Tuesday June 28, 2005

The World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) composed of various international non-governmental organizations, academics, including professors of law, lawyers and judges have found US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair guilty of the war in Iraq.

After holding sessions in about 20 countries, the Tribunal chose Istanbul for its 16th and final session. The jury announced its decision Monday following three-day of sessions. During the jury's deliberation, the conscience juror Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy read the nonbinding verdict text that the jury composed after having listened to 54 witnesses from Iraq, the US, and the Great Britain during the trial. Bush and Blair were found guilty. The verdict proves all justifications of the Iraqi occupation are false and the US and the UK invaded Iraq to keep the Middle East under pressure and hegemony, to control oil resources and to strengthen Israel's position in the world. It reads that Bush and Blair committed one of the most illegitimate, unfair, and vicious and cravenly wars of history. Furthermore, the verdict asserts, in addition to the occupation, ethnic and religious divisions were consciously fomented to weaken the integrity of Iraqi society.

The WTI urged the immediate and unconditional withdraw of all the allied forces from Iraq. The necessity of a comprehensive investigation on all officials, but primarily Bush and Blair, who are responsible for the occupation, was also stressed in the verdict. Coalition forces were asked to pay compensation for the economic, ecological, and cultural destruction that they have caused. All laws, treaties, agreements, and institutions that were undertaken during the occupation and those that the Iraqi people see as opposing their interests were stated to be considered invalid. The Tribunal's final decision also referred to some companies including US Vice President Dick Cheney's former company Halliburton and said that action should be taken against British and US companies that made direct profits as a result of the war. The call made to all US military prisons in foreign countries, but primarily to Guantanamo, in the text indicated that the prisoners and detainees held there should be accepted as having the status of war hostages and should be given their legal rights. Moreover, the verdict recommended that military officials reject recruiting and participation in an unlawful war.

Roy answered questions after reading the verdict. Upon a question of whether or not the Tribune has reached its aim, she said the facts and documents from today should be passed on to future generations and they have reached their goal in terms of this aim. Juror Ayse Erzan confirmed, the verdict will also be sent to all related officials.

Bush and Blair were found guilty on the following charges:

Primary charges in symbolic verdict

Planning an aggressive war and implementation by violating the United Nations (UN) Convention and the Nuremberg Principles

Targeting Iraqi people and the infrastructure of Iraqi society, using limitless power and arms

Implementing fatal violence against peaceful demonstrators

Implementing torture and ill-treatment on Iraqi soldiers and civilians

Willful destruction of the environment during clashes

Obstructing the right of information and censoring of the media.


Istanbul