The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear discussion list members, I am writing to clarify CASI's position on military sanctions in view of the recent proposal to 'reform' the sanctions regime. Peter Brooke wrote: > But where does that leave the CASI commitment to military sanctions > (which would require extensive oversight of 'dual use' resources)? And > where does it leave our abhorrence, and presumably distrust, of the > Iraqi government? http://www.casi.org.uk/discuss/2001/msg00561.html CASI has no commitment to military sanctions. It does not have any official position on them at all - whether in opposition or in favour - but has one concern only: the human consequences of the non-military sanctions on Iraq. This is true for many other issues. An analogy with the human rights record of the Iraqi government might clarify this. As an organisation, we do not have a position on this issue. That the Iraqi government perpetrates human rights abuses does not affect our position; we still want non-military sanctions on Iraq to be lifted. CASI's position on non-military sanctions is, very briefly: we oppose any sanctions regime which harms the normal working of Iraq's civilian economy and society. Our position therefore does not 'require extensive oversight of 'dual use' resources'. We oppose restrictions which contribute to continued civilian hardship. This might include (and it frequently has for the past few years) sanctions which come under 'dual use' or 'military' labels. However, we don't oppose them _because_ they are so labelled, but because they cause hardship. The proposed 'smart sanctions' carry on several mechanisms which continue to cause hardship in Iraq. Some aspects of the revised sanctions do not appear harmful (expanded 'green lists' might, for example, be marginally beneficial), but much remains. CASI, therefore, will continue to oppose these sanctions. We hope to provide more substantial comment on the proposed reforms in the next few weeks, and your help and input would be very welcome. Ali Draper ***************************************** Co-ordinator, Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq www.casi.org.uk fax 0870 063 5022 ***************************************** Ali Draper tel: 07990 50 30 26 Girton College Cambridge, CB3 OJG -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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