Act shall be liable to the death penalty. The same penalty shall also apply to anyone who becomes a member thereof or in any way incites others to do so or who provides it with any assistance or in any way receives or obtains, directly or indirectly, money or benefits of any type from any person or body with a view to establishing or making preparations for the establishment of the prohibited grouping or organization. No distinction shall be made in regard to the severity of the penalty between a superior and an inferior, regardless of their rank in the party, grouping, organization, faction, section, cell or the like” end quote.

Considering that no political party, except for Colonel Kaddafi’s Party; the Revolutionary Committee Party; has been established in Libya during the last 41 years and ..

Considering that no election at all and at any level, national, regional or local, has been organized during the last 41 years

Can the council tell the Libyan people through an official Council Resolution that they (the Libyans) also have the rights to exercise and enjoy the rights to freedom of association as prescribed by article 22 of the ICCPR as well as by article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Can the Council demand the organization of general free and fair elections within a maximum period of one year to allow the Libyans to exercise their right to freely choose their Government as prescribed by article 25 of the Covenant and article 21 of the Universal Declaration which all Council members shall scrupulously respect and adhere to at all time in order to maintain and preserve their Council membership seat?

in support of the families of Abusalim Massacre demonstration in Dublin Ireland 18th Sep 2010

Subject: Amnesty report MDE 19/07/2010; ‛Libya of Tomorrow‛ What

allibyah@yahoo.com

31 August 2010




Dear Mr. Shetty,

1. The Libyan League for Human rights would like first to convey its thanks and appreciations to Amnesty International for all the pioneer work it has done on the continuing precarious human rights situation in Libya. Amnesty latest report: “Libya of Tomorrow”, what hope for human rights?, is a living example of an outstanding report that, undoubtedly, necessitated very serious efforts, highly motivated research, and extensive discussions. This report is, probably the first document ever that comes closest to the actual hard and crude reality of human rights in Libya. It unveils the ins and outs of a tyrannical system that leaves practically no margin, whatever narrow maybe, to the enjoyment of human rights and the dignity of the person.

2. The Report discussed almost all topics of importance to respect of Human rights and enumerated, in great details, the flagrant violations in terms of law and of practice. From the flaws of the administration of justice to unfair trial, to arbitrary arrest and detention, to the widespread use of torture, to the massacre of Abusleem, to enforced disappearance, to physical liquidation of political opponents to refugees etc. the report went in great length to discuss these topics in a concise, objective and neutral endeavor. Practical recommendations were made separately for every topic to which the LLHR doubts that the present Government would give any serious consideration. The Libyan Government is, indeed, known for its utmost contempt to human rights and is simply not able to govern in an institutional environment respectful of human rights principles and laws. Libya is a real case of an outlawed government when it comes to respect of Human Rights.

Mr. Secretary General
3. The lamentable human rights situation in Libya as described by Amnesty excellent report is the result of a tyrannical political “system” that refuses reforms or changes. The real human rights problem in Libya lies in that system which is clearly incompatible with respect of basic principles of

Mr. Salil Shetty
Secretary General
Amnesty International, 1 Easton Street,
London WC1X 0DW Page 1/6
Human Rights as well as those of a government of law. The system is not made to govern and cannot govern as it stands without resorting to arbitrariness and tyranny. Large scale human rights violations will continue as long as the present political system is not extensively reformed or removed altogether. Its mere existence is a flagrant permanent violation of Human Rights as it refuses to recognize, in law and practice the will of the people as the basis of the authority of government” and that “this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote” (article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). In Libya the “will” of Colonel Qaddhafi is the only one that counts while the “will” of the people has no influence on the conduct of public affairs. It has never been even tested under the Governments of Colonel Qaddhafi, who has ruled Libya for the last forty one years, as no election at all and at any level, local, regional or national, fair or unfair, has been organized during that period. Not even a referendum on any subject or topic, on Colonel Qaddhafi’s seizure of power for example, has been allowed to take place. It is truly a case of usurpation of power.
4. A central part of the system is an extraordinary propaganda machine sustained by a never-ending stream of cash flow capable of camouflaging, at least temporarily, the most palpable truth. Even Tony Blair, the former British prime minister of the UK, the oldest modern democracy, could not stand the seduction of that machine. He seems to have been totally induced to its “beneficence”. The system is based on confusion and total lack of transparency as it is made “sur mesure”, for Colonel Qaddhafi who has ruled the country, on a pattern of an absolute monarch, for the last 41 years, without allowing the expression of any critics, let alone organized opposition.

