PHA-Exchange> Statement on Irak

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Statement of the Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action
(Community Health Cell), Bangalore,
dated April 7 (People's Health Day), 2003
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The Community Health Cell Team,

? Having reflected deeply on the intolerable situation created by the War on
Iraq,

? Considering the violence on the people of that country, leading to death,
disease and disability and negating health,

? Recollecting that the United Nations Security Council, which heard the
reports of the Inspections Commission appointed by the Council, and which
reports showed that there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction
being produced or stacked by Iraq, had not permitted the use of violence
against Iraq,

? Realizing that there is no legal or moral right for the war, unilaterally
decided by the Government of the United States of America and supported by
the Government of the United Kingdom (Britain).

? Realizing further that war will destabilise other countries in the
neighborhood and even farther away,

? Anticipating the magnitude of humanitarian problems due to the ravages  of
the war and the problems of refugees and internally displaced persons,

? Noting that Iraq has already suffered, for more than a decade because of
sanctions applied on it, leading to deterioration of the health of the
people, especially women and children,

? Knowing that war causes destruction of life and nature, including extreme
levels of pollution caused by burning oil, explosives, and nuclear tipped
bunker busters  and

? In solidarity with the large scale protests throughout the world, showing
the collective will of humanity through people's movements against war and
violence,


 Demand the following:

? Immediate cessation of war and withdrawal of all invading forces from
Iraq. There should not be any occupation of that country by other countries,
even for short periods.

? Each country must be left to determine its own form of Government.

? The authority of the United Nations must be restored in full, with the
Security Council alone deciding when, where and how to intervene to prevent
or stop conflicts between nations and , if necessary, within nations.

? The Government of the United States of America should be made to make good
the damages / devastation caused by it; this process of restoration must be
done under the auspices of the United Nations.

? The humanitarian catastrophe, including  the problems of civilians,
refugees and internally displaced persons must be addressed effectively,
through the United Nations Organisations (UNHCR and the Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), the Red Cross, the Red Crescent and
other voluntary organisations,

? The lifting of sanctions which have had adverse effects on the lives and
health of innocent Iraqi people,

? All kinds of violences, wherever they are, must end,

We commit ourselves to work for peace and against violence of any kind,
anywhere (including violence between nations, communal violence, domestic
violence and others), which is anti-health, and which destabilise the
achievements that have been made.