US Government is responsible for protection of residents in Camp Ashraf and Liberty based on international law and mutual agreement
On July 20, the Iranian resistance announced that remarks by Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq, against Ashraf residents at the UN Security Council, praising Maliki’s patience and flexibility would prepare for the third massacre of the residents by Iraqi forces.
Ten days later, Faleh Fayaz, Maliki’s national security advisor, today threatened Ashraf residents to use of force, attack and killing. He stated that extension for the closure of Camp Ashraf ends today and from today Iraq has the right to make any decision on their fate and will take measures towards its lawful and legitimate responsibilities to enforce Iraq’s sovereignty. Reuters quoted Faleh Fayaz as saying, “Iraq says will force out Iran dissident group”.
Simultaneously, Martin Kobler’s remarks which were published by Iraqi media and broadcast by Iranian regime’s Arabic television, Al-Forat, stated, “Our assessment of Camp Hurriah is that its humanitarian standards for its residents who are 2000 in number is acceptable and it is also satisfactory for the remaining 1200 residents in Camp Ashraf. I urge Ashraf residents to transfer their personal belongings for inspection and subsequent relocation. Iraq’s sovereignty and law must be respected by anyone who lives on Iraqi soil”. In these circumstances, Mr. Kobler’s official remarks and statements refraining Iraq from resorting to violence would not solve anything.
The reality is that remarks of Martin Kobler at the UN Security Council on July 19, the document that he published on July 24 under the title of Roadmap, and his remarks of July 31, are the green light and encouragement to the Government of Iraq in attacking and massacring the residents. He is totally responsible for any raid and offense to the residents of Ashraf and Liberty.
The Iranian Resistance also holds the U.S. Government responsible for the protection of Ashraf and Liberty residents based on international laws and mutual agreement that all Ashraf residents signed individually with the US government, in which the US accepted responsibility of the residents’ protection in return for their voluntary disarming. The Iranian Resistance calls on the US President and the Secretary of State to carry out their responsibilities and to prevent another human catastrophe.
Since February, two thirds of Ashraf residents (2000 persons) moved to Liberty in five convoys without their minimum humanitarian needs being provided and while the infrastructure of Liberty is extremely inadequate and humanitarian and human rights standards are constantly violated there. On every turn, Kobler and the GoI postponed the fulfillment of the humanitarian needs to the next convoy. Thus, after transfer of 2,000 residents, which has demonstrated the utmost good will of the residents, any deadline, attack, and intimidation solely reveals the ominous intention of the GoI and Mr. Kobler’s functioning in the framework of the setting by the Iranian regime and the GoI.
The representatives of the residents provided a specific practical plan for implementation of the eight items of humanitarian needs to Mr. Kobler in the July 26 meeting and stipulated that the sixth convoy will go to Liberty only after these needs are met. The needs are: Connection of Liberty to the city water network or pumping water from a river adjacent to the camp, transfer of the main generators of 1.5 Mega Watt, allowing the sale of the movable and immovable properties, minimum constructions particularly of special facilities for disabled and ill people, transfer of the six utility vehicles, 6 trailers for the disabled, transfer of 5 forklifts and 50 passenger cars.
According to this plan, the residents expressed their readiness to implement the above 8 items at their own cost and energy and by utilizing Iraqi contractors in a month after the approval by the GoI; and subsequently the sixth convoy will be transferred to Liberty. But the GoI that receives all of its orders on Ashraf from the Iranian regime, refrains from implementing this simple and practical plan and its planning for the third massacre at Ashraf.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
July 31, 2012
