CPTnet
March 25, 2003
IRAQ UPDATE: 5 pm/9 am EST

Doug Pritchard spoke with Lisa Martens and Scott Kerr just as the delegation
of nine new CPTers arrived at the Al-Daar Hotel in Baghdad from Amman,
Jordan. There are now fifteen CPTers in Baghdad.

The border crossing from Jordan into Iraq was uneventful, but the road
through western Iraq was eerily empty. The delegation heard bombing in the
distance and saw bombed and burnt-out vehicles along the road. There were no
refugees on the road and UNHCR in Amman said no Iraqi refugees have come to
the Jordanian border. There are reports that Jordan has rounded up young
Iraqis in Jordan and expelled them into the Iraqi desert.

The delegation travelled in two small vehicles. When they were 100 miles
west of Baghdad they encountered the front lines. They were first rerouted
onto another road by US troops. Then they came on the front line where US
troops were firing at an Iraqi vehicle. The vehicle was on fire and the
passengers were being held at gunpoint. Our vehicles were able to proceed
while waving white flags and were allowed through the US checkpoint.

Upon arrival in Baghdad the delegates met the CPTers at the Al Daar hotel
for food and an orientation. They will be based there for the next two
nights as they begin their work with the team.

On March 24, Scott Kerr visited a residential neighbourhood in the
southeast of the city. There were no military or government facilities in
sight but a bomb had hit the area. One house was completed destroyed and
another severely damaged. Seven persons were injured, none fatally. Last
night the team said there was a lot of bombing over Baghdad again but it did
not damage their neighbourhood.

Today, Mar. 25, Peggy Gish and Betty Scholten again spent time assisting the
staff caring for children at the Sisters of Charity Orphanage. Then they and
the rest of the team spent several hours with the Iraq Peace Team talking
about work they can do following any occupation of the city. They note that
"every street corner has bunkers and people with assault rifles." They
believe people will be angry. They plan to continue their presence at
hospitals and neighbourhoods, offering assistance and visiting families they
have come to know over the past months

Tonight, CPTers Cliff Kindy and Stewart Vriesinga, and IPTers Charlie
Leichti and Een Ha Yoo will be staying at the tent near the Medical City /
Al Wathba Water Treatment Plant complex. CPTers Peggy Gish, Scott Kerr, Lisa
Martens, and Betty Scholten will be at the Al -Daar Hotel along with the
delegation which includes Jim Douglass (Birmingham AL), David Havard
(Sheffield, England), Jerry & Sis Levin (Birmingham AL), Weldon Nisly
(Seattle WA), Sean O'Sullivan (Los Angeles CA), Kara Speltz (Oakland CA),
Jonathan & Leah Wilson-Hartgrove (Devon PA).
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