Conrad – 3/7/97
Madrid, July 1997 Madrid will be the scene of a David-and-Goliath confrontation when the NATO Heads of State meet on 8 July 1997. An international group of non-violent peace-activists, representing the Nuclear Weapons Abolition Days Network (A-days) will present a ‘Citizens’ Summons’ at the start of the meeting. According to
the activists NATO’s nuclear policy is illegal. They demand immediate action to review it. Failing this, the network will organise direct non-violent resistance at locations where preparations for nuclear war are carried out starting on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorations next August 6th and 9th.
The NATO meeting in Madrid coincides with the first anniversary of the historic decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague – the World Court – concerning the legal status of nuclear weapons. In the Advisory Opinion which it delivered, the Court stated that
“The threat or use of nuclear
weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of
humanitarian law”.
Anti-nuclear activists and international
lawyers claim that, in practice, existing nuclear weapons could not be used without violating international law.
Crucially, the Court declared that an obligation exists on all states “to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament…” Twelve months after the Court’s judgment, there is no evidence that NATO has responded to its implications. Indeed, in a communique dated 10 December 1996, NATO stated that “the nuclear forces of the Allies continue to play a unique and essential role in the Alliance’s strategy of war prevention…”
According to Pol D’Huyvetter, campaigner at For Mother Earth International from Belgium: “The peace movement is determined to uphold the law, as clarified by the World Court. We can not allow the nuclear weapons states to forget their legal obligations. Citizens, we have the obligation to act under the Nurenberg Principles”.
