Syria: Nobel Peace Laureate Tells Her Account of What She Witnessed

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Comment by Tony Nuspl on September 10, 2013 at 6:49pm

Maguire also published the following. in a Press release - 26th August 2013:

“Contrary to some foreign governments’ current policies of arming the rebels and pushing for military intervention, the people of Syria are calling out for peace and reconciliation and a political solution to the crisis, which continues to be inflamed by outside forces with thousands of foreign fighters funded and supported by outside countries for their own political ends.

“Having visited Syria in May 2013 leading a 16-member delegation, I returned convinced that the civil community, with groups such as Mussalaha, which are working on the ground building peace and reconciliation, can solve their own problems if their plea for outsiders to remain out of the conflict is honoured by the international community.

“During our visit we met with all sections of the community, most of whom are sick of violence and death and want peace and reconciliation and a political solution. We met with the Syrian Prime Minister and seven other ministers and were assured that the government did not use sarin gas on its own people, and they invited the UN to send in inspectors to see what was happening. [...]

"I do not believe the latest accusations against the Assad government using sarin gas; in order that the world can hear the truth, I would appeal to the International Commission of Inquiry to go into the areas in question immediately and report as quickly as possible.  In the meantime I appeal to the Foreign Ministers of Britain and France to encourage, as the Syrian people wish, dialogue and negotiation as a way forward.

“We all remember the fear, panic and lies spun by the British and American governments and others that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and it were not true.   Let us learn the lesson of Iraq, Afghanistan  and Libya where so many millions have been killed in invasions and war, and many continue to die in violence. Violence is not the answer. Let’s end this ‘war on terror’ and give nonviolence and peace a chance.”

Mairead Maguire
Nobel peace laureate
www.peacepeople.com
info@peacepeople.com
Peace people, 224 Lisburn road, Belfast. Bt307NW.  N. Ireland

http://www.transcend.org/tms/2013/08/no-armaments-to-rebels/