Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The RIght to Peace Requires Social Justice

The Right to Peace Commission was filled with people form around the world expressing their visions for a peaceful world. Just the holding of the workshop seemed to reflect what is needed. Listening. Sharing. Curiosity.There is always so much to learn.
There is more that binds us than separates us. The Japanese delegation talked a lot about Article 9 and the UN Charter. A proposal to start an international campaign to not only protect Article 9, but to incorporate it in every constitution was proposed. Speakers from the US, Japan, North Korea, France, Vietnam and others covered the UN documents and resolutions that make peace.

Last night a the Pub we had a gathering of lawyers from the US, Philippines and Belgium. We laughed , ate and shared ideas on how to effectively organize around international peace and justice issues. Listening to the stories of people working on issues of refugees, political prisoners and UN enforcement is very inspiring.

But what is the key to peace? Is it any clearer to me after this meeting? I think its hard to define. However, the past speaker, a woman lawyer from Vietnam, did remind us that “Reconciliation is the First Step to Peace.” It is true and its why I work for a peace treaty in Korea.

We did have a short debate about is it feasible to prohibit war in national Constitutions. The Vietnam speaker said that she thought that Article 9 in Japan was more theoretical than practical as Japan has such an extensive Navy and “Self-Defense” forces. However, I rose up after to strongly contest such a statement saying “ The fact that not one Japanese soldier or citizen had lost his or her life in any war since 1945 is a very practical solution. If not for Article 9 they would have joined the US in Vietnam, Iraq and other wars and killed many many people.

Thus countless of thousands are alive today because of Article 9. Costa Rica also survived and thrived during a decade of war all around them in the 1980’s in Central America because of their peace constitution. Thus, it is not theoretical, but has very, very tangible results.” What I see from this Right to Peace workshop is that peace is not only practical, but saves millions from pain and suffering.

We have formed an Article 9 Working Group to spread support for Article 9 and to work on similar peace resolutions here. Please contact the Working Group Chair Chris Orton at orton@igc.org to help out or to get an Article 9 package for presentation with your chapter or group.

At the Congress are people who actively challenge the idea of preemptive war, work at the Hague and with Human Rights Commissions around the world. It is truly a gathering of "People's Lawyers."

There are mixed reviews on Obama here in Hanoi among our delegation and those around the world. There is still a large camp who support his efforts, and certainly his language, but many seem critical of his failure to translate it into action. His actions of continuing the war in Afghanistan, failure to release the photos of Abu Grahib and of course his failure to abolish the military tribunals. I point out that he likely did not release the photos because they would have re-ignited opposition around the world at a time in which he preferred to approach the Muslim world with his Cairo speech and reaching out. The speech and bridge building would have been destroyed and much time lost in building a safer world. On the tribunals, I suspect his decision to “tweek” the process will have the same effect, for if you require due process, throw out confessions under torture and mandate specific evidence most of the cases will be dismissed. For me, the “war” in Afghanistan and into Pakistan is more troubling. I think he should use creativity in calling the “war” a mistake and that these should be treated as crimes with an international body like the ICC set to handle the cases. A war only breeds fear and fuels the arms industry. The acts of 9/11 etc were crimes and should be treated as such - people caught and prosecuted for such crimes.

Currently I am listening to a delegate from Bangladesh share what is going on for lawyers and struggles there for democracy. A government was supposed to transfer power, but failed to do so and the lawyers and others had to fight for it. Vanessa Ramos, the President of the America Association of Jurists (AAJ) spoke on Latin America and the increased peace in the region. The India Association of Lawyers has a large delegation here and they are now presenting on their efforts on peace-building and their support for the Pakistan lawyers - of which there are several here who were detained and arrested during the struggle when the Supreme Court justices were removed.

A delegate from North Korea just got up and passionately spoke about his lawyers organization’s efforts to support movements around the world for peace and self-determination. He told the group that in 2005 he had visited South Korea for some time and that the South Korean lawyers groups and peace groups are very supportive as well of the goal of the Koreas to uphold their agreement of June 15, 2000 to work toward reunification. The two lawyers here from DPRK have been very active participants. I am pleasantly surprised to have had this time to meet and interact and always feel more hopeful when I find people from North Korea who share similar views with many peace-loving Americans.

The world seems so much smaller and more manageable here. Regardless of the impact of IADL around the world, which of course is limited, the collective force of the work of those associated with it play a clear role in creating a more just and fair world. Yet, at times an IADL resolution has put pressure on a government to take action and the work of these lawyers has saved countless lives. Also, one can never underestimate the power of playful and creative exchange!
Posted by Eric Sirotkin Ashland Oregon

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