Dear Amber Rudd,
Voting for war in Syria is a crime
I am writing to inform you that voting for war is a war crime and ask you to vote against the upcoming Government motion for the use of armed force in Syria.
When Britain joined the coalition to invade Iraq, every attempt was made to prove to UK citizens that this action had the backing of the United Nations. The fact is that Parliament and the Nation were misled by false information from the UK and US Administrations.
The United Nations did not give its backing for that war and will not do so for war in Syria. Not only will Russia, a powerful ally of Syria, use its veto in the Security Council, but more fundamentally, the United Nations is prevented by its own charter from sanctioning war. The UN Charter, signed and ratified by Britain in 1945, requires member nation states to settle all disputes peacefully, to respect human rights, to uphold and enforce the rule of law and never to wage war or use force.
Specifically, UN Resolution 2625 of 1970 states: “No State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatsoever, in the internal or external affairs of any other State. Consequently, armed intervention and all other forms of interference or attempted threats against the personality of the State or against its political, economic and cultural elements are in violation of international law”.
In addition our own Supreme Court has declared that “the definition (of terrorism) would seem to cover any violence or damage to property if it is carried out with a view to influencing a government or intergovernmental organisation in order to advance a very wide range of causes. Thus it would appear to extend to military or quasi-military activity aimed at bringing down a foreign government, even where that activity is approved, officially or unofficially, by the UK Government”. R v Gul: UKSC 64 (2013) extract para 28.
As Parliament and HM Government have waged unbroken war since 2001 causing the deaths of thousands of Afghan, Iraqi and Libyan citizens, they violated warfare and terrorism laws and rendered all those MPs who voted in favour of war criminally liable for war crimes.
I urge you to respect the law and obey your conscience: vote against the upcoming Government motion for the use of armed force in Syria.
“Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew: ch. 5 v. 9)
Kenneth Bird
Do you disagree with the writer? Rye News publishes articles reflecting the diverse range of opinions held in and about Rye and the surrounding areas. Please send in your views at info@ryenews.org.uk.
UN flag – image may be too small?
Image Credits: United Nations .