The sketchy information we’ve received about conditions inside besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah is deeply disturbing, leaving one to wonder what citizens can do to stop the killing and widespread suffering and destruction in this city, with an original population of 300,000, and other Iraqi towns.

Louise Arbour, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, is calling for an investigation of alleged violations of the rules of war designed to protect civilians and combatants and bringing to justice those responsible for breaches – including the deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, the killing of injured persons and the use of human shields, be they members of the multinational force or insurgents. She also complained about relief agencies’ lack of access to civilians still trapped in Fallujah and the absence of information on the number of civilian casualties.

It’s been suggested that we call the White House comment line at 202-456-1111 and our Congressional representatives at 202-225-3121 to insist that the Red Cross and Red Crescent be allowed to bring relief supplies into the bombed-out city, whose residents are without power and have received no food or water since Oct. 23, and demand an investigation into conditions for trapped civilians in a city still under attack, as well as casualty figures for our troops, insurgents and innocent Iraqi men, women and children.

The DeKalb Interfaith Network invites fellow citizens concerned about stopping the killing in Iraq to attend our memorial and protest today in Memorial Park on the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway. The drumming will begin at 5 p.m., followed by a call to peace by the Rev. Joe Gastiger, group singing and sample chanting of names of casualties by Dave Martin of DuPage College and a call for troop withdrawal by Steve Veeneman, father of an active duty soldier in Iraq. Join us!

Cele Meyer

DeKalb Interfatih Network