Felicity speaks at Birmingham Stop the War event on Pakistan
31 May 2009
Felicity Norman, predicted to be the first Green MEP for the West Midlands region (1) today called for action to halt the escalating violence in Pakistan at a Birmingham Stop the War meeting.
At the meeting, chaired by Cllr Salma Yaqoob, who is endorsing Felicity for a place in the European Parliament on June 4th, Felicity outlined the views of the Green group and what she wishes to do if elected to the European Parliament.
Felicity said:
Our immediate demands are:
* immediate stop to aerial bombings by the Pakistani military, as well as to attacks by US drones (because they only put oil on the fire of anti-US+ anti-Central government sentiments)
* cancelation of the special agreements with certain territories (Swat Valley, Waziristan)
* registration of internally displaced refugees and provision of basic assistance
* stop support for military aid by member states to Pakistan and instead
* strong increase of development aid with a focus on education, health care and the establishment of a functioning justice and taxation system.
Green colleagues in the EP have outlined what they hope to do, once the Green group has been re-established in the new Parliament:
a) They will ask in the Conference of Presidents for a debate with Council and Commission on Pakistan in the plenary.
b) Invite the Chief Justice to the Parliament
c) Put pressure on Council and Commission to increase financial contributions to Pakistan through the Stability Instrument as well as through the DCI (Development Cooperation) Instrument
d) Put pressure on Commission and Council to reverse the policies which the US and the EU have been following so far. (Obama has already announced that he will shift focus, which is also being influenced by the actual debate in congress about whether the US aid has not also served to increase Pakistan's nuclear arsenal).
Immediate emergency aid is needed through the UN and other agencies.
Ultimately, I believe that the only way forward is, as proposed by the South Asia scholars group and others, through economic and development aid, and in involving the pro-democracy groups, including the lawyers, in developing policy for Pakistan's long term future.
(1) Sunday Telegraph opinion poll, 31 May 2009, suggests the Green Party could win 8 seats. A Politics Professor at Staffordshire University, speaking on the Politics Show, 31 May, confirmed that the final seat could go to the Green Party in the West Midlands.
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