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<title>Open Letter to Tony Blair calling for a ceasefire</title>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><font
size=4 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold'>Open Letter to Tony Blair calling for a ceasefire<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><i><font
size=3 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Sent by Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian
Aid, Amnesty International, CAFOD, Care Islamic Relief, UNISON, <span
class=SpellE>Medact</span>, Muslim Council of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">Britain</st1:country-region></st1:place>, War <span class=GramE>On</span>
Want, Welfare Association, World Vision<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Letter
to the Prime Minister<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>25th
July 2006<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Dear
Prime Minister,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>We
are deeply alarmed that the situation in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region>,
<st1:City w:st="on">Gaza</st1:City> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> continues to rapidly
deteriorate. Many of us have already shared with you our concerns over the
humanitarian suffering and the current direction of British Government policy
on the crisis. We write again now collectively to reiterate and amplify these
shared concerns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Given
the lack of progress so far and the high stakes involved, we have taken the
unusual step of writing this as an open letter so that our views can contribute
to the public debate.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>We
welcome your statement yesterday that <span class=SpellE>recognised</span> the
catastrophic impact the crisis is having. We also welcome your stated desire to
see an end to the fighting. We are concerned however that the British
government has yet to use its full influence to bring about an immediate
ceasefire, a lasting end to the hostilities, and full compliance with
international humanitarian law.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Though
this may not have been the intention, by failing to back the UN and call for an
immediate ceasefire the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>
government has reduced the impact of international calls for an immediate halt
to the violence. As such, your current policy risks putting civilian lives at
continued risk rather than helping to protect them.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>The
argument that members of your Government have made - that calls for an
immediate ceasefire will be ignored - risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy
when such calls are not made resolutely, or by a united international
community. Like you, we understand and endorse the need for a comprehensive
solution to this conflict. But we have not yet heard a compelling argument as
to why you will not call for an immediate ceasefire to save lives now - and
create space for negotiations over a final settlement. The present policy looks
in danger of placing the UK Government in the uncomfortable position of only
calling for a ceasefire once one side in the conflict has achieved its military
objectives.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>We
urge you to use Wednesday's ministerial meeting in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:City> to add the British Government's weight
to calls for an immediate ceasefire. To do anything else would be to fail to
uphold the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s
responsibility to help protect the civilians dieing in this conflict.<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>We feel that such a move could still make a
difference and show all sides that the international community is more united
in its call for an immediate end to this conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>Once
again, as aid agencies, human rights groups, Trade Unions, voluntary groups and
international security analysts we urge you to rethink your policy as a matter
of urgency and do what you can to reduce the horrific toll that this conflict
is having on ordinary people across the region. We would be extremely grateful
for the opportunity to discuss this with you directly.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><font
size=3 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
font-weight:bold'>Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid, Amnesty
International, CAFOD, Care, Islamic Relief, UNISON, <span class=SpellE>Medact</span>,
Muslim Council of Britain, War On Want, Welfare Association, World Vision<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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