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As our ultimate INTENTION
of
'HUMANITY is the FIRST PRIORITY',
we are pleased to re-publish the article
published by
Amnesty International (new
window).
As war begins in Iraq, Amnesty International is deeply concerned at the threat posed to civilians.
Although the warring parties have said they want to
minimize civilian casualties, the likelihood remains of certain weapons being used that make distinction between military and civilian targets extremely difficult.
AI calls on all parties in the war in Iraq to take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties, in accordance with principles of international humanitarian law:
No direct attacks on civilians or civilian objects
No attacks which fail to distinguish between military targets and civilians/civilian objects
No attacks which, although aimed at a military target, have a disproportionate impact on civilians/civilian objects
Indiscriminate weapons such as those listed below cannot be used in a way that does not violate these principles.
Chemical and biological weapons
These are inherently indiscriminate, because they cannot be used in a way that doesn't violate the customary principle of distinguishing between civilians and combatants. Even if they could be targeted, they also fall foul of the rule prohibiting weapons that cause superfluous injury and unnecessary suffering to combatants.
Anti-personnel landmines
AI completely opposes their use, and calls on all the governments of the world to sign up to, ratify, implement and monitor the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty banning the use, production, stockpiling, sale, transfer or export of anti-personnel mines. The US and Iraq have not signed up.
Cluster bombs
The hundreds of bomblets contained in cluster bombs are scattered over a wide area, with five per cent at the very least failing to explode. They are then left behind as explosive remnants of war, posing exactly the same indiscriminate threat to civilians as landmines do. AI supports a moratorium on the use of cluster weapons.
Depleted uranium
Shells made from depleted uranium (DU) are very effective in piercing tank armour, but questions over the health and environmental effects of this mildly radioactive and highly toxic heavy metal continue. DU dust from the explosion of a shell can be inhaled or ingested, posing significant health risks.
AI calls on the US and its allies to refrain from the use of DU weapons until the long-term health effects have been properly investigated.
Nuclear weapons
In the context of an international armed conflict between the USA and its allies and Iraq, AI calls on all parties to refrain from using nuclear weapons as any such use would violate fundamental principles of international law.
Take action!
Please email or write to the defence ministries of the US, UK, Australia, Spain and Iraq using the sample letter below as a guide. You may also send appeals to your own government representatives if they are taking part or considering taking part in military action.
Please also write letters to the newspapers and other media in your country using the information contained in this action.
Dear ___________
I am writing to you as war begins in Iraq to express my concern at the potential use of indiscriminate weapons that may not sufficiently distinguish between military and civilian targets and which will thus contravene customary international humanitarian law.
I urge you not to use weapons that are inherently indiscriminate. By their very nature chemical and biological weapons and anti-personnel landmines cannot be used in a manner which does not violate the principle of distinction between civilian and military target.
Although cluster bombs are designed to be targeted at military objectives, the fact that five per cent and sometimes a much greater proportion fail to explode on impact means that unexploded bomblets are left behind on the ground. They can then be triggered by civilian victims, functioning in exactly the same way as anti-personnel mines, which have been banned by the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty. I urge you to support a moratorium on the use of cluster bombs.
Long-range missiles that are inaccurate, such as long range Scuds, should not be used. Nor should aerial bombing from altitudes of above 15,000 feet, since recent experience in Kosovo has shown that this does not allow for full adherence to international humanitarian law requiring parties to make every effort to distinguish civilians from military targets.
Given the continuing reports of health and environmental damage that may be caused by depleted uranium, further independent medical evidence should be published showing that uranium-tipped weapons are safe before use of these controversial weapons continues.
Yours sincerely,
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Addresses for leaders of governments involved in military action in Iraq.
AUSTRALIA
The Hon. John Howard, MP
Prime Minister*
Fax: + 61 2 6273 4100
Or: + 61 2 9251 5454
Email: feedback@pm.gov.au
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
The Hon. Senator Robert Hill
Minister for Defence*
Fax: +61 2 6273 4118
or: +61 2 8237 7929
Email: minster@cbr.defence.gov.au
Salutation: Dear Minister
* Please send fax and email appeals only to the Australian Prime Minister and Minister for
Defense. If you write by e-mail, please send us a copy of your letter at cc.appeals@amnesty.org. If you receive feedback from the government official, please forward a copy to us at
gov.replies@amnesty.org
IRAQ
Letters addressed to President Saddam Hussein should be sent directly to the Iraqi embassy in your country. If there is no Iraqi embassy in your country then you can send appeals to your country's Interests Section for Iraq. If so, please enclose a covering letter explaining your aims, asking them for assistance in obtaining a response, and requesting that your letter be forwarded to government officials in Baghdad.
SPAIN
Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar
Presidente del Gobierno
Complejo de la Moncloa
28071 Madrid, Spain
Fax: + 34 913 900217
Email: jmaznar@presidencia.gob.es *
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Minister of Defence Federico Trillo-Figueroa y Martinez Conder
Ministro de Defensa
Paseo de la Castellana 109
28071 Madrid, Spain
Fax number: + 34 913 955092
Salutation: Dear Minister
* If you write by e-mail, please send us a copy of your letter at cc.appeals@amnesty.org. If you receive feedback from the government official, please forward a copy to us at
gov.replies@amnesty.org
UK
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's Office
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA, UK
Fax: +44 2079250918
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP
Secretary of State for Defence
The Ministerial Correspondence Unit
Room 222, Old War Office, Whitehall
London SW1A 2EU, UK
Email: public@ministers.mod.uk *
Salutation: Dear Secretary of State for Defence
* If you write by e-mail, please send us a copy of your letter at cc.appeals@amnesty.org. If you receive feedback from the government official, please forward a copy to us at
gov.replies@amnesty.org
USA
George W Bush, President
The White House, Office of the President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC 20500, USA
Fax: +1 202 456 2461
Email: President@whitehouse.gov *
Salutation: Dear Mr President
The Honorable Donald Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
Office of the Secretary
The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301, USA
Fax: +1 703 697 8339
Email: public@defenselink.mil *
Salutation: Dear Secretary of Defence
The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington DC 20520, USA
Fax: +1 202 261 8577
Salutation: Dear Secretary of State
* If you write by e-mail, please send us a copy of your letter at cc.appeals@amnesty.org. If you receive feedback from the government official, please forward a copy to us at
gov.replies@amnesty.org
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