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| Ending hostilities is the only way to save the children of Aleppo Ending hostilities is the only way to save the children of Aleppo | |
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| Jonathan Steele’s account of the situation in Aleppo (A no-fly zone for Aleppo risks a war that could engulf us all, 13 October) contains a number of dubious assertions. He claims the people of east Aleppo are being held as “human shields”; but the only evidence he offers is a question: “Why, for example, have most people not left already, given the intensity of Russian bombing?” If Steele wants to know the answer, why does he not talk to people living in the city – not difficult to do in the age of social media, or to the Aleppo municipal council (protecting the authority of that body is one of the conditions Staffan de Mistura has made for cooperating with the evacuation of armed militants). | Jonathan Steele’s account of the situation in Aleppo (A no-fly zone for Aleppo risks a war that could engulf us all, 13 October) contains a number of dubious assertions. He claims the people of east Aleppo are being held as “human shields”; but the only evidence he offers is a question: “Why, for example, have most people not left already, given the intensity of Russian bombing?” If Steele wants to know the answer, why does he not talk to people living in the city – not difficult to do in the age of social media, or to the Aleppo municipal council (protecting the authority of that body is one of the conditions Staffan de Mistura has made for cooperating with the evacuation of armed militants). |
| There are probably two main reasons why civilians remain in east Aleppo: some are deeply attached to their homes and unprepared to abandon them for a future as displaced persons; and many simply do not trust the assurances of the regime that they would be allowed to evacuate safely (a concern acknowledged by UN special envoy Steffan de Mistura with his declaration that he would personally accompany those leaving the city). Steele further says: “Hundreds of civilians recently left the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya … with no reprisals from Assad forces.” In fact 3,000 citizens of Daraya were expelled from the city. And how does Steele know that they faced “no reprisals” – as if forced relocation was not a reprisal? There has been almost no news of them since their expulsion.Brian SlocockChester | There are probably two main reasons why civilians remain in east Aleppo: some are deeply attached to their homes and unprepared to abandon them for a future as displaced persons; and many simply do not trust the assurances of the regime that they would be allowed to evacuate safely (a concern acknowledged by UN special envoy Steffan de Mistura with his declaration that he would personally accompany those leaving the city). Steele further says: “Hundreds of civilians recently left the besieged Damascus suburb of Daraya … with no reprisals from Assad forces.” In fact 3,000 citizens of Daraya were expelled from the city. And how does Steele know that they faced “no reprisals” – as if forced relocation was not a reprisal? There has been almost no news of them since their expulsion.Brian SlocockChester |
| • The drumbeat towards a military confrontation with Russia is both dangerous and hypocritical (Johnson calls for inquiry into Russia war crimes, 12 October). Russia is accused of war crimes in its support of the legitimate government of Syria in defence of that country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. But without the decisive intervention of Russia, at the invitation of the Syrian government, recognised as such in international law, there would be no Syria. At best, some sort of semi-feudal caliphate would be ruling over its captive population, cleansing it of all religious minorities. Or, at worst, the integrity of the Syrian state would be torn apart in a remake of Libya, with warring factions marauding the country and tearing it apart. The west has been more concerned with fuelling the fight to illegally overthrow the Assad regime, no matter the cost. Russell CaplanLondon | • The drumbeat towards a military confrontation with Russia is both dangerous and hypocritical (Johnson calls for inquiry into Russia war crimes, 12 October). Russia is accused of war crimes in its support of the legitimate government of Syria in defence of that country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. But without the decisive intervention of Russia, at the invitation of the Syrian government, recognised as such in international law, there would be no Syria. At best, some sort of semi-feudal caliphate would be ruling over its captive population, cleansing it of all religious minorities. Or, at worst, the integrity of the Syrian state would be torn apart in a remake of Libya, with warring factions marauding the country and tearing it apart. The west has been more concerned with fuelling the fight to illegally overthrow the Assad regime, no matter the cost. Russell CaplanLondon |
| • The reality is that the Putin-Assad coalition cannot be defeated in Syria and will destroy and take Aleppo in weeks. The debate in parliament showed that the UK has no useful contribution to offer toward solving the political and military situation. John Kerry on behalf of the US has given up and walked away. In effect, the people of Aleppo have been abandoned (aside from UN aid). In particular, the children of Aleppo have been abandoned and we witness their slaughter night after night on our TV screens. | • The reality is that the Putin-Assad coalition cannot be defeated in Syria and will destroy and take Aleppo in weeks. The debate in parliament showed that the UK has no useful contribution to offer toward solving the political and military situation. John Kerry on behalf of the US has given up and walked away. In effect, the people of Aleppo have been abandoned (aside from UN aid). In particular, the children of Aleppo have been abandoned and we witness their slaughter night after night on our TV screens. |
