CPTnet
20 February 2009
IRAQ UPDATE: 1-18 February 2009

Team members present during this time included Peggy Gish, Dennis Murphy, Michele Naar and Beth Pyles.

Sunday, 1 February
The Catholic News Service ran a story about problems with the Iraq elections after conducting an interview with Naar by email.

Thursday, 5 February
As Murphy and Gish traveled to the Chumgee area in northern Duhok governorate, near the Turkish border, they heard on the radio news about the suicide bombing attack at a Khanaqin restaurant.  They called a woman who hosted them there during the elections, who said that one of her family's neighbors was killed in the blast.

Because Naar had severe abdominal pain, Pyles and Naar stayed back in Suleimaniya.  For two days, neighbors of the team helped them find their way through the very complicated Kurdish medical system to get treatment for the problem.  The total cost for help at the emergency clinic, doctor, sonogram, and medications was the equivalent of $15 U.S.

Friday, 6 February
In the Chumgee area, Murphy and Gish met with community leaders and leaders from border villages, the residents of which had fled because of continued bombing by Turkish forces.  Together they discussed plans for CPT to go with them back to their villages, beginning with short trips for villagers to do necessary work on their properties.  After the leaders consult with other villagers, they hope to send two people with CPT to Erbil for meetings with U.N. officials.

CPTers and villagers acknowledged that their going together into the villages does not guarantee going in safety.  One villager said, "God will bless this plan, because it is for the good of our people.  It is a holy plan."  Gish responded by saying that "God will be our protector," and then said, "We may have differences of culture and faith, but we do this for Allah/God, and because Allah wants peace and justice for all and between different groups."  The villagers nodded in agreement.

Tuesday, 10 February
Because the outside fuse connector to the neighborhood generator blew, the team was without electricity for most of the evening and night.  

Thursday, 12 February
A Kurdish friend told the team about the difficult time their family had in Kirkuk government offices trying to get their ID papers updated.  At first, the Arab official was helpful with her, but when her father arrived in his Kurdish clothing, the official became rude and uncooperative and sent them off to another room.  When they returned to have the official stamp their papers, he refused to do it.  She said that most of the government office officials in Kirkuk are Arabs from the previous regime, who discriminate against the Kurds.

Sunday, 15 February
An independent American journalist came over to talk with the team about the displaced villagers in the Sangasar area and get some of the team's pictures.

Tuesday, 17 February
Naar and Gish met with two Kurdish women human rights workers and spoke about what the team observed as election monitors in Khanaqin.  One of them commented that the news on TV afterward was misleading in that it reported that the problem with returnees in Diyala Governorate had been resolved and those not on the voting list just before the election were allowed to vote.

When CPTers shared about their work concerning the border bombing, the two women said they would like to be involved in CPT's campaign to stop the bombing, and possibly go with team members to accompany villagers back to their villages.

Wednesday, 18 February
Naar had a long talk with a Kurdish friend about potential political changes that seem to be brewing since the election.  The friend said that leaders in the Central Iraqi Government are afraid that if the Iraqi Kurds get more autonomy, the Kurds in the neighboring countries will want to do the same.  In a recent statement, to the media, Mossoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, said something like "We like the Americans but they don't care about us.  If they withdraw their troops, there will be war between Kurds and Arabs."