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some plans are afoot for a solidarity football match for the kids killed by the bomb. the match(es) would be on july 19th, the 1 month anniversary.
There should be one in London, i'm trying to organise onein genoa, where i will be by then (for the G8 summit).
richard byrne
voices
Milan Rai <milanrai@btinternet.com> wrote:
Dear all
Press release phoned through from Baghdad this evening, of interest
to those engaged in anti-bombing campaigning.
Cheers
Mil
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
US/UK ANTI-SANCTIONS CAMPAIGNERS TO VISIT SITE OF
LATEST US/UK BOMBING
In an act of solidarity, a delegation of US and British citizens will
journey to Tell A'afer in northern Iraq on June 22 to visit the victims
of the recent US/UK bombing.
According to the Iraqi News Agency, 23 people were killed by the
bombs on Wednesday 20 June.
'This appears to be a further violation of the sovereignty of Iraq's
airspace by the countries from which we come. There is no
justification for this continuing violence, which is illegal under
international law,' said Lauren Cannon (31), delegation leader.
The US and UK have denied any loss of life.
The delegation consists of a British lawyer and doctor and three
American educators, all members of Voices in the Wilderness, a
human rights organisation campaigning for the lifting of economic
sanctions against Iraq.
Each US member of Voices in the Wilderness risks 12 years
imprisonment and up to $1 million in fines by travelling to Iraq. Each
British member risks up to 5 years imprisonment for taking goods to
and from Iraq without a government licence.
On June 20, the group further violated the US/UK mandates by
travelling within the no-fly zones on a domestic flight from Basra to
Baghdad.
The current "smart sanctions" proposal by the UK, under
consideration by the United Nations Security Council, would include
inspection of Iraqi domestic flights as well as stationing observers at
international airports.
Laurel Severns of Chicago stated this would be funded by the UN-
controlled escrow account of Iraq's oil-for-food revenues, forcing Iraq
to pay for its own seige.
In addition the delegates have openly and publicly bought goods in
Iraq such as native dates and date palm fans. They play to auction
these items in the UK to further expose the US/UK-led policy that
Iraq may not even export such simple items 10 years after the Gulf
War. Any proceeds will directly benefit campaigning against the
economic sanctions.
Upon returning to Baghdad, the group will give a full press conference
on their findings at Tell A'afer at the headquarters of the Iraqi
Airways office on 28 April Street, Baghdad, on Saturday 23 June at
6pm.
ENDS
Milan Rai
Joint Coordinator, Voices in the Wilderness UK
milanrai@btinternet.com
29 Gensing Road, St Leonards on Sea East Sussex UK TN38 0HE
Phone/fax 0845 458 9571 local rate within UK
Phone/fax 44 1424 428 792 from outside UK
Pager 07623 746 462
Voices website http://viwuk.freeserve.co.uk
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