Iraq sanctions in protesters
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By NCR Staff
Sixteen people were arrested Jan.16 on the steps of the U.S.
Mission to the United Nations. They were part of a larger group of activists
from across the nation who marked the 10th anniversary of the start of the Gulf
War by protesting the economic sanctions and bombing that have devastated the
Iraqi people.
Those arrested included Jesuit Frs. Daniel Berrigan, Simon Harak
and John Dear along with Kathy Kelly, who was nominated for the 2000 Nobel
Peace Prize, according to a news release from Voices in the Wilderness.
Voices in the Wilderness, a group Kelly helped found, began its
campaign to stop the sanctions against Iraq in January 1996 when the group
declared its intent to openly carry medicines and medical relief supplies to
Iraq in public violation of the sanctions.
Although the Gulf War lasted only 42 days, sanctions and bombings
in the U.S.- and British-imposed No Fly Zones have killed between 1.5 and 2
million people over the past 10 years. The United Nations Childrens Fund
has stated that one in 10 children under the age of 1 will die before their
first birthday as a direct result of the sanctions.
The protesters shared a simple meal of lentils, rice and pita
bread, based on the daily food ration of ordinary Iraqi families under the U.N.
and U.S. economic sanctions. Unpurified water from the East River was brought
to the meal to symbolize the contaminated water that many Iraqis have to
drink.
Sixteen activists from the group attempted to enter the U.S.
Mission to invite the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrook,
and other workers at the mission to share the meal and reflect on the deadly
effect of the sanctions on Iraqi children and other civilians. They were
arrested on the steps of the mission.
The incoming presidential administration has said it would toughen
the U.S. position on sanctions, even though 10 years of that policy has not
phased Iraqs military regime.
The Associated Press reported that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,
ignoring the effects of sanctions on the Iraqi people, marked the Gulf
Wars 10th anniversary by saying that the conflict was a glorious moment
in his countrys history.
According to Reuters, analysts say Husseins government
appears more secure than it has been in years as support for economic sanctions
erodes and the international community grows more sympathetic toward the Iraqi
people.
In response to President Clintons approval of $99 million to
support Iraqi opposition activities aimed at overthrowing Husseins
government, an Iraqi official said Jan. 15 that Hussein wanted to donate 100
million euros ($94 million) to poor Americans.
According to Reuters, a senior Iraqi official said that Iraq would
reciprocate any positive move made toward it by the new U.S. president.
National Catholic Reporter, January 26,
2001
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