| If we give first priority to saving the children and innocent people of Aleppo, then we should admit our powerlessness. The UK and the US should say to the Russians: let us stop this slaughter. We will give up Aleppo. We ask that you give those who want to leave Aleppo safe passage, as has been done elsewhere. What happens next we cannot say. But at least we will have saved the children. I suggest that is the best we can hope for.John HallLandulph, Cornwall | If we give first priority to saving the children and innocent people of Aleppo, then we should admit our powerlessness. The UK and the US should say to the Russians: let us stop this slaughter. We will give up Aleppo. We ask that you give those who want to leave Aleppo safe passage, as has been done elsewhere. What happens next we cannot say. But at least we will have saved the children. I suggest that is the best we can hope for.John HallLandulph, Cornwall |
| • Like countless others I am appalled at events in Syria. I am also aware of the complexity of the situation and the difficulties facing mediators. Even so, governments have failed the people of Syria from the start. It is time for a radically different approach to resolving this conflict, by bringing pressure on all governments to genuinely seek an end to the war, regardless of their vested interests. | • Like countless others I am appalled at events in Syria. I am also aware of the complexity of the situation and the difficulties facing mediators. Even so, governments have failed the people of Syria from the start. It is time for a radically different approach to resolving this conflict, by bringing pressure on all governments to genuinely seek an end to the war, regardless of their vested interests. |
| Perhaps only grassroots pressure by large numbers of ordinary people will convince governments that the war must be ended. That seems unlikely without some catalyst. My thoughts turn to the impact that Band Aid had in the 1980s. Ordinary people can organise petitions and write letters, but it takes global celebrities to really get people going. Is it not time for such a campaign? The men, women and children of Syria are surely a just cause.Michael CooleyAbbots Langley, Hertfordshire | Perhaps only grassroots pressure by large numbers of ordinary people will convince governments that the war must be ended. That seems unlikely without some catalyst. My thoughts turn to the impact that Band Aid had in the 1980s. Ordinary people can organise petitions and write letters, but it takes global celebrities to really get people going. Is it not time for such a campaign? The men, women and children of Syria are surely a just cause.Michael CooleyAbbots Langley, Hertfordshire |
| • You report Boris Johnson “calling for demonstrations by anti-war protesters outside the Russian embassy in London”. We have reached a state in international affairs when Her Majesty’s secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs can stand in parliament and declare to its members and the world that mobs should surround a diplomatic mission in central London whose members are officially accredited to the United Kingdom. Article 22 of the Vienna convention says: “The premises of [a diplomatic] mission shall be inviolable … The receiving state is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.” Brian CloughleyVoutenay sur Cure, France | • You report Boris Johnson “calling for demonstrations by anti-war protesters outside the Russian embassy in London”. We have reached a state in international affairs when Her Majesty’s secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs can stand in parliament and declare to its members and the world that mobs should surround a diplomatic mission in central London whose members are officially accredited to the United Kingdom. Article 22 of the Vienna convention says: “The premises of [a diplomatic] mission shall be inviolable … The receiving state is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.” Brian CloughleyVoutenay sur Cure, France |
| • Boris Johnson is right to condemn the actions of Russian forces in Syria. He is completely wrong, however, to suggest that “anti-war protest groups” are not campaigning against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. The Peace Pledge Union, along with several other peace groups, has for years opposed all warfare and militarism, whether generated by governments in Britain, Russia or anywhere else. We support the thousands of Russian peace activists resisting Putin’s militarism and we liaise with peace groups around the world through networks such as War Resisters’ International. Many of our members have protested outside embassies far more often than Boris Johnson is likely to do. | • Boris Johnson is right to condemn the actions of Russian forces in Syria. He is completely wrong, however, to suggest that “anti-war protest groups” are not campaigning against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. The Peace Pledge Union, along with several other peace groups, has for years opposed all warfare and militarism, whether generated by governments in Britain, Russia or anywhere else. We support the thousands of Russian peace activists resisting Putin’s militarism and we liaise with peace groups around the world through networks such as War Resisters’ International. Many of our members have protested outside embassies far more often than Boris Johnson is likely to do. |
| While calling for protests against Russia, the foreign secretary is happy for the UK government to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, whose forces are committing atrocities against the civilian population of Yemen. UK forces are themselves complicit in the killing of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is not peace campaigners who are inconsistent, but politicians such as Johnson who condemn the atrocities carried out by their enemies, but excuse those committed by their friends. Symon HillCo-ordinator, Peace Pledge Union | While calling for protests against Russia, the foreign secretary is happy for the UK government to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia, whose forces are committing atrocities against the civilian population of Yemen. UK forces are themselves complicit in the killing of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is not peace campaigners who are inconsistent, but politicians such as Johnson who condemn the atrocities carried out by their enemies, but excuse those committed by their friends. Symon HillCo-ordinator, Peace Pledge Union |
