Embargoed to 1pm
Tuesday 15 April
MEDIA RELEASE
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Australia’s conduct threatens UN authority
Australian Lawyers
for Human Rights today warned that Australia is complicit in undermining
the authority of the United Nations.
Speaking at a United
Nations Society debate at Sydney University, Australian Lawyers for Human
Rights President, Simon Rice said
“The war in
a Iraq is a moral war, but not a legal one.
"The coalition
forces are in Iraq without international sanction. Their action undermines
and is a direct challenge to authority of the Security Council and the
scope of its powers under Chapter VII of the United Charter".
“The ends cannot
justify the means,” said Rice. “The successful removal of
the Iraqi regime must not obscure the fact that there has been regime
change through an act of aggression. The coalition forces by-passed
the agreed processes of the UN Charter, and have shown the world that
might is still right.
In a debate with Professor
Ivan Shearer on the legality of the war in Iraq, and the implications for
the UN, Rice re-asserted the illegality of the war.
“Security Council
Resolution 678 expired with the restoration of Kuwait’s sovereignty.
Resolution 687 began a process of disarming Iraq. Resolution 1441 continued
that process.
"The coalition
forces became impatient and, they dispensed with the rule of law and
took the matter into their own hands".
“In the long
term, on global scale, the United Nations and management of international
security are the losers here”, he said.
“The authority
of the United Nations is built on mutual trust and respect, on commitment
to an agreed process which will control international aggression. That
is the attack the UN now faces. That is the crisis of its credibility.
“There is licence
now for any country to call it as it sees it, and to act accordingly.
Quite wrongly, the relevance of the United Nations is under real threat.”
For further information
contact: Simon Rice on 0408 088 024 or 9380 6566 back to top
This page last updated 4th May 2004
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