European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                S to. Tuesday May 13, 1986 action the stars and stripes. Page 9 part of red Gross history Geneva Switzerland the notion of wanting to lame an event us cataclysmic As War might seem absurd. Bui red Cross founder Henri Dunant and his followers believed some limits could be imposed on Mankind s destructive tendencies. In 1864 the fir a Genera convention protecting wounded on the Battlefield was signed by 1 2 countries. The three additional conventions proposed in the inter vening years impose limits on killing or mistreating people on the Periphery or War wounded of a Battlefield or at sea prisons civilians caught in War or medical people. They also protect historical or cultural Siles. Since Dunam proposed the rules in 1b59, All but a few of the world s nations have agreed in part or in whole to the Geneva conventions. Can1 the the original convention protected Only soldiers wounded on the Battlefield. As wars continued humanitarians recognized the need for More rules. The fourth and last convention added in 1949 follow ing world War it extended Many protections to prisoners. We had no rules that said we could visit civilian detainees and no rules pertaining explicitly to people detained in other countries said Andre tschiffely chief of the i arc s dissemination division. Red Cross officials believe the four conventions provide adequate Protection for War s victims. But not always and not everywhere. A recurrent frustration voiced by red crass employees in Geneva is that the world is changing and the changes Are making humanitarian work Tough. For the red Cross workers whose business is War i arc delegates the biggest change is determining exactly what a War is. Wars Aren t easily defined these Days Dur said. Only one International War is now under Way stories by Dan Wollam staff writer the one Between Iran and Iraq. Durr said. Vet the i arc which sends delegates Only id areas of the world in which conflicts exist arid victims need Protection hns 11 teams of delegates working worldwide. Some teams Aid victims in More than one cd ulry Durr said. Teams arc working in Pakistan the Philippines Angola Nicaragua Al Salvador. Ethiopia and Lebanon. Dun said International wars such As the one Between Iran and Iraq Are Clear Cut cases of conflict and the i arc has a sound Legal base to Send in delegates. Both countries signed the conventions and ure obligated to allow i arc delegates to visit prisoners and provide other protective  the world s remaining conflicts arc different mat ters Durr said. In anything less than an International War the i arc is limited under the provisions of the conventions to offering assistance. The Only obligation govern ment have is to seriously consider the offer Durr said. Many conflicts today arc internal involving Freedom fighters terrorists tribes or religious groups sometimes fighting the government and sometimes fighting among themselves. The i arc asks groups to adhere to the conventions sometimes successfully. Another level of conflict is tension the definition of which is very vague Durr said. Tension in t generally open confrontation. It exists when the government sus pends Normal liberties when High numbers of arrests or disappearances occur and when people Are ill treated Durr said. Durr said the changing nature of War has meant the i arc has to rely As much on common sense As on he conventions to gain Access to countries where people need their protective services. We have a body of Law but we very rarely use it he said. It s a foundation but we work pragmatically but common sense has t paid off everywhere. Some countries refuse to allow the i arc to do its work Afghanistan is an example. Michel Amiguet Deputy general Del Ila