DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .
Excerpts from the website of the Stop the War Coalition
Last weekend’s Stop the War conference was a big success. It attracted around 700 people who came together to discuss the wars which have raged for 15 years across Asia and the Middle East. It contained people who were involved in Stop the War from the very beginning, as well as young people from very diverse backgrounds. Speakers included trade union representatives, international guests, campaigners over drones and nuclear weapons and of course the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn.
Photo credit: Justin Tallis/reportdigital.co.uk
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At the conference on 8 October, the following Anti-War Charter was adopted:
After fifteen years of catastrophe it is time to end Britain’s involvement in wars of aggression. While the electoral choices look bleak in the US, we have the opportunity to send an anti-war message around the world by committing to a sharp change in direction, including an end to new interventions and a withdrawal of troops from the Middle East, Central Asia and beyond.
1) An end to foreign policy based on Washington’s global ambitions or on a junior imperial role for Britain.
2) Recognition of the illegality of wars for regime change and the rights of peoples to self-determination and to oppose foreign occupations.
3) No war by executive decision of the cabinet.
4) Action to be taken against those found to have misled parliament and the people in the run up to the Iraq War by the Chilcot report, and a recognition that the series of foreign wars have made the world a more dangerous place.
5) Withdrawal of all British troops, including special forces from Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
6) Opposition to all military interventions and an effort to end the war in Syria rather than escalate.
7) An independent investigation into Britain’s involvement in extraordinary rendition during the War on Terror.
8) An end to military support and arms sales to countries involved in foreign military aggression or domestic repression, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
9) An immediate initiative to de-escalate tension with Russia, including the withdrawal of all British troops from Eastern Europe and the Baltic, and opposition to the Eastward expansion of NATO.
10) Freedom for Palestine and an end to illegal settlements and the siege of Gaza.
After fifteen years of catastrophe it is time to end Britain’s involvement in wars of aggression. While the electoral choices look bleak in the US, we have the opportunity to send an anti-war message around the world by committing to a sharp change in direction, including an end to new interventions and a withdrawal of troops from the Middle East, Central Asia and beyond.