War has been announced by John Howard last night, so this will be my last
email from the human shields office as I have to get back over the bridge to
the Taji food silo, in North Baghdad. This is where I will be bunkered down
until the bombing ceases and we can be evacuated....
Here is my last email - an open letter to John Howard - use it as you wish
17 March 2003
OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER, JOHN HOWARD
MOMENT OF NATIONAL SHAME FOR AUSTRALIANS
Once again, Australia is being shamed as a nation which no longer believes
in international law, human dignity and peace.
Even yesterday, the UN Weapons Inspectors said that Iraq was compliant.
There has never been a convincing argument for military intervention.
I have come to Iraq as a human shield in deep despair and frustration that
alternative non-violent resolutions were never ever considered by you.
The question I am constantly asked here in Baghdad is "We thought Australia
was our friend - so why are they doing this?" There is no possible answer
that I can give.
I believe now that the big question for Australians at home is - How can we
change our Constitution so that we have a Prime Minister who must listen to
the -
· legal profession who say that this war is "illegal" ie.outside
international law
· medical profession, church leaders and humanitarian groups who say this
will be a humanitarian disaster on a massive scale
· Anzac 'heroes' and Vietnam veterans who say that the trauma of war
lasts a lifetime
· The people of Australia who say this war and any future war is
unacceptable behaviour for a civilised society to engage in.
I am a mother who has come here to be a human shield protecting a UN
classified humanitarian site, the Taji Food Silo, North Bagdad, where much
of the Australian wheat is stored and distributed to feed 5 million people.
If I am killed, then this will highlight the killing of innocent civilians.
My children will lose their Mother as will thousands of other Iraqi families
lose their fathers, husbands, mothers and children. We refuse to be called
"collateral damage" This is the ultimate insult and what this new type of
militarism means that the people of the world are so opposed to.
As Australians we know that schoolyard bullying, domestic violence and
murder in our community is illegal and totally unacceptable. How can it be
acceptable then for Australians to kill strangers in a foreign land???
Make no mistake this war will be "armchair killing" of innocent people.
I feel very sorry for the Australian servicemen and their families as they
are placed in a very unenviable position- now being asked to do something
which is dishonourable.
NOT IN MY NAME will such an act of extreme violence be done.
Ruth Russell
Taji Food Silo, North Baghdad
Ph 00 964 1 885 2846
HUMAN SHIELDS IRAQ
E-MAIL: andalus206@warkaa.net
PHONE: +964-1-816-4400 ext 4666
(it can take a long time to get through to us on the phone, be patient)