by Fabian Mahmoudi
Sadly, once again, I came across a piece written by Josh Rogin on foreign policy which is avoiding every principal of journalistic ethics: references to honesty, avoiding journalistic bias, demonstrating responsibility, striking an appropriate balance between privacy and public interest, shunning financial conflict of interest, and choosing ethical means to obtain information. It would be utterly irresponsible of me to say the piece is not a politically orientated leverage accomplice to the subject of a humanitarian crisis.
As has been the case, I researched and was accommodated with the fact that such fraud-casting is disaster for reputable journalism and must be isolated and disclaimed by the profession. Omission of biased information and facts is the worst any journalist could do to destroy his reputation.
It would be a long and tiresome piece if I were to examine one by one in the bundle delivered by Mr. Rogin the fallacies which undermine one's journalistic integrity, but to stick to the humanitarian concern and volatile situation of Camp Liberty and the relocation of the 4300 refugees. I shall only refer to facts which have not been mentioned in the cast entitled: Are the MEK’s U.S. friends its worst enemies?
The column slams all those who support the Opposition movement MEK and accuses them of being bought. I would suppose then this MEK movement must be a very strong, capable and desirable alternative to the present dithering and tyrannical regime, strong enough to win the hearts and minds of 4000 parliamentarians in Europe, 1800 jurists, arrive to get the maximum vote of 17 parliaments, and a considerable number of US senate votes in its favor.(*6)
This along with many high ranking US officials (*1) who continuously insist they support “Justice” and are in the quest to save the chin of their own government: The broken US promises.
In a few places, the column wastes our time to repeat propaganda outlets regurgitated by the “unknown official” or some in the State Department. For this I will only refer our readers to parts of a document of thousands examined in detail by the POAC court and later some high European courts which override such fallacies and considered any terrorist tag “perverse”. (*5)(Pages 1 to 28 of the Proscribed Appeals Commission documents: An Opposition figure replies the British Secretary of State for Home Department accusations) Interfering in any judicial, humanitarian conflict in an irresponsible manor may be accomplice to genocide as described in International law.
The world over is completely aware of the battle for life by the pro-democracy movement the Mek in Iraq- camp Ashraf. In a bid to prevent the consequences of being accomplice to any future tragedy for the residents in camp liberty- describes as prison, for Mr.Rogin and his colleague the “unknown” US Official, I tried to “do my home work” and introduce our readers with facts “Omitted” intentionally or unintentionally from the article.
Omitted facts from the article: The true version
January 31 ; UNAMI officeBaghdadpress release « confirmed that the infrastructure and the facilities atCampLibertyis in accordance with international humanitarian standards expressed in the memorandum of understanding.”
What was acknowledged by UNAMI- without the notice of the residents to the press was : The parameters which was first promised to be 60 km is not half 0.683 km (120 times smaller than that discussed) and for every 20 people, one restroom, and for every 100 people, one water faucet would be sufficient!
What was the reality?
Most basic human rights criteria which are to be acknowledged by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and the World Health Organization were ignored:
-There was no portal water, the place was practically looted and there was no electricity and health facility,
-the sewage system was out of work and sewage was practically over spilling in the place; -Iraqis had not accepted free passage of residents and their contact with lawyers,
-they were not allowed their vehicles and moveable properties with them,
- 3.6 meter high concrete walls were built which encircled the half enclosed area
- An extensive Iraqi military presence controlled every move in the small area, each entry and each location was monitored
- Eavesdropping devices were installed which normally cover an area 10 times of the compound given to the residents
- The residents had no 24 hour presence of UN observers to calm the situation and control Iraqi harassments
- While the residents had the sick and the wounded from previous attacks there were no mention of necessary facilities for the wounded and disabled persons.
- The looted unprepared Camp liberty was suddenly announced as a “temporary transfer location – TTL” to cover up the excessive lack of necessary standards for refugee camps and violating the laws and regulations related to the refugees and asylum seekers.
- The Iraqi commander who was personally responsible for direct shootings and deaths in the previous massacre was involved in the discussion which is contrary to any accepted legal norms, especially since he is called for by the Spanish Court of Justice on charges for genocide.
- On 25 January the Iraqis had made it clear to UNAMI that the residents will be treated as prisoners but this was never spoken by any un-named or official “US Offical”. They had declared the process of “Peaceful transfer of the residents to include Each will first go to Iraqi Headquarters for “Bodily inspections”, their personal belongings will be separated and they will be transferred by Iraqi facility not their own cars, at Liberty they will be finger printed by Iraqi security .
