Zimbabwe’s Suspension from the Commonwealth

Workers' Daily Internet Edition : Article Index :

Zimbabwe’s Suspension from the Commonwealth

House of Commons Public Meeting:
The Civil Liberties Implications of the Anti-Terrorism Act

Early Day Motions Directed against the "War on Terrorism"

In the House of Commons
Palestine

Despatches
Fresh Attempts to Merge Two Hospitals
Highly Dangerous Blaze at Plastic Plant in West Bromwich Threatens Workers' Lives
Bryan Drew to Stand as an Alternative Candidate over Local Services

Newcastle Students and Staff to Protest against Cuts

Society for Friendship with Korea

Coming Events

Cheney, Butcher of the People of the Middle East, in Ankara

Vieques:
Resumption of Bombing Will Cause More Cancer-Related Deaths

The Commonwealth Chairperson’s Committee on Zimbabwe issued a statement from Marlborough House in London yesterday in which it was announced that it had decided to suspend Zimbabwe from "the Councils of the Commonwealth" for one year with immediate effect. The statement added that the issue of Zimbabwe’s suspension would be reconsidered in twelve months time "having regard to progress in Zimbabwe based on the Commonwealth Harare principles and reports from the Commonwealth Secretary-General".

Zimbabwe’s suspension from the Commonwealth follows on from the events surrounding the recent presidential election in that country. The British government has taken the lead in condemning the election process and the re-election of Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe, declaring that Mugabe had "stolen" the election and that it was not "free and fair". The US government has made similar comments, but many African countries and their teams of election observers said the election should be considered legitimate. The British government, which has played a leading role in creating the political instability in Zimbabwe, had previously made other efforts to suspend that country from the Commonwealth, where it seeks to perpetuate its neo-colonial domination over former British colonies. However at the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia, the British government’s plans received a setback when other counties, especially those in Africa, refused to be bullied into adopting Britain’s position.

The CHOGM established a "troika" of the heads of government of South Africa, Nigeria and Australia to consider and determine appropriate action in regard to Zimbabwe if the presidential election was found to be not "free and fair". The Committee, consisting of these three heads of government has now found that, based on the report of the Commonwealth Observer’s Group, the election is Zimbabwe was "marred by a high level of politically motivated violence" and that "the conditions in Zimbabwe did not adequately allow for a free expression of will by the electors".

The Committee also announced that the Presidents of South Africa and Nigeria would continue with their efforts to promote "the process of reconciliation" in Zimbabwe, a reference to attempts already made to establish a "unity government" to tackle the country’s economic and political problems. However, the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangarai, has already rejected talks with Robert Mugabe and has demanded a fresh election. The Committee also reaffirmed that it considered that "land is at the core of the crisis in Zimbabwe and cannot be separated from other issues of concern". This view is at odds with the position of the British government that denies the centrality of the land issue, a legacy of British colonial rule in the former Rhodesia, and refuses to fulfil its obligations to assist financially with land redistribution as, set out in the Lancaster House Agreement of 1980

Before yesterday’s statement the British government had suggested that the "credibility" of the Commonwealth was at stake unless an example was made of Zimbabwe. But the decision to suspend Zimbabwe does not confer any "credibility" on this reactionary institution, which remains an anachronism in the 21st century.

Several voices representing the broad movement opposed to the "war on terrorism" were heard at a public meeting held at the House of Commons on Monday, March 18. Organised by London Region CND and supported by Stop the War Coalition, Student CND, Action for UN Renewal and Liberation, Alice Mahon MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Louise Christian and Mark Littlewood all shared their views on the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act (ATCSA) and the wider implications of the world situation since September 11. The chair was Kate Hudson of London CND

Alice Mahon MP, whose parliamentary Early Day Motion opposing an attack against Iraq is supported by over 120 MPs including ex-Ministers, shared her concerns over the militarist direction followed by Tony Blair’s New Labour government. The MP linked ongoing aggression against Afghanistan and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon’s announcement of the despatch of more British troops to the region, with the hostility shown to Muslims and Muslim opinion, Vice President Cheney’s recent visit to Britain and current Middle East tour, with the need to support the CND Demonstration of March 30. In the politician’s view everyone should also lobby their MP to sign the Early Day Motion.

