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Coalition for Peace with Justice
Letter to the Caterpillar company [to CPWJ Letters page] [ to CPWJ home page] March 21, 2003Dear Mr. Barton: Last weekend Rachel Corrie, a 23 year old American girl, was crushed to death by a Caterpillar bulldozer as she tried to prevent the Israelis from destroying a Palestinian home in the Gaza Strip. This is not the first time that your firm’s products have been used as weapons. Prior to last weekend, Caterpillar bulldozers have been used to demolish thousands of Palestinian homes. These acts of wanton violence visited upon a people living under occupation have turned their lives into a living hell. Caterpillar’s mission statement claims that it will "be the leader in providing the best value in machines, engines and support services for customers dedicated to building the world's infrastructure". This rings hollow when that very equipment is used to bring death and destruction. Demolition of Palestinian homes constitutes a gross violation of basic human rights and contravenes major international human rights conventions including the 4th Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Demolition of civilian homes and rendering thousands homeless (mostly women and children) during times of conflict are by international law grave war crimes. Naturally, your firm has no control over how the equipment is used once it is purchased. However, you can control to whom you sell it. I would strongly urge you to examine your business practices and decide if you want the name Caterpillar associated with spreading misery and destruction in the Occupied Territories. How many more Palestinian homes will be destroyed by your equipment? How many more Rachel Corries have to die at the prime of their lives for you to do the right thing. Hassan Safvi [to CPWJ Letters page] [ to CPWJ home page] |
