State Green Party Press Release

Proposal Approved Calling for Formation of International War Crimes Tribunal to Investigate Bush Administration.

February 1, 2004

Green Party members of Ohio gathered at their state convention on January 31, 2004 approved a proposal calling for "Formation of International War Crimes Tribunal to Investigate Bush Administration." In the proposal the United Nations is called upon to establish a War Crimes Tribunal for Iraq & Kuwait (modeled after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia).

This is available in full at http://www.ohiogreens.org/war_crimes_proposal.html and will be presented to the Green Party of the United States at their national convention in Milwaukee, WI June 23-28, 2004. The proposal reminds the national party of the following: The Green Party of the United States rejects any Defense Policy of the United States advocating preemptive war. The Green Party of the United States considers preemptive wars initiated by the United States Government to be illegal wars of aggression and the leaders who authorize such military action should be investigated for possible trial as war criminals. The Green Party of the United States considers the March 2003 invasion of Iraq to be an illegal war of aggression and we believe sufficient evidence exists to support a War Crimes trial for those who authorized this action.

Conventioneers also, selected delegates to the National Green Party Convention who will present this proposal. They heard from Green candidates for President David Cobb and Kent Mesplay as well as Ohio candidatures.

The Green Party of Ohio primary polls were closed at the convention. Presidential candidate David Cobb was endorsed as the leading Green for the Presidential nomination. Candidates David Cobb got 39% of the votes; Lorna Salzman received 13.5%, while write in Peter Cameo received 21%. Candidates Paul Glover and Kent Mesplay, along with write-ins, including Ralph Nader, received single digit percentages.

"The party is still looking for people to run for the US Congress, state, and local offices as Green Party candidates," said Logan Martinez, Chair of the GPO Candidates Committee. He encourages people who want to run with Green Party support to contact him at loganmartinez@hotmail.com. Green Party candidates will officially run as independents and they have until March 2nd to file petitions with their local boards of election.

Media Relations Contact: Russell Buckbee russbuckbee@adelphia.net 330-562-4637 or 440-666-0364.