Local Activist Joins Fast For Economic Justice in Iraq

For Immediate Release, June 7, 2005

PRESS CONFERENCE: June 9th, 9:30 a.m. Capitol Peace Rose Garden, Sacramento

Contact in Sacramento: Cres Vellucci, Ph: 916.996.9170, civillib [at] cwnet.com

Contact In Geneva: Leisa Faulkner, (fasting) leisafaulkner [at] hotmail.com



FAST FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR IRAQ JUNE 16 – 30 AT U.N. IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Sacramento, California, United States— International social justice activists (from Iraq, the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere) will gather at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland from June 15th to June 30th to demand economic justice for Iraqi citizens. The fast will address the key issues of war reparations claims against Iraq, debt cancellation and reconstruction.

A local activist, Leisa Faulkner of Progressive Democrats of America, will be joining this international delegation. Favoring a reduction in US military involvement internationally, she is known for her work in Haiti, and at the School of the Americas. Last year she spent three months in Federal Prison for her outspoken commitment to peace.

This fast in Geneva will coincide with the final meeting of the United Nations Compensation Commission (U.N.C.C.), which takes place from June 28th to 30th in Geneva. The U.N.C.C. will determine how much of a remaining $65 billion in war reparations claims will be imposed against Iraq. These claims relate to the invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91 by Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Fasters will present four key demands, which must be met for economic justice for Iraqis:

1) An immediate moratorium on war reparations payments and claims followed by a U.N. Security Council resolution canceling all reparations imposed against Iraq;

2) The elimination of all odious debt incurred by Saddam Hussein’s regime as determined by an odious debt arbitration tribunal in which Iraq has full due process rights;

3) That no economic conditions be imposed upon Iraq by the international community through such mechanisms as an International Monetary Fund (IMF) stand-by-agreement or otherwise;

4) Full funding for the reconstruction of Iraq which benefits the Iraqi people, is directed by the Iraqi people, and is without any strings attached.

Jubilee Iraq and Voices in the Wilderness are initiating the fast. Progressive Democrats of America, National as well as the Sacramento Chapter are co-sponsoring Ms. Faulkner’s vigil along with Sacramento for Democracy and a support team that includes members from Freedom Bound Center, Sacramento Peace Action, the Green Party, Faculty for Peace and Justice, Coalition 4 Democracy in Haiti, and School of the Americas Watch.