Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 25. maj 2006 / Time Line May 25, 2006
Version 3.005/24/2006
USA: Women CO Katherine Jashinski imprisoned
War Resisters' International, London, 25 May 2006
Katherine Jashinski, an Army National Guard specialist who refused to deploy to
Iraq, and who was denied conscientious objector status, was sentenced to 120
days of imprisonment on 23 May 2006. In a statement explaining her conscientious
objection, Katherine Jashinski said:
Katherine Jashinski"I am a SPC in the Texas Army National Guard. I was born in
Milwaukee, WI and I am 22 years old. At age 19 I enlisted in the Guard as a cook
because I wanted to experience military life. When I enlisted I believed that
killing was immoral, but also that war was an inevitable part of life and
therefore, an exception to the rule.
After enlisting I began the slow transformation into adulthood. Like many
teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period of
growth and soul searching. I encountered many new people and ideas that broadly
expanded my narrow experiences. After reading essays by Bertrand Russel and
traveling to the South Pacific and talking to people from all over the world, my
beliefs about humanity and its relation to war changed. I began to see a bigger
picture of the world and I started to reevaluate everything that I had been
taught about war as a child. I developed the belief that taking human life was
wrong and war was no exception. I was then able to clarify who I am and what it
is that I stand for.
The thing that I revere most in this world is life, and I will never take
another person's life. Just as others have faith in God, I have faith in
humanity.
I have a deeply held belief that people must solve all conflicts through
peaceful diplomacy and without the use of violence. Violence only begets more
violence.
Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role in the
military. Any person doing any job in the Army, contributes in some way to the
planning, preparation or implementation of war.
For eighteen months, while my CO status was pending, I have honored my
commitment to the Army and done everything that they asked of me.
Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my legal
obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I want to make it clear that
I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I have a moral obligation not
only to myself but to the world as a whole, and this is more important than any
contract.
I will exercise my every legal right not pick up a weapon, and to participate in
war effort. I am determined to be discharged as a CO, and while undergoing the
appeals process; I will continue to follow orders that do not conflict with my
conscience until my status has been resolved. I am prepared to accept the
consequences of adhering to my beliefs."
She was finally charged with "missing movement" and "refusing to obey an order"
and had already spent 53 days in confinement prior to her trial on 23 May. At
the trial, she plead guilty to "refusing to obey an order", and was sentenced to
120 days of confinement. She was acquitted of charges for "missing movement".
She has 47 days of confinement left in her sentence.
According to the Center on Conscience and War, Katherine Jashinski is the first
women CO to be jailed in the current war.
War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Katherine
Jashinski:
A Company, CRC
Katherine Jashinski
Bldg 4712, Harmony Church
Ft. Benning, GA 31905
War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to the US authorities,
or US embassies abroad. A protest email to US President George W. Bush can be
sent at
http://wri-irg.org/co/alerts/20060525a.html
War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Katherine
Jashinski and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.
Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International
05/24/2006
CONTRACTS from the United States Department of Defense
Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. Schenectady, N.Y., is being awarded a
$35,611,256 cost-plus-fixed fee modification to previously awarded
contract (N00024-02-C-2102) for Naval nuclear propulsion
components. Work will be performed in Pittsburgh, Pa. (68 percent)
and Schenectady, N.Y. (32 percent). Contract funds will not expire
at the end of the current fiscal year. No additional information,
including completion dates, is provided on contracts related to the
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The Naval Sea Systems Command,
Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems, Clearfield, Utah, is
being awarded a $7,761,095 cost plus fixed fee contract
modification. This procurement of 24 Stage 2 production nozzles for
the Propulsion Replacement Program effort on the ICBM prime
integration contract. At this time, total funds have been
obligated. This work will be complete March 2008. Headquarters
Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the
contracting activity. (F42610-98-C-0001, at this time, no
modification # has been assigned).
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