Readings in Nonviolence' features extracts from our favourite books, pamphlets, articles or other material on nonviolence and related areas, or reviews of important works in the field (suggestions and contributions welcome)
Sometimes we reap what we sow, but, for the West, it is often the case that other people reap the catastrophic consequences of our actions, or our countries' actions. This is the case in the eastern Mediterranean at the moment. The response of the EU is now to try to – illegally – keep the issue of refugees away from its doors by sending people back to Turkey. This is a disgraceful indictment of our humanity and of the EU and its failure to respond adequately to the humanitarian disaster on its doorstep.
When issues get heated, we are sometimes unable to hear the voices of those who have differing views, who do not fit the projected message that governments and media wish to present. So here we present a message from people in this area who have refused to fight, refused to join the military and struggle for peace.
Statement of conscientious objectors' groups from eastern Mediterranean region
We are conscientious objectors from all around the eastern Mediterranean region. Our region has suffered for so long from oppression, injustice, militarisation, military occupations and wars, as well as poverty, illiteracy, hunger and lack of social infrastructure. In this difficult period, when our region seems to fall even more into the chaos of war, we raise a common voice for peace and against militarisation.
We refuse to allow this cycle of violence, initiated by oppressive states and economic interests, to continue; we refuse to be a part of it; we refuse to be enemies with people who just happen to be of a different nationality or religion; we will not be dragged into their wars and armies leading to death and destruction in the region.
Our region is one of the most militarised regions in the world, from forced conscription across the region, through highly militarised borders and militarised solutions to any conflict, to ongoing and new occupations of civilian populations by armed forces killing and oppressing men, women and children. We believe that this violence is systematic and affects the entire region, but it is not inherent to it, and it is not our choice as residents of this region who wish to live in peace. Our region has proved time and time again that military solutions are never sustainable and only lead to greater violence in the long term, while bringing death and destruction in the short term.
The world's reaction to the current regional violence should be building societies, assisting refugees, and mediating between fighting parties, not selling arms, bombings and providing military assistance.
The wars in our region have led to the worst refugee crisis since World War II, with millions of people escaping from wars and oppression, only to find racism, repression or even death while trying to reach a safer place. This crisis has led to militarised "solutions" such as international military engagement and assistance, and militarisation of borders. "Solutions" that treat refugees as a security threat and only increase war and chaos in the region. We express our solidarity with refugees, we welcome them and we declare that we will continue to refuse to "guard borders", leading to death and imprisonment of (tens of) thousands of refugees in the region.
Although in many countries, conscientious objectors are seen by the army, the state or even parts of society as a 'threat', nowadays it is clearer than ever that the threat to our societies does not come from people who refuse to participate in wars and armies, but from militaries and wars. We express our solidarity with conscientious objectors persecuted by different governments in the region, especially those currently prosecuted by Israeli, Turkish, Turkish Cypriot and Greek military authorities, and we demand an end to their prosecution or imprisonment.
We are resisting conscription, exercising our internationally recognised right to CO (despite the persecution faced in many states in our region), and demonstrating solidarity with those effected by war. We will cooperate across the region to:
support all those who oppose wars by refusing military service and war participation for any reason, be it political, philosophical, religious or other
stop the persecution of COs
abolish conscription
Though campaigning against conscription, we do not wish for conscription armies to be replaced by professional ones, as these too are not the solution to the problems of our region.
Finally, despite our different backgrounds, ideologies and views on the ways to struggle for liberation, we agree that our final goal is peace with justice for all. We all share a common dream for a world where all people would share equal rights, and call you to join us in this dream, and refuse to participate in its further destruction.
40 Mothers
Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors
Conscientious Objection Association (Vicdani Ret Derne?i), Turkey
Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus
Mesarvot, Israel
NoMilService, Egypt
The League of Conscientious Objectors (LOC), Italy
- Statement supplied by Right to Refuse to Kill Programme, War Resisters' International, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX, Britain, ph +44-20-7278 4040 Skype warresistersemail e-mail hannah@wri-irg.org web wri-irg.org Follow WRI on twitter @warresistersint You can support War Resisters' International by donating online at wri-irg.org
