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Copenhagen/Paris 07
08 2006
DECLARATION FROM THE EMHRN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The EMHRN Executive Committee meeting in
Copenhagen 4-6 August 2006, which brings together human rights
organisations in the north and the south of the Mediterranean, and
after consultation with members of the EC in Lebanon and Palestine,
again express their deep concern about the situation in Lebanon and
in Gaza.
The EMHRN notes that
the Israeli government is submitting Lebanon, from the north to the
south, to an aggression aimed at systematically destroying its
infrastructure. The immense losses inflicted on the civilian
population are not collateral effects of the conflict with
Hezbollah, but show a deliberate wish to collectively punish a whole
people, including arbitrary killing. This has led to mass internal
displacement, prevented humanitarian aid, and jeopardized the
survival of thousands. The indiscriminate targeting and the scale
and ferocity of the violence, deliberately planned by the Israeli
government, constitute an exceptional grave violation of the Geneva
Conventions.
Based on principles
of international human rights and humanitarian law, the EMHRN
repeats its condemnation of all attacks perpetrated against the
civilian populations in Lebanon, Gaza and Israel which constitute
war crimes and urges all parties to respect the Geneva Conventions
and facilitate humanitarian assistance.
Whilst a ceasefire
is imperative, the international community, under pressure from the
US, has been unwilling to impose it. The EU itself, the prime
partner in this region, has hereby demonstrated its lack of
political will.
At the same time,
during the last month, the Israeli government has submitted the
Palestinian population of Gaza to permanent bombardment and military
incursions that, once again, have been aimed at inflicting
collective punishment and have resulted in considerable loss of
human life. In addition, as in Lebanon, there has been a destruction
of purely civil infrastructure, such as electricity plants.
Nothing can justify
the recourse to such violence, just as it cannot be justified that
Palestinian Members of Parliament, including Ministers, have been
taken hostage.
The EMHRN would like
to strongly underline the devastating effects of this situation. To
deny the Palestinian and Lebanese people their rights reinforces non
democratic forces and regimes in the region and leads the population
to believe that rights are not the same for everyone. It triggers
hatred and resentment whilst hampering the peace process and the
promotion of human rights, democracy and development. In addition,
it fosters an escalation of the worst kind of violence.
The security of the
people in the Middle East can never be guaranteed by violence. On
the contrary, only political solutions based on human rights, the
rule of law and relevant UN resolutions, can assure peace and
prosperity for all.
The EMHRN calls for
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all efforts to be
employed in urgently obtaining a cease fire and stopping the Israeli
occupation of Lebanon. It further calls for an international force
which can guarantee the protection of civilians, ensure the
integrity of Lebanon and respect for its independence, whilst
maintaining the security of Northern Israel;
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an immediate
ceasefire in Gaza and the sending of an international force under UN
auspices. The Israeli government should respect the free movement of
goods and people in Gaza as well as in the West Bank;
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the release of all
prisoners held arbitrarily;
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an international
investigation under UN auspices of the human rights abuses that have
taken and are taking place in Lebanon and Gaza
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all perpetrators of
war crimes to be prosecuted and for the victims to obtain redress.
The EMHRN and its members will support this process;
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the European Union
and the UN Security Council to consistently and robustly implement
international law.
For further
information, kindly contact:
Kamel Jendoubi,
President of the EMHRN
Kjendoubi@aol.com
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