Letters to the Editor, November 28, 2004

Falluja News Report: 6,000 people could have died

The Iraqi Red Crescent told the BBC it was delivering aid on a daily basis. But a spokesman says it is feared more than 6,000 people could have died in the assault and thousands of families are in critical need of assistance. Meanwhile, Iraqi and US politicians insisted elections will be held etc.

In my day democracy meant care and respect for others, their philosophies and views. It meant an aversion to war except under extreme duress. But this is the Democracy of Death ... the Death of Democracy.

Phil Hong

I just want to see a future for all mankind

Dear Editor,

I know you have had a million letters like this. But I am just one guy who grew up with, well had a vision many ears ago. About the Lord, God, Allah whatever we wish to call him. Looks down and is unhappy with how we manage OUR earth.

What do we do to get things back into perspective, how do we bring the earth and it's people back into a place where God/Allah would be PROUD of us. I just want to see a future for all mankind, we MUST be able to AGREE somehow, somewhere on LIFE ?

Please, I ask you.

Eran Elliott. Wales, UK.

Editor: Answers from readers are appreciated.

Mark Whitney: Ukrainian Crossroads

Dear Editor,

I've always admired Mark Whitney's writing but his latest article is off the mark. I remind him of the facts. Yushenko won the first round by a slim margin. Yushenko picked up support from the socialists and nationalists while a much smaller group of communists went over to Yanukovich. Prior to the second round Yushenko had a comfortable 8 to 11% lead. These polls were conducted by various organizations and all showed Yushenko ahead. This is not rocket science. It's perfectly understandable why Yushenko is in the lead (he has the support of the parties that came in third and fourth) and is expected to win. Exit polls also showed that Yushenko won. Mark Whitney complains that the exit polls were rigged. I doubt it, but does he deny that Yushenko had a comfortable lead prior to the election and was expected to win?

Mark suggests that because the US election was stolen by Bush, then Bush has no right to criticize. I'm glad that someone has spoken up (even Bush). The Ukrainian man-in-street doesn't see this a struggle of East vs. West. It is a struggle between corrupt officials and the will of the majority. Kuchma and Yanukovich have much to answer for. The death of Chornovil (a reformer), deaths of investigative journalists and attempts on the lives of others. For Kuchma and Yanukovich, losing this election means prosecution and prison time. Yanukovich was made Prime Minister by Kuchma (and the oligarchs who have been looting Ukraine) because he knows how to shut people up. Yanukovich has been in prison twice before for violent crimes.

Peter Lewycky

The American military actions in Fallujah and the Geneva Convention

Dear Editor,

During the recent military offensive against Fallujah the American military forces have committed grave human rights violations c.q. war-crimes, which has resulted in more than 800 civilian deaths.

In the first place on several occasions indiscriminate shootings on civilians have taken place, which is a flagrant violation of the basic-principle of the 4th Geneva Convention, that regarding military attacks a clear distinction must be made between civilians and soldiers or fighters.

In the second place only women, children, and unarmed men above 45 years were allowed to leave Fallujah. This did not apply to unarmed men between 18 and 45. This is a violation of article 3 of the 4th Geneva Convention, which refers to the protection of all unarmed civilians regardless gender or age.

In the third place during the siege of Fallujah in several cases ambulances as well as Red-Cross food-supplies were denied access to the city. This is a flagrant violation of humanitarian law, which explicitly forbids any hindrance of medical help and food for the civilian population in a besieged city.

Also American soldiers were responsible for the abandonment of 5 wounded Iraqi fighters without any medical help, which is killing of a wounded fighter. Both are war crimes because of the international obligation to treat wounded or imprisoned adversaries humanely.

Therefore it is of the highest importance that the American military forces show the utmost respect for the 4th Geneva Convention.

Astrid Essed,

astridessed@hotmail.com Florijn, Amsterdam

Remembering Arafat:

An evening to celebrate the life of Yasser Arafat

Tuesday 7th December, 7pm

Friends House, 173 - 177 Euston Road,

London NW1 Nearest tube: Euston

Held in the presence of H.E Afif Safieh-Palestinian general delegate to the UK

Speakers Include:

Rajab Chamlakh Head of The Association of Palestinian Community in the UK

Robin Kealy CMG Former British Ambassador in Tunisia and former Consulate General in East Jerusalem

Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley KCMG Former Foreign Office Minister responsible for the Middle East and former Chair of Conservative Party

Rt Hon Lord David Steel KBE DL Former leader of the Liberal Democrats & former President of Medical Aid for

Palestinians

Asad Abdul Rahman Independent PLO-EC member formerly in charge of Refugees Affairs Department

H.E Afif Safieh Palestinian Delegate to the UK and the Holy See

Hosted by the Joint Committee for Palestine

Tuesday 7th December, 7pm

Friends House, 173 - 177 Euston Road,

London NW1 Nearest tube: Euston

For further details please contact CAABU-0207 832 1310

The Joint Committee for Palestine is a loose coalition of British organizations (including Council for Arab-British Understanding, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Association of the Palestinian Community, AMOS Trust, Deir Yassin Remembered, Just Peace UK, Palestine Return Centre, LMEC and Jewish Socialist Group), concerned with achieving justice for the Palestinians.

Chris Doyle

Director

CAABU (Council for Arab-British Understanding)

1 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE Tel: 020 7832 1310 Fax: 020 7832 1329 www.caabu.org