To any honest reader such a procedure reminds one of relocation of the concentration camp prisoners rather than refugees who have already been attacked and killed and bruised by the same forces.
The set-out was clear : either They accept such conditions completely “voluntarily” and concur with them or the blame for the subsequent firing of missiles and then a massacre on the next deadline lies upon yourselves and your leadership!”
- On the expert evaluation of the Camp being of humane standards for refugees, the UNHCR site planner had on January 25 explicitly told Ashraf’s legal advisors that his job was checking and assessing the “infrastructures” and not the standards which is a political matter and is not of his concern. Such are normal proceedings in any prison. To acquire humane standards and re-instate them, neither the UNHCR nor the UNAMI took any responsibility for the residents that the resident would have a counter part to interact and resolve issues.
- The residents still on good will gesture prepared an engineering team to visit the camp and prepare it for the residents who were to move in, this was denied by the Iraqi government with no legal justification only to hamper the effective and smooth relocation of the residents and blame it later on their leadership.
- UNAMI presented photographs of the place ( As it was before the looting that took place) to replace a necessary visit by a team of engineers. The residents in a good will gesture to resolve the matter worked ay and night with the UNAMI representative to resolve shortcomings and barriers caused by the Iraqi government in various letters and propositions.
- The counterparts toIraq(including supposedly the mentioned “US Official”) were not interested in resolving the basic humanitarian needs of the refugees rather than to have a “yes or No” answer. This was when the press statement of the Leadership of the movement resolved the case in another good will gesture announced “at the request of Mrs. Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, since December 30, four hundred Ashraf.”
- Meanwhile Iraqi counterparts to the US , Al-Malki made the situation even worst and announced “arrest warrants for Ashraf residents” long wanted by the Iranian clerics which was complimented later by a statement of Hassan Danaii far of Iranian regime.!
Prior to this Al-Maliki’s intention to massacre the residents at the behest of Iranian regime had been practically proved in two coordinated*2 bloody attacks that left 46 dead and thousands seriously wounded.
- As the SRSG pointed out in the Security Council on December 6: "Any workable solution must be acceptable to both the government ofIraqand to the residents ofCampAshraf. The solution must respect the Iraqi government on the one hand and applicable International humanitarian, human rights and refugee law on the other hand". But this was denied by the Iraqi government and of course the knowledge of theUS“unknown official”.
- Again in separate letters bycampLeadershipandParisleadership they warned of a plot byIranwhich would pour the blame for any human loss or disaccord in the process on the UN and the MEK Leadership, again obviously gone UNNOTICED by the certain “unknownUSofffical”
- This was a plot to dismantle the Iranian opposition and the Iranian regime had not worries to blatantly announce it since it had seen progress on its behalf. On January 30th , the stat run Mehr new agency announced Hassan Danaifar- the mullahs' regime Ambassador in Iraq and a Qods brigade commander, openly stated that consular representatives of the clerical regime would be stationed in Camp Liberty!
- A Lawyers committee of 8500 jurists in their statement warned their clients Camp Ashraf residents not to relocate to Camp liberty under such circumstances because the camp is a would be “prison”.(*3)
- While this article repeate3dly applauds the Iraqi governments efforts in carrying out the plan and beats the MEK leadership for hampering any progress the realities have proven contrary to this :
- The Iraqi government has continuously treated Ashraf residents inhumanely and with denigration. In the last three years it has killed 47 people and wounded 1,071 people or ran over them by armored vehicles. Through imposing a siege and refusal to allow them access to medical services, it has caused the death of 12 residents. While the United Nations is silent about these crimes, the National Court of Spain has summoned those accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against the international community
- In such circumstances, to believe Iraqi government’s respect for the international human rights law when they see that an independent investigative commission reports on the slaughter of 47 residents and, as the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Mrs. Pillay, and the SRSG, Ad Melkert, asked in the April 15th, 2011 statement, holds responsible the perpetrators. While recognizing the residents as political refugees Mr Al-Nujaifi, *4the President of the Iraqi parliament said in a meeting in the EP joined the call for an independent investigation that was never done by any International body or the Iraqi government. Is this to hide the truth?
- Considering the fact that the northern part of occupied Ashraf by Iraqi forces has been looted and the residents have already lost at least 9 million dollars worth of logistics and facilities, they demanded for their basic right to come with their movable objects and sell the rest, which has been denied.
