A CALL FOR GOVERNMENTS TO REFUSE TO DONATE TO THE OCCUPATION AND CORPORATE INVASION OF IRAQ AT THE MADDRID DONORS' CONFERENCE

A CALL FOR THE REJECTION OF THE NEW ณINVESTMENT LAWSฒ THAT WILL PRIVATIZE IRAQ

On October 23-24 in Madrid, the United States will be convening rich creditor countries, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank (WB) in an attempt to raise the $55 billion needed for the reconstruction of Iraq over the next four years. This follows the US-installed Iraqi Governing Councilนs (IGC) recent announcement putting up Iraqนs assets for sale ญ with the Iraqisน oil revenues under the US-controlled UN Development Fund to be used for financing the sell-out. In other words, the Iraqisน assets will be sold to US corporations using the Iraqisน own money.

But this will still not be enough. Oil revenues will be insufficient and the US, facing a record budget deficit and having just granted its richest taxpayers $1.7 trillion in tax cuts, is unwilling to fill the gap. To cover the shortfall, US is turning to potential donors who have already indicated that they will only be donating their taxpayersน money if their own corporations are assured of getting business deals in the occupied country.

In light of these disturbing developments, we the undersigned, we reaffirm the positions and demands in the Jakarta Peace Consensus as forged by representatives of the global anti-war movement last May.

– We demand an immediate end to the illegal occupation of Iraq by the United States and its allies.

– The UN-held Iraqi oil escrow account must not be used to foot the bill for the reconstruction of the damage caused by the illegal war and UN sanctions.

– The United Nations and its agencies, other governments and non-governmental organizations should not serve as a cover to legitimize or profit from the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

– According to Geneva Conventions, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction are the legal and moral responsibility of the invading and occupying forces.

-The Iraqi people have sovereignty over all natural resources and utilities.

We therefore oppose the grant of any aid, loan, or any other form of reconstruction funds to Iraq for as long as the funds are controlled by the occupying powers. We call on all governments to donate only to urgent
humanitarian needs through a separate fund that the occupying forces do not have access to. We reject the new investment laws that would privatize and liberalize the Iraqisน economy.

We call on the occupation forces to leave Iraq. We call on our governments no to finance the occupation and corporate invasion of Iraq.

SIGNATORIES as of October 18
Occupation Watch Center (Iraq)
Bridges to Baghdad (Italy)
Civilian Campaign for the Protection of Palestinians (France)
Code Pink (US)
Focus on the Global South (India, Philippines, Thailand)
Global Exchange (US)
United for Peace and Justice (US)