Appeal to the International Community for the elimination of terrorism,
stopping military attacks and for the support to the people of Afghanistan
-- towards a 21st century of peace and justice

Panelists in the International Symposium held in Nago City in Okinawa
Prefecture as part of the Japan Peace Conference 2001 issued an appeal to
the international community. The following is the text of the appeal:

November 29-30 Terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11,
2001 showed that the elimination of international terrorism had become an
important and indispensable task for peace and security of the world of the
21st century. From the stand point of the movement for peace, disarmament,
justice, development, democracy, and human rights, we reaffirm that the
terrorist attacks were a heinous crime against international community and
humanity, which could never be justified for any reason. We call upon all
nations and governments, various civil movements, in unity, to make every
effort to eliminate terrorism by bringing perpetrators to justice based on
international law and the UN Charter.

A war of retaliation led by the U.S. and the U.K. has destroyed people's
lives and social infrastructure in Afghanistan and caused a serious crisis
with a growing number of refugees in the region and their massive death from
hunger and poor health. Simultaneously, the war has brought divisions in the
international public opinion for the elimination of terrorism, making it
more difficult to achieve it. This war was not in accordance with
international law and the UN charter. It is also dangerous that the Bush
Administration suggested possible military attacks against other countries
under the pretext of "fighting terrorism". Whatever the immediate
consequences of this war may be, it is clear that it has brought serious
conflicts and adverse currents for world peace. We demand that military
attacks against Afghanistan be stopped immediately, and they must not be
expanded to other countries. Other US allies should reconsider and stop
their cooperation in US led military operation.

The possible use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms,
as well as the retaliation against the use of such weapons has posed a grave
threat to peace and human survival. Hiroshima and Nagasaki should never be
repeated anywhere for any reason. We demand the urgent elimination of
nuclear weapons as well as the observance and implementation of the
Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions.

We cannot stay indifferent to the problems behind international
terrorism. We're required to solve the problems of poverty, hunger,
excessive foreign debt, and widening gap between the rich and the poor. An
even handed approach must be taken to find a solution to the
Israeli-Palestine problem, based on the relevant UN resolutions and the
right to national self-determination. As long as these problems are not
addressed seriously, international unity against terrorism would be
weakened, thus terrorist could find space to thrive. Eliminating
international terrorism cannot, however, await a solution to these problems.

Having experienced two world wars, today's world is not a place which
easily condones both indiscriminate massacre and an unilateral domination by
force. The 20th century has established such norms of international
community as peace, independence, equality, justice, and human rights.
Standing on these achievements, we will surely be able to eliminate
international terrorism. We firmly believe that the efforts to this end will
contribute to the establishment of a world order of 21st century of peace
and justice, based on the UN Charter.
We appeal to the international community to take the following urgent
actions in unity:

* The U.S. and the U.K. to immediately stop military attacks, which
sacrifice
innocent citizens.

* To reinforce and promote humanitarian aid for the Afghan people and
refugees,
in cooperation with NGOs.

* To make the United Nations identify the suspects, decide on the means to
capture them and implement the decision, and set up judiciary process
for this
case and start the trial.

* To urge the United Nations establish an effective mechanism and
organization
for the prevention and elimination of terrorism, including a
comprehensive
treaty for that aim.

* To support the reconstruction and recovery of Afghanistan based on the
people's right to self-determination.

We call upon the peace movements, citizens' movements and NGOs of the
world to press the UN Security Council members as well as all the UN member
states to take the above-mentioned actions, and to solicit international
support to this appeal.

This appeal will be sent to the General Secretary of the United Nations
and to all UN member states with the signatures of representatives of peace
and other civil movements as well as of NGOs.

Signed by:

Dimity Hawkins (Australia)
Australian Peace Committee
Mitsuo Sato (Japan)
Campaign Committee for the Abrogation of Japan-U.S.
Security Treaty
Hiroshi Suda (Japan)
Japan Peace Committee
Kim Yong-Han (Korea, RO)
People's Action for Reform of the Unjust ROK-US SOFA
Lee Suk-Tae (Korea, RO)
Lawyer
Ronald McCoy (Malaysia)
Malaysian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (MPPNW)
Alexander Lacson (Philippines)
People's Task Force for Bases Cleanup
Corason Fabros (Philippines)
Nuclear Free Philippines Coalition
Myrna Pagan (Vieques, Puerto Rico)
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Marcia Morris (USA)
American Friends Service Committee
*Names of organizations are indication purpose.
(end)