The Question lies: If this is good will gesture on US behalf and Iraqi behalf, what would any one expect of the residents?
Let us not forget that no party so far has taken responsibility for the situation in camp liberty (independent of the Iraqi government who is accomplice to the pervious massacre) and no one has issued a certificate of compliance with international standards yet.
Considering the fact that the victims of two massacres, are put at the stake and delivered to their butchers in plain daylight , with no official acceptance of the situation; considering the above conditions, the plots and the facts it seems it is the“ unknown US official” who has “not done his homework” and has not the least of information about the realities and tragedies ongoing for the survival of the residents in so called Camp Liberty.
The article written by Josh Rogin is manipulative and can pave the way for further heightening of the humanitarian tragedy which thousands of people are trying to avoid including the MEK and its members and Leadership.
References:
*2 al-Maliki’s instruction for April 8th attack on Ashraf http://www.scribd.com/doc/84827193/al-Maliki%E2%80%99s-instruction-for-April-8th-attack-on-Ashraf
*2 Camp Ashraf under attack -8 April 2011
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84827862/Crime-Against-Humanity
*3 Lawyers warn residents that Camp liberty would be a prison and should not accept to relocate
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84826224/Lawyes-warn-Camp-Liberty-to-be-a-Prison
*4 Mr Al-Nujaifi, the President of the Iraqi parliament asserting the status of Ashraf residents and calling for an independent investigation into the bloody attacks on the Camp
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84828547/Stevenson-Visit-of-Hon-Al-Nujaifi-Iraq-13-07
*5 Pages 1 to 28 of the Proscribed Appeals Commission documents: An Opposition figure replies the British Secretary of State for Home Department accusations
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84834781/20021113-en-Poac-Mohaddessin-Second-Witness-Statement-1-28
*6 A Complete package of documents and details of human right violation against Ashraf Camp August 2011
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84837269/A-Complete-Package-of-Documents-and-Details-of-Human-Right-Violation-Against-Ashraf-Camp-August-2011
Sadly, once again, I came across a piece written by Josh Rogin on foreign policy which is avoiding every principal of journalistic ethics: references to honesty, avoiding journalistic bias, demonstrating responsibility, striking an appropriate balance between privacy and public interest, shunning financial conflict of interest, and choosing ethical means to obtain information. It would be utterly irresponsible of me to say the piece is not a politically orientated leverage accomplice to the subject of a humanitarian crisis.
As has been the case, I researched and was accommodated with the fact that such fraud-casting is disaster for reputable journalism and must be isolated and disclaimed by the profession. Omission of biased information and facts is the worst any journalist could do to destroy his reputation.
It would be a long and tiresome piece if I were to examine one by one in the bundle delivered by Mr. Rogin the fallacies which undermine one's journalistic integrity, but to stick to the humanitarian concern and volatile situation of Camp Liberty and the relocation of the 4300 refugees. I shall only refer to facts which have not been mentioned in the cast entitled: Are the MEK’s U.S. friends its worst enemies?
The column slams all those who support the Opposition movement MEK and accuses them of being bought. I would suppose then this MEK movement must be a very strong, capable and desirable alternative to the present dithering and tyrannical regime, strong enough to win the hearts and minds of 4000 parliamentarians in Europe, 1800 jurists, arrive to get the maximum vote of 17 parliaments, and a considerable number of US senate votes in its favor.(*6)This along with many high ranking US officials (*1) who continuously insist they support “Justice” and are in the quest to save the chin of their own government: The broken US promises.
In a few places, the column wastes our time to repeat propaganda outlets regurgitated by the “unknown official” or some in the State Department. For this I will only refer our readers to parts of a document of thousands examined in detail by the POAC court and later some high European courts which override such fallacies and considered any terrorist tag “perverse”. (*5)(Pages 1 to 28 of the Proscribed Appeals Commission documents: An Opposition figure replies the British Secretary of State for Home Department accusations) Interfering in any judicial, humanitarian conflict in an irresponsible manor may be accomplice to genocide as described in International law.
The world over is completely aware of the battle for life by the pro-democracy movement the Mek in Iraq- camp Ashraf. In a bid to prevent the consequences of being accomplice to any future tragedy for the residents in camp liberty- describes as prison, for Mr.Rogin and his colleague the “unknown” US Official, I tried to “do my home work” and introduce our readers with facts “Omitted” intentionally or unintentionally from the article.
