The UN Special Representative’s Remarks, Part of the Problem or Solution for Ashraf ?
The claims made by the UN envoy in Iraq, ambassador Martin Kobler in his speech last night in regards to Camp Ashraf is filled with statements that have no basis in reality and have been made to please and corroborate Prime Minister Maliki and the Iraqi government’s actions. These claims were in sharp contrast with the Secretary General’s report dated July 11 and Mr Kobler’s own previous reports.
The report talks about the complications and problems in the “dialogue between UNAMI and the residents and between the residents and the Government of Iraq.” Mr Kobler is well aware that the residents of Ashraf and Liberty have no problem or caused any complications in meeting with the UNAMI or Iraqi officials. The Iraqi government is the one to be blamed for appointing the murderers of the residents of Camp Ashraf as the official camp managers causing tensions and humiliation to the residents. The residents have solely refrained from attending the meetings chaired by Col. Sadeq Mohammad Kazem, a notorious Iraqi officer who had ordered the shooting of the residents on both massacres and has been summoned by the National Court in Spain for his crimes.
Mr Kobler urges the defenceless and unarmed residents who have been massacred twice by the Iraqi forces and 49 of them have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded, not to provoke and resort to violence and at the same time talks about Iraq’s flexibility.
Subsequent to two and a half months of delay, the Government of Iraq has only transferred 300 air-conditioners and remaining personal belongings of the fourth and fifth convoys to Camp Liberty and has refrained from implementing vast majority items of minimum humanitarian requirements for the relocation of other groups from Ashraf to Liberty. Mr Kobler has ignored all the realities including the refusal by the Government of Iraq to transfer water pumping equipment, utility and personal vehicles, special trailers for the disabled, forklifts, and necessary equipment and material for construction of minimum needs such as footpaths and green areas at 55 degrees Celsius.
Mr. Kobler claims; “Responsibility also falls on many international supporters. It is of great importance that they contribute positively to influence the residents’ position.” It seems that Mr Kobler is quite annoyed with the international community’s efforts in preventing the Iraqi government and the Iranian regime’s plot to annihilate the residents of the camp or force them to submission. We would like to remind Mr Kobler that even though he refuses to honour the very universal values of human rights that are the foundations for the UN, we, on the other hand, based on the same values and principles will do our utmost to support and defend the rights of the residents of Ashraf. We believe that the demands of the residents are very reasonable and easily achievable, but sadly, Mr Kobler’s one sided actions have been instrumental in Iraqi government’s refusal to realize these legitimate demands.
Mr Kobler writes; “The temporary Transit Location at Camp Hurriyeh has the capacity to accommodate the remaining 1200 residents and meets acceptable humanitarian standards.” He also adds, “To date almost no Member State has stepped forward to offer resettlement to eligible former Ashraf residents.” How would Mr Kobler justify this clear contradiction? He knows and says that the relocation is not within the reach any time soon, but insists on calling Liberty Camp a TTL and as such justifies lack of basic humanitarian support and arrangement in the camp.
Mr Kobler purely misrepresents the Secretary General’s report. He writes; “I would like to echo the Secretary General and urge Camp Ashraf residents to cooperate with Iraqi authorities and relocate from Camp Ashraf to Camp Hurriyeh.” However, the text from the Secretary’s report reads; “I call upon the Government of Iraq and the residents of both Camp New Iraq and Camp Hurriyeh to continue to work together in a constructive and flexible manner in order to complete the relocation process without further delay.” ISJ report to the UN based on abundant documentations and factual details clearly indicates the depth of the misrepresentations and distortion of facts in Mr Kobler’s report to the UN. This falsification of facts is the main pretext for continuation of the siege of the camp and possibly carrying out a third massacre in there.
Mr Kobler’s seven month tenure and his report clearly indicate that he is not impartial nor he complies with his duty to protect the weakest part. In view of this serious problem, ISJ would like to reemphasize the need for appointment of an objective and competent personal envoy by the Secretary General to Ashraf and Liberty so that all issues could be addressed in a fair and unbiased manner. ISJ reiterates that the humanitarian needs and demands of the residents need to be addressed in an expeditious manner without any hesitations.
Alejo Vidal-Quadras
Vice-President of the European Parliament
President, International Committee of In Search of Justice