The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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We the undersigned deplore the British Government’s lack of honesty concerning the economic sanctions on Iraq. Last August, in an open letter to the UN Security Council, 6 NGO’s, including Human Rights Watch and Save the Children UK, wrote that ‘the Council must recognise that the sanctions have contributed in a major way to persistent life-threatening conditions in the country.’ In February the Catholic aid agency CAFOD described the economic sanctions on Iraq as ‘humanly catastrophic, morally indefensible and politically ineffective.’ Yet we still find Robin Cook writing that ‘Saddam alone is to blame for his people’s suffering’ (Telegraph, 20th February). The British Government is desperately trying to repackage the embargo for PR purposes but, as the Economist has noted (24th February), ‘the British proposal of ‘smart sanctions’ offers an aspirin where surgery is called for. ’ For these reasons we support the mass ‘nose-in’ outside the Foreign Office today [the 29th April] (www.robincook.net ). We urge the British Government to stop lying and adopt a genuinely smart policy: an immediate end to the economic sanctions on Iraq. Denis Halliday (UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq, Sep. '97 - Sep. '98) Hans von Sponeck (UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq, Oct. '98 - March 2000) Mark Thomas Benjamin Zephaniah Iain Banks Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Wales Jean Dreze c/o voices in the wilderness uk 16b Cherwell Street Oxford OX4 1BG e-mail: voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk tel. 01865 - 243 232 -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk