us threat to world peace

Nobel Peace Winner Sends Letter to Bush
Havana, Dec 26 (Prensa Latina)

The letter from Buenos Aires by Nobel Peace Prizewinner Adolfo Perez Esquivel to US President George W. Bush, denouncing his administration´s threats to world peace, was published in its entirety by Granma daily Monday.

"You are dragging your country and the world into extreme situations and becoming a threat to humankind in this effort to identify all who oppose your desires as terrorists, when it is your policy that applies State terrorism," the letter says.

Using the same mechanisms as those of the South American dictatorships, said Esquivel, "including Operation Condor and aberrant methods such as kidnapping and disappearance of people."

The Nobel Peace prizewinner notes that many European countries are demanding explanations from the US State Department for having used their territories and runways for clandestine transfer of CIA-abductions leading to torture.

Esquivel also decries the excesses committed by US-led troops in Iraq.

The renowned intellectual refers as well to Washington´s violations of UN resolutions, including lifting the more than 40-year US blockade against Cuba.

"With only four votes against and 182 in favor, UN members voted for the lifting of the blockade. However, with deliberate deafness and arrogance, the US violates the General Assembly resolution and continues blockading Cuba and establishing military bases worldwide…," the letter adds.

In the text, Perez Esquivel urges President Bush to stop assaulting and violating the peoples´ human rights.

"It is necessary to release the five Cuban prisoners unjustly accused of terrorism and respect the right of their families to visit them," he says, recalling that the US Court of Appeals found serious irregularities in their trial.

The letter also urges Bush to stop attacking Venezuela and President Hugo Chavez.

"You must change your policy of wanting to impose conditions on other countries," he declares.

Perez Esquivel also warns Bush not to forget that there are new social, cultural and political changes taking place in the continent and the world.

That"s why, he says, "you must turn your aggression into cooperation, and your violence and arms race into development projects for life, rather than for death."

There is still hope. Change is possible. A New Year means renovation and the possibility to break new ground, the letter concludes.