16 Jun 2005 11:59:10 GMT
Source: Reuters

GENEVA, June 16 (Reuters) - A former top U.N. humanitarian official in Iraq on Thursday called for an end to a U.N. programme exacting compensation from Iraq for its 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the Gulf War.

Hans von Sponeck, who quit as U.N. humanitarian coordinator in 2000 after sharply criticising the effects of the then economic sanctions on civilians, said Iraq’s government should negotiate its reparations debt directly with claimants.

Kathy Kelly and Hans Von Sponeck

CAIRO, June 11, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) — A group of anti-Iraq war activists from around the globe will begin a fast at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 16-30 to protest economic injustice suffered by the Iraqi people.

Fast For Economic Justice For Iraq Banner

Please help with media outreach! Help highlight this message of debt cancellation and reconstruction by sending this press release to local media. You can also download the PDF version of this press release here for printing and faxing.

For Immediate Release

CONTACTS:
Jeff Leys of Voices in the Wilderness
Phone: +1-773-784-8065
Email: jeffleys [at] vitw.org
Justin Alexander of Jubilee Iraq
Jordan: +962 796497506 or Iraq: +964 7902308186
Email: justin [at] jubileeiraq.org

June 16–30 At U.N. In Geneva, Switzerland

Chicago, Illinois, United States & Baghdad, Iraq — International social justice activists (from Iraq, the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere) will fast at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from June 16th to June 30th to demand economic justice for Iraqi citizens. The fast will address the key issues of war reparations claims imposed against Iraq, debt cancellation and reconstruction. Hans von Sponek will join the fasters on June 16. Mr. Von Sponek resigned as director of the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance program in Iraq in 2000 in protest of the economic sanctions.

by Tom Fox
Christian Peacemaker Teams

CPT Iraq has visited U.S. base Falcon Camp three times during the last five weeks to conduct exit interviews of relatives of detainees being held there. Falcon Camp is the holding center for the Dora district in Baghdad. Anyone detained by Multinational Forces (MNF) in Dora is held there first before being either released or sent to a prison. Also civilians who have suffered property damage or been injured or had a family member killed as a result of MNF actions in Dora come there as well.

On the Wrong Side of the Street: A man was driving home before the beginning of curfew (11pm) in April. Suddenly a MNF convey appeared- on his side of the street. The man didn’t know what to do and kept driving towards the convoy. The front hummer opened fire on him and he was killed. The family was informed of his death by MNF soldiers and was told verbally “We are very sorry we opened fire and killed him. We thought he was a suicide bomber going to attack us.” Without any paperwork or any indication of what unit and what person fired on the man they have been told at Falcon Camp that nothing can be done to compensate them for the loss of the head of the household.