Solidarity with
war resisters from RAWA Lt. Ehren Watada finally free of Army! Book release benefits, Oct. 18 & 25, Oakland
Attorney reports human rights abuses of GI resisters
Attorneys and veteran's groups are alarmed by recent reports that two US Army soldiers imprisoned at the Fort Lewis Regional Correctional Facility (RCF) have been subjected to human rights abuses and violations of their constitutional rights. Travis Bishop (photo right), who has served a tour of duty in Iraq and is now recognized by Amnesty International as a "Prisoner of Conscience," resisted deployment to Afghanistan. The other soldier, Leo Church, recently went absent without leave (AWOL) from his unit in order to prevent his family from going homeless. The civilian defense attorney for both soldiers, James M. Branum, told Truthout that both soldiers have been strip-searched while possibly being filmed. Bishop and Church have also been watched by female guards during strip-searches, while using the restroom as well as while in the showers. Both soldiers have been denied one in-person visit by their attorneys and all phone calls with their attorneys have been illegally monitored by guards. Branum reported, "The Fort Lewis Brig is violating the constitutional rights of my clients, namely their protections under the Eighth Amendment (the prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment) and the Sixth Amendment (the right to counsel). This mistreatment must end."
Solidarity statement to war resisters from RAWA
Our message to all the soldiers who are fighting and veterans who were fighting in Afghanistan: We thank you because we think that you believe that you are struggling and fighting in Afghanistan for bringing democracy and peace for our people. But unfortunately we think that you are also the victims of the wrong policy of your government. And that's that reason that we think you should condemn this war, which is just bringing more sorrow and pain and blood for the majority of the population and the civilians of Afghanistan. And it's not helping to bring democracy and security in the country. And we also want to thank those soldiers who resisted and refused to go to Afghanistan and fight for this so-called "War on Terror", which is more painful and which is more costly for our people than terrorists. We want to thank you and we think that you should come forward and give your solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, all the democratic organizations, and you should make aware your own people about the reality, about the real nature of this war. And we think that all people of American and the West should condemn this war and pressurize your governments to stop this very failed and very unsuccessful war, which only our poor people and especially the women have to pay the price for, this war so-called "war on terrorism, and not the real terrorists.
Lt. Ehren Watada finally free of Army!
Courage to Resist was delighted to join the Lt. Ehren Watada victory press conference organized by Asian Americans for Peace and Justice this morning in San Francisco Chinatown’s Portsmouth Square park. Ehren was the first military officer to publicly speak out against and refuse to deploy to Iraq back in June 2006. In February 2007, Ehren stood before a general court martial and faced seven years in the stockade as over a 1,000 supporters rallied nearby at the gates of Fort Lewis, WA. To celebrate Ehren's long-awaiting discharge last week, artist Betty Kano encircled the speakers’ podium with a traditional drum-call and poets and members of the community spoke out. Ehren never spent a day in the stockade and never backed down from his assertion that the Iraq War was and remains an illegal occupation. To understand how this victory came about, please checkout out "How Lt. Watada and GI resistance movement beat the Army" by Jeff Paterson, February 14, 2007.
Book release benefit events, Oct. 18 & 25, Oakland
Sunday, October 25, 7 pm Benefits to support Courage to Resist at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St, Oakland, California. Available: Events graphic & events PDF leaflet. Many of these great books are available from our orders page.
|
