Upholding peace 

Malay Mail - Dec 18, 2005

The four-day Perdana Global Peace Forum 2005 concluded yesterday, with a declaration from the participants to strive for the pursuit of peace worldwide.
The declaration, “Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War”, was drafted by the 12-member committee, made up of the forum’s speakers. It was announced by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after summing up the event’s proceedings at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur. He later handed over the declaration to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Among others, the declaration called for the international law to recognise killings in war as a criminal act.
“Since killings in peace time are subjected to domestic law of crime, killings in war must likewise be subjected to international law of crimes,” This should be done irrespective of whether these killings in war are authorised or permitted by domestic law,” Dr. Mahathir said. The declaration also called for the outlawing of activities which are seen as aiding war activities.
“All commercial, financial, industrial and scientific activities that aid and abet war should be criminalised,” said the former Prime Minister. Among the other points in the declaration are:
•	All national leaders who initiate aggression must be subjected to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court;
•	All nations must strengthen the resolve to accept the purposes and principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter and institute methods to settle international disputes by peaceful means and to renounce war;
•	Armed force shall not be used except when authorised by a resolution passed by two-thirds majority of the total membership of the UN general assembly;
•	All legislators and all members of the government must affirm their belief in peace and pledge to strive for peace;
•	Political parties worldwide must include peace as one of their principal objectives;
Non-governmental organisations committed to promoting peace should be set up in all nations;
•	Public servants and professionals particularly in the medical, legal, educational and scientific fields must promote peace and campaign actively against war;
•	The media must actively oppose war and the incitement to war, and consciously promote the peaceful settlement of international disputes;
•	Entertainment media must cease to glorify war and violence, and should instead cultivate the ethos of peace; and
•	All religious leaders must condemn war and promote peace.
Dr Mahahtir said a permanent secretariat will be established to implement the declaration’s goals.
Source: The Malay Mail | www.mmail.com.my