FW: [asia-apec 1819] Joint Satement

[Guest guest]

" Pacific Asia Resource Center " <parc Friday,

October 26, 2001 7:08 PM [asia-apec 1819] Joint Satement

 

Dear Friends

 

After September 11, whole world seems to rush for the " new war " . Facing

this, many people and organizations have already published their statements

and comments to stop the war. We also plan to publish a joint statement of

Asian NGOs. This initiative came from Korean NGO, Korean Federation for

Environmental Movement (KFEM), to Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC), and

both agreed to expand this move to our friends in Asian countries.

So please relay this message to your friend organizations and NGOs to sign

up. We will have a simultaneous press conference or joint action in early

November as many countries as possible. Deadline is October 31, 5 PM

(Japanese time). For more information, please contact to parc or

81-3-5209-3455

 

Please return your sign by fax or e-mail

Return Sheet (FAX to +81-3-5209-3453 or parc)

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--------- Name (organization)

 

 

Address

 

PHONE FAX

 

E-mail

 

Stop the War, Keep Peace in Asia

- Opposing the US Military Retaliation, Japan's Militarization and Korean

Military Support for the US

 

Joint Statement of Asian NGOs

 

 

We feel deep sorrow at the tragedy caused by the " terrorist attack " on

September 11, in which countless thousand of precious lives were lost and

many more injured, and extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the

families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. We should point out,

however, that the US launched its war of retaliation in disregard for the

voices of peace-loving people of the world. This war is meaningless both for

the security of US citizens from terrorism and for global peace. On the

contrary, the US might be accused of dyeing the new century red by military

conflict and be faced with anger and resistance of many citizens all over

the world.

 

We are NGOs working for human rights, environment, gender, poverty, etc., in

Asian countries. We are also eager to bring peace to the Asian region. Based

on this position, we express our opposition both to the " simultaneous

terrorist attack " and to political responses against this attack by the US,

Japan and Korea.

 

First, although we believe that we must not forget the victims of September

11 and the grief of their families and friends, the same must be true for

all victims and people being victimized by war and violence, poverty and

discrimination rooted in global structures.

 

Second, regardless of what group prepared and implemented this violent

attack - although the US government seems to have identified the criminal -

we strongly oppose the labeling of this attack as an Act of War, and we

oppose the US claim that it has a state right to retaliate using military

power. We also strongly oppose US plans for a violent military retaliation.

We believe that it is important that a thorough investigation be conducted

by international justice authorities and civil police of several countries,

and any response should wait until the release of the results of this

investigation. Blind military retaliation by a single nation or by

mobilizing allied countries might lead to the sacrifice of as many innocent

citizens as this attack or more. And such military retaliation will produce

a vicious cycle of military escalation. We would also point out that if the

US wants to show its resolve against terrorism, it should change its

military hegemonic policies such as the missile defense plan, illegitimate

intervention into Third Word countries, and arrogant economic policies under

the name of " globalization " .

 

Third, we must refer to Japan's moves toward militarism using this

" simultaneous terrorist attack " as a pretext. Japanese politicians, most of

whom belong to the LDP, plan to enact a new law for supporting US military

retaliation and to establish the notion of the right of collective self

defense, which has so far not been acknowledged in Japanese society. This is

the first attempt by Japanese military forces to participate in a war since

the Asia- Pacific War (1930-1945). We strongly oppose such moves towards the

strengthening of military force. The participation by Japan's Self-Defense

Forces in joint military action will be a serious threat to peace in Asia

including the Korean peninsula. We demand that the Japanese government

recognize its responsibility for the Asia-Pacific War and apologize and

provide redress toward war victims such as the " former war-time sex slaves

" . We also call on the Japanese government to actively contribute toward

peace in Asia.

 

Forth, we call on the Korean government to withdraw its position of support

for US military retaliation, and devote its efforts to cooperation between

the North and South in the Korean peninsula to create peace. The legitimacy

of US military retaliation is very problematic from the viewpoint of

international law, and retaliation may create thousands of victims among

citizens. We insist that this support is meaningless for Korean nationals,

and therefore should be stopped. If the Korean government supports a US war,

it will result in the Korean government approving the paving of a way for

Japan to pursue militarization.

 

For the Korean government, a crucial way to contribute to the security of

the Korean people and peace in Asia is to develop a dialogue with the North,

and to make progress toward peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula,

the last land of the Cold war.

 

We will gather voices of Asian people to enlarge social movements against

the war, Japan's militarization which threatens peace in Asia, and support

among Asian countries for US military retaliation. We will also expand our

solidarity network throughout the world in order to eradicate terrorism,

war, poverty and environment destruction and other structural violence.

 

October 4, 2001

 

Convening Organizations

Korea: Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) Japan: Pacific

Asia Resource Center (PARC) Ayus Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center (AJWRC)

Foundation for Human Rights in Asia, Japan (FHRA) Consumers Union of Japan

Citizen's Nuclear Information Center(CNIC) Japan International Volunteer

Center (JVC) Japan Catholic Council for Justice and Peace People to People

Aid (P2) National Chiristian Council of Japan- International Committee

(NCCJ) Nerwork for Indonesian Democracy, Japan International Movement

against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism Japan Committee (IMADR-JC)

Kansai NGO Council

Violence Against Women In War and Conflict Situations Network, Japan

(VAWW-net Japan)

 

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Pacific Asia Resource Center (PARC)

3F Toyo Bldg., 1-7-11 Kanda Awaji-cho, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan TEL

+81-3-5209-3455 FAX+81-3-5209-3455

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