Omitted facts from the article: The true version
January 31 ; UNAMI officeBaghdadpress release « confirmed that the infrastructure and the facilities atCampLibertyis in accordance with international humanitarian standards expressed in the memorandum of understanding.”
What was acknowledged by UNAMI- without the notice of the residents to the press was : The parameters which was first promised to be 60 km is not half 0.683 km (120 times smaller than that discussed) and for every 20 people, one restroom, and for every 100 people, one water faucet would be sufficient!
What was the reality?
Most basic human rights criteria which are to be acknowledged by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, and the World Health Organization were ignored:
-There was no portal water, the place was practically looted and there was no electricity and health facility,
-the sewage system was out of work and sewage was practically over spilling in the place; -Iraqis had not accepted free passage of residents and their contact with lawyers,
-they were not allowed their vehicles and moveable properties with them,
- 3.6 meter high concrete walls were built which encircled the half enclosed area
- An extensive Iraqi military presence controlled every move in the small area, each entry and each location was monitored
- Eavesdropping devices were installed which normally cover an area 10 times of the compound given to the residents
- The residents had no 24 hour presence of UN observers to calm the situation and control Iraqi harassments
- While the residents had the sick and the wounded from previous attacks there were no mention of necessary facilities for the wounded and disabled persons.
- The looted unprepared Camp liberty was suddenly announced as a “temporary transfer location – TTL” to cover up the excessive lack of necessary standards for refugee camps and violating the laws and regulations related to the refugees and asylum seekers.
- The Iraqi commander who was personally responsible for direct shootings and deaths in the previous massacre was involved in the discussion which is contrary to any accepted legal norms, especially since he is called for by the Spanish Court of Justice on charges for genocide.
- On 25 January the Iraqis had made it clear to UNAMI that the residents will be treated as prisoners but this was never spoken by any un-named or official “US Offical”. They had declared the process of “Peaceful transfer of the residents to include Each will first go to Iraqi Headquarters for “Bodily inspections”, their personal belongings will be separated and they will be transferred by Iraqi facility not their own cars, at Liberty they will be finger printed by Iraqi security .
To any honest reader such a procedure reminds one of relocation of the concentration camp prisoners rather than refugees who have already been attacked and killed and bruised by the same forces.
The set-out was clear : either They accept such conditions completely “voluntarily” and concur with them or the blame for the subsequent firing of missiles and then a massacre on the next deadline lies upon yourselves and your leadership!”
- On the expert evaluation of the Camp being of humane standards for refugees, the UNHCR site planner had on January 25 explicitly told Ashraf’s legal advisors that his job was checking and assessing the “infrastructures” and not the standards which is a political matter and is not of his concern. Such are normal proceedings in any prison. To acquire humane standards and re-instate them, neither the UNHCR nor the UNAMI took any responsibility for the residents that the resident would have a counter part to interact and resolve issues.
- The residents still on good will gesture prepared an engineering team to visit the camp and prepare it for the residents who were to move in, this was denied by the Iraqi government with no legal justification only to hamper the effective and smooth relocation of the residents and blame it later on their leadership.
- UNAMI presented photographs of the place ( As it was before the looting that took place) to replace a necessary visit by a team of engineers. The residents in a good will gesture to resolve the matter worked ay and night with the UNAMI representative to resolve shortcomings and barriers caused by the Iraqi government in various letters and propositions.
- The counterparts toIraq(including supposedly the mentioned “US Official”) were not interested in resolving the basic humanitarian needs of the refugees rather than to have a “yes or No” answer. This was when the press statement of the Leadership of the movement resolved the case in another good will gesture announced “at the request of Mrs. Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, since December 30, four hundred Ashraf.”
- Meanwhile Iraqi counterparts to the US , Al-Malki made the situation even worst and announced “arrest warrants for Ashraf residents” long wanted by the Iranian clerics which was complimented later by a statement of Hassan Danaii far of Iranian regime.!
Prior to this Al-Maliki’s intention to massacre the residents at the behest of Iranian regime had been practically proved in two coordinated*2 bloody attacks that left 46 dead and thousands seriously wounded.
- As the SRSG pointed out in the Security Council on December 6: "Any workable solution must be acceptable to both the government ofIraqand to the residents ofCampAshraf. The solution must respect the Iraqi government on the one hand and applicable International humanitarian, human rights and refugee law on the other hand". But this was denied by the Iraqi government and of course the knowledge of theUS“unknown official”.
