Dear Friends,

Given the speed at which events are unfolding in Iraq, we felt the urgent need to set out some basic demands that we, as peace and social justice activists, should be putting to the US, the UK, the UN and the international community.

We have consulted widely, including with Iraqi friends and activists from various social movements and campaigns, and we hope that the demands reflect a clear and common position that many will support.

If you agree with the demands and would like to add your name or your organisation to the list, go to http://www.focusweb.org/demands/demands.html



The statement will be presented to the "Iraq and the Global Peace Movement: What next?" conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, 19-21 May (see http://focusweb.org or email herbert@focusphilippines.org) and at the peace and anti-war movements events during the G8 in late May.

We also hope that everyone endorsing the demands will use them in their own work against the war and for peace-building.

In solidarity,

Focus on the Global South

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INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS REGARDING THE INVASION, OCCUPATION AND "RECONSTRUCTION" OF IRAQ

The US-lead invasion and occupation of Iraq is illegal

In 1946, the Nuremberg Tribunal judged that "To initiate a war of aggression is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."

Consequently, we demand

An immediate end to the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States and the United Kingdom and the immediate withdrawal and removal of all foreign troops, military advisers and representatives, military equipment and armaments.

We insist that:

The Iraqi people have absolute and sovereign right to determine their own future and any decision about the need for international assistance rests solely with the Iraqis.

The United States' and United Kingdom's occupation of Iraq is illegal, as is any administrative authority or interim government established by the occupying forces. Therefore, any decisions made by the occupying forces or their representatives are not binding on the Iraqi people.

The UN-held escrow Iraqi oil account must not be used to foot the bill for reconstruction of the damage caused by the illegal war and UN sanctions. The funds must be held in trust for the Iraqi people until there is a legitimate and genuinely representative government elected by the people.

The United Nations and its agencies, other governments and non-governmental organisations should not serve as a cover to legitimise, or profit from, the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. Humanitarian aid must not be used to support or promote the military, political and economic objectives of the occupying forces.

The UN, other governments and NGOs should not use their own resources or public money to fund humanitarian assistance, aid, reconstruction or other development activities which are the legal and mor al responsibility of the invading and occupying forces, nor should they characterise as "aid" that which is the entitlement the of the Iraqi people

The Iraqi people have sovereignty over all natural resources and utilities. The invading and occupying forces or their private sector proxies have no right to make any decisions about who controls or benefits from the exploitation of natural resources or the construction and delivery of basic services and utilities.



The full costs of all reconstruction, compensation and reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage destruction caused by the US-lead invasion of Iraq must be borne by the aggressors.

Reparations for the physical, social, economic, psychological, ecological, cultural and heritage loss, damage and suffering caused by the UN Security Council mandated sanctions must be borne by the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.

In addition, reparations must be paid to all persons who have suffered physical, economic and psychological loss and trauma resulting from twelve years of sanctions and the 2003 invasion based on individual and collective claims and dispensed by an independent compensation tribunal.

We call for

A Peoples War Tribunal based on the Geneva Conventions and Nuremberg Tribunal principles and precedents to investigate and prosecute the war crimes of, amongst others, George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Tommy Franks, Tony Blair, Jack Straw, and John Howard.

International sanctions on the aggressor nations for their illegal, preemptive attack on a sovereign nation.

The United States Government to desist from threats of force and use of force against all sovereign nations.



Focus on the Global South

8 May 2003

To endorse the demands, go to:

http://www.focusweb.org/demands/demands.html

Focus on the Global South (FOCUS)

c/o CUSRI, Chulalongkorn University

Bangkok 10330 THAILAND

Tel: 662 218 7363/7364/7365/7383

Fax: 662 255 9976

E-mail: N.Bullard@focusweb.org

Web Page http://www.focusweb.org



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