Ostracise War Architects - Dr Mahathir

Kuala Lumpur - Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged the international community to ostracise those who create war as a way to punish them.

"These people who have created war and killed so many people should be regarded as criminals, the people should not associate with them and should avoid them. Countries should take the same step," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the "Criminalise War Conference and War Crimes Tribunal 2009" here on Wednesday.

Kuala Lumpur-based Bernama news agency quoted Mahathir as saying that as an example, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who visited Sabah on August, should not be allowed to come to Malaysia because he could also be regarded a war criminal.

"We know he was in Sabah for holiday but he was actually invited to give a talk on justice, what does he know about justice? It is disgraceful that we should allow such a person to come to Malaysia and to talk about justice, it is ridiculous," he said.

The outspoken Dr Mahathir, who is also chairman of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation, said people including the leaders who launched wars should to be held accountable for the deaths and destruction resulting from their decision.

"It does not matter whether the aggressors win or not, they must be regarded as guilty and their leaders must be tried and punished, punished severely. Only this would deter the aggressive from resorting to war," he said

When asked on why he focused on the U.S as the main target, Dr Mahathir said the country was the major player in launching the war in Iraq.

Mahathir said the media can play a big role in making people realise that war was a crime and to tell the truth about war and killings.

"But the international media will not do so because for them, war is interesting. The war is nice because you can have a lots of picture, even can become a brave reporter to go into the war zone.

"War is much more interesting to the media, but I hope good sense will prevail in the media especially the eastern media not the western media," he said.