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We believe that a war on Iraq would lead to untold misery and deaths among innocent civilians and de-stabilise the entire Middle East for years to come Press Statement by Ashvin Raj (Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday): DAPSY is alarmed that the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell has told European nations in the World Economic Forum in Davos recently, that the US is willing to attack Iraq unilaterally. Such a statement smacks of arrogance and hypocrisy as it shows that the US Government has a low regard for human rights and human lives. DAPSY shares Dr. Mahathir's view that, "there is now little trust among the people, there is fear all over - even among the innocent and those uninvolved." The United States with its war mongering efforts has instilled fear and little trust in people's hearts around the world. As such, DAPSY strongly opposes any military force on Iraq by the United States and its allies. We urge the United Nations to work resolutely towards a peaceful solution to the present crisis. We believe that a war on Iraq would lead to untold misery and deaths among innocent civilians and de-stabilise the entire Middle East for years to come. We support other anti-war activists around the world to oppose the war on Iraq. In this respect, we express our solidarity with the Asian Peace Alliance. Removing Saddam Hussein has been shamefully used by the US as a justification for attacking Iraq. The US has no right to dictate terms to the rest of the world by taking on the role of a global cop of removing or installing governments outside its own territory for its own selfish and political agenda. Clearly, by doing so, the control of Iraqi oil would be a major interest of this US war. The US would then be able to maintain its hegemony over the entire region, effecting regime changes in the region. We therefore condemn the arrogant threats from President Bush to wage war on Iraq as "immoral," even if not allowed to do so by the UN Security Council. It is clear that responding to war would only begat more violence in an endless vicious cycle. The problem of terrorism in the world is not Saddam Hussein's policies, but the lack of wisdom on the part of the US Government in its foreign policies. We urgently appeal to the United Nations to oppose any US war mongering efforts and pass a Security Council Resolution against any such US war efforts. It would be a colossal mistake if the US goes ahead in disarming Iraq by military force. Going to war against Iraq is not going to resolve the threat of terrorism. In fact, it will worsen it. The US should remember that on Sept 11, 2001, only a few individuals brought America to a standstill. There is no guarantee that this will not happen again on American soil or anywhere else. As such, DAPSY calls on all peace-loving people to come together in Malaysia to generate a powerful united Asian voice to bring an end to this vicious cycle of threats of violence, and protect democracy and freedom by peaceful dialogue, and to build human international relationships based on trust, peace, forgiveness and justice. For there will be no peace without justice and no justice without forgiveness. (28/1/2003) * Ashvin Raj,  DAPSY Assistant National Publicity Secretary