MPs, jurists worldwide condemn Iraqi forces’ attack against Ashraf residents

The wave of international condemnations continues against the Iraqi forces’ vicious Monday attack on Ashraf residents during the inspections of the 6th convoy headed to Liberty. 

Dr. Rita Süssmuth, former president of the German Federal Parliament Bundestag, the International Committee of Jurists in Defense of Ashraf representing 8,500 jurists from around the world, the International-Parliamentary Campaign in Defense of Ashraf and Klaus Bresser, former chief editor of German 2. TV ZDF, issued statements strongly condemning the Iraqi forces’ violence against Ashraf residents.

Criticizing and protesting UNAMI’s inaction vis-à-vis these illegal measures and flagrant aggressions, these dignitaries and societies stressed that the Iraqi government’s aggressive measures against Iranian regime dissidents have raised international abhorrence. They emphasized the UN and US government have the obligation to condemn these violent measures and use all means at their proposal to prevent any similar reoccurrence.

Dr. Rita Süssmuth, former president of the German Federal Parliament Bundestag 

Top U.N. official in Iraq ‘misled’ world on camp for Iranians

The top U.N. official in Iraq directed his staff to cover up the prisonlike conditions of a relocation camp for Iranian dissidents in reports to the world body, said a former U.N. official who has resigned in protest.

In his first interview since leaving his post, Tahar Boumedra told The Washington Times that Martin Kobler, U.N. special representative for Iraq, wanted the dissidents relocated quickly to Camp Liberty, a former U.S. Army base near Baghdad’s airport, and then moved out of Iraq.

Mr. Kobler “misled [the U.N.] headquarters in New York, Washington” and the dissidents about conditions at Camp Liberty in his rush to move them from Camp Ashraf, where they have lived since 1986, said Mr. Boumedra, the former human rights chief at the U.N. mission in Baghdad.

Mr. Boumedra said he “got the shock of my life” when he first visited Camp Liberty in December.

“I had visited a lot of prisons but that place was worse than a prison,” said Mr. Boumedra, an Algerian activist who has promoted human rights and penal reform in North Africa and the Middle East for many years.

Containers that had been used as soldiers’ living quarters were piled high with trash. Doors dangled from their hinges, and windows were smashed.Iraqis vandalized the camp after U.S. troops left, he said, and facilities were in utter disrepair.

Mr. Kobler “asked us to go back and take pictures of the camp and the facilities, and make sure that the most appealing pictures are to be put in a file and presented to the residents and the diplomatic community that, ‘Here is a camp of high standards, meeting all the refugees’ requirements,’” said Mr. Boumedra, who left Iraq in May.

“He asked me, and I underline this, that we make sure that ‘sellable pictures,’ be used,” he said. “I found myself fabricating reports and doctoring pictures in order to mislead my organization, the international community and the Ashrafis.”

About 2,000 of Camp Ashraf’s more than 3,000 residents have been transferred to Camp Liberty under a deal brokered by the United Nations. The first group arrived in February.

The Iranian dissidents and their supporters, including a bipartisan group of lawmakers and former U.S. officials, have complained since January about substandard living conditions at Camp Liberty.

Asked about Mr. Boumedra’s allegations, Mr. Kobler’s office directed questions to the U.N. headquarters in New York.

“It is regrettable that such a distorted picture is being presented of the efforts of the United Nations in Iraq to resolve peacefully the situation of Camp Ashraf,” said Jared Kotler, a New York-based spokesman for the U.N. Department of Political Affairs, which oversees the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq.

Mr. Kotler said the U.N. mission under Mr. Kobler’s leadership has worked “diligently and impartially to facilitate a peaceful solution that respects the rights and concerns of both the residents and the government of Iraq.”

“These efforts are one of the main reasons why this very tense situation has not already spilled over into further violence,” he added.

Dispute over living conditions

Known as the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, or MeK, the dissidents sought the overthrow of Iran’s theocratic regime in the early 1980s, and Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein gave them refuge at Camp Ashraf, a base near Baghdad. After Saddam’s overthrow in 2003, U.S. military forces disarmed the dissidents, who renounced violence in 2001.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, an ally of Iran, has sought to shut down Camp Ashraf, which Iraqi forces have attacked several times with deadly results. The dissidents fear that Mr. al-Maliki will turn them over to Iran, where they expect they would be imprisoned, tortured or executed.

