URGENT PETITION FOR WAR RESISTER PABLO PAREDES

A number of US military personal have refused to participate in the Iraq war. Some have declared that they are conscientious objectors, opposed to all wars. Others have declared that they refuse to fight in the Iraq war because it is illegal. In this latter case, some have declared that they are bound by international law not to fight lest they be judged guilty under the Nuremburg principles which reject the claim that a person is merely following orders. The US military regularly refuses Conscientious Objector status of most claimants, even imprisoning them. (http://www.8thdaycenter.org/resources/bulletins/05_0311_Lenten_Reflection_II.html)

Regrettably, the Canadian government recently refused to grant asylum to Jeremy Hinzman who fled to Canada because the US army twice rejected his request for Conscientious Objector status. Jeremy argued that Canad was legally obligated to give him refugee status because he will be persecuted if he is returned to the US for having refused to participate in an illegal war. For more info on Jeremy, see http://www.jeremyhinzman.net/scrapbook.html

PABLO PAREDES
The most recent case to come to our attention is that of Pablo Paredes who is facing a Naval courts martial on May 11 and could face years in prison for refusing to participate in the transportation of soldiers to Iraq.

On December 6, 2004 Pablo reported to the 32nd Street Naval Station in San Diego and refused to board the ship in protest of the current US war. He reported to the pier wearing civilian clothing and a T-shirt that read: "Like a cabinet member, I resign." "I just want people to know how many Americans feel about the war" Pablo explained "...it's not just a few crazy liberals trying to get the attention of the media." While the Navy officers on hand did try to persuade him to board the ship and cease protest; Pablo maintained his position and did not board the ship. He went on to give several short interviews for local media while at the Pier.

It is essential for us to support Pablo and other persons who not only oppose all war but also those who refuse to fight because they realize that the Iraq war is illegal. Albert Einstein understood this when he said that “the pioneers of a warless world are the youth who refuse military service.”
 
ACTION
Sign the following petition at http://www.defendpablo.org/

Petition: we urge the Department of the Navy to discharge FC3 Pablo Paredes as a conscientious objector on the basis of his beliefs, and further ask that the charges against him be set aside because his public statements and actions show that he is conscientiously opposed to participation in war in any form. They demonstrate that the acts with which he is charged arose entirely from sincere and deeply held beliefs.