5. The power structure evolving from that system continues and will continue to present the main obstacle to any reform respectful of human rights and of the dignity of the person. Any attempt to answer the important question Amnesty report put forward : “Libya of Tomorrow”, what hope for human right?, must necessary pass though a thorough discussion of the power structure that will, in our view, stand as an insurmountable obstacle to respect of human rights in Libya. The following paragraphs will attempt to shed light on the power structure and its direct relations to the permanent violations of basic human rights in Libya.

6. Libya has been ruled, over the past 41 years, by the non-elected Government of Colonel Qaddhafi, who abolished the Constitution (first act as a Ruler), on 1st September 1969. Ever since, the country has taken a totalitarian path that imposes severe constraints on the enjoyment of basic human rights. Libya still has no constitution, no parliament and not a single elected institution. There is no separation of powers or judicial guarantees. The country is governed by a “unique” armed militia movement, “the Revolutionary Committee Movement” that purposely confuses the interests of the Militia with those of the state and the organs of the Militia with the institutions of the State. The State is the Militia and the Militia is Colonel Qaddhafi: "L’ Etat c’est moi” (King Louis IV). The system, called “Jamahiria” is structured so as to concentrate enormous power in extremely few hands with all powers ultimately situated in the person of President Qaddhafi. The politico-legal structure is such that all powers, legislative, executive and judiciary, are tightly held by Colonel Qaddhafi who is neither elected nor accountable to the public nor to any other Libyan institution.

7. The “Jamahiria” system rejects the very principle of elections, repudiates the principle of parliamentarian representation and condemns pluralism, including free press and free thought. There is no parliament in Libya and no elected legislative power of any kind. Political parties, independent trade unions and independent NGOs are banned in law and practice (Law No 71 of the 1972). The so-called "People's General Congress" (PGC), usually assumed erroneously to be a legislative body, has nothing to do with a Parliament as its members are neither elected nor have the power to make law. The power to suspend, to try or dismiss the President inherent to the control functions of parliaments does not exist in Libya and there is no immunity either for anyone except for Colonel Qaddhafi who has the power to disband the PGC, dismiss some or all of its members. The former Chairman of the PGC who also assume the traditional legal functions of Chief of State (protocol), Mohamed Znati and his deputy Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim were dismissed by Colonel Qaddhafi on live TV as they were preparing to take their seats to preside over a new session of the PGC. A new Chairman ( Muftaf kueba) was appointed instantly, always on live TV, by Colonel Qaddhafi without any consultation with anyone and without any verbal or written justification. He also decided, instantly, that there is no need for the Post of the Deputy to the Chairman which he abolished instantly. The dismissal show was aired live on libya’s TV on 2 March 2008 on the opening session of the GPC. The state budget is decided on by Colonel Qaddhafi and not by the PGC whose members are not even briefed on all its chapters as the Defense and Security budgets (top State secrets) are known to no one but Colonel Qaddhafi and his immediate entourage. Expenditures from these budgets (defense & security) are left to the sole discretion of Colonel Qaddhafi who is accountable to no one.

