Call for a Drug War
Truce
With Peace Negotiations
Preamble:
No civilized nation makes war on its own citizens.
We, the People, did not declare war on our government, nor
do we wish to fight its Drug War. Hence, we now petition for
redress of grievances, as follows:
Whereas any just government
derives its authority from a respect of the People's
rights and powers; and
Whereas the government has resorted to unilateral
military force in the Drug War without making any good faith
effort to negotiate a peace settlement;
Therefore, We hereby call for a Drug War Truce
during which to engage our communities and governments in
peace negotiations, under the following terms:
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Background on
The Drug War Truce:
The Call for a Drug War Truce was initiated by the
Family Council on Drug Awareness in June, 1995 as a
petition for redress of grievances. It was first read at the
program "Give Drug Peace A Chance", commemorating the 50th
anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, which in
its charter recognizes that governments of the world must
both respect and protect the fundamental human rights of all
people.
The Drug Peace Campaign has pledged its support in
gathering signatures and implementing a negotiated end to
the Drug War.
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Article 1: The United States shall withdraw from,
repudiate, or amend any and all international Treaties or
agreements limiting its ability to alter domestic drug
policy.
Article 2: No patient shall be prosecuted nor any
health care professional penalized for possession or use of
any mutually agreed upon medications.
Article 3: Drug policy shall henceforth protect
all fundamental rights, as described below:
1. Each person retains all their inalienable,
Constitutional, and Human Rights, without exception. No
drug regulation shall violate these Rights.
2. The benefit of the doubt shall always be given to
the accused and to any property or assets at risk. Courts
shall allow the accused to present directly to the jury
any defense based on these Rights, any explanation of
motive, or any mitigating circumstances, such as
religion, culture, or necessity.
3. No victim: no crime. The burden of proof and
corroboration in all proceedings shall lie with the
government. No secret witness nor paid testimony shall be
permitted in court, including that of any government
agent or informant who stands to materially gain through
the disposition of a drug case or forfeited property. No
civil asset forfeiture shall be levied against a family
home or legitimate means of commercial livelihood.
4. Issues of entrapment, government motive, and
official misconduct shall all be heard by the jury in any
drug case, civil or criminal. Government agents who
violate the law are fully accountable and shall be
prosecuted accordingly.
5. Mandatory minimum sentences undermine our system of
justice. The jury shall be informed of all penalties
attached to any offense before deliberating a verdict.
Courts shall have discretion to reduce penalties in the
interest of justice.
Article 4: We propose a Drug War Truce and call
for the immediate release of all non-violent and, aside from
drug charges involving adults only, law-abiding
citizens.
Article 5: No non-violent drug charges involving
adults only shall be enforced or prosecuted until all
parties have agreed to, and implemented, a drug policy based
on full respect for fundamental Rights and personal
responsibility.
Epilogue: We proclaim, "Give Drug Peace a
Chance."
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Structure of the
The Drug War Truce:
The Call for a Drug War Truce was drafted by Chris
Conrad with the input of many people. It's specific
terms are based on the UN Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (UDHR).
The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the
UDHR on December l0, l948 as a global response to the Nazi
Holocaust. This document enumerates certain rights for all
people, encompassing a broad spectrum of economic, social,
cultural, political and civil rights.
Its Preamble states that "The General Assembly proclaims
this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common
standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to
the end that every individual and every organ of society,
keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by
teaching and education to promote respect for these rights
and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective
recognition and observance."
While the UDHR is not directly enforceable, many of its
principles are included into legally binding treaties, such
as: International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination, Convention Against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, and
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime
of Genocide.
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Join Us!
Sign the Call for a Drug War Truce
BEST PRINTABLE
TRUCE
I ____________________________________
(Signature)
endorse the Drug War Truce with peace
negotiations:
Name:
Address:
City/State/Postal Code:
Phone/fax:
E-mail:
Print out, fill in, sign & mail to:
FCDA, PO Box 1716, El Cerrito, CA 94530. USA
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A stated goal of international human rights law is to
achieve mutual tolerance. American drug policy is designated
as "zero tolerance." This is an ominous sign. Begun as a
moralistic crusade against a segment of the population who
fall on the 'wrong side' of a somewhat arbitrary delineation
between illegal and legal drugs, the Drug War has evolved
into a huge, profit-driven industry that thrives on the
doctrine of zero tolerance.
UN Universal Declaration
of Human Rights
Preamble: Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and
of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family is the foundation of the freedom, justice and
peace in the world. … Now, therefore The General
Assembly proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
Article 29.2: In the exercise of his rights and freedoms,
everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are
determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due
recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of
others and of meeting the just requirements of morality,
public order and the general welfare in a democratic
society.
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