Mark Littlewood, Campaigns Director for Liberty, thoroughly appraised the recently passed ATCSA. Principal amongst the concerns expressed by the director of the campaigning organisation was the strengthening of already draconian repressive legislation – further criminalising dissent, and making such laws permanent. Accepting the need for a clear legal definition of terrorism, Mark Littlewood showed how existing anti-terrorism law already covered the potential threats apparently posed by organisations such as the IRA and the Al Q’aida network. In this respect, that the latest legislation could be applied to anyone who protests against any aspect of state policy was a dangerous precedent. Similarly it was an Act which permitted indefinite detention without charge, evidenced or trial – achieved only by derogating or suspending compliance with central tenets of the European Convention on Human Rights – the only government in the European Union to do so. Liberty, said the speaker, was challenging the legislation on grounds that there was no immediate danger from terrorism to the UK, and that it was unnecessary and disproportionate. Pointing out those elements of the proposed law such as the introduction of ID cards, measures to "combat benefit fraud", prohibiting incitement to "religious hatred" and retaining the fingerprints of asylum seekers which had been omitted at this stage, the speaker hoped that MPs would vote down what he described as a pernicious law when it is reviewed in two years’ time.

Louise Christian represents one of the British citizens transported from Afghanistan to the United States military base at Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She described the reported conditions of transport of the almost 300 captives – manacled, blindfolded and sedated – and held there in inhumane conditions in violation of legal norms and the captives’ right to "due process of law", that is, the absence of any contact between the lawyer and the defendant, of any charge, of any court to hear the case, and so on. The central feature of this episode, the lawyer highlighted, is the practice of suspending the principles and standards of globally accepted human rights provisions, as well as international law on an arbitrary basis. Drawing attention to the dangers caused by the arbitrary application of law, the violation of accepted norms and the willingness to continue this Ms Christian showed how the aspects of the Geneva and similar Conventions were being endangered. Describing the way in which the ATCSA was being used to indefinitely detain foreign nationals in Britain, again without "due process", and how such measures were usually associated with a country embroiled in an actual war, she described her vision of a world where the universality of human rights was accepted, in contrast to the arbitrary withdrawal of this recognition by the most powerful countries which, she said, undermines the whole concept of human rights.

Jeremy Corbyn MP highlighted the unseen but in his view dangerous direction of the present government as well as its image as a bastion of liberal democracy. He contrasted this image with the provisions of the ATCSA and similar legislation such as the Terrorism Act 2000 and the 1974 Prevention of Terrorism Act, which had criminalised the right of the Irish community in Britain to protest against intervention and interference in Ireland. Each of these pieces of legislation had strengthened the state's already repressive machinery with provisions now to act with impunity. With this political direction quite repressive legislation was undermining even illusory civil liberties – the result being a repressive country pretending to be a liberal democracy. Describing the intricacies of the Act and its rushed passage through parliament, Jeremy Corbyn acclaimed the anti-war movement, encompassing as it did the peace movement, those defending civil libertarians, opponents of racism, and many other collectives.

There followed a period of questions and answers, all too short to explore the conceptions of human rights raised by the speakers and the important issues involved in opposing the ATCSA and its implications for civil liberties. One point which was elaborated by Louise Christian was that, while derogation from Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights is possible under the self-declared "state of emergency" by the British government, the Convention does not allow for derogation from Articles 2 and 3. These concern the right to life and not to suffer inhuman and degrading treatment respectively. Thus the government has opted out of Article 5, which prohibits indefinite detention without trial, which, in the speaker’s view, is just as important. It allows the government a loophole, as otherwise it could neither deport such a foreign national who feared for their lives if deported, nor detain them if they did not have a third country to leave for, which would be likely to constitute inhuman and degrading treatment.

WDIE is reproducing four Early Day Motions (EDMs) that have been tabled against the "war on terrorism" in the House of Commons. There are the following: EDM 997: US Policy on Nuclear Weapons, tabled by Jeremy Corbyn; EDM 927: Military Action Against Iraq, tabled by Alice Mahon; EDM 649: Afghan Prisoners, tabled by Jeremy Corbyn; EDM321: Arms Trade with Israel, tabled on October 29, 2001, by George Galloway.