The U.N. brokered a deal with Iraqi leaders to move the dissidents to Camp Liberty.

Mr. Boumedra, the lead U.N. official in talks with the Iraqis to close Camp Ashraf, said he advised Mr. Kobler not to accept a memorandum of understanding that came out of those talks because the Iraqis were dismissive of international human rights standards.

Mrs. Clinton: Blacklisting MEK is Illegal; License for Massacre in Iran, Iraq

"No American President wants to see our values tarnished such as we saw in April 2011 and no President wants to go into election with blood on his hands"

General General James Conway, Commandant of the US Marine Corps (2006-2010)

The New York Times published an article by Scott Shane in which 'anonymous' State Department officials once again pop-up to hatch new conspiracies against the MEK (PMOI), the Iranian pro-democracy opposition to the mullahs in Iran. Apart from the hot-air and flawed arguments which sharply contradict official UN reports, realities on the ground have a more rational advice:
One should not go above the law and act as tyrants would expect. It is beneath US values to be entrapped in Tehran's scenario.

Facts contradict FLAWS

The article highlights "the groups' refusal to relocate" but fails to shed light on reasons for the deadlock. This will no doubt leave the blame on the MEK, unless readers compare a list of more than 100 breaches of agreement, harassments and looting carried out by the Iraqi government, as well as engineered plots to dismantle the group, under US-UN inaction.

Many reports have been released by wikileaks and recently by the Iranian resistance that revealed complicated plots by Iranian Intelligence and directives involving foreign embassy staff and lately the UNAMI chief Martin Kobler, to make life hard for the dissidents in both camps, in order to stop their opposition against Tehran.

The article blames the victims for being victimized while whitewashing two bloody massacres by the Maliki government condemned in the Spanish Court of justice as crimes against humanity. The article says, "both American and United Nations officials have urged the group to complete the move to avoid further violence."

It is true to say that when one's enemy (Tehran) becomes one's Savior, our paradigm shifts. We lose our sense of direction and morality; the good becomes the bad and victims become villains. Under all this bravado the 'anonymous' State Department 'tippers' would blame the coming massacre on the defenseless refugees who are 'protected persons' and should be secured by the US under R2P laws.

The true intention of the article is not so obscure as the two 'anonymous' State Department officials diffuse annoying antics that lead readers to assume the situation at both camps is "heaven on earth" with more than enough "video-games and sodas" to last all 3400 residents a lifetime.

Reality Besmirched, Conditions Greatly Inhumane

- The Maliki government has breached (1) the agreement it signed without the consent of the residents with the UN.
- On August 10, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's official report (2) classified "Liberty," where 200 MEK members relocated out of goodwill gesture to pressures by the US-UN, as a 'detention centre' and not a refugee camp. It is therefore, careless of the State Department officials to believe that vociferous pranks could shade over realities.
- On August 10, UN rights experts warned of 'massacre' in Iraq's Ashraf camp. (3)
- Family members of Ashraf residents are being persecuted (4) and on the verge of death (5) because of the US Blacklisting that provides the best alibi for the increasing violence towards MEK prisoners of conscience.
- Unlike claimed "comfort" in Ashraf and Liberty, the Iraqi government is at loggerheads with each request of the residents. Dubious tactics frame the residents for the blame. Therefore, while US-UN observers are present; the Iraqi counterpart valiantly accepts some of the requirements that abide the red lines defined by Tehran. After the agreement, Iraqi officers controlling the camp provided splitting-hair excuses that exhaust the residents and practically make it impossible (6) to retract the agreed needs.
- There are immoral and inhumane sides to the Iraqi degrading treatment of the residents; corpses of some of the deceased residents has not been allowed (7) to be buried, as part of a psychological campaign to demoralize the residents.

It is time for Hillary Clinton to do what is right

It is therefore, a tragic irony and bitter immorality that the US State department wishes to enchain MEK, not because the camps are 'paramilitary' but because the residents are fighting for their privileged rights: generators, refrigerators and the right to stay safe.

It is time for Mrs. Clinton to do what is right and just and not what the 'job' would require. We can write history on both the dark side and the bright side.

