Statement on Paris attacks
Left Unity condemns the terrible atrocities unleashed on Paris last night and stands in solidarity against these appalling attacks. We send our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those so brutally killed, and to those suffering injury and distress.
We mourn the loss of all those killed in terrorist atrocities. In Beirut, dozens were killed just hours before the killings in Paris. Hundreds of thousands have been killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, or elsewhere; we deplore the conditions of war under which so many exist, particularly in the Middle East. We reject the policies of our own governments and others which have led to perpetual misery and suffering for millions in that region.
We stand against the continuation or escalation of western intervention and war in the Middle East: either as a response to last night’s atrocities or as a solution to the region’s problems. The war on terror unleashed this nightmare, following more than a century of colonialism which created the conditions for the rise of terrorist organisations. Further war and intervention will only make the situation worse, fuelling support for terrorist organisations; war is not the answer. Only a negotiated political settlement holds the possibility of peace for the region – and such a settlement must include justice for the Palestinian people. President Hollande’s commitment to ‘merciless’ war can only lead to further cycles of violence and tragedy, in Europe and across the Middle East. We oppose those in Britain who now beat the drums of war.
We reject any attempts to divide our communities, to stoke the fires of racism and Islamophobia, to make political gains out of the suffering of the people of Paris. We stand in defence of refugees, so many of whom are fleeing from war and atrocity – fleeing the very forces that have inflicted this tragedy on France. Neither they, nor our Muslim communities, can be made scapegoats for the terrorists.
Left Unity stands for a new foreign policy, for a new role for Britain in the world, rejecting its imperialist past and present, rejecting its interventionism, whether military, political or economic. The long road to peace can only be built through respect, equality and solidarity amongst peoples.
6 comments
6 responses to “Statement on Paris attacks”
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Excellent statement!
Hope enough articles like this and the one in the Guardian by the french journalist held hostage by isis spawn more anti hate media .
I agree. The following could usefully be added:
The UK government ‘s most important concern should be the welfare and safety of the British people. Their policies in North Africa and the Middle East have antagonised large sections of the local populations and turned them into enemies threatening revenge. This is clearly against the interest of this country. The UK government must desist from further armed intervention in areas of conflict and concentrate on non-violent efforts to restore peace and harmony to reduce the threat to lives and property in the UK
on diplomatic efforts to
I can’t agree with this. The logic of the argument seems to be ‘don’t get involved, it might be dangerous for us.’ Applying the same thinking in 1939 would have left Hitler unchecked.
The people of the region immediately threatened by Isis don’t have the luxury of ‘not getting involved’.
A very balanced statement, putting into proper historical perspective the the Paris terrorist attack.
Welcome as the Left Unity Statement is, its a pity the Drone attacks are not mentioned. The attacks on the west,(as the Guardian article today page 18 says )have a direct correlation to the mecialist attacks by impersonal drones. Recruitment to Isis is similarly greatly increased by their use. Dozens, hundreds, Thousands of innocents are being killed. As the west don’t want to put troops on the ground, so the drone attacks have vastly increased. The Guardian article carries the comments from four previous Drone operatives; they specifically claim that the Paris atrocities are a direct consequence of their previous undertakings. They call on US and GB to halt the damaging practice now.
Chris Preston