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----------------------------------------------------------------------- Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- United States war against Iraq condemned ------------------------------------------------------- With the call to boycott the United States products, the people's rally against war, organised by the World Social Forum while disapproved the US intervention in Iraq, it described the war as a war against the millions of innocent Iraqi citizens, specially women and children.
The rally echoed the sentiment of the international fraternity, described the war as the violation of international law and held it as a set-back to efforts to resolve conflicts between the nations through peaceful and lawful means, under the framework of the United Nations charter and the UN bill of rights.
The rally resolved to convey to the US President, Mr George W Bush and to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan its absolute disapproval of the US invasion of Iraq. The resolution said:" The war against Iraq is wholly unacceptable and cannot be justified. Nor can this repugnant action of US and its allies be legitimised by recourse to any God or religion. It was pointed out that the economic and environmental costs of the war are internationally borne and even Goans would also have to bear the consequences.
"We therefore call upon the UN Secretary-General to assume total control over this conflict on behalf of the international community of lawful and law-abiding nations and to demand from the US government a complete and immediate cessations of hostilities," the resolution added. The rally also demanded that the reconstruction of Iraq's economy should only be carried out henceforth under the overall supervision of the UN and its institutions. The resolution was adopted at the fag end of the meeting with those assembled, raising their hands to support it.
Political leaders, who addressed the gathering, included the Nationalist Congress Party chief, Dr Wilfred D'Souza, the Goa pradesh Congress committee president, Ms Nirmala Sawant and Mr Matanhy Saldanha of the United Goans Democratic Party, coalition partner of the Goa government.
Other leaders of the Communist Party of India, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist, besides ex-MLA, Mr Victor Gonsalves were present. The World Social Forum-Goa convenor, Mr Christopher Fonseca, Mr Raju Mangeshkar and Mr Rajan Narayan also addressed the gathering. The speakers unanimously criticised the US action against Iraq and demanded the US government be asked to cease hostilities. Dr Wilfred de Souza pointed out that the US can also attack India, using the same yardstick used against Iraq.
Ms Nirmala Sawant suggested that the Goa government be asked to issue circulars to schools, before they disband for their vacations, to have peace marches in their areas to protest the war and demand peace. "Despite world-wide protests, the Indian government has not taken an open stand against the war," she regretted. The war, she said, is destroying our humanity.
Dr Meenakshi Martins said," There is also a need to organize village-level marches for peace and to organize prayers for peace."Referring to children and environment as the only two resources of the world, Ms Shanti Fonseca said," These resources are being threatened in the current war." We remained silent too long, she said and added that we have woken up a little late. "The reward of silence is death, the reward of awakening is life," she added.
Mr Satish Sonak said this is not a war but a slaughter or mass butchery of a kind never seen before. The US followed no rules. Its target in Iraq is not the Iraqi Army but property, women and children. Is this the way to solve the problems of the world, he asked
Mr Ashwin Tombat stated that the US could also ask India to grant Kashmir its freedom or face American bombs.Dr Peter Ronny de Souza of the Department of Politics, Goa University, said the university should do its bit in providing authentic information about such political conflicts and the US interests.
He said there is a dire need to expose the lies and deceit and misinformation, spread by the US government about its war with Iraq.He said the nations, both the US and the United Kingdom, are no democratic governments but juntas and should be labelled as such. ---------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 24/03/03 page 3 -----------------------------------------------------
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