EDM 997: US POLICY ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Tabled 13.03.02 by Jeremy Corbyn,
Mr Harry Barnes, Mr Harold Best, Mr Alistair Carmichael, Mr Martin Caton, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr Jim Cousins, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Terry Davis, Annabelle Ewing, Alice Mahon, Mr Paul Marsden, John McDonnell, Adam Price, Mr Paul Stinchcombe, Mr Simon Thomas, Dr Jenny Tonge, Dr Rudi Vis, Mr Robert N Wareing, Mr James Wray,
20 signatures

That this House notes with grave concern reports of US plans to build new nuclear weapons that would be suitable first strikes against China, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia and Syria; deplores further reports that the US would be willing to use nuclear weapons in several scenarios, including an Arab-Israeli conflict, a war between China and Taiwan, an attack by North Korea on South Korea and an attack on Iraq by Israel or another country in the event of a surprising military development; regrets that the US is deliberately undermining international peace and security; and urges Her Majesty's Government to send a clear message to the US that they are opposed to these plans and demand that the US abandons them.

EDM 927: MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ

Tabled 04.03.02 by Alice Mahon,
133 Signatures as at Wednesday, March 20, 2002; All the Scottish (5) and Welsh (4) Nationalist MPs have signed.

That this House is aware of the deep unease among honourable Members on all sides of the House at the prospect that Her Majesty's Government might support United States military action against Iraq; agrees with Kofi Annan that a further military attack on Iraq would be unwise at this time; believes that such a course of action would disrupt support for the anti-terrorism coalition among the Arab states; and instead urges the Prime Minister to use Britain's influence with Iraq to gain agreement that United Nations weapons inspections will resume.

EDM 649: AFGHAN PRISONERS

Tabled 14.01.02 by Jeremy Corbyn,
45 Signatures as at Tuesday, March 19, 2002. 34 Labour, 5 Lib Dems, 3 Welsh Nats, 3 Scots Nats

That this House believes that all detainees and prisoners taken in the course of the conflict in Afghanistan should be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention; notes that the hooding and chaining of prisoners prior to their removal to a US base in Guantanamo Bay to face special military tribunals has no basis in international law; and calls on the UK Government to dissociate itself from this process and reiterate the principle of the primacy of the Geneva Convention.

EDM 321: ARMS TRADE WITH ISRAEL

Tabled 29.10.01 by Mr George Galloway,
Mrs Irene Adams, John Austin, John Barrett, Mr Roger Berry, Richard Burden, Mrs Patsy Calton, Mr Ronnie Campbell, Mr Martin Caton, Mr Michael Clapham, Harry Cohen, Mr Iain Coleman, Mr Michael Connarty, Frank Cook, Jeremy Corbyn, Mrs Ann Cryer, Mr Tam Dalyell, Valerie Davey, Mrs Janet Dean, Sue Doughty, Julia Drown, Mr Bill Etherington, Dr Hywel Francis, Andrew George, Mr Neil Gerrard, Dr Ian Gibson, Mr Roger Godsiff, Matthew Green, David Hamilton, Paul Holmes, Mr Jimmy Hood, Mr Kelvin Hopkins, Dr Brian Iddon, Mr Eric Illsley, Lynne Jones, Mr Piara S Khabra, Mr Mark Lazarowicz, Mr David Lepper, Mr Terry Lewis, Mr Elfyn Llwyd, Mr Iain Luke, Alice Mahon, Rob Marris, Mr Paul Marsden, Mr Jim Marshall, John McDonnell, Mr Kevin McNamara, Laura Moffatt, Julie Morgan, Mr Martin O'Neill, Adam Price, Angus Robertson, Mr Mohammad Sarwar, Mr Alan Simpson, Llew Smith, Mr Paul Stinchcombe, Mr Simon Thomas, Mr Mark Todd, Dr Jenny Tonge, Jon Trickett, Mr Robert N Wareing, Steve Webb, Brian White, Hywel Williams, Mr Mike Wood, Mr James Wray, Derek Wyatt, 67 signatures

That this House calls upon Her Majesty's Government to suspend arms trading with Israel in the light of the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, the intensified repression by Ariel Sharon's government, the increased illegal settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and Israel's continuing violations of UN resolutions; notes that British police forces including the Metropolitan Police are buying Israeli bullets, the Ministry of Defence are about to buy Israeli anti-tank missiles and have purchased grenades, shells and military avionics; and further notes that British military hardware continues to be sold to Israel and used against Palestinians in defiance of UK export criteria.

