Vote out war loving leaders: Dr Mahathir

The Sun – 16 Dec /2005

Vote out war-loving leaders and their policy of violence - this is the battle-cry for an international movement which former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad set in motion yesterday. 

"What I have suggested are all do-able. We must stop this madness, these killings, this idea that the ones able to kill the most are the victors, are right, are the ones who should rule the world," he said. "What kind of a civilisation would we have with mass murderers as world leaders?" 

Suggesting the promotion of peace as the premier agenda for democratic elections worldwide, Mahathir recommended the setting up of an international pro-peace anti-war non-governmental organisation (NGO) to network global lobbying. 

"This may take time, will not be easy, but it just needs one major success for the peace campaign to gain momentum," he said in his opening address at the inaugural Perdana Global Peace Forum 2005. Mahathir is the chairman of Perdana Leadership Foundation, the organisers and initiators of the two-and-a-half forum. 

"With all the current active groups and NGOs everywhere, working together with the proposed NGO and its chapters, it is quite possible that those who advocate war-like policies would (eventually) lose their power and position in elections," he said. Everyone should learn from the effective lobbying of environmentalists. Mahathir said peace should be promoted as a creed for everyone and made an issue for the security of states, the regions and the world, and no country should resort to war and the destruction of the security of others to promote its own security. 

"We need to define acts of war and terror and we need to provide proper punishment for people who commit mass killings of the innocent. The idea that only the victors have the right to prosecute the losers is neither just nor right." He said.The World Court for crimes against humanity must be properly constituted with judges from neutral countries. It may not be possible to bring the guilty party or leaders of the powerful before the court but such people may be tried in absentia. 

"If found guilty, this should be widely published and rogue gallery pictures distributed. The rest of the world should shun such people and treat them as pariahs," he said. At the end of his hour-long opening address, themed "Peace Dividends, War Profits", Mahathir received a standing ovation from the 2,000 speakers and guests at the two-day forum in Putra World Trade Centre. 

The former premier also said the press must also be an active partner in the worldwide struggle for peace and the internet used extensively so that alternative media would be available to publish and expose lies, be downloaded and distributed. The United Nations, he added, must also be democratised and the veto of the permanent five must be modified "so that no single one of them can frustrate the whole organisation". 

"Eventually the veto should be abolished and world democracy established," said Mahathir. 
He also slammed scientists for not making a stand against the use of their talents for killing people by devising new weapons and upgrading old ones. 

"Like doctors, they must swear a solemn oath upon being qualified to apply their knowledge for peaceful application," he stressed.

Source: The Sun | www.sun2surf.com/