Declaration released by Stop the War Coalition Malaysia
Aliran Monthly Vol 25 (2005): Issue 2

	We reaffirm our opposition to this illegal war and occupation of Iraq, condemn the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces, and call for justice for the victims of the invasion and occupation including the filing of war crime charges. Coalition Against War, Malaysia

19 March 2005 marks the second anniversary of this bloody and unjust war. It is now acknowledged by all authorities, including the secretary-general of the United Nations that the war launched against Iraq in 2003 was in breach of international law. The subsequent occupation of the country by British and US armed forces is not merely unlawful, but also the cause of terrible loss of life.

Throughout 2004, US-led onslaughts against Iraqi cities - Najaf, Diwaniya, Sadr City, Fallujah and elsewhere - have resulted in war crimes, appalling loss of lives, especially those of civilians. The (official) number of US deaths is now 1,419 and UK deaths is 76 (Iraq Body Count), while the number of Iraqi deaths is estimated to be in excess of 100,000 (medical journal The Lancet). The number of Iraqis wounded, suffering destruction of homes and livelihoods remains incalculable.

The US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq, despite the illegality, was originally justified on the basis that weapons of mass destruction were available for immediate use by Saddam Hussein. It is now clear that, at the time of the US-led invasion, Iraq did not possess such weapons. Subsequently, the war was justified on new grounds, namely that it would restore human rights and democracy to the Iraqis. This has not been realised. Far from respecting human rights, the occupation has ended up violating the right to life and other basic freedoms of the Iraqi people. Iraqis still suffer shortages of food, water, petrol and electricity. They still live in a highly dangerous environment.

International law and the United Nations charter recognise the right of peoples to resist an unlawful foreign military occupation. The continuing violence in Iraq is the responsibility and direct consequence of this occupation, and Iraqis have the right to resist it.

The �war on terror� continues unabated, with threats of attack on Iran now growing; with the war still raging in Afghanistan; and with the occupation of Iraq leading to a rising death toll and instability.

Our responsibility as Malaysians, along with millions of others around the world in solidarity with the people of Iraq, is to create the essential pre-condition for Iraqi self-determination by ensuring the speediest possible ending of the illegal occupation of their country and the withdrawal of the occupying armies.

The Coalition Against War-Malaysia condemns the numerous indiscriminate killings of Iraqi civilians carried out by US and British occupying forces. It is our over-riding responsibility to bring all these killings to an end.

We also condemn the taking and killing of civilian hostages, including charity worker Margaret Hassan and Iraqi trade unionist Hadi Saleh. Such killings can play no legitimate part in any struggle for national emancipation.

We reaffirm our opposition to this illegal war and occupation of Iraq, condemn the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces, and call for justice for the victims of the invasion and occupation including the filing of war crime charges.

We call for the immediate withdrawal of coalition forces and the dismantling of their military bases so that the Iraqi people can be free to rebuild their country�s infrastructure, public services and education system, with assistance from international agencies if required.

We now call on the US and British Government to recognise that the continuing occupation of Iraq is unjustifiable and destructive of both lives and resources and call on President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to name an early date for the withdrawal of American and British armed forces.

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The Coalition Against War-Malaysia is an ad-hoc initiative started during the 15 February 2003 global antiwar protests. The Coalition is a loose network of political parties, NGOs, student groups and community-based groups. Organisers were unable to read out this declaration in front of the US embassy on 20 March 2005 as police moved in to disperse the crowd. The police, who had at first agreed to allow the gathering, suddenly reacted violently and without a thought, using chemical-laced water to disperse citizens who had gathered. Nonetheless, the declaration was later read out at the KLCC by Dr. Nasir Hashim, the chairperson of the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM).

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