Monday, September 28, 2009

ACTION Center for Constitutional Rights - International Fight for Justice and Peace

The U.S. is attempting to prevent international investigations - ie in response to the UN Fact-Finding Mission - context of the Gaza Conflict. This report headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, submitted its Report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that documents war crimes.

Support International Law!

ACTION in a nutshell: Write or call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Obama to stand for human rights and accountability. Insist that he support a strong resolution in the Human Rights Council endorsing and implementing the Report's recommendations and supporting international justice mechanisms if domestic investigations are inadequate. You can also write Ambassador Susan Rice of the U.S. Mission to the U.N. or call (212) 415-4062.

Full Release:

This week the international community has a chance to change course in the fight for justice and peace in the Middle East. We need your help to make it happen.

Today, the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, submitted its Report to the U.N. Human Rights Council that documents war crimes including deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians committed in the context of military operations in Gaza in December 2008-January 2009. The Report urges the international community to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable for serious violations of international law. The Human Rights Council is considering resolutions on the Report's recommendations this week, which include referral to the Security Council, and in the face of inadequate domestic investigations, eventual referral to the International Criminal Court.

Despite the legitimacy of the Mission, the fairness of its mandate and the soundness of its findings, the Obama administration has said it disagrees with many of the Report's recommendations and will try to keep the Report in the Human Rights Council. The U.S. is attempting to prevent international investigations into these war crimes, even though just last week, President Obama told the U.N. that "[t]he U.S. stands ready to begin a new chapter of international cooperation -- one that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of all nations." Refusal to support the Report's recommendations in the Human Rights Council would in fact serve to thwart international cooperation and the enforcement of international law.

Help put the pressure on our government to stand by its promises. Write or call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Obama to stand for human rights and accountability. Insist that he support a strong resolution in the Human Rights Council endorsing and implementing the Report's recommendations and supporting international justice mechanisms if domestic investigations are inadequate. You can also write Ambassador Susan Rice of the U.S. Mission to the U.N. or call (212) 415-4062.

Thank you for standing with us during this critical time in the fight for justice for war crimes.

Sincerely,
Annette Dickerson
Center for Constitutional Rights
CCRJ.org

2 comments:

CN said...

Stop the War Funding!
Vote "NO" on the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill

The U.S. military occupation of Iraq continues. There is no exit strategy for U.S troops in Afghanistan - only an open-ended policy to continue and expand military engagement in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Tell Congress To Vote "No" on the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill!

Call the Congressional Switchboard:
202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121

Congress is preparing to vote on a $636.3 billion 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill, including $128.2 billion to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through September 2010.

So far, the White House has offered no timetable and no exit strategy for Afghanistan. Instead General McChrystal and other military leaders are pressing for the addition of tens of thousands of new U.S. troops and a commitment to remain in Afghanistan for years to come.

A quagmire in Afghanistan is all too evident, as every step taken to escalate this war makes it more difficult to leave. At this critical moment, people across this nation need to send a powerful message to their members of Congress that this dangerous course must be stopped. Our government should adopt an exit strategy from Afghanistan based on comprehensive all-party diplomacy, unconditional humanitarian aid, economic assistance, and timelines for the near-term withdrawal of U.S. and NATO combat troops.

Congress must stop funding seemingly endless warfare and military occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan!

United for Peace and Justice, CODEPINK, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats for America, Just Foreign Policy, AfterDowningStreet, Voters for Peace, The Declaration of Peace and others believe that a public outcry is vitally important now, when the generals are pressuring the President and the Congress to escalate a costly, humanly destructive, and ultimately un-winnable war in Afghanistan.

On September 30th, join the National Call-In Day and tell your Senators and Congressional Representative to vote against the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill.

When making this call, tell them to stand firmly against escalation and to co-sponsor Congressman James McGovern's bill (H.R. 2404) that would require President Obama to provide an "exit plan" from Afghanistan.

Growing numbers of Senators and Congressional Representatives are expressing concerns over U.S. military policy in Afghanistan. It is hypocritical to publicly raise so many questions, while funding the Pentagon for another year of war.

Call the Congressional Switchboard:
202-224-3121 or 202-225-3121

Ask for your members of Congress by name.

Then tell them: "With no exit strategy for Afghanistan, Senator ____ (or Representative ____ ) should vote NO on the 2010 Defense Appropriations Bill!"

Thank you!

CN said...

Teen killed by Israeli Troops, release possibly of 20 Palestinian women, the Ethics in War on Terror debate and more...See and Add your Comments at Haaretz...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1117857.html

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1117736.html

http://www.haaretz.com/