BRITAIN/USA: Gulf War resisters on trial

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Two Gulf War resisters will be on trial early in September, War Resisters' International learned.

On 4 September, US Gulf War conscientious objector Stephen Funk (US13180) will be on trial in New Orleans, on charges of desertion. He faces a sentence of up to two years in prison. Stephen Funk turned conscientious objector earlier this year, and turned himself in to the military in early April, after completing his application for conscientious objection (see http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20030404a.html).

A statement by Stephen Funk can be read at http://www.notinourname.net/funk/funk_26jun03_text.htm.

On 11 September, UK Gulf War resister Moshin Khan (UK13640), a Muslim Royal Air Force reservist who was discipled for refusing to fight in the Iraq war on religious grounds, will appear in court ar RAF Uxbridge. Moshin Khan left the RAF in 2001, but was called up on 27 January under the Reserve Forces Act for a nine-month term. He was arrested and charged with going absent without leave from his base at RAF Honnington. It is alleged that Moshin Khan went into hiding after being called up for pre-deployment training. After his arrest, he received a punishment of seven days' restrictions and nine days' forfeiture of pay, but appealed, so that the disciplinary action was not taken. At a first appeal hearing on 31 July, the case was adjourned for a two-day hearing at RAF Uxbridge beginning on 11 September.

War Resisters' International calls for support to these Gulf War resisters (and others). You can write support emails to Stephen Funk at stephenfunk@objector.org - unfortunately, we do not have any address for Moshin Khan.

War Resisters' International calls for protest letters to the UK and US authorities, and embassies abroad. A list of UK embassies can be found at http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowP…. A list of US embassies is available at http://usembassy.state.gov/.

You can also send letters to:
+ Commandant of the Marine Corps, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, DC 20380-1775, USA
+ Commanding Officer, Headquarters, 4th FSSG 4400 Dauphine Street, New Orleans, LA 70146-5400, USA

+ Adam Ingram MP, Minister of State for the Armed Forces The Ministerial Correspondence Unit,
Room 222,
Old War Office,
Whitehall,
London SW1A 2EU, Britain

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International