TO US WAR AGAINST IRAQ

http://dapmalaysia.org

'NO' TO US WAR AGAINST IRAQ

Media Statement
- after presenting a memorandum to the US Embassy
by Loke Siew Fook

(Kuala Lumpur, Friday): DAPSY has sent a memorandum of protest to the US Embassy in Malaysia to voice our objection on the impending war against Iraq unilaterally by the United States. DAPSY Vice-Chairman, Raymond Chong, DAPSY International Secretary, John Chung and I was allowed to enter the compound of the Embassy and had a 30-minutes discussion with the US Embassy's Political Officer, Mr. Alexis Ludwig before we handed our memorandum to him who received the memorandum on behalf of the US Embassy in Malaysia.

Throughout the discussion, the US Embassy official has maintained that the Bush's Administration is convinced and has strong proof that Iraq possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and therefore Iraq must be disarmed by all means. Because of the massive people's protest throughout the world against any unilateral and unlawful action by the United States to launch war against Iraq, the US is now trying to seek another resolution from the United Nations and to convince the other members of the Security Council to take military action to disarm Iraq.

Although it seems that the war in Iraq is unstoppable given the massive influence of the United States, DAPSY maintained our position and reiterate that we are against any military action as war in Iraq will not solve the threat of terrorism faced by the world today. DAPSY will continue to join with all other forces locally and internationally, and in particular the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) which DAPSY is a member organization to build the momentum of protest to avoid the war and give peace a chance.

Our memorandum reads:

DAP SOCIALIST YOUTH (DAPSY)
MEMORANDUM
TO THE US EMBASSY

Feb 21, 2003

'NO' TO US WAR AGAINST IRAQ

As the world continues to face the spectre of an impending US war against Iraq in spite of massive global protests and calls for peace, DAPSY reiterates our stand that the US government must refrain from taking unilateral military action against Iraq.

The US government must stop pushing the button towards war and heed the global community's call for peace as evidenced by the recent anti-war demonstrations involving hundred of millions of people in more than 350 cities all over the world, including Penang and Kuala Lumpur here in Malaysia.

The Council of the Socialist International, of which the parent body of DAPSY is a member party, had for instance during its January meeting in Rome unanimously adopted a resolution on Iraq, stating that the world is living under the threat of war that creates fears around the world. It had further stressed that war is not inevitable and that we should do everything possible in order to avoid war and must give peace a chance.

To launch a unilateral war on Iraq without UN mandate is not only in violation of international law but will also destabilise the world, fuel international terrorism and affect adversely the global economy, not to mention causing untold suffering to innocent Iraqi adults and children as bombs and missiles do not discriminate between soldiers and civilians.

To date, the Bush administration has yet to convince the world that Iraq has in its possession weapons of mass destruction (WMD). As such, any US-led war against Iraq is unjustifiable and particularly so if it is not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.

The US must respect the wishes of other members of the Security Council which have cautioned against a hasty war on Iraq when other means of resolving the issue have yet to be exhausted. The UN arms inspectors must be given enough time to complete their inspection on the alleged WMD owned by Iraq.

While Iraq must disarm any WMD found to be in its possession without any conditions, the same requirement should also be applied to all other countries, including the US, which harbour nuclear weapons and other WMD so as to ensure a peaceful world in the 21st century.

Hence, DAPSY urges the Bush-led US government to heed the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the world's population who stand united in opposing war on Iraq. It is not too late for the US to do the right thing by averting a potentially catastrophic war so that peace and good sense will prevail.

(21/2/2003)

* Loke Siew Fook, DAPSY National Secretary