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Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers
Resolution on Torture in Iraq
We, members of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers, an
alliance of 54 member organizations that endeavor to promote
the peaceful resolution of conflict and the provision of justice
for those denied this human right in any way, vehemently protest
the actions of the United States in invading Iraq on false
pretenses and thereafter indiscriminately killing thousands
of Iraqi civilians and imprisoning thousands more, in some
cases under horrific conditions that violate the Geneva Conventions.
The Government of the United States has the legal and moral
responsibility to uphold the rule of law, not only of its
own constitution but also of international law, here in the
United States and also in any area abroad in which it is engaged.
U.S. government actions in entering into a preemptive, illegal
war in Iraq; indiscriminately killing civilians in Iraq and
Afghanistan and imprisoning thousands of people without charge
or trial in those countries as well as In the United States
in the so-called "war on terror"; and then subjecting
some of those people to degrading and torturous treatment,
are a betrayal of this country's commitment to human rights
and demo-cratic values. These actions invite other nations
also to ignore the Geneva Conventions.
We call upon the U.S. government to return to its constitutional
underpinning and immediately act to:
a) Conduct, with the participation of the United
Nations abroad, a prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent
investigation of all allegations of torture and degrading
treatment of detainees, anywhere people are held by action
of the U.S. government or the individual U.S. state governments;
b) Try those identified as responsible for torture
or abusive treatment, including senior military and civilian
personnel who had knowledge of such treatment yet approved
its continuance or failed to take action to stop it; and apply
appropriate disciplinary sanctions against those found to
be guilty;
c) Provide fair and adequate compensation, medical
treatment, and rehabilitation to the victims of torture and
degrading treatment;
d) Provide regular, unscheduled access to all U.S.
prisons and detention centers no matter where located for
independent monitoring by the Red Cross, U.N. representatives,
and non-governmental organizations with a human rights focus;
e) Assure Americans as well as the world community
that the United States will not accept violations of fundamental
human rights and, in concert with the United Nations, will
take whatever steps are necessary to prevent any further violations.
Passed at MAP Council Meeting, Tuesday, June 8, 2004.
To be sent to President, Vice President, Minnesota senators;
Minnesota congressional delegation, and major Minnesota newspapers.
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