MANY of us attended the talk given by Bruce Kent in Tavistock on January 14 and it was heartening to see the number of people there.
It was extremely inspiring to hear of the wave of support for peace, especially at a time when preparations for war appear to be escalating.
We join other churches, faiths and wider society in opposing military action and advocating a non-violent approach to Iraq. War with Iraq might kill vast numbers of people already suffering the effects of sanctions. We fear that it would extend violence across the region, encourage extremists and intensify religious and ethnic hatred.
Unilateral action against another state is contrary to international law and deeply damaging to the principle of peaceful international relations. Continued talk of good and evil whips up fear and detracts from cool consideration of all options, seemingly excluding peaceful alternatives. Our goal for Iraq must be the same as for any nation ? a just and sustainable peace for its people and its neighbours.
Any decision on an international approach to Iraq should take place within the United Nations Security Council and respect the principles of the UN Charter. Support from all sides for the weapons inspection process under Security Council Resolution 1441 is vital.
A multilateral solution is the only way to achieve a resolution of the situation, which is based on the international community accepting a common responsibility for collective security. Were the USA and UK to take action independently, this could well precipitate even more instability in the region.
As Quakers we are opposed to all war. It is not the divine way. We pray that God?s grace will lead all concerned to wisdom and restraint.
Signed for Tavistock Quaker Meeting (The Religious Society of Friends)
Diana Brace
Clerk of Tavistock
Quaker meeting
IN Tavistock, as in many other communities across Europe, there is no stomach for a war on Iraq.
Bruce Kent asked (Times, January 16): Why go to war? He took us through many plausible answers, including that put up by Martin Quinn (Letters, January 23) that oil is the key. The British government is still to produce a reason which justifies conflict.
All we know is that the decision has been made to make war with Iraq and that our government is still looking for a pretext. It is this which fuels the national unease.
Service people from West Devon need to know that the case for war has been made convincingly by their government before they are deployed, and that the coming war is widely supported at home. These conditions, essential in any conflict, have not been met. So suspicious are voters of our government, that even if it gets further UN backing, 60% will still oppose a war with Iraq.
In about a month?s time, British forces will be fully assembled around the Gulf, ready for war. There is still time to write to Tony Blair, as I - an ex-infantry major - and many others have done, and ask him why he is so ready to risk the lives of so many British [and innocent Iraqis] without reason. He has a duty to explain. We have a right to know - before military funerals start in Tavistock.
We deserve more than ?Trust me, I?m a politician. Support me in this war?. Our service people need more than the fig-leaf of a skewed interpretation of a UN resolution to risk their lives. There is no objective in Iraq which cannot be achieved through tough diplomacy and the dogged work of the UN weapons inspectors. Give peace a chance!
Tavistock Peace Group will lobby John Burnett MP at the Methodist Hall, Tavistock, on Saturday, February 1 at noon, for him to take this message to Parliament. After that, let?s get the views of our local politicians. Let them start taking a lead !
Alex Wood
4 Kilworthy Hill
Tavistock