In a video message to the Ashraf residents, pointing out to the most important international bodies , Congressman Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee emphasized that Ashraf residents are political refugees and protected persons under the international conventions and particularly Geneva Conventions and any kinds of their expulsions or forcible displacement is prohibited. Protection of Ashraf is the US responsibility and as long as the United States is present in Iraq it must maintain the responsibility of Camp Ashraf protection.

The full text of Bob Filner addressing Ashraf residents is as follows:

I am Bob Filner, I am a member of the United States Congress from San Diego, California, and I am also the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

I have a simple message tonight and that is to say that we in the United States know that what is going in Camp Ashraf. We know how you are threatened there and we know you have to be protected and we want you to know that we are working on your behalf, you are not forgotten and we want to make sure that your safety is protected.

We all know that the Iranians have put tremendous pressure on Camp Ashraf; they have been kidnapping, destruction of water supplies, two missile attacks in fact and that Iran is exploiting negotiations of status of forces agreement between the United States and Iraq, but we also know that the international bodies and the U.S. are watching.

We know that the UN High Commissionaire for Refugees recognized the refugee status of the residents of Camp Ashraf and asked the relevant authorities to be free from any action that would endanger life and security of these individuals such as the forcible deportation from Iraq or their forced displacement.

The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that there must be no deportations from Iraq or their forced displacement. .

Amnesty International recently said that the U.S. and Iraqi governments have to make sure that there is no forcible return of the PMOI members to Iran and highlighted the danger that they are under.

I have written to the U.N. Secretary General and have asked him for the following procedures:

First, Camp Ashraf resident have to be regarded as the protected persons under the international conventions specifically the Geneva Conventions, and the Multi National forces in Iraq must respect the principle of non-forcible return and as long as the Multi National Force and U.S. maintain their military presence in Iraq they must continue to protect the refugees word of Camp Ashraf.

Second, as long as the U.S. is present in Iraq, US is responsible for protection of the residents there and their protection is not transferrable to any other authority and that the United States must maintain the sole responsibility, and if the responsibility is transferred tantamount to inviting the massacre of residents of Camp Ashraf.

Third, the United Nation’s Secretary General must actively work to ensure the U.S. military honors its obligations toward these protected civilian persons in Ashraf. The Iranian regime must not be allowed to take advantage of uncertainties in Iraq and violate the human rights of Ashraf residents.

I would tell you that many members of the U.S. Congress and many friends of yours in the United States know what is going on; we will work to make sure that your safety is protected.