🚀 go-pugleaf

So much crap has been written, particularly in the alt.desert-* groups, about
the thinking of the peace movement that opposes Desert Storm. While I cannot
say much about the U.S. side, I feel it's necessary to make as widely known as
possible the ideas behind the German protests against the War, as the reporting
in the international media (and much of the German ones, too!) has been very
misleading about them. There were even demonstrations in Israel against the
German peace movement! Would those people have had the opportunity to hear the
full spectrum of arguments that are around here, they would probably have
supported them. What follows is the full text of the Call for the next
great demonstration in Bonn, West Germany. It would be great if even some
Bush supporters would read and think about it. And if someone in Europe should
decide upon this text that joining the expected 150 000 people here might not
be such a bad idea after all, well, go ahead!      [Rough translation by D.F.]

         Call to the Big Demonstration in Bonn on January 26, 1991:
              WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FUTURE
             S T O P   T H E   W A R   A T   T H E   G U L F !

By the decision of the U.S. President, despite countless appeals to further
search for political solutions, on 17 Jan. the Gulf War was started. Military
violence has once again become the guiding line for international politics.
Against this, we protest full of sadness and outrage.

These days, 100000s will march in Germany against this war. Express your 'NO'
everywhere. To focus our protest, to clarify the perspectives of our longing
for peace, and to express our requests for the Federal Government [of Germany],
we call to a great demonstration against the Gulf War on 26 Jan. to Bonn.
  o At noon Start of the Demonstrations at Congregation Points;
  o At 1 p.m. March to the Center of Bonn;
  o 2p.m. to 4p.m. Demonstration in the Bonner Hofgarten place.
At the same day there will also be a great "March to the White House" in
Washington, D.C.

We have always condemned the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait and called for the
immediate retreat of the occupant forces. But this War in the Gulf [i.e., the
U.N.-started fighting since Jan.16] does mean that the crime of the Iraqi
aggression and the violations of human rights by the Hussein regime will be
countered with horror and suffering of a much greater magnitude. We say very
clearly: the U.N. ultimatum and the decision of the U.S. and its allies to
enforce the release of Kuwait by military means has led to this situation.

It is to be feared that this war will poison, maim and kill the whole region
and its population. Ecological catastrophes (climatic change, weakening of the
ozone layer etc.) loom for many parts of the world. The breaching of internat.
law by Bagdad is extended through this war to the most severe violation of
human rights.

We oppose any violation of international law. But in the name of the people
there and here and everywhere we need more intelligent means than war. For
the Gulf, the aim must be to solve the problems of the region. The acts of
warfare must stop immediately. And then the following should happen:
 o A Conference for Cooperation and Security in the Near East must start,
   to solve the problems of this region (Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel,
   Kurdistan) and to aggree on disarmament and economic cooperation.
 o Weapons Exports [mainly from Europe] must stop completely, while 
   substantial disarmament takes place in the industrialized world.
 o Clear politics to save oil and to reduce environmental damage must start.

The alternative to war requires new thinking, changes in our very own 
excessive style of living - and lots of patience. But it would break the
eternal cycle of force and counterforce, finally. Time for peace solutions
is better than the destruction of the future through war.

From our own government we request that it finally gets active against the war:
 o Germany must leave the Coalition and should call for an immediate stop of
   the fighting, the retreat of the intervention forces and an international
   Near-East peace conference.
 o German soldiers and weapons must get out of Turkey immediately.
 o The government must enforce the embargo against German weapons exporters.
 o Any support for Desert Storm, through money, ammunition ot logistics must
   stop immediately.

    COME ALL TO BONN ON 26 JANUARY. NOW THE CITIZENS MUST ACT, SO THAT THE
                      POLITICIANS FINALLY UNDERSTAND!

[Undersigned by a large coalition of groups,including Greenpeace. Coordination:
 Bureau der Friedenskooperative, Roemerstr.88, W-5300 Bonn 1, Phone: FRG-228-
 692904 or 692905 or FAX: 692906. Details will be posted to eunet.politics
 and the German sub.politik, only, but can be requested from me, too.]

Disclaimer: I'm not a member of the Friedenskooperative nor is my institute -
this posting is solely meant to inform the rest of the globe!

                            Daniel Fischer, p515dfi@mpifr-bonn.mpg.de