UPDATE: Montreal chapter activist Denis Salter has written a letter to the prime minister regarding the Olympic Truce.I encourage you to use his letter as the basis for your letter to the prime minister in response to the action alert at http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=2002 (copied below).
—
Prime Minister Harper,
The ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria, or “Olympic Truce”, was born in the eighth century B.C., serving as a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games.
Through its resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993, the United Nations General Assembly urged Member States to observe the Olympic Truce from the seventh day before the opening to the seventh day following the closing of each Olympic Games.
I ask you to accomplish two things:
1. When Canada speaks on the matter of the Olympic Truce at the UN this coming Tuesday, October 20, 2009, I ask that we do not make a case for weakening the Olympic Truce. I ask that Canada make a case for reaffirming the Truce.
2. I ask that you, your Minister of Defence, the Honourable Peter MacKay, and your government suspend our military operations in the war of occupation in Afghanistan during the seven days before the 2010 Winter Olympics, during the Olympics themselves from February 12–28, 2010, and during the seven days after the Olympics: that is, the period from Friday, February 5, 2010 to Sunday, March 7, 2010 (inclusive).
If we do not do so, we will be showing disrespect for the UN General Assembly Resolution 48/11 of 25 October 1993; and we shall be betraying the 1992 call of the International Olympic Committee that all nations observe this Truce.
I hope that you agree to and act on these two proposals. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely,
—
ACTION ALERT: Support a 17-day ‘Olympic Truce’ in Afghanistan
On Septemer 19, the Globe and Mail reported that, “The United Nations has traditionally passed an Olympic Truce resolution before each Summer and Winter Games since the early 1990s, echoing the practice of the ancient Greeks, who, according to legend, put aside their weapons every four years to compete peacefully at the Olympic Games of yore.”
“The country where the Games will be staged routinely introduces the resolution. (But) 2010 organizers (including VANOC president John Furlong) say they have no intention of asking that their country’s own troops lay down their arms for the 17 days of the Olympics. (And) it does not appear that Canada will even take any initiative to ease hostilities in Afghanistan during the Olympic Games.”
“Canada is due to introduce its (weakened version of an) Olympic Truce resolution at the UN General Assembly on Oct. 20.”
Beyond the lack of willingness to introduce a meaningful Olympic Truce resolution, the Globe and Mail reported back in August 2008 that the Harper government had urged VANOC “to put the Afghanistan war at the heart of the symbolically laden torch relay, saying that the first torch carriers could be veterans of the seven-year-old conflict…”
And earlier this month, the CBC reported that the Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed its intention to keep some Canadian troops in Afghanistan after parliament’s mandate for the mission expires in December 2011.
The Canadian public is increasingly concerned about the Canadian military presence in Afghanistan given the high casualty rates, the billions of dollars spent, the Karzai government’s human rights record, and the extensive fraud in the recent election there. Various recent news reports have also indicated that Afghanistan is increasingly unstable, and that due to the war fewer areas of the country are now safe for development work.
Our August 2006 ‘Statement on Canada’s Role in Afghanistan and other conflicts’ says, “The Council of Canadians is calling for the immediate, safe and orderly withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan and a return to Canada fulfilling its traditional international role of peacekeeper. Only as a promoter of peace and an upholder of peacekeeping can we hope to perform the constructive, independent role required of us in the world.”
TAKE ACTION
Write Prime Minister Stephen Harper at pm@pm.gc.ca and demand that Canada call for an Olympic Truce – or an end to offensive military operations during this 17-day period – in Afghanistan, when it is scheduled to speak on the matter at the United Nations on Tuesday October 20. You can also say that you want an immediate, safe and orderly withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan, but a 17-day truce would be a welcome step in the right direction.
WEB-LINKS
http://canadians.org/peace/issues/conflict_statement.html
http://canadians.org/campaignblog/?p=1844