8. There is no vote in PGC, which has all the characteristics of a Central Committee of a totalitarian political party. The "Politburo" of totalitarian party is purposely confused in Libya with the "Secretariat of the PGC”, directly appointed by Colonel Qaddhafi, which enjoys uncontrolled and unlimited powers. Colonel Qaddhafi''s instructions are usually communicated to the “Government” through this Secretariat which has the power to overrule any governmental decision. Similarly the so-called "basic people's congresses" (BPC) are nothing but the basic chapters or sections (cells) of traditional totalitarian parties. They are all (about 550 BPCs/Cells throughout Libya) coached, guided, and supervised by the members of the Armed Militia Movement, “the Revolutionary Committees Movement”, to make sure that no “deviation” from the instructions of Colonel Qaddhafi (the Leader) takes place. The supervisory functions become crucial during the annual BPCs (cells) meetings (usually 2-4 days) where each of the estimated 550 BPC discuss separately an Agenda prepared, (always from top to bottom) by the Secretariat of PGC ( the most powerful organ) and on whose items all BPCs should come up with almost identical positions on pre-set recommendations. The Militia’s other function at the BPC level is to select and clear, through a sophisticated security system, new members to the Bureau of the different BPCs. This function is very important as only "genuine revolutionaries" (pure et dure) are supposed to rise to membership position (leaders) of the Bureau. (remember no one is elected in Libya).

9. These three organs; the PGC, the Secretariat of PGC and BPCs, none of which is directly or indirectly elected, form the jamahiria system. They are all appointed, from top to bottom, by the Revolutionary Committees Movement (armed Militia) through an elaborated security system. The leader of this system is colonel Qaddhafi who is a life self-appointed Ruler of the State and a self-proclaimed Leader for life of the “Revolutionary Committee Movement”. The only noticeable difference between the organs of traditional totalitarian political parties and the “Jamahiria” System of Libya is the fact that no one in the latter, at any level, is elected while the principle of election has never been put into question, even by the most notorious dictators of totalitarian political parties such as Nicolae Ceauşescu for example, General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party. In Libya, the Government seized, under the pretense that it is the protector of the people, the rights of the citizens in making the decision on who will govern them or how they will be governed.

10. The Core of the ever recurrent human rights violations in Libya lies in the above described system which is a total negation of democratic principles and which cannot function but through committing gross abuses that constitute serious human rights violations. Colonel Qaddhafi has used this system for the last four decades to rule Libya in a private business fashion, through three circles: his own (extended) family, his tribe and the “Revolutionary Committees Movement”, none of which has a legal state function. They all perform vital missions to the continuation of the regime as they are entrusted with everything that has security or financial implications, including the oil sector, the armed forces, the security apparatus, the Central Bank of Libya, the Budget etc. They are accountable directly to Colonel Qaddhafi and to no one else, not even to justice and Courts. Because of the absolute and personal power wielded by Colonel Qaddhafi, his close family members, especially his children and cousins have been placed in position of power with their family links being more important than any formal status. The members of this special category enjoy unlimited power and are usually unknown to the public either inside Libya or outside the country. They enjoy full state protection and immunity. Their verbal or written orders, legal or illegal, have the force of law. Only Colonel Qaddhafi is in a position to overrule their instructions.

11. The political-legal structure of the system confers tyrannical powers to Colonel Qaddhafi who has the power to interfere with everything, including the administration of justice by obstructing the work of the courts or by simply changing their judgements. He can also bypass the official judicial system by establishing special, field or emergency courts, the judgments of which he may alter or annul. The independence of the judiciary is only theoretical which, in turn, means that there can be no legal safeguards available for the citizens. The justice system is totally subordinated to the interest and the security of the ruling elites and the continuation of the Jamahiria totalitarian system. Anything, even illegal matters such as corruption and blunt serious violations of human rights, that strengthens the system is seen as legal and its perpetrators are usually immune from any judicial suits. They enjoy full and complete immunity regardless of the magnitude of the crime. The perpetrators of Abusleem prison massacre (1200 prisoners were shot dead in three hours) are not only free, but they still occupy key ”Positions” that guarantee their impunity. On the other hand, prisoners who were funnd “not guilty” by courts of law and others who have completed their prison terms have been denied freedom. They continue to lay illegally in prison, despite the injunctions of the court to set them free, simply because they are suspected to still hold opinions different from those of Colonel Qaddhafi

