Contact: Joanne Landy (212) 666-4001, cell (646) 207-5203
LEADERS OF U.S. PEACE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT MAJOR CZECH DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST U.S. RADAR IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC Activists Meet with Czech Ambassador to the U.N. to Urge Rejection of New U.S. Military Base
NEW YORK, N.Y., November 16, 2007 - Leaders of several U.S. peace organizations met at 9:30am today with Czech Ambassador Martin Palous at the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations, 1109-1111 Madison Avenue, near 83rd Street in Manhattan. The U.S. peace groups support demonstrations planned for Saturday, November 17 in Prague and Brno protesting the plans of the Czech government to host the radar for a U.S. anti-missile system. These demonstrations are organized by the Czech group No Bases Initiative (Iniciativa Ne základnám).
The delegation of U.S. peace leaders was convened by the New York-based Campaign for Peace and Democracy in response to an appeal for international solidarity by the No Bases Initiative. A statement of support for the Czech movement against the U.S. radar was signed by members of the delegation and a number of individuals who were unable to participate because of prior commitments. This statement is below.
The writer Ariel Dorfman sent the following message, "I deeply regret that I cannot join your delegation today. It is time for another Prague spring, this time so there can be peace to go along with the freedom already conquered, the freedom and liberation we so applauded and celebrated."
* * * * * * * * * * * * SOLIDARITY WITH OPPONENTS OF PROPOSED U.S. MILITARY BASE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC A Statement from U.S. Peace Organizations Delivered to Ambassador Martin Palous Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the United Nations November 16, 2007
We are here today to declare our solidarity with tomorrow’s protest by the No Bases Initiative in the Czech Republic, where demonstrations will take place against the plans of the Czech government to host the radar for a U.S. anti-missile system.
The No Bases Initiative chose the date of November 17 because, in their words, this date “has come to symbolize the overthrow of the undemocratic regime in the former Czechoslovakia and the return of representative democracy. This change came about because of the protest of hundreds of thousands of people in the streets of Prague eighteen years ago.” In the view of these Czech activists, resistance to the introduction of new foreign military bases is the most fitting way to commemorate that anniversary.
Polls have shown that a significant majority of the people in the Czech Republic oppose the U.S. military facilities, but the Czech government is flagrantly ignoring public opinion. As the No Bases Initiative notes, "Politicians had known for a number of years of U.S. plans to install a military base on Czech territory but had kept this information from the public. They didn't consider it important to tell voters before last year’s parliamentary elections either." This Saturday, Czech protestors will be calling for a popular referendum to vote on this critical issue.
The proposed new U.S. base in the Czech Republic and related interceptor missiles to be based in Poland mark a dangerous escalation. As activists from the Czech Republic and Poland, as well as from Hungary, Belgium, Greece, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom have stated, “The realisation of the US plan will not lead to enhanced security. On the contrary - it will lead to new dangers and insecurities. Although it is described as 'defensive,' in reality it will allow the United States to attack other countries without fear of retaliation. It will also put 'host' countries on the front line in future US wars.” (Prague Declaration, "Peace Doesn't Need New Missiles -We say no to the US missile defense system in Europe" May 2007)
Indeed, the announcement of the plans for military bases in the Czech Republic and Poland has already produced an ominous response from Russia. The projected U.S. radar in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland don’t constitute an immediate threat to Russia’s nuclear deterrent, with its thousands of warheads, but as the New York Times pointed out on October 10 of this year, “Kremlin officials are believed to fear that the system in Central Europe will lead to a more advanced missile defense that could blunt the Russian nuclear force
Russian officials have threatened to direct their missiles toward Europe if the United States proceeds with the system. They also have said they will suspend participation in a separate treaty limiting the deployment of conventional forces in Europe.” This is an unjustified reaction, endangering innocent populations, but is part of the crazy logic of superpower confrontation that the U.S. move exacerbates.
Washington claims that the new facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic are designed to respond to a missile threat from Iran, but there is no credible evidence that such a threat exists today. And the militaristic stance of the United States, far from protecting the U.S. or Europe from such a threat in the future, only enhances its likelihood. We need only to look at the example of North Korea, where years of military threats from the United States provided a strong inducement to seek nuclear weapons for their defense.