| • This may be a small suggestion, but governments around the world must tell their football associations to declare now that they will not be going to Russia for the 2018 World Cup and Fifa should look at staging it elsewhere. Jim Cosgrove Glasgow | • This may be a small suggestion, but governments around the world must tell their football associations to declare now that they will not be going to Russia for the 2018 World Cup and Fifa should look at staging it elsewhere. Jim Cosgrove Glasgow |
| • Britain could exercise some leverage over Russia if it banned Russian nationals from owning British football teams, property and newspapers.Terry Ward Wickford, Essex | • Britain could exercise some leverage over Russia if it banned Russian nationals from owning British football teams, property and newspapers.Terry Ward Wickford, Essex |
| • I am extremely grateful to Boris Johnson for endorsing the principle of direct action by encouraging demonstrations in reaction to the death and destruction caused by foreign military involvement in the Middle East. If only previous foreign secretaries had been so supportive when thousands marched in protest at the Iraq and Afghanistan interventions, and more recently the Israeli bombing of Gaza. If anyone feels inclined to take to the streets of London to show their disapproval of the current Russian action in Syria, they might consider making a day of it by also visiting the Saudi Arabian embassy to express their displeasure at the civilian deaths in Yemen and, if possible, our own Ministry of Defence, which provides the enabling technical support and expertise, and facilitates the arms supplies which keep the conflict going. Next stop on the route might be 10 Downing Street, in protest at the government’s reluctance to co-operate in any attempt to investigate alleged war crimes by any states with whom we share a “special” relationship.Karen BarrattWinchester | • I am extremely grateful to Boris Johnson for endorsing the principle of direct action by encouraging demonstrations in reaction to the death and destruction caused by foreign military involvement in the Middle East. If only previous foreign secretaries had been so supportive when thousands marched in protest at the Iraq and Afghanistan interventions, and more recently the Israeli bombing of Gaza. If anyone feels inclined to take to the streets of London to show their disapproval of the current Russian action in Syria, they might consider making a day of it by also visiting the Saudi Arabian embassy to express their displeasure at the civilian deaths in Yemen and, if possible, our own Ministry of Defence, which provides the enabling technical support and expertise, and facilitates the arms supplies which keep the conflict going. Next stop on the route might be 10 Downing Street, in protest at the government’s reluctance to co-operate in any attempt to investigate alleged war crimes by any states with whom we share a “special” relationship.Karen BarrattWinchester |
| • Your report refers to the Labour party’s, briefing paper which alluded to the possibility “that Russians had committed war crimes but only if the targeting of civilians was deliberate”. This interpretation of international law is far too restrictive, intentional or otherwise. If we examine the relevant article in the Rome statute, article 30, the word “deliberate” is not actually used, only the key phrase “intent and knowledge”. | • Your report refers to the Labour party’s, briefing paper which alluded to the possibility “that Russians had committed war crimes but only if the targeting of civilians was deliberate”. This interpretation of international law is far too restrictive, intentional or otherwise. If we examine the relevant article in the Rome statute, article 30, the word “deliberate” is not actually used, only the key phrase “intent and knowledge”. |
| Hence, article 30 at the International Criminal Court states that “For the purposes of this article, a person has intent where: (a) In relation to conduct, that person means to engage in the conduct; (b) In relation to a consequence, that person means to cause that consequence or is aware that it will occur in the ordinary course of events”. | Hence, article 30 at the International Criminal Court states that “For the purposes of this article, a person has intent where: (a) In relation to conduct, that person means to engage in the conduct; (b) In relation to a consequence, that person means to cause that consequence or is aware that it will occur in the ordinary course of events”. |
| And furthermore, to be absolutely sure of the meaning of the phraseology, article 30 emphasises that “knowledge” means awareness that a circumstance exists or a consequence will occur in the ordinary course of events. “Know” and “knowingly” shall be construed accordingly. | And furthermore, to be absolutely sure of the meaning of the phraseology, article 30 emphasises that “knowledge” means awareness that a circumstance exists or a consequence will occur in the ordinary course of events. “Know” and “knowingly” shall be construed accordingly. |
| Though, of course, each bombing outrage needs to be examined with due diligence, arguably, given the chaotic situation on the ground in Syria and particularly Aleppo, any bombing campaign would clearly fall within the remit of article 30 (b) as defined at the ICC. Boris Johnson tells us that the “mills of justice grind slowly but they grind small”. We might add “and so does the small print in the Rome statute”.Dr John JenningsLeamington Spa, Warwickshire | Though, of course, each bombing outrage needs to be examined with due diligence, arguably, given the chaotic situation on the ground in Syria and particularly Aleppo, any bombing campaign would clearly fall within the remit of article 30 (b) as defined at the ICC. Boris Johnson tells us that the “mills of justice grind slowly but they grind small”. We might add “and so does the small print in the Rome statute”.Dr John JenningsLeamington Spa, Warwickshire |
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