12. Freedom of opinion, expression, association and assembly do not exist in Libya. The total suppression of these freedoms is at the core of the situation of human rights. That is, there is an absence of respect of human dignity of the population as a whole in so far as the political system accepts no dissent. It requires that thought, expression and behavior conform to the tenets of Colonel Qaddhafi and the whims of the Revolutionary Committee Movement. Through the construction of a web of informers including, extended family, community leaders and "arrivistes", and the existence of a security apparatus, which may intrude into the most private affairs of the individual, it is difficult to speak of the enjoyment of any freedom in Libya. The violations of the basic rights of the citizens are reflected in almost every independent human rights report. For instance Reporters without borders ranked Libya among the last 10 countries (129th out of 139) with the worst record for the freedom of the press. Likewise President Qaddhafi has been denounced by the same organization as a”predator of Press freedom”. As to the enjoyment of civic and political rights, Freedom House, an institution that issues yearly index (Free, Partly Free, Not Free) of freedom in the world, gave Libya a full mark of 7, 7 as a country that is “not free” where the citizens enjoy no civic or political rights at all. As to the economic freedom, Libya ranked 151th out of 156 countries in the index of economic freedom issued by Heritage Foundation.


Mr. Secretary General

13. While the responsibility for the continuing pattern of systematic human rights violations in Libya fully lies on its Government, nevertheless the international community, including the EU is not totally innocent. Libya's strategic position as a transit countries for African immigrants and refugees seeking to cross to Europe and the Libyan Government’s use of that file (very sensitive in Mediterranean European countries) as a political tool in its negotiation with the EU coupled with Libya’s vast oil reserves has led Governments and Business in Europe and North America to subordinate human rights to immigration, economic and strategic interests. The Lockerbie deal also had a negative impact on the Human Rights situation in Libya as the major two actors, the US and the UK, seem to have preferred dealing with a non-elected internationally weak Libyan Government, Colonel Qaddhafi’s Government, to dictate their financial conditions for closing the Lockerbie case, rather than taking the risk of pushing for a democratically elected strong Libyan Government that may refuse to pay anything to anybody as only Mr. Almegrahi, not the Government of Libya, was officially convicted of the Pan Am flight 103 crime!. Thus the issue of the Lockerbie crime (a crime against humanity in terms of International Law), which was supposed to erode or at least to weaken domestically Colonel Qaddhafi’s absolute power and to depress his grips on human rights has become, thanks to Libya’s diplomatic manipulations assisted by its oil and trade partners, especially oil companies, a source of consolidation of his power and a tool to ensure the continuation of “ business as usual”.

14. The “largess” of the authorities in Libya towards their foreign partners, that is to say the “Largeness” of the very authorities that perpetrate gross violations of human rights, including crimes against humanity, with the cash and mineral resources of the Libyan people that is to say of those whose human rights are permanently violated has been so far self-rewarding for the Libyan Government. A score of financially induced active and retired “international personalities”, seems to benefit from it on tacit understanding that their responsibility and role is to lobby for and defend the Libyan government’s interests in all fields, including and in particular, in the field of human rights where assistance from those personalities is really needed given the scale and the magnitude of human rights violations in Libya. One of the retirees is Tony Blair, UK former prime Minister, who is said to have accepted a highly paid post, specially created for him, of special adviser to Colonel Qaddhafi. While Mr. Blair will be paid in “Libyan cash”, it seems that BP’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward, an active international personality, also seduced by the generosity of the Libyan authorities, seems to have accepted in 2007 that BP be paid in nature for its lobbying services with the British Government in the file of the Lockerbie crime and the release of Abdelbasit Al-Megrahi, the only person convicted for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people. BP was awarded by Libya in May 2007 an exploration and Production Agreement to explore offshore in Libya’s Sirt basin and onshore in the Ghadames basin covering an exploration area of around 54,000 square kilometers. The award represents the largest single exploration award in BP’s 100-year history. The same month, that is to say in May 2007, Britain and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding on Prisoner Transfer (Britain has NO prisoner in Libya!) that paved the way for Al-Megrahi's release from a Scottish prison.

