Frank Field launches move to bring Syrian regime to trial (From Wirral Globe)
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Frank Field launches move to bring Syrian regime to trial
4:13pm Monday 12th March 2012 in News
Frank Field launches move to bring Syrian regime to trial
BIRKENHEAD MP Frank Field has launched moves to bring the Syrian regime to trial for crimes against humanity.
The former minister opened a government e-petition urging the UK to spark an International Criminal Court investigation into the bloodbath.
If it receives widespread public support the focus will be on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad whose attempts to crush dissent have led to the deaths of thousands.
Mr Field believes that the threat of a war crimes trial could lead to restraint and reduce the need for Britain to get involved in another Middle East conflict.
He said: “There is a terrible silence from politicians and government alike on one strategy that I believe could make a difference to what is going on in Syria which would not endanger a single service person’s life.
“Slowly, over time, countries are agreeing that, through international law, the idea of war crimes should be pursued through the International Court. Much of the Nazi regime was tried on this principle.
“Why there has not been a referral to the ICC on the murderous regime in Syria remains a mystery to me.
"This would have a sobering effect in Damascus.
“Not only on the leadership, but also on those lower down the hierarchy who are part of Assad’s killing troops. They will realise that they no longer act with impunity.
Mr Field has also written to the Chief ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, asking him to begin an investigation.
At the weekend Assad rejected any political dialogue with rebels despite an appeal by Arab League envoy Kofi Annan.
To add your name to Mr Field's campaign, click the E-petition link below.
Comments(13)
MX
says...
7:25pm Mon 12 Mar 12
bickyboy
says...
9:58am Tue 13 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
10:11am Tue 13 Mar 12
I simply cannot understand why a man with Frank Field's talent and compassion is not focussing more on things happening on his own doorstep. It just baffles me.
WirralAl
says...
10:39am Tue 13 Mar 12
The situation in Syria is sad but bigger people are involved than old Frank and we are really powerless to act.
He should be putting pressure on WBC to solve its problems.
A lesson from Syria is look after your people so these problems don't occur.
Spiffy
says...
1:52pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Ben Beaconsfield wrote:Ben said: "I simply cannot understand why a man with Frank Field's talent and compassion is not focussing more on things happening on his own doorstep. It just baffles me."
Good analysis, bb, but that's not going to happen if we remove some miscreant senior council officials in Wirral.
I simply cannot understand why a man with Frank Field's talent and compassion is not focussing more on things happening on his own doorstep. It just baffles me.
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Me too. Frank knows better than most the ins and outs of British Justice and our own Governmental systems yet it's a matter of public record he struggled for years to deal with antisocial yobs in his own street.
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Quite what he thinks he is going to achieve on the war-torn streets of Syria is beyond me. All you can do is wish the guy good luck and have fun with that.
bigfoot
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6:21pm Tue 13 Mar 12
Fungy
says...
6:47pm Tue 13 Mar 12
just seen he is going to be on question time this week. great stuff.
reliant22
says...
8:29am Wed 14 Mar 12
Is there any of you out there prepared to set up an e-petition to ask for the removal of all Council employees named in the AKA report to be removed from office forthwith.
Lets be done with ranting about it and take some positive action.
How about it Ben Beaconsfield, Pete Sheffield Council Officer, Hugo 2008 etc, you sound like you know enough to start it. Would be quite happy to sign! Or should we ask our fantastic Wirral Globe Editor to start the ball rolling? Can`t see Geoff doing anything anytime soon.
ordinary personn
says...
9:55am Wed 14 Mar 12
bickyboy
says...
10:24pm Wed 14 Mar 12
A spot of multitasking never did any man any harm. Any good MP should be able to see the world through an international as well as local perspective.
I cant help comparing the unfolding horror of Homs and the world's apparent powerlessness to do anything to stop it with our impotence at the time of the slaughter in Srebrenica.
Jimrob
says...
11:44pm Thu 15 Mar 12
Can't help wondering though Frank, how come you MP's didn't try to start a campaign to bring the Israeli regime to trial for crimes against humanity for killing thousands of innocent Palastinian women and children over the decades?
A crime that continues on a daily basis.
No Frank, as has been said on this thread already, compassion should be shown to ALL who suffer.
Ben Beaconsfield
says...
6:42am Fri 16 Mar 12
Instead, what did we get? A half-hour sparsely attended debate in Westminster Hall, where only two Wirral MP's turned up (Field and McVey).
Compare that with yesterday's goings-on in the House of Commons chamber itself. A TWO HOUR debate attended by dozens of MP's, including Ministers and Shadow Ministers, on whether to charge people to visit Big Ben !!
If I had been Field, Eagle, McGovern or McVey, I would be jumping up and down on my seat in the chamber, waving a copy of the Klonowski Report and demanding action.
Ben Beaconsfield says...
7:18pm Mon 12 Mar 12