On March 12, the government admitted, in a written answer to George Galloway, that British manufactured parts have and are being used by the Israeli army in the occupied territories, in direct contradiction of all assurances given to the House of Commons.

Cost of War

In a reply to Alan Simpson's question – "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost to the United Kingdom of the coalition against terrorism; and what estimate has been made of its future and continuing costs." – Mr. Ingram said:

"I have been asked to reply.

"Additional operating costs up to the end of December 2001 were £65.3 million.

"As was announced yesterday as part of our presentation of spring Supplementary Estimates to the House, we estimate the total cost of operations in Afghanistan up to the end of March 2002 to be some £261 million. This figure includes the cost of munitions consumed and represents the additional cost of operations over and above the cost of planned activities.

"We constantly review our continuing commitment and will inform Parliament of our initial estimate for 2002-03 as early in the financial year as we can. As announced yesterday, my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has already agreed to provide a further £55 million for urgent operational requirements. This is in addition to the £100 million announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his pre-Budget statement on 27 November 2001."

-- from West Midlands Correspondent --

Fresh Attempts to Merge Two Hospitals

Criticism is mounting by local people opposing the merger of two of Shropshire's main hospitals.

Health officials are hell-bent on merging the Royal Shrewsbury and the Princess Royal at Telford despite opposition to the plans.

The trust boards, which run the hospitals, are now asking the government's permission to begin consultation over the plans.

A split between the New Labour government and local MPs has opened up over the proposals. The MPs for the Wrekin and Telford, Peter Bradley and David Wright, have taken a stand against the merger.

Highly Dangerous Blaze at Plastic Plant in West Bromwich Threatens Workers' Lives

Negligence by employers has threatened the lives of workers inside and outside a West Bromwich factory.

More than 60 fire-fighters risked their own wellbeing tackling a major blaze at Britton's Plastics just before 8.30 on Tuesday morning. Car drivers, school children and passengers on the Midland Metro going to work were all jeopardised.

Fire crews had a race against time to stop flames, some as high as 50 feet, reaching huge diesel tanks, which could have exploded and released toxic fumes. Some chemical fumes were reported to have been released into the atmosphere.

The fire was in the storehouse at the factory on the Halfords Lane Industrial Estate just to the rear of West Bromwich Albion's football stadium. Luckily, vigilant workers spotted the fire and raised the alarm. Staff at the factory had to be evacuated.

Bryan Drew to Stand as an Alternative Candidate over Local Services

Bryan Drew of the "Save Our Services Campaign" in Tipton has decided to stand as an independent alternative candidate in the local elections. The campaign was set up because the local New Labour Council is closing local facilities.

Tipton is a deprived area in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell with a large unemployed population. Among supporters of the campaign are local sports personalities who grew up in the area and have benefited from the leisure facilities which are under threat. Footballer Steve Bull, popular ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers forward, is one such personality. He pointed out that without such facilities when he was younger, the opportunity would not have arisen for people like himself. There are a number of facilities under threat like the ones in Tipton throughout the Black Country.

Sandwell Council says that it can no longer afford to run Tipton Swimming Baths and Oldbury Leisure Centre. Solicitors acting for the campaigners have now asked for a judicial review at the High Court.

The Council has stepped back in the face of the protest and has said that the facilities will be open for another four months but the protesters are not satisfied. Bryan Drew and the opposition are determined to escalate the campaign and intend to oppose the government's forced cutbacks in social programmes. This is why Bryan has decided to become a candidate.

STUDENTS AND STAFF at Newcastle University are to lobby the meeting of the University Senate next Tuesday under the call: "No Redundancies! Grants Not Fees!" It comes in the context of a restructuring programme to reduce the number of faculties from seven to three that will mean both voluntary severance of staff and compulsory redundancies. The programme is there to increase the university's "competitiveness" and tailor the research and education that takes place to the needs of big business. The lobby is supported by the unions AUT, MSF and UNISON, who have issued the following leaflet.

NO REDUNDANCIES

GRANTS NOT FEES

Assemble Outside Students Union, Union Society on Tuesday the 26th of March at 1pm. We will then proceed to lobby University Senate starting 1:15pm Armstrong Bldg.

All of our problems are caused by the continued underfunding of higher education by the government. The staff have been offered voluntary severance. Students still have to pay tuition fees and student poverty is getting worse.

* This will be a protest opposing student poverty and compulsory redundancies.