15. It must be clear that the LLHR is not against the release of Mr. Al-Megrahi whom we believe is a victim and a scapegoat. The concept and the setting up of the Camp Zeist trial was more of a pre-arranged “political court” than a real court of fair justice concerned only with the truth and nothing but the truth about Lockerbie crime. We believe that the trial gave the world a pseudo culpable while the real intriguers of that and other crimes are still free and continue to do business as usual. What the LLHR is opposed to is Impunity. We deeply believe that perpetrators of human rights violations whatever their position, nationality, gender or belief must be brought to justice and be held fully accountable for their crimes. We consider that the practice and expectation of impunity for violations of human rights are among the fundamental obstacles to the observance and promotion of human rights in Libya. We also consider that accountability of perpetrators for human rights violations, including their accomplices, is one of the central elements of any effective remedy for promotion and implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Libya. It is a key factor in ensuring a fair and equitable justice system and, ultimately, reconciliation and stability within the country.

16. We were expecting, in this context, that Mr. Blair uses the prestige of his former office (PM) for good causes such as pushing for respect of human rights and combating impunity in Libya and everywhere in the world, not advising on the way and means of strengthening impunity in Libya. We believe that Mr. Blair’s behavior and that of other international personalities such as prime minister Berlusconi, is unethical at best as it contributes directly or indirectly to consolidate a government that, not only continues to violate, at will, the basic human rights of its citizens, hut also considers that violating those rights is an intrinsic part of its governmental prerogatives as reflected in the unlimited discretionary power it enjoys and also in the total absence of accountability it secured. There is no doubt that the new “recruit” has complicated the work of Libyan Human rights defenders, especially in the field of combating impunity, as they have to face in their day to day work not only a consolidated system of “government by corruption”, but also a concerted propaganda from columns of foreign accomplices (mercenaries) , a la Blair, on Libya’ s direct or indirect PAYROLL; including multinational oil companies and other corporate with flourishing business in Libya. This situation represents a real case of illegal interference and unethical intrusion (that doesn’t say its name) in Libya’s domestic affairs that may, we are afraid, fuel extremism, intolerance and more human rights violations.

Mr. Secretary General,

17. As the United Nations Human Rights Council has confirmed, businesses have a responsibility to respect internationally recognized human rights principles, including those rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, its associated covenants (the International Bill of Human Rights) and the international agreements inspired by them. We believe these are inherent rights to all humans that steam simply from the fact that they are human and should therefore be respected by all. We have observed with regret that foreign corporations, especially oil companies do not observe those principles as they have participated and even encouraged, in many cases, corruption and bribery, the widespread of which has been a major obstacle to political and economic reforms, accountability, transparency and good governance in Libya. They participated, for instance, in the sellout of the natural resources of the country through securing illegally (no transparent bidding) highly profitable oil exploration and production agreements for their lobbying services in UK and US related, in general, to condoning serious violations of Human rights in Libya. BP’s lobbying for the release of Mr. Al-Megrahi is a case in point. Another case is the intensive lobbying with the US congress undertaken by major oil companies, including ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, Amerada Hess, Occidental, ExxonMobil and Chevron, which intervened in several occasions with members of the congress (Senators and Representatives) with the view of persuading them of the necessity to overlook the state of human rights in Libya when discussing and passing legislation on the US-Libyan relations. Their main argument is that human rights are a very sensitive issue in Libya and any reference into it “would only hurt oil interests for US companies". The collusion of the US and other oil companies with the Libyan perpetrators of human rights violations, the Libyan Government, and their indifference vis a vis the victims of human rights, including the 1200 victims of the Abusleem prison massacre, put these companies in a position of virtual accomplices to the Government in its violations of international human rights laws.

Mr. Secretary General

18. We would like again to thank Amnesty for its efforts and work to bring the state of Human rights in Libya to the attention of the international community. The Libyan situation requires, indeed, a permanent scrutiny mechanism as the Government issues no verbal or written information on its human rights policy or violations, which are subject to no judicial or any legal review. It took the Libyan Government no less than thirteen years to inform the parents of those whom it killed in June 1996 in Abusleem prison (1200 persons) of the death of their progeny without specifying either the date or the cause of death. The LLHR is convinced that had not been for the vigilance of Amnesty and other Human rights NGOs, the Libyan situation would have been much worse, although it is difficult to imagine a more exacerbated human rights situation than the one prevailing in Libya today. We therefore take this opportunity to urge you to continue your much appreciated vigilance and to broaden it to engulf eventually the compatibility of the Libyan imposed political system with the International Bill of Human Rights as well as the violations of human rights generated by Impunity and Corruption which have been strengthened lately by the intervention in Libya’s domestic affairs of “imminent personalities”, including Mr Blair and columns of business companies, including oil companies.

