Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
(AdeebPress.com) - Over 700 American lawyers marched from the United
States Congress to the U.S. Supreme Court on 14 November 2007 in
Washington DC, USA. They vigorously condemned, opposed and exposed
General Pervez Musharraf’s terrorism, barbarism, torture, corruption
and crimes against millions of judges, lawyers, journalists, human
rights advocates, civil society activists, students, women, political
dissidents, opposition politicians and law-abiding citizens of
Pakistan.
The American Bar Association (ABA), which represents more than
413,000 members worldwide, organized the Wednesday’s (11:30 a.m.)
protest rally of America’s attorneys at law who expressed their full
support for Pakistan’s persecuted justices, lawyers and civil rights
defenders.
The ABA media-presss coordinator, Charles W. Hall, has pointed
out: "An estimated 700 lawyers, most dressed in black, marched past
the U.S. Supreme Court to draw attention to their demand for an end
to Martial Law in Pakistan, and to show their solidarity with
Pakistani lawyers and judges targeted in the crackdown. The rally was
one of dozens staged around the United States since General Pervez
Musharraf suspended his nation’s Constitution, arrested Supreme Court
justices and detained thousands of Pakistani lawyers and judges. The
ABA has called on Musharraf to restore Pakistan’s Constitution,
reinstate the Supreme Court justices who have been detained, and free
Pakistani lawyers, judges and other civil leaders who have been
wrongly arrested."
The ABA current leadership consists of President William H. Neukom,
President-Elect H. Thomas Wells Jr., House of Delegates Chair Laurel
G. Bellows, Immediate Past President Karen J. Mathis, Secretary
Armando Lasa-Ferrer, Treasurer Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III and
Executive Director Henry F. White Jr.
Read the following remarks of ABA President William H. Neukom to
American lawyers, who strongly protested against illegal PMLQ-MQM
dictatorship and unlawful military-police tyranny of Pakistan:
Washington, DC, USA, 14 November 2007 (ABA) - "I am Bill Neukom,
President of the American Bar Association. Thank you for being here
today.
"We have witnessed one of the most direct attacks on the rule of law
that the world has seen in many years. General Pervez Musharraf
suspended Pakistan’s Constitution and shut down its Supreme Court,
which was preparing to rule on Musharraf’s recent election. These
actions are a clear breach of the rule of law - the Constitution and
judiciary do not answer to him.
"Pakistan’s lawyers refused to accept this breach. They dressed for
work wearing dark suits and white shirts. They headed to court
knowing that instead of meeting their clients, they would meet
policemen with batons and tear gas. But Pakistan’s lawyers went to
court anyway because of their belief in the rule of law.
"Today, we will walk to court to show our colleagues in Pakistan that
we share their commitment to justice. We will show them that they do
not stand alone.
"We are here because we cannot forget the images of hundreds of our
brave colleagues assaulted in the streets, carried off in police
trucks, and fenced in by barbed wire and concrete barricades.
"We are here because we, like our colleagues in Pakistan, will not
let the justice system become a tool of dictatorship and tyranny.
"We are here because we, like they, believe that the rule of law is
the only acceptable foundation for government.
"The consequences of General Musharraf’s actions affect everybody. We
live in a small world, where the security and economies of all
nations are linked. A blow to the rule of law in one place threatens
justice in others. Pakistan is in a volatile part of the world, but
strengthening - not weakening - the rule of law there is the best way
to achieve security and justice.
"Lawyers across the country - from California to Ohio, and from New
York to Wisconsin - are holding solidarity events like this one to
show our support for lawyers, judges and the rule of law in Pakistan.
"We, the lawyers of America, call on General Musharraf to restore the
Constitution of Pakistan, reinstate Pakistan’s Supreme Court
justices, and free those lawyers and civil leaders who have been
wrongly jailed!
“Let’s march for justice.”
In his recent invitation to the ABA members for the ABA protest
demonstration - which demanded the government of real civilian
democracy, rule of just & fair laws and administration of equal
justice in Pakistan - the ABA President, William H. Neukom, wrote:
"Images this week of police beating and jailing almost 3,000
Pakistani lawyers were almost as shocking as General Pervez Musharraf
suspending Pakistan’s Constitution and putting its Supreme Court
under house arrest. The American Bar Association immediately spoke
out against these clear breaches of the rule of law. But, American
lawyers must do more to object to conditions in Pakistan. Lawyers
across the country are participating in similar marches in their
communities, and the ABA is encouraging and supporting these local
efforts. It is time for us to demonstrate that we share Pakistani
lawyers’ commitment to justice. Please wear your black suit and join
lawyers in Washington, DC, or in your community as we walk to court
on November 14. Together, we will show that Pakistan’s lawyers are
not fighting alone."
With over 413,000 members, the American Bar Association (ABA) is the
largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.
As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to
improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist
lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides
continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding
around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
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