Current plans to reduce staffing levels while increasing the student numbers and research involvement must result in increased workload for all staff. Fewer staff per student means stressed staff which means poorer quality teaching for students.

* We will march to lobby University senate on Tuesday 26 March, starting 1:15pm at front of Armstrong Building against compulsory redundancies;

* Protest does work - we welcome the announcement of the Welsh Assembly to re-introduce student grants.

The move from seven faculties to three is likely to mean more remote management and has been decided on for financial reasons rather than the needs of higher education.

ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE WELCOME

SUPPORTED BY AUT MSF UNISON

PUBLIC MEETING

Slides and Video
"Children in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea"

Followed by Discussion & Refreshments

Wednesday, March 27, 2002
7.00pm

Meeting to be held in:
TUC Centre (Next to Balmbra’s), 4 Cloth Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

For further details, contact Society for Friendship with Korea:
1 Drury Lane, Cloth Market, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 1EE

The threat to Civil Liberties posed by the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2001
Thursday 21st March 7.30 pm
Lord Mayors Peace and Reconciliation Suite, Council House, Coventry.
Speaker: Hugo Charlton - Barrister (Criminal Law)
From the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities (CACC)
Discussion on anti terrorist legislation in Britain and its effect on civil rights
For further information please contactCoventry_Against_War@yahoogroups.co.uk or cwphb1st@hotmail.com

Saturday 23rd March, 'Long March' For The Climate. 7.00am Esso HQ at Ermyn way, off the A24, North of Leatherhead. 8.00am Epsom Town Centre. 11.15-12.15 Wimbledon Centre (Centre Court / Safeways, Broadway). 2.25pm Clapham Common Tube. 3.30pm Grand gathering at Mary Harmsworth Park (Imperial War Museum), Lambeth Rd for final march to - 5.30pm US embassy, Grosvenor Square.

Monday 25th March, 7.00pm. Campaign Against Criminalising Communities,
campaign meeting Camden Town Hall, Room 1, Judd St, London WC1 (near Kings Cross station).

Public Rally: "Stop Bush and Blair's War; No to attacks on Iraq"
Tuesday 26th March 2002, 7:30 pm, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1 (opposite St. Pancras Station). Speakers: Tony Benn, Louise Christian (civil rights lawyer), Mark Steel (writer), Bruce Kent (CND), Shaheedah Vawda (Just Peace). For leaflets Phone: 07951 235 915 or Email: office@stopwar.org.uk.

London Political Forum, "Oppose the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act!"
Wednesday 27 March, 2002: 7.30 pm
Essex Hall, 1-6 Essex St, London WC2R 3HY (off the Strand near Aldwych)
Speakers include: Les Levidow (Campaign Against Criminalising Communities), Mark Littlewood (Liberty), Paul Feldman, (editor of Common Cause) and others.
Tel: 020 7627 0599; e-mail office@rcpbml.org.uk

CND march & rally - Don't Start Wars, War Is Not the Answer. Supported by the Stop the War Coalition on Saturday 30th March. Assemble 12.00, Marble Arch, Hyde Park. March to rally in Trafalgar Square
Info: 020 7700 2393

The Palestinian Return Centre is organising an International Conference under the auspices of His Excellency the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Amru Mousa on the "Israeli Law of Return and its Impact on the Conflict in Palestine" at Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London University, Thornhaugh St., Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th April 2002.
With the attendance of H.E. Mr. Sa'eed Kamal, Deputy Secretary General of the Arab League, H.E. Mr. Ali Muhsin Hamid, Ambassador of the Arab League to the UK, H.E. Mr. Afif Safieh, Palestinian General Delegate to the U.K.
Tel: ++ 44 208 4530919 Fax: ++ 44 208 4530994, info@prc.org.uk, www.prc.org.uk
Registration fee: £10 students, £20 others (closing date 25th March 2002)

Friday 3rd May, Campaign Against Arms Trade. Protest at British Aerospace AGM. Info: 020 7281 0297

Saturday 18th May, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign are holding a national demonstration 'Justice for Palestine! End the Israeli Occupation!'. Assemble 12 noon Hyde Park, Rally in Trafalgar Square. Speakers include: Afif Safieh, George Galloway MP, John Austin MP, Paul Mackney (general secretary NATFHE). Supported by Association of Palestinian Communities, Palestine Return Centre, Al-Awda, General Union of Palestinian Students, UCATT, NATFHE, Stop the War Coalition. Info: http://www.palestinecampaign.org

Dick Cheney arrived in Turkey on Tuesday, March 19, within the framework of his Middle East tour. A statement with the above headline was issued by the Party of Labour of Turkey (EMEP).

