Bræv er nú sent ST og NATO sum uppfylging á friðargonguna 24. juli í ár.
Tað skrivar Henrik Weihe Joensen, sum reikaði fyri friðargonguni, ið var hildin fyri viku síðani.
Brævið hevur til endamáls, at kunnað aðalskrivararnar í ST og NATO, ávíkavist António Guterres og Jens Stoltenberg, um friðargonguna og endamálið við henni. Harumframt verður í brævinum mælt til, at halda aftur við vápnadubbingini. Brævið leggur eisini dent á týdningin, at nevndu aðalskrivarar kýta seg eftir at fáa frið í lag, bæði í Ukreina og Miðeystri, heldur í dag enn í morgin, skrivar Henrik Weihe Joensen.
Brævið er sent umvegis landsstýrið og donsku stjórnina, tí Føroyar stýrisskipanarliga eru partur av Kongsríki Danmarkar.
Brævið kann lesast niðanfyri:
Letter with an orientation and with an appeal to the Secretary-Generals of UN and NATO, respectively, regarding a peace march which was held in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands on July 24 this year based on the wars in Ukraina and the Middle East.
Dear
Mr. António Guterres and Mr. Jens Stoltenberg
The peace march started outside the parliament building at Vaglið where a speech was held and music was played. We then walked down to the government building in Tingnes, and on our way back to Vaglið we walked by the Head of the Danish Administration on the Faroes, Amtmansborgini.
Approximately 100-150 people attended the peace march. This is a relatively high number of attendees by Faroese standards. The purpose of the peace march was achieved, and it was particularly gratifying to experience that even though the views are different in relation to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, it is possible to gather in a common peace march in respect for each other.
I am attaching a picture to this letter which shows the peace march located outside the government building in Tinganes.
The purpose of the peace march was to put a cease-fire and approach to peace on the agenda rather than war and armaments. We wanted also with the peace march to make the Faroese and Danish governments aware of being more active than before in influencing the international political environment to achieve peace in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The wars continues – no prospect of peace
The wars in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine continues unabated, and there is no clear prospect of peace. Several thousand civilians and military personnel have been killed since the wars started.
The UN has confirmed that the extensive attacks by the warring parties in both Ukraine and the Middle East are not compatible with international law of war. The UN has decided in general assemblies to ask the parties to agree on an immediate ceasefire.
NATO however urges the alliance governments to support Ukraine with even more weapons.
Wars can lead to genocide, which the Holocaust day reminded us earlier this year must not happen again.
In the peace march we together, and in peace, showed compassion for the suffering in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel and other countries where terror and wars rage. At the same time, with the peace march, we wanted to make the Faroese parliament, the Faroese national government and the Danish government aware of the importance of supporting cease-fires and approaches to peace in the war-torn countries more actively than before.
The wars affect the world community, which the Faroe Islands is part of
Although the Faroe Islands are not directly involved in the wars, we feel the consequences. Nuclear-powered submarines are often seen in the waters around here. Over 150 refugees from Ukraine have been granted residence permits in the Faroe Islands.
During World War II, the Faroe Islands lost over 200 sailors due to the war. Perhaps the Faroe Islands, in relation to population, lost the most citizens during the Second World War.
The world today is so intertwined that wars affect more or less every country in the world. That is also why we as Faroese see ourselves as part of the world community and that we have a responsibility to contribute to peace between countries.
On that background the peace march is our contribution to urge the political landscape and you Mr. Guterres and Mr. Stoltenberg as Heads of UN and NATO, respectively, to promote peace and weapon disarmament.
Why is power not taken to protect lifes?
In the press release, which was an invitation to the peace march, it was written, among other things, that people are welcome to bring a candle with them in connection with the peace march, where the light symbolizes a hope for peace in the countries where war, terror and discord reign supreme.
The press release ended with this poem:
“Life is taken to protect power,
but
why is power not taken to protect life?
Peace is set aside by terror and wars,
but
why are terror and wars not set aside by peace?
Is the answer that humans value power and war more highly than life and peace?”
With this letter, I will on behalf of the Faroese people who attended the peace march, appeal to you Mr. Guterres and Mr. Stoltenberg, to strive for peace negotiations in both Ukraine and in the Middle East. We want you to start the peace process today rather than tomorrow.
This letter is sent to you via the Faroese Government with Mr. Aksel Vilhelmson Johannesen, Prime Minister, and Mr. Høgni Hoydal, Foreign Minister and via the Danish Government with Ms. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister and Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Foreign Minister, because Faroe Islands are constitutionally a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Hopefully, we will get a positive feedback from you regarding this letter.
Tórshavn, 31. July 2024
Kind regards
Henrik Weihe Joensen, organizer of the peace march