Thank you again for all the good work you have done to advocate respect of human rights and the rule of law in Libya.

Sliman Bouchuiguir (Ph-D)
Secretary General

ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT TO HOLD MAJOR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR CRIMINAL BLAIR

ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT TO HOLD MAJOR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR CRIMINAL BLAIR DURING FORTHCOMING DUBLIN VIST
IRISH ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

Press Release – August 21st

ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT TO HOLD MAJOR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST WAR CRIMINAL BLAIR DURING FORTHCOMING DUBLIN VIST

In a statement the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) has announced plans to hold a major demonstration to protest during the planned visit to Dublin of former British Prime minister, Tony Blair on September 3rd/4th.

The demonstration will coincide with the book launch and signing event for Mr Blair’s soon to be published autobiography, due to take place in Eason’s on O’ Connell St in Dublin on Saturday September 4th.

The protest will assemble at 11.30am at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square, before marching to Eason’s where the book signing will be taking place.

The IAWM protest will focus on Tony Blair’s key role in launching the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that have claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and devastated both countries.

The protest will also focus on Blair’s effective complicity - both as Prime Minister and now as EU envoy to the Middle East - with the war crimes and human rights abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinians.

The protest will also seek to highlight the continued complicity of the Irish government with the wars launched by former US president George Bush and Mr Blair – in allowing US troops to use Shannon airport on route to participate in those wars, and through the direct involvement of a small number of Irish troops in the Afghan conflict.

Over the coming days, the IAWM will undertake a major national mobilisation for the demonstration and will be contacting and seeking the support of the widest possible range of political and civil society groups for the protest.

Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the IAWM said:

“By any reasonable standard, Tony Blair is a war criminal. He played a key role in fabricating the lies and bogus justifications for an illegal and murderous war in Iraq and the equally immoral war in Afghanistan.

Credible estimates put the numbers of dead in Iraq as a result of the war launched by Blair and Bush at over a million. Millions more have been made refugees and the infrastructure of Iraqi society has been utterly devastated.

In Afghanistan, tens of thousands have died and the body count continues to rise daily as result of the war and occupation spearheaded by the US and UK, under Bush and Blair, and now continued by Barack Obama and David Cameron.

By every objective humanitarian criterion, life for the Afghan people is worse now than it was before Blair and Bush launched their brutal war.

While Blair has justified his murderous military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan with bogus talk of fighting “terrorism” and spreading “democracy,” he has done absolutely nothing to restrain or sanction Israel for its deliberate murder of thousands of Palestinians and systematic denial of their most elementary human and civil rights.

Worse than that - both as Prime Minister and now as EU envoy - Blair has given effective moral support to Israel in its criminal siege of Gaza by refusing to recognise the democratically elected representatives of the Palestinian people. The refusal of the major western powers, including Britain and the EU, to recognise the outcome of democratic elections in Palestine, gave the green light to Israel to besiege and assault Gaza in the name of fighting “terrorism.”

The idea of Tony Blair celebrating or justifying his war crimes in a book and generating money from it, regardless of where that money goes, is nauseating in the extreme. It is blood money pure and simple, and Blair’s agenda in writing this book is a purely cynical manoeuvre to whitewash responsibility for war crimes and mass murder. The only book of Tony Blair’s that those opposed to war should look forward to is his prison memoirs.

In 2003, 100,000 people came onto the streets to oppose Blair and Bush’s war. They have been utterly vindicated in their opposition to that war. We hope that many of those people will once again come onto the streets on 4th September to express their outrage at what Blair has done and the terrible suffering he has inflicted.

