Protesters accuse NATO generals of war crimes
NATO protesters gather in front of the legislature before marching to the Hotel Grand Pacific, where NATO's Military Committee was meeting. Gen. Ray Henault said chiefs of defence from 26 member nations had frank and open discussions on the role of the military alliance. (John McKay, Times Colonist) <http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vitc/20070909/ 15664-5536.jpg?size=l> Louise Dickson, CanWest News Service NATO protesters gather in front of the legislature before marching to the Hotel Grand Pacific, where NATO's Military Committee was meeting. Gen. Ray Henault said chiefs of defence from 26 member nations had "frank and open" discussions on the role of the military alliance. (John McKay, Times Colonist) More pictures: <javascript:void%20changeImage(-1);> < Prev | <javascript:void%20changeImage(1);> Next > Louise Dickson, CanWest News Service Published: Sunday, September 09, 2007 VICTORIA -- About 200 noisy protesters delivered a symbolic summons Saturday to North Atlantic Treaty Organization generals as the officials discussed military strategy behind police fences at a downtown Victoria hotel. The group accused NATO's military committee of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Lt.-Col. Tony White, public information officer for NATO's military committee, said he had received and read the protesters' document and would pass it to NATO's legal team in Brussels, when he returns in a few days. "It will be not ignored," said White. Organizers had warned police they would fight back if officers tried to clear them from the Grand Pacific Hotel where the high level meetings are being held by generals from the international military alliance, but a noon rally was peaceful. The coalition of local peace groups chanted "NATO killers" as they marched, followed by calls of "Bring Down the Generals." Although a few military men looked on from their waterfront balconies, no one came down to address the crowd. Jodi Wood joined the rally to protest Canada's involvement in NATO. "We're a democratic nation and I think we should have a right as a civilian society to make the decision to pull Canada out of what is basically world terrorism," said Wood. Marla Renn, an education student at Simon Fraser University, came to protest what she called the atrocities being committed by NATO in Afghanistan. "There's an untold amount of civilian deaths and brutality for women over there. We're making things harder and worse over there," said Renn. Many protesters accused NATO of using prohibited weapons such as cluster bombs, white phosphorous and depleted uranium to kill and maim innocent civilians. Raging Granny Fran Thoburn found pictures online of babies deformed by depleted uranium and had them laminated on posters. "We need to get our heads out of the sand and realize we are killing and maiming total populations," Thoburn said. Members of the military committee were surprised by the protest's focus on illegal weapons, said White. After consulting with senior officers, White told the media NATO is not using cluster munitions or depleted uranium in Afghanistan. "Depleted uranium was an issue in Kosovo and Bosnia several years ago. Some nations were using it, but there was no proof it harmed people," said White. He also addressed the question of whether or not NATO is still relevant after existing for almost 60 years. "I think it's relevant, because the United Nations, which represents the international community, is the one asking us to go to Afghanistan and Darfur," said White. "We're not imposing ourselves on other countries." In the past five years, the demands on NATO have been increasing, said White. "The international community sees NATO as a very responsible and professional force that is highly successful," said White. "You have to go to Afghanistan to see the progress. The (gross domestic product ) is up 14 per cent. Young girls are in school. Afghanistan is much better off than it was two years ago. If they listen to our soldiers, they'll know we're doing a lot more good than bad." The protest included a nude male cyclist towing two Scottish terriers in a yellow trailer. The man made it on to the lawn of the provincial legislature before being dressed in a pair of bright blue boxer shorts and placed in the back of the police car. 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