CPTnet
4 February 2004
IRAQ UPDATE: 21-26 January 2005
Friday, 21 January The team traveled in two cars to Karbala to conduct
training for a Muslim peacemaker team (MPT.) On the way, they passed through
about fifteen Iraqi police checkpoints.
At the human rights organization center, a Najaf newspaper reporter
interviewed team members about CPT and the MPT training.
Saturday, 2 January It rained through the night and heavily throughout the
day in Karbala.
Just before the training, the team's Karbala translator and a human rights
colleague from Baghdad arrived and told the team about their overnight visit
to three refugee camps for Fallujans.
The first day of MPT training (and every following day) began with preparing
participants to take various roles in the session and exploring public
action and witness possibilities. The main focus of the morning was CPTers
and MPTers telling stories of nonviolent action and evaluating the tools and
methods used in those events.
Sunday, 23 January On the second day of training, exercises focused on
exploring the faith roots of nonviolent action.
A leader from the human rights organization took the CPTers' passports to
the commander of the Tourism Security Police in Karbala (TSPK), for
registration as visitors to the city. The registration was necessary
because of increased security during these days leading up to the election.
In the afternoon, team members attended a wedding ceremony and party for
their host's brother.
Monday, 24 January The main focus of the third day of training was exploring
the power of nonviolence.
The commander of TSPK came to the center to meet the team members, approve
their stay in Karbala, return passports, and discuss increased election time
security measures. He said CPTers must inform him when they left Karbala, so
security officers could secure their route.
At the advice of the team's host in Karbala, Cliff Kindy allowed a barber to
trim his beard and cut his hair Iraqi style. The team's host said the
transformation was important for reasons of security.
The team discussed the possibility of either two or four team members
staying on in Karbala during the elections.
CPTers decided to open the planned February-March delegation for three more
delegates and have part of the delegation based in Karbala.
Tuesday, 25 January Day four of the training focused on planning for public
action.
A leader of the human rights organization took team members to the
Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq, Karbala office, where they talked
to the director about serving as unofficial electoral observers. The
director registered them and gave them badges in order to move around the
city on Election Day.
CPTers observed a day of prayer and fasting focusing on children and how
they are frequently sacrificed for others' goals.
Wednesday, 26 January On the fifth and last day of training, CPTers offered
a series of shorter sessions on working with the media, making flyers,
documenting human rights abuses, envisioning the next steps for MPT, and
dealing with trauma. Iraqis stepped forward to share their stories of
experiencing trauma and then tear a piece from a red paper heart symbolizing
the damage trauma does to one's heart. When they spoke about finding healing
for trauma, one participant said, "First we cry with words, and then without
words. That is the first step to deal with trauma."
During the closing evaluation session, another said that when he came to the
training he was angry and nervous, but in the training he experienced
transformation.
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