Crucially, this protest is not just about what has happened in the past but what is still going on now in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine, where people continue to die and suffer every day as a result of the policies initiated by Blair and Bush.

This protest therefore will also seek to, once again, demand that our government end its complicity with US/UK warmongering by ejecting US troops from Shannon, withdrawing Irish troops from Afghanistan and imposing sanctions on Israel for its inhuman treatment of the Palestinians.”

For more info/confirmation contact: Richard Boyd Barrett 086-7814520

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Petition against human rights violation in Gaza

This petition took place in front of Marks and Spencer Oxford St London every Thursday after noon.

Day School - Israel, Palestine

Sat 7th August - 12:30 Day School - Israel, Palestine and the Politics of the Middle East
Contents

1.THURSDAY 05 AUGUST (TODAY), 5.00-6.00PM, GPO, O CONNELL STREET IAWM STALL FOR PALESTINE
2.Saturday 7th August - 12:30 Day School - Israel, Palestine and the Politics of the Middle East - Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin.
3.Attend Saturday's Day School On-Line.
4.MONDAY 9th AUGUST FROM 7.30AM PEACEFUL BLOCKADE OF ISRAELI EMBASSY, PEMBROKE ROAD, BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN 4.
5.Donating to the Irish Anti-War Movement
1.Donating through PayPal
2.Setup a Standing Order


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1. THURSDAY 05 AUGUST (TODAY), 5.00-6.00PM, GPO, O CONNELL STREET IAWM STALL FOR PALESTINE

Meet at GPO. For info please contact Marnie Holborrow, Tel: 087 988 9244 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 087 988 9244 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.



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2. Saturday 7th August - 12:30 Day School - Israel, Palestine and the Politics of the Middle East - Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin.

See Leaflet for Details.

12:30 - 13:30 Israel and the Arab States

Anne Alexander (author of ‘Nasser - Life and Times’)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/947757993).

14:30 - 15:30 Expression workshop Zionism and apartheid

Sarah Wood (Facilitator)
Claudia Saba (Palestinian Activist)

16:00 - 17:30 Islam and resistance (Panel of Speakers)

Ahmed El Habash (Palestinian Rights Institute)
Michael Youlton (IAWM)
Anne Alexander (author of ‘Nasser - Life and Times’)
Francesco Cavorta (Author :Democratization in the Muslim World)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/401304888).

17:30 - 18:30 The Politics of Anti - Imperialism

Richard Boyd Barrett (Chair IAWM)
Fintan Lane (Participant on Gaza Flotilla)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/797972145).

For the first time in decades, many Palestinian organizations and activists see a reason for hope as their call to boycott Israel is gathering momentum.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is modelled on the movement against South Africa’s apartheid system in the 1980s. It is a grassroots campaign called for by Palestinians themselves and doing what governments are failing to do – stand up to the apartheid state of Israel.

The BDS campaign aims to address the demands of not just the 4 million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, but also the more than 1 million Palestinian citizens of Israel and roughly 4 million Palestinians living in refugee camps throughout the Middle East.

In the weeks since the assault on the Gaza flotilla, the BDS movement has seen huge steps forward: 1,500 dockworkers at ports across Sweden refused to handle cargo to and from Israel, and a few days later, 1,000 activists set up a picket line at the Port of Oakland that was honoured by dockworkers, preventing an Israeli ship from being unloaded for 24 hours.

Last year Ireland’s Council of Trade Unions (ICTU), following a motion from anti-war activists in Derry, and after an ICTU visit to Palestine, called for full trade union support for the boycott campaign. Furthermore, Dublin City Council, in May 2010. passed a resolution calling on the City Manager not to sign or renew any contracts with French multinational Veolia – the operators of the LUAS who have also tendered for the Metro North project.

Veolia operate Israeli rail, bus and waste services in the illegally occupied West Bank.

Also in recent weeks, a growing list of musicians has refused to play concerts in Israel. Gil Scott-Heron cancelled the Israeli stop of his world tour, as did the Pixies, Massive Attack and Elvis Costello. If you are interested in joining our boycott activities and our blockade of the Israeli embassy contact us on our website irishantiwar.org or facebook.

