Activists defy Iraq embargo, reject
fines
By NCR STAFF
Voices in the Wilderness, a group that works to end the economic
sanctions against Iraq, has said it will not pay fines of more than $150,000,
which its members may face for bringing aid to Iraq in defiance of the U.S.
sanctions.
The Chicago-based group received a prepenalty notice
from the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control in early
December. The notice proposed a fine of $120,000 to Voices in the Wilderness
for the exportation of donated goods, including medical supplies and
toys. Four individual members of the group may face fines of $43,000 for
engaging in currency travel-related transactions with Iraq.
The Dec. 3 notice gave the group 30 days to respond to the
proposed fine, to set forth the reasons why the penalty should not be
issued or should be lessened.
In response, Kathy Kelly, coordinator of the campaign, said in a
Dec. 30 letter to the Office of Foreign Assets Control that the group
will not consent to pay any fine.
With respect to the enforcement of this embargo, we are
conscientious objectors, Kelly wrote. We will not allow a
government to dictate to our conscience. We will not allow the U.S. government
... to order us to cooperate with a strategy designed to starve the people of
Iraq, to deprive them of medicine and medical supplies, spare parts for
infrastructure, pencils for school children, chlorine for water and sewage
treatment, toys, employment or any of the essentials necessary to sustain daily
life.
The letter said that economic sanctions hurt the poorest,
weakest and most vulnerable populations and violate international law by
targeting civilians. Members of the group regularly return to Iraq with medical
supplies and other goods.
The group asked that the proposed fines be dismissed but said that
if the office chose to pursue them, we would welcome that opportunity as
yet another forum for public debate on the morality and legality of the embargo
against Iraq.
A Treasury spokesperson said that the groups response will
be factored into the final decision on the proposed fine.
In an interview with NCR, Kelly reiterated that they do not
intend to pay the fines. Well do anything we can to avoid
payment, she said. We feel that any resources we have need to go to
the Iraqi people and towards educating the American public.
The full text of the Voices in the Wilderness response can be
found on the groups Web site at
www.nonviolence.org/vitw/hearthevoices.html
National Catholic Reporter, January 15,
1999
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