How British charity was silenced on Iraq

[Mairead]

One of Britain's most high-profile charities was ordered to end criticism of military action in Iraq by its powerful US wing to avoid jeopardising financial support from Washington and corporate donors, a Guardian investigation has discovered.

Internal emails reveal how Save the Children UK came under enormous pressure after it accused coalition forces of breaching the Geneva convention by blocking humanitarian aid.

Senior figures at Save the Children US, based in Westport, Connecticut, demanded the withdrawal of the criticism and an effective veto on any future statements blaming the invasion for the plight of Iraqi civilians suffering malnourishment and shortages of medical supplies.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0%2C2763%2C1095116%2C00.html

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

1. Charity faced US pressure on Gaza

The US partner of the charity Save the Children UK objected to it issuing a statement demanding an immediate lifting of an Israeli blockade of Gaza, according to correspondence seen by the Guardian.

Save the Children US said it was "a mistake" for the international charity's British wing to publish a condemnation of the ban on access to the occupied Palestinian territory imposed in May, without first securing its partner's approval.

Disclosure of the Gaza row between the two organisations follows yesterday's revelation that Save the Children UK had been ordered by its US office in April to stop criticising military action in Iraq. The American wing was worried about jeopardising financial support from Washington and other big donors.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/aidforiraq/story/0,12972,1095842,00.html

[JoFerret]

2. Outrageous.

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