June 16th to June 30th
Initiated by Jubilee Iraq* and Voices in the Wilderness**

Participants also include members of Jubilee USA and Progressive Democrats of America

As international social justice activists, including citizens of Iraq, the U.S. and the U.K., we stand united and resolved to seek an end to the ongoing economic exploitation of Iraq. Such exploitation is a form of violence which must be resisted. Those of us who are citizens of the U.S. and U.K. bear a special responsibility as it is our respective countries which created and held firm to the economic sanctions regime which devastated Iraq’s health care, education, water and electrical infrastructure.

by Ewa Jasiewicz
Big Issue Scotland — June 2005 Issue

‘What Bleeds Leads’ has been the mass media’s narrow angle when it comes to stories on Iraq. Soaring death-tolls, explosions, wailing mourners, harried police, - these are the bloody images of a typical Iraq news story.

The story that didn’t make the news last month though was that of one of Iraq’s most powerful unions – the 23,000 strong General Union of Oil Employees – holding a historic conference on Privatisation.

by Cathy Breen
Friday, June 17, 2005

Today is the second day of the 2-week fast. Things are going well, everyone doing fine except for the usual tiredness that is expected. We received permission from the Swiss police for the 16th and 17th to be at the vigil site, something which I understand may need to be renewed every two days. Our first day was given to countless phone calls and e-mails to the press, readying press packets, and seeking permission to vigil. We could not have managed without our new friends, Babak, (whom we came to know mainly through Scott), as well as Robert and Geneva. We are so grateful for their warm welcome and hands on help.

Yesterday we had Reuters press, Agence France Presse, and Le Courrier present as we unrolled our banners. They were able to include Hans Von Sponeck in their interviews, and an article by Reuters appeared today in the press, headlined EX U.N. BOSS IN IRAQ SEEKS END TO GULF WAR PAYOUTS. We heard that news of our vigil was also on the local news last night on Leman Blou channel.

Who Established the War Reparations Claims Process?

In April 1991, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 687 which established the legal foundation for Iraq to pay for war reparations claims made against it. These claims arise from the invasion and occupation of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein’s regime in August 1990.

Resolution 687 states that:

“Iraq…is liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, including environmental damage and the depletion of natural resources, or injury to foreign governments, nationals and corporations as a result of Iraq’s unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait.”

Resolution 687 established the foundation for creating a fund out of which to pay for war reparations claims and for creating the United Nations Compensation Commission (U.N.C.C.).

Resolution 687 also established and affirmed the legal foundation to require Iraq to repay all debts incurred by Hussein’s regime, stating that:

“…all Iraqi statements made since 2 August 1990 repudiating its foreign debt are null and void, and demands that Iraq adhere scrupulously to all of its obligations concerning servicing and repayment of its foreign debt.”

Therefore, in order to address the related economic issues of war reparations and cancellation of the odious debt incurred by Hussein’s regime, Resolution 687 must be rescinded.

• Justin Alexander
• Cynthia Banas
• Leisa Faulkner
• Rita Jankowska-Bradley
• Kathy Kelly
• Jeff Leys
• Cathy Breen
• Farah Mokhtarei
• Caoimhe Butterly