US delegation demands an end to drone strikes
Members hold a candlelight vigil to express solidarity with victims.
ISLAMABAD:
Drone strikes are illegal and need to be stopped to create peace and stability in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
These views were expressed by members of a 32-member American peace delegation at a walk and candlelight vigil held at Jinnah Super Market in Sector F-7 on Friday.
Insaf Students Federation, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf’s student wing, organised the walk and vigil to oppose the US drone attacks in Pakistan.
The American delegation is in Pakistan to visit South Waziristan. The delegation will leave for their destination on Saturday, tagging along side the Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf’s peace march to South Waziristan.
“We are against the US government’s drone program,” said Alli McCracken, a coordinator of the delegation’s trip to Pakistan. “We want justice and human rights for everyone in the world.”
Members of the American delegation chanted “Stop killer drones” and “No more kill lists” in English and Urdu.
They also sang songs expressing their resolve to march to South Waziristan and meet the people directly affected by the drone strikes.
Toby Blome, of the Code Pink, performed peace songs on a nyckleharpa.
The delegation is trying to raise awareness against the use of drones for warfare. “It’s important to find peaceful ways to speak out against the drones,” Medea Benjamin, who is leading the delegation, said. “If Pakistanis don’t do it, things will get worse and worse.”
She said the drone attacks in Pakistan manifest the US government’s callous indifference toward Pakistani citizens affected by the drone attacks.
“The drone strikes show that the US government doesn’t value the lives of ordinary Pakistanis, that the US government considers them disposable.”
Benjamin said Pakistanis need to show their opposition to the drone attacks and put pressure on their government to not only oppose the attacks but also demand an end to them.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.
Drone strikes are illegal and need to be stopped to create peace and stability in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
These views were expressed by members of a 32-member American peace delegation at a walk and candlelight vigil held at Jinnah Super Market in Sector F-7 on Friday.
Insaf Students Federation, Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf’s student wing, organised the walk and vigil to oppose the US drone attacks in Pakistan.
The American delegation is in Pakistan to visit South Waziristan. The delegation will leave for their destination on Saturday, tagging along side the Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf’s peace march to South Waziristan.
“We are against the US government’s drone program,” said Alli McCracken, a coordinator of the delegation’s trip to Pakistan. “We want justice and human rights for everyone in the world.”
Members of the American delegation chanted “Stop killer drones” and “No more kill lists” in English and Urdu.
They also sang songs expressing their resolve to march to South Waziristan and meet the people directly affected by the drone strikes.
Toby Blome, of the Code Pink, performed peace songs on a nyckleharpa.
The delegation is trying to raise awareness against the use of drones for warfare. “It’s important to find peaceful ways to speak out against the drones,” Medea Benjamin, who is leading the delegation, said. “If Pakistanis don’t do it, things will get worse and worse.”
She said the drone attacks in Pakistan manifest the US government’s callous indifference toward Pakistani citizens affected by the drone attacks.
“The drone strikes show that the US government doesn’t value the lives of ordinary Pakistanis, that the US government considers them disposable.”
Benjamin said Pakistanis need to show their opposition to the drone attacks and put pressure on their government to not only oppose the attacks but also demand an end to them.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2012.