Canadian Peace Alliance objects to bombing in Afghanistan, proposes an international tribunal

October 8, 2001- For immediate release

Toronto – The Canadian Peace Alliance learned with great sorrow that the United States and Great Britain have begun bombing in Afghanistan.

"Alternatives to bombing were not seriously attempted," said Carolyn Bassett, Coordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance. "Retaliation seems to have been the goal, when the goal should have been justice for the victims of the September 11 attacks. We greatly fear that the cycle of violence will continue."

Traditionally, acts of terrorism have been addressed through the criminal law system, using courts, trials, evidence and sentencing, the Canadian Peace Alliance noted. This approach is consistent with stated Government of Canada policy.

"To be sure," Bassett noted, "there are difficulties in addressing terrorist threats across national borders through the legal system, especially where extradiction is involved. But there will be even greater difficulties associated with the military approach, not least of which will be pinpointing the terrorists while sparing innocent civilians.

"If it goes badly, the West to could contribute considerably to the already-serious humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, while failing to address the terrorist threat."

An international legal tribunal established under United Nations auspices, like that which investigated and prosecuted perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda, is more likely to garner widespread support in the Middle East and to leave terrorists and their supporters politically isolated. Cooperation in establishing such a tribunal between major states in the West and the Middle East could also help build trust between the regions.

The Canadian Peace Alliance is Canada’s largest umbrella organization of peace groups and is a founding member of the newly formed September 11 Peace Coalition.

-30-