BRussells Tribunal on Occupation and Reconstraction in Iraq

End to occupation pre-condition for reconstruction of Iraq
BRussells Tribunal critical of joint US-EU conference on Iraq, in Brussels on June 22

On June 22 2005, the United States and the European Union are co-hosting an international conference on Iraq in Brussels, which aims to bolster international support for political and economic reforms and back efforts to draft a constitution for the new Baghdad government.

The legitimacy and autonomy of this government, installed and completely controlled by the US occupation forces after an illegal and illegitimate war of aggression, is not only challenged by a large part of the Iraqi population, but also by the international peace movement.

We feel the necessity to alert the Belgian and European public opinion and authorities that the Brussels conference is a dead-end initiative.

The so-called 'reconstruction' under US occupation has been denounced as benefiting Halliburton, Bechtel and other transnational corporations, and is accompanied by a rampant corruption in many of Iraq's ministries. In the meantime, the majority of the Iraqi people continue without electricity, clean water, education and health services.

Not only is it an over-riding and moral duty to stop the killing, repression and plunder of Iraq. The Fourth Geneva Convention, in article 147, identifies "wilful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health . . . and extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly" as grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

The EU countries should therefore focus on their obligations under humanitarian law (common article 1 to the Geneva Conventions) to ensure that grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions are properly addressed.

The basic condition for the reconstruction of the country is the swift ending of the occupation, with a scheduled withdrawal of all foreign troops. All deaths, injuries and damage to property as a result of the war of aggression and the ensuing occupation should be compensated by the US and the other invading and occupying powers. Iraq's illegally seized moneys and assets must be accounted for.

Only then, and under the full sovereignty of the Iraqi people, can an independent government of Iraq be formed. Such a government can then decide if and when an international conference on the reconstruction of Iraq should be organized, preferably in Baghdad.