- Again in separate letters bycampLeadershipandParisleadership they warned of a plot byIranwhich would pour the blame for any human loss or disaccord in the process on the UN and the MEK Leadership, again obviously gone UNNOTICED by the certain “unknownUSofffical”
- This was a plot to dismantle the Iranian opposition and the Iranian regime had not worries to blatantly announce it since it had seen progress on its behalf. On January 30th , the stat run Mehr new agency announced Hassan Danaifar- the mullahs' regime Ambassador in Iraq and a Qods brigade commander, openly stated that consular representatives of the clerical regime would be stationed in Camp Liberty!
- A Lawyers committee of 8500 jurists in their statement warned their clients Camp Ashraf residents not to relocate to Camp liberty under such circumstances because the camp is a would be “prison”.(*3)
- While this article repeate3dly applauds the Iraqi governments efforts in carrying out the plan and beats the MEK leadership for hampering any progress the realities have proven contrary to this :
- The Iraqi government has continuously treated Ashraf residents inhumanely and with denigration. In the last three years it has killed 47 people and wounded 1,071 people or ran over them by armored vehicles. Through imposing a siege and refusal to allow them access to medical services, it has caused the death of 12 residents. While the United Nations is silent about these crimes, the National Court of Spain has summoned those accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes against the international community
- In such circumstances, to believe Iraqi government’s respect for the international human rights law when they see that an independent investigative commission reports on the slaughter of 47 residents and, as the High Commissioner of Human Rights, Mrs. Pillay, and the SRSG, Ad Melkert, asked in the April 15th, 2011 statement, holds responsible the perpetrators. While recognizing the residents as political refugees Mr Al-Nujaifi, *4the President of the Iraqi parliament said in a meeting in the EP joined the call for an independent investigation that was never done by any International body or the Iraqi government. Is this to hide the truth?
- Considering the fact that the northern part of occupied Ashraf by Iraqi forces has been looted and the residents have already lost at least 9 million dollars worth of logistics and facilities, they demanded for their basic right to come with their movable objects and sell the rest, which has been denied.
The Question lies: If this is good will gesture on US behalf and Iraqi behalf, what would any one expect of the residents?
Let us not forget that no party so far has taken responsibility for the situation in camp liberty (independent of the Iraqi government who is accomplice to the pervious massacre) and no one has issued a certificate of compliance with international standards yet.
Considering the fact that the victims of two massacres, are put at the stake and delivered to their butchers in plain daylight , with no official acceptance of the situation; considering the above conditions, the plots and the facts it seems it is the“ unknown US official” who has “not done his homework” and has not the least of information about the realities and tragedies ongoing for the survival of the residents in so called Camp Liberty.
The article written by Josh Rogin is manipulative and can pave the way for further heightening of the humanitarian tragedy which thousands of people are trying to avoid including the MEK and its members and Leadership.
We must not and should not manipulate our readers.
References:
*1 Hearing of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs: "Massacre atCampAshraf: Implications forU.S.Policy" Chaired by: Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) Witnesses: Gary Morsch, Former Commander, Forward Operation Base Ashraf; Retired Army Colonel Wes Martin, Former Base Commander,CampAshraf;Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow For Middle Eastern Studies, Council On Foreign Relations Thursday, July 7, 2011
*2 Camp Ashraf under attack -8 April 2011
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84827862/Crime-Against-Humanity
*3 Lawyers warn residents that Camp liberty would be a prison and should not accept to relocate
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84826224/Lawyes-warn-Camp-Liberty-to-be-a-Prison
*4 Mr Al-Nujaifi, the President of the Iraqi parliament asserting the status of Ashraf residents and calling for an independent investigation into the bloody attacks on the Camp
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84828547/Stevenson-Visit-of-Hon-Al-Nujaifi-Iraq-13-07
*5 Pages 1 to 28 of the Proscribed Appeals Commission documents: An Opposition figure replies the British Secretary of State for Home Department accusations
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84834781/20021113-en-Poac-Mohaddessin-Second-Witness-Statement-1-28
*6 A Complete package of documents and details of human right violation against Ashraf Camp August 2011
http://www.scribd.com/doc/84837269/A-Complete-Package-of-Documents-and-Details-of-Human-Right-Violation-Against-Ashraf-Camp-August-2011
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