EMEP has informed WDIE that it called a demonstration in Ankara, the capital, on Tuesday in order to protest against the US Vice President's arrival. The demonstration was held with the participation of Ankara Branch of Human Rights Association (IHD), Cultural Association of Pir Sultan Abdal, Ankara Branch of Association of Electrical Engineers (EMO), Ankara Branch of Transport Workers' Union (TUMTIS), Producer Farmers' Union of Turkey (Türköy-Sen), Ankara Branches of Teachers' Union (Egitim-Sen), Branches 1 and 2 of Office Workers' Union (BES), Ankara Branch of Health Workers' Union (SES), Branches 1 and 2 of All Municipality Workers' Union (Tüm Bel-Sen), Ankara Provincial Organisation of Peoples' Democracy Party (HADEP) and Ankara Provincial Organisation of the Party of Labour (EMEP)

The demonstration was held in the centre of the city with the slogans of "No To War" and "Long Live the Fraternity of the People!". There follows the EMEP statement, in the name of its Vice President.

US Vice President Dick Cheney is coming to Ankara with the Iraq files packed under his arm. Taking on first degree responsibility as the Defence Minister of George W. Bush Senior during the "Gulf War" targeting Iraq and described as the "shadow president" of the US, Cheney has now arrived at the region in order to give start for a new imperialist aggression towards Iraq.

It is evident that the issue to be taken up during Cheney’s contacts in Ankara is not to convince Turkey in regards to an operation towards Iraq as expressed but on the contrary to determine the political and military role and missions to be undertaken by Turkey within this operation. This is the truth that lies behind Cheney insistently asking for the presence of the military authorities, beginning with the Chief of General Staff K1vr1kolu, throughout the meetings.

On the other hand, it can obviously be observed once more with this incident that due to the relations they have built with the imperialists, those governing Turkey have no strength left for resistance in the face of the imperialist compulsions. Therefore, starting with Prime Minister Ecevit, neither the government nor the state authorities are capable of taking an attitude beyond that of "diplomatic implications" muttered to save the appearance in the face of Cheney’s demands.

While the state authorities personally declare that the bill of the first "Gulf War" has reached 100 billion dollars; it is nobody’s right or place to drag the country to new adventures on the basis of US interests and into the clutches of a dirty war from which it will be most difficult to save the country. Today, the blood of the people of Palestine is being shed like rivers as a result of the strategic co-operation entered into with Israel and US. The US plans to spread this massacre into the entire region.

The necessary response must be given to Cheney whose aim is to make Turkey the base for US aggression against the Arabic Islamic people of the Middle East. Turkey should withdraw from all economical, political and military agreements it has made to the disadvantage of the countries in the region with the US and Israel. Turkey should in no way whatsoever take any part in the imperialist assault towards Iraq.

The Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) on March 16 denounced plans by the US Navy to resume bombing on the Puerto Rican island in April as the continuation of a genocidal policy against the people of Vieques that began in the 1940s. Spokespersons for the community group mentioned that with live or "inert" bombs, the use of the bombing range on the east end of Vieques will disperse into the air dangerous toxins accumulated there during sixty years of bombing. They asserted that the increase in toxic particulates in the environment, which always occurs with military exercises, would produce more cancer victims in Vieques.

The US Navy admitted in May of 1999 that they had fired uranium projectiles on Vieques. The uranium oxide produced on impact of these projectiles can travel more than twenty miles in the wind – the civilian population lives less than 10 miles downwind from the bombing zone. A study by Viequense chemical engineer and ex-artillery officer, Rafael Cruz Pérez, demonstrates how heavy metals and other cancer causing elements are transported by wind currents to the civilian area. In past weeks, no less than half a dozen Viequenses have died from different types of cancer, correlated with environmental contamination.

"We will do everything humanly possible, using peaceful civil disobedience, to defend the safety of our people," said Nilda Medina of the CRDV. "If the government cannot protect us from this threat to the health of our children, our older folks and all Viequenses, we have no alternative but to defend ourselves," Nilda Medina added.