Israel’s attack on the civilians on the Freedom Flotilla with the death of nine civilians and the wounding of over 40 was unprovoked, unwarranted, and brutal. It brought home yet again the true nature of the Israeli state.

Israel’s attack on the civilians on the Freedom Flotilla with the death of nine civilians and the wounding of over 40 was unprovoked, unwarranted, and brutal. It brought home yet again the true nature of the Israeli state.

Support for the flotilla has reverberated around the world. The Irish Anti War Movement, along with others, has mobilised large numbers on demonstrations in Dublin. It has been calling for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador here. It has held several blockades of the Israel Embassy the first of which succeeded in closing the Embassy down for one day.

People see how much Israel relies on its Western backers. Obama, even after the flotilla murders, yet again praised Netanyahu for being serious about peace! Every time a further move to ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians is made, US military might and billions of dollars in aid is there to support Israel.

The conflict is opening people’s eyes to the politics of the Middle East and how Western interests back the status quo. The actions of the Israeli state, including its building of a concrete prison wall and its stubborn continuation of the building of settlements criss-crossing the West Bank, have made many see Israel as an apartheid state which needs to be changed.

Historian Ilan Pappe refers to Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians as ethnic cleansing and says that it has deep political causes. Some of the questions that this day-school seeks to address are:

•What is the solution to the ending of the apartheid state of Israel?
•Why does the Irish government refuse to stand up clearly to Israel?
•Why does the EU treat Israel as a special ally?
•What do the governments of the Arab states not stand up to Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians?
•Why does political Islam seem to be leading the resistance to Israel?
•Is the call for boycotting Israel anti-Semitic?
Come along and discuss these with us. There will be sessions aimed at full participation and others where you can ask questions and raise points, or just listen, if you like!



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3. Attend Saturday's Day School On-Line.

The Irish Anti-War Movement is holding a number of experimental online meeting at the Day School this Saturday the meetings which can be attended on-line are listed below.

On-Line participants will be able to ask questions in the same way as people who are physically attending the meeting.

WARNING THIS IS THE FIRST TIEM THIS HAS BEEN DONE AND THE RESULTS WILL DEPEND ON YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION.

12:30 - 13:30 Israel and the Arab States

Anne Alexander (author of ‘Nasser - Life and Times’)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/947757993).

16:00 - 17:30 Islam and resistance (Panel of Speakers)

Ahmed El Habash (Palestinian Rights Institute)
Michael Youlton (IAWM)
Anne Alexander (author of ‘Nasser - Life and Times’)
Francesco Cavorta (Author :Democratization in the Muslim World)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/401304888).

17:30 - 18:30 The Politics of Anti - Imperialism

Richard Boyd Barrett (Chair IAWM)
Fintan Lane (Participant on Gaza Flotilla)
Attend On-Line (https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/797972145).



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4. MONDAY 09 AUGUST FROM 7.30AM PEACEFUL BLOCKADE OF ISRAELI EMBASSY, PEMBROKE ROAD, BALLSBRIDGE, DUBLIN 4.

The IAWM calls on the Irish Government to break diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.

Please join us at the Israeli Embassy to send the message to the Israeli Ambassador that he is not welcome in Ireland as long as the siege of Gaza and the ethnic cleansing in the West Bank continues and the Palestinian people are denied their human rights.

This will be the seventh time we have carried out a blockade of the Israeli Embassy since the killing of the nine Turkish Peace Activists on 31 May. For a report on the last blockade see http://irishantiwar.org/node/954

Please come along, tell all your friends and show your support for the people of Gaza and the West Bank.



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5. Donating to the Irish Anti-War Movement

5-1. Donating through PayPal

Follow this link to donate to the Irish Anti War Movement through PayPal.

5-2. Setup a Standing Order

To set-up a standing order with the Irish-Anti War Movement please go to the following link http://www.irishantiwar.org/files/standing-order-form.doc fill in the form and post to the Irish Anti-War Movement P.O. Box 9260 Dublin 1.