We do not believe that any nation should develop nuclear weapons, which by their nature are weapons of vast and indiscriminate mass destruction. The United States and other nuclear powers can best reduce the danger of nuclear warfare by taking major steps toward both nuclear and conventional disarmament and refraining from waging or threatening “preventive” war -- not by expanding the nuclear threat. Such steps by the existing nuclear powers would create a political context that would powerfully discourage new countries from developing their own nuclear weapons.
As Americans, we have a particular moral responsibility to speak out. U.S. bases threaten the world. According to respected foreign policy analyst Chalmers Johnson, in 2004 the U.S. had 737 overseas military bases, not counting garrisons in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, and Uzbekistan, nor U.S. military and espionage installations in the UK. This vast network of overseas bases supports a foreign policy of military interventions and global intimidation.
We are dismayed that the Czech Republic, rather than standing as a beacon for peace, is cooperating with the expansion of the Pentagon and allowing a military base to be imposed on the country. We are further dismayed by the fact that the Czech Republic recently opposed a UN resolution highlighting concerns over the military use of depleted uranium. It was one of only six countries to oppose the resolution that was supported by 122 nations. With such actions, the Czech government is doing a disservice both to its own real security, by making the Czech Republic a target, and to the prospects for peace and the spirit of November 17.
We are inspired by the principled actions of the people in the Czech Republic who are taking to the streets to resist the steps toward a new Cold War being pursued by elites unresponsive to public opinion. We join with them in a commitment to bring together the people of all countries in building an international movement for peace, democracy and social justice.
The statement above was delivered to Ambassador Martin Palous by a delegation consisting of the following: 1. Joanne Landy, Campaign for Peace and Democracy 2. Margaret W. Crane, Trinity Lutheran Church, Manhattan 3. Cathey Falvo, MD, President, Physicians for Social Responsibility/NYC 4. Leslie Kielson, Coordinator, NYC-United for Peace and Justice 5. Jesse Lemisch, professor emeritus of History, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York 6. Rosemarie Pace, Director, Pax Christi Metro New York 7. Stephen R. Shalom, Montclair Campaign for Peace and Justice 8. Barbara Webster, New Jersey Coalition to Bring the Troops Home Now 9. Cheryl Wertz, Executive Director, Peace Action New York State (three additional people joined the delegation: one from the Raging Grannies, another grannies activist, and a videographer.)
The following individuals were unable to attend the meeting with Ambassador Palous. They asked to have their names added to the above statement. 1. Thomas Harrison, Co-Director, Campaign for Peace and Democracy 2. Jennifer Scarlott, Co-Director, Campaign for Peace and Democracy 3. Ariel Dorfman, writer 4. Carolyn Eisenberg, Brooklyn for Peace 5. Daniel Ellsberg, Truth-Telling Project 6. Joseph Gerson, Director, Peace & Economic Security Program, American Friends Service Committee 7. Charlotte Phillips, M.D., Chairperson, Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace) 8. Ethan Vesely-Flad, Communications Co-Coordinator, Fellowship of Reconciliation and Editor, Fellowship magazine
For further information contact Joanne Landy, Thomas Harrison, and Jennifer Scarlott, Co-Directors, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, 2790 Broadway, #12, NY, NY 10025. Tel (212) 666-4001, Cell (646) 207-5203, Fax (212) 866-5847. Email: cpd at igc.org Web: www.cpdweb.org
THE CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY advocates a new, progressive and non-militaristic U.S. foreign policy -- one that encourages democratization, justice and social change. Founded in 1982, the Campaign opposed the Cold War by promoting "detente from below." It engaged Western peace activists in the defense of the rights of democratic dissidents in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and enlisted East-bloc human rights activists against anti-democratic U.S. policies in countries like Nicaragua and Chile.
Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Co-Directors Joanne Landy, Thomas Harrison and Jennifer Scarlott, 2790 Broadway, #12, NY, NY 10025. Tel (212) 666-4001, Cell (646) 207-5203, Fax (212) 866-5847. Email: cpd at igc.org Web: www.cpdweb.org