[pf] Iraq Sanctions Ineffective - "Three Kings" movie star

[Second try at sending this. First was about 5 hours ago.  D.]

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http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0002/S00051.htm
  is:

NZ "Three Kings" Star - Iraq Sanctions Ineffective
Wednesday, 16 February 2000, 9:56 am
Press Release: Iraq Sanctions Medical Alert Group (ISMAG)

  Cliff Curtis, the New Zealand star of the movie "Three Kings" has today
publically stated that the sanctions against Iraq are "ineffective" and
"hurting the wrong people".
   "Three Kings", curently playing in New Zealand, also stars George
Clooney, Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube. It is set in the aftermath of the 1991
Gulf War, when a group of soldiers travel into Iraq, initially to steal
some gold, but become involved with an uprising against Saddam Hussein. 
"Three
Kings" director David Russell said the characters "suddenly find a
situation that completely confronts their humanity and demands they
re-think what they're doing and who they are".
  "Three Kings" has been a critical and popular success, and has attracted
comment for its uncompromising portrayal of US policy towards Iraq. In the
movie, Cliff Curtis plays an Iraqi resistance leader. His other roles
include recent Hollywood films "The Insider" and "Six Days and Seven
Nights", as well as NZ films "Once Were Warriors", and "The Chosen", for
which he was named NZ Actor of the Year.
  During filming, Curtis said that he felt empathy with a number of the
Iraqi refugees, many of whom played extras in the movie. His language and
cultural coach, an Iraqi documentary-maker, discussed with him the
statistics on the impact of the sanctions, especially on children. Curtis,
while admitting the sanctions were a "complex" situation and that this was
his "subjective opinion", said that he agreed that it was "very clear that
the sanctions are ineffective" and that they are "affecting the wrong 
people".
  Yesterday the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Hans von Sponeck,
resigned in protest at the sanctions. In NZ, documentation as to the
humanitarian impacts is collected, analysed and publicised by the Iraq
Sanctions Medical Alert Group (ISMAG), a group of Wellington-based health
professionals and lawyers. Cliff said that he "supported" the work of ISMAG
in bringing these reports to public attention.
  An ISMAG spokesman, Dr. Marten Hutt, said that "Cliff Curtis' statement
is the latest in a long line of statements from diplomats, soldiers,
politicians and journalists - from the Pope to Douglas Hurd - who have
recently seriously questioned the nature of policy towards Iraq. 
  "His statement is important in that it strengthens the positions of
Maori, such as the prominent health academic Irihapeti Ramsden, an ISMAG
patron, who are prepared to stand up and be counted on this issue. Maori
take a holistic view of health and know the impact of enforced economic
collapse from their own history. We look to the new government to
reconsider their policy position on sanctions". 

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sent by David. (PS this breaks our informal limit of 3 posts per day!)
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/3142/Pg1-AD11.html
 or better: http://www.emucities.com.au/member/davd/
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