CPTnet
29 August 2006

IRAQ UPDATE: 8-15 August 2006

Tuesday, 08 August

Jan Benvie, Maxine Nash and Peggy Gish discussed the wider Iraq team's
proposal for how team members would do advocacy work with U.S. congressional
candidates and the public on behalf of the Iraqi people.

A team translator told the team that a Kurdish newspaper reported that
50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in Sulaimaniya. He thought
most of them were men who are here to work, but whose families are in the
south. Some, he said, are families sprinkled among the general population.
He outlined the recent history of the Kurdish people in northern Iraq. He
spoke of the gassing of Halubja on 16 March 1988 during the Iran-Iraq war as
well as the two countries' struggle over control of the Halubja district and
other areas along the Iran-Iraq border. His family lived in that area and
was among the thousands of refugees who fled to Iran. They were refugees a
second time in March 1991 during the Kurdish uprising against Saddam
Hussein.

Wednesday, 09 August

The team moved to a less expensive hotel located in downtown Sulaimaniya

CPTers met with a priest from a group called the "Christian Displaced
People's Committee," which helps IDPs living in an area between Sulaimaniya
and Erbil. He said that these IDPs do not face violence or threats, but need
financial support to build houses and community buildings. Most have moved
into cramped quarters with relatives or friends. They need more living space
so family members still in dangerous areas of Iraq can come and join them.
The priest asked CPT to accompany him when he appealed to government
officials. They have given money for IDP resettlement to other areas, but
have neglected the people he represents.

Later CPTers went to the wedding party for the brother of a friend of the
team and were invited to join in the Kurdish circle dance.

Thursday, 10 August

A friend of the team, from its former neighborhood in Baghdad, visited
CPTers in Sulaimaniya while on a business trip. He told them about the close
call his wife had when a mortar exploded near her on 27 July, a day when
seven car bombs exploded in that area. He said that many Iraqis believe the
U.S. military was behind these attacks since the explosions did greater
damage than the explosives that insurgents use, demolishing whole buildings.
Also local people reportedly found fragments of explosives in the rubble
that said "USA." He believes the U.S. wants to keep Iraq destabilized in
order to maintain a long-term military presence. "Now everyone here wants
the U.S. troops to leave," he said.

Friday, 11 August

Nash helped an Iraqi friend who is considering seeking asylum outside Iraq,
to write an application to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees as
a refugee and asylum seeker. He has had several threats made against his
life.

Sunday, 13 August

A team friend called early in the morning to tell CPTers a public protest,
might occur-- without the permission of authorities--on the public square
near the team's hotel. Since police had fired on previous demonstrations she
advised the team not to go out on the street that morning. Later the
demonstration took place without any violence. Police and military forces
were present, some in riot gear. Team members were able to observe some of
the action from their hotel window.

Monday, 14 August

The team traveled to Erbil and met with staff from several UN agencies. They
received information about places in the southern areas of the Kurdistan
Regional Government area, where many IDPs are coming from central and
southern Iraq. The director of one agency questioned whether CPT would find
in Kurdistan the kind of violence-reducing work it does in other locations.

Tuesday 15 August

Nash and Gish met with a director of an international NGO that provides
artificial limbs to victims of explosions, gives them physical
rehabilitation and vocational training, and helps them set up a business in
their home community.