South African shields plan to leave for Iraq

Independent ^ | March 3, 2003

[sarcasm]

Forty South Africans are not afraid to face the direct line of a US-led coalition assault on Iraq, and are preparing to become human shields as they "go to war".

The 40 are among the thousands worldwide who are going to Baghdad or who are already there. Their mission: to build international support for mediation, and not a war.

Already shields from Britain, Turkey and Russia have gathered in Iraq. Many of them will place themselves at schools, orphanages and hospitals.

Durban-based Iraq Action committee member Abie Dawjee and senior advocate of the Durban Bar, Reggie Reddy are among the 40 who include doctors, academics, businessmen and housewives.

They say their aim is to join the Iraqi people to defend themselves

They say their aim is to join the Iraqi people to defend themselves. "We want to see what it is like to be under siege and to live with fear. Perhaps our journey to the troubled Middle Eastern country will show those who want war that people who are not Iraqis and those who are opposed to it are the majority," said Dawjee.

Dawjee said that the efforts of his group were strictly non-military and the reasons were noble.

"No one in our group is making the journey to Iraq for fun or for the experience."

He said that the shields would be witnesses to record any transgressions against the Iraqi people.

"If transgressions do occur we will be able to make a case in the international court."

Dawjee recently returned from Iraq with a delegation of 44 people from South Africa in what he described as a show of solidarity with the people of Iraq and also to protest against the looming US war against Iraq.

Dawjee explains why the decision to become a shield was not an easy one for the volunteers.

"All of the people going with us have family members and loved ones who are concerned about them. We are all doing this because this is a crime against humanity and our objectives are noble."

The shields will position themselves at civilian structures like schools, hospitals and even at water filtration plants.

Dawjee said that the shields would have to pay for their own way to Iraq, but food and accommodation would be provided by the Iraqi government. Preparations for the trip are at an advanced stage.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch, a New York-based advocacy group has condemned both sides for their stance on the shields.

They have said that if Iraq uses shields then that is a war crime and if the US attacks targets that are shielded by civilians, that would be a war crime too

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Is Winnie Mandela joining them, like she suggested she might? My guess is, no!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

"They say their aim is to join the Iraqi people to defend themselves. "We want to see what it is like to be under siege and to live with fear."

Why don't they just go to Zimbabwe, much closer, and the human rights abuses are almost as grave. Oh, I forgot! They can't point out failure on African soil, can they?

[JoJo Gunn]

Human Rights Watch has not one shred of credibility. When a heterosexual man (Rolf Szabo) gets fired at Kodak, and Human Rights Watch doesn't speak out in his favor, then that outfit is hypocritical sewage. But after all, Human Rights Watch is what sponsored that "Coming Out Day", where you get in everyone's face (who doesn't give a damn to begin with) and publicly tells their sexual preferences.

[null and void]

Dawjee said that the shields would have to pay for their own way to Iraq,

One way, no doubt...

[dep]

it is truly amazing, the amount of good we will be able to do for the world in just one night, if this kind of thing continues and all the human targets are on time. of course, i think they're leaving now in hope of getting their a day late. they're already a dollar short.

dep

[Normal4me]

Why don't we make a deal? Idiots come in and replace Iraqi's who want to live.

[birdsman]

He said that the shields would be witnesses to record any transgressions against the Iraqi people.
"If transgressions do occur we will be able to make a case in the international court."

And will they record any transgressions against the Iraqi people that are made by the Iraqi regime? I doubt it very much.

[MinuteGal]

"Our motives are noble".

Nobility and two quarters will get you a nice permanent dirt nap with those vibrating "magic fingers" along with it.

Leni

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Their mission: to build international support for mediation, and not a war...

Their mission will fail, not due to US-led coalition forces but because Saddam has no intention of disarming. These "human sheep" need to wake the [blank] up.

[telebob]

These guys are petty late to the party. I guess the news is slow in the southern hemisphere. They should do a Yahoo search for 'human shields' and they could find out that the British/Euro contingent pulled out of there today, fearing for their lives. Saddam had plans for 'em alright..

[MonroeDNA]

Second shift, to replace the panty shields that just retreated?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Hey, I wanna be a human shield took and then run back home to Mommy when war looms a month later!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Hey, I wanna be a human shield too, and then run back home to Mommy when war looms a month later!

[mathurine]

Toilet paper has always been a useful thing, and there are many places which have and can produce nothing better.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Well, yes but there is a shortage of that, too in Zimbabwe. :)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Well, yes but there is a shortage of that, too in Zimbabwe. :)