PHA-Exchange> Boycott- please add UK products :::::::: + Re: IRAQ WAR

[UNNIKRISHNAN PV (Dr)]

Dear Noumanbhai and team

Congratulations for all your anti war efforts. 

It is important to add UK products along with the US products when calling for the boycott. This is a common suggestion that has from many. Strategically it is important that we take this up.

Strategically you may consider using the following common slogan- "Drop their shops and STOP THE WAR !- Boycott US and UK campaign". This may strategically useful in branding the campaign as common global activity, with specific activities at the national/ local level.

Another demand that you may consider as a campaign point is to demand the expulsion of Britain from Commonwealth. Britain, by deciding to invade a country through an unilateral decision has :

1) Violated the founding principles of Commonwealth- that is democratic decision making
2) Violated the UN's principles
3) Pose a grave threat to other member countries.

Some of us (this is NOT a PHM initiative) have been facilitating this demand from Bangalore, India. Please find a press release that was issued to this effect (after the signature of this mail).

If you plan to take it up, please let us know. we could feed you more info and campaign points.

In solidarity

Unni

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Unnikrishnan PV , India
E-mail: unnikru at vsnl.com; Ph (m): +91 (0) 98450 91319

Read the latest on the campaign to stop the war at :
www.indiadisasters.org/iraq

Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 7:44 AM
Subject: EXPEL BRITAIN FROM COMMONWEALTH, says Indian citizens. (PRESS STATEMENT)


  
EXPEL  BRITAIN  FROM  COMMONWEALTH 

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"Britain's presence in this international body is a grave threat to the security of other member countries," say Indian citizens
Press statement issued on behalf of several anti-war initiatives, civil society organisations, individuals and mass movements. 
Bangalore, India.                                                         22nd March 2003

A large number of citizens from the south Indian city of Bangalore today demanded that Britain be expelled from the Commonwealth immediately. A group of citizens have been holding peaceful demonstrations (candle-light vigils) in front of the British Trade Office and the British Council Library this week in response to the aggressive and undemocratic decision of Britain and the USA to wage a war on Iraq. Today, they sent an appeal to the heads of nations of all Commonwealth countries to press this demand. Excerpts of the letter, released to the press, stated four reasons for Britain's expulsion. 

1)      "The presence of Britain in the Commonwealth, an international body, poses a grave threat to other member countries. The possibility of retaliation against Britain because of its role in the aggression against Iraq presents a threat for other member countries' safety and security as well. Britain must be expelled to ensure that other countries in Commonwealth, who are not a party to this war, do not become targets for a decision that they are not responsible for. 

2)      By going to war without consulting member countries, Britain has violated a founding principle of the Commonwealth -- democratic process of decision-making. There is no room for anyone to be a member who violates the founding principles of this international body that must be democratic in its decision-making.

3)      Britain has violated the UN charter by deciding to go ahead, along with the US, with this avoidable and immoral war. We appeal to all member countries of the Commonwealth to understand this as an aggressive and undemocratic process and condemn this. The UN has been a guiding principle for maintaining global peace. The UN also has facilitated the liberation of many of the countries from the clutches of the colonial powers in the past and is respected in these countries. An aggression on the UN and violation of its founding principles amount to an assault on the collective conscience of the people of the member countries of Commonwealth as well as other member countries of the UN. 

4)      This war will result in a global arms race. Countries will end up spending more money to procure weapons. This arms race will divert the limited resources available for health, education and other social sector needs in the members countries, many of which have yet to recover from the long and traumatising experience of decades of colonisation by Britain. Many of them do not have enough resources for their basic minimum needs. As it is a well-established fact that wars divert precious and limited resources social sector expenditure like health care and education, we feel that this immoral and avoidable war led by the USA and Britain will destabilise the minimum development achievements in these countries.                                         

To add strength for their appeal, the citizens have send their request also to the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, to take up their case.

The signatories include a cross section of ordinary people, professionals, human rights activists, women's movements, academicians, people-based mass movements, science and literacy movements, health activists, NGOs, students, media personalities, artists, social and legal activists among others.

The letter addressed to the heads of nations of members of the commonwealth also adds that some of the reasons they have sited are the same reasons that Britain have used in the past when they have called for expulsion of certain member countries from commonwealth.

This appeal by the citizens of Bangalore has also been endorsed by several other people from the rest of the country and citizens of member countries of commonwealth.

"The efforts and campaign to stop the war on Iraq will continue relentlessly," said a spokesperson. "The city will be witnessing series of campaigns and demonstrations in the coming days," the spokesperson added. 

For media enquiries, please call:

+91   (0) -   98450 91319 (mobile)     /    +91 (80)    3182 4947 (CDMA)

+91 (80)-  546 2541 / 548 9108        /     +91 (80) - 548 9108

+91 (80) - 394 2395                       /     +91 (80) - 363 2964/ 363 3274 

+91 (80) - 527 3439                     /     +91 (0) 98861 67758 (mobile)

+91 (80) 846 5294

 

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