Honorable Ban Ki-moon
The Secretary General of United Nations
Stockholm, June 17, 2012
Dear Sir,
On the behalf of the Swedish branch of FOFI (Friends of a Free Iran), I write to you to express our deep concern regarding a statement by Mr. Martin Kobler on June 11th, in which he said:
“I urge the remaining residents of Camp Ashraf to relocate to Camp Liberty without delay
[…] The relocation process should not be stalled. I am concerned that there will be violence if the relocation doesn’t recommence. Any violence would be unacceptable.”
Regrettably, his statement fails to mention any reasons for why the process has been stalled.
The conditions at Camp Liberty are grossly violating many of the minimum human rights and humanitarian standards. Liberty is suffering from lack of basic needs such as water,
electricity, and a properly functioning sewage system. The GOI even prevents the transfer of the residents’ necessary items from Ashraf to Liberty.
What is of most concern is that Mr Kobler’s mention of violence if the relocation does not
recommence gives green light to the Iraqi forces to use violence against the residents.
In order to bring this crisis to a decent end, the following conditions should be fulfilled.
• all the agreements and commitments related to the fifth convoy, mainly women, should be fulfilled by GOI (6 utility vehicles, 25 trucks to transfer their belongings, 6 special trailers and 3 vehicles of the paraplegic patients).
• Camp Liberty should be recognized as a refugee camp.
• Mr. Kobler and the UNAMI staff should prevent Iranian regime to take part and interfere in
the case of Ashraf–Liberty residents. It is essential that Mr. Kobler clarifies his position about
this matter.
• Camp Ashraf should be inspecting by U.S. forces as soon as possible.