Delist the MEK before thousands of our families and relatives are victimized.

Mahin Saremi escaped from Iran, after arranging for her husband's memorial ceremony and seeing her son in Camp Ashraf. She was under surveillance, but escaped before she could be taken to Evin Prison. One of the organisers of the 2009 uprisings, she transferred video clips and news to the outside, avoiding government censorship. Many of her friends are in prison and on trial for Moharebeh.

UN-US –MEK: Good License to Kill

Egyptian parliament majority and 4000 EU lawmakers condemn US-UN debacle in handling Camp Liberty brewing crisis.

Camouflaged siege by Iraqi forces of refugee Camp; dehydration in sky-high temperatures; blocking basic needs of residents condemned in report by committee of 4000 lawmakers to UN Security Council.

After the recent mediatic bravado by the US State department that conditioned its belated legal obligation to the evacuation of a refugee Camp in Diyala province of Iraq, the situation has evolved into a humanitarian time bomb.

A committee of 4000 European lawmakers issued a report to the Security Council on the escalating humanitarian crisis in two Camps that house members of the pro-democracy opposition to Tehran, MEK.

The report which has been prepared in 10 sections, after reviewing the events in the past three months in two camps of Ashraf and Liberty, presents urgent and necessary requirements for the conclusion of relocation of the residents to Liberty in 10 and 5 articles respectively to the Security Council and while appealing for the Councils’ support.

The core message of the report is sharply accentuated over the ongoing diplomatic tussling of the US during pre-election nuclear talks with Tehran:

“Any relocation (of residents) to Liberty without providing the minimum (needs of residents) might bear catastrophic consequences to the residents…. The first step should be by the SRSG (Martin Kobler) to report the obstructions of Iraq with no reservation to the Security Council calling for its active intervention.”

The report specifies that the Government of Iraq (GOI) has repeatedly violated the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ since seven months ago when it was signed by the GOI and UN, and has infringed most of the pledges it has given through the UN and U.S. government to Ashraf residents for relocation to Liberty.

Highlighting Iraqi government constant profane violations of rights the committee stressed;

“There is no substance … at least 8 points have remained unresolved including 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 and its start, constructions of special facilities for disabled and ill people, transfer of the six utility vehicles, three vehicles and 6 trailers for the disabled, transfer of 5 forklifts and 50 passenger cars. They (residents) have constantly restricted their demands with maximum goodwill seeking a peaceful relocation. But the GOI has not abided by its commitments.”

Unilateral pressure compelled on the leadership of the residents to accept the inhuman conditions imposed by Iraqi forces at the behest of Tehran, have been condemned by majority of votes in theItalian, Egyptian, Canada, Malta, Lithuania and the European Parliament.

The majority members of the U.S. House of Representatives and dozens of the most prominent former U.S. national security officials have defended the rights of Ashraf residents and have been critical of the U.S. for reneging of its legal, political, and moral obligation to the residents.

With no running water, no electricity at night, vipers roaming free, no access to doctors or lawyers, and excrement from the broken sewage plant running around the dwellings like a stream, any comparison between Camp Liberty and a concentration camp is not out of sarcasm.

What the government of Iraq is planning to do with residents in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty is frighteningly reminiscent of what Hitler did to the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942.

In a recent statement, the opposition appealed to the International community for intervention over the approaching “heated “ month of fasting (Ramadan) and the shortage of water, which is the result of a long term plot to dehydrate the residents.

“It is past time to supply water by tankers for 2000 inhabitants at Camp Liberty and if the camp would not be connected to the city network or water channel expeditiously, the situation would become more critical.”

Instead of speaking out about the truth and being critical of the Government of Iraq for its violations of the MoU, an anonymous U.S. official lambasted the group of U.S. dignitaries, including three Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces; an attorney General; two directors of CIA; a Secretary of Homeland Security; and a Director of FBI; who have called for adhering to the U.S. commitments and principles.

High stake diplomacy will take its toll. The Question is how much UN and US representatives are willing to compromise humanitarian foundations?

The report by 4000 lawmakers has this to say:

“It would be very regrettable if the SRSG or the U.S. Secretary of State’s Special Advisor put the residents under pressure for resuming relocation instead of pressuring the GOI to fulfill these demands. We strongly believe that continuation and completion of relocation must be done after these minimums are met.”

Is Department of State Blackmailing Iranian MEK?

Nima SharifIn an “on-the-record conference call” with journalist, officials from the State Department, Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Daniel Benjamin and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Camp Ashraf Ambassador Daniel Fried, pressed members of the Iranian opposition movement living in Camp Ashraf to leave the camp and move to Camp Liberty in Baghdad in order for the Secretary of State Clinton to ‘possibly’ remove the name of the organization, Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI) from the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list of the Department.  They complained that there has been no relocation since May 4, 2012, when the last group of 400 dissidents left Ashraf for Camp Liberty.

"The Iraqi government, clearly at the behest of the Iranian regime, is preventing any basic items to be moved to Camp Liberty or facilities be established there, of course at the expense of the residents.  Water, electricity, proper sanitation, and cooling systems in a 130F (55°C) heat, while you are willing to pay for it yourself, is not too much to ask for and is certainly not maximalist."

The officials failed to state clearly the reason why the move is not taking place, specifically the humanitarian situation at Camp Liberty which by no means meets international standards.  In fact, after 2000 residents of Camp Ashraf have already moved to Liberty, the camp can no longer accept more residents due to lack of basic living needs such as water, electricity and sewage system and etc...

Residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty are members of the main Iranian opposition movement, MEK, that have lived for years in Iraq fleeing persecution by the Iranian dictatorial regime.  But the current government of Iraq, having close ties to the Iranian regime, has been persecuting the exiles in their home of 25 years which is called Camp Ashraf situated at about 80 miles north of Baghdad. In two separate attacks on the camp in 2009 and 2011, total of 47 residents including 8 women were killed by Iraqi forces as the American forces nearby looked away.  Video shots of the April 2011 massacre on YouTube, shows Iraqi officers directly shooting at unarmed residents who empty handedly tried to prevent the Iraqi forces from taking over their homes.

In 1997, the Clinton administration, in a move to win favor with Iran’s then new, so-called moderate president, Mohammed Khatami, blacklisted Iran’s main opposition in exile, MEK.  But the passage of years since the war in Iraq and fall of Saddam Hussein, have proven that the group is not a terrorist organization and is no threat to the United States.  On the contrary, MEK is a legitimate opposition movement, trying to bring a democratic change to Iran and advocates peace, democracy and freedom, and separation of church and state for that country.

A court ruling in Washington on June 1 this year called on the Secretary of State to decide whether to continue listing of the group or delist them by October 1 or, otherwise, by the order of the court, the group will automatically be removed from the Department’s FTO list.

But the Secretary of State has subjected the delisting to a move from Camp Ashraf to Liberty by the residents, who are members of the MEK, and a successful closure of the camp.  While such contingency is not defined by law and it should be unlawful for the Secretary to declare such conditions for delisting, the MEK has already committed to the closure of Camp Ashraf in order to prevent further bloodshed of the residents at the hands of the Iraqi government.

The MEK has convincingly demonstrated its desire for a peaceful solution. 2000 residents have already moved to Camp Liberty and the remaining, about 1200, have publicly stated that they are ready to depart as soon as humanitarian conditions at Camp Liberty are brought up to standards and minimum living requirements for 3200 people at the 0.5 km²camp allocated to them are met.

But the Iraqi government, clearly at the behest of the Iranian regime, is preventing any basic items to be moved to Camp Liberty or facilities be established there, of course at the expense of the residents.  Water, electricity, proper sanitation, and cooling systems in a 130F (55°C) heat, while you are willing to pay for it yourself, is not too much to ask for and is certainly not maximalist.

The Department of State should stop threatening and pressuring the already under pressure and defenseless residents of Camp Ashraf, to give up basic human rights and surrender to a forcible move to Liberty.  Instead, it is expected from the United States to press the government of Iraq to respect the human rights of the residents and allow them access to basic needs that they will acquire at their own expense, thus, facilitating further move of the remaining residents to Liberty. It is perfectly legitimate for the residents to ask to have access to running water, and not for the water to be delivered by tanker on daily basis. It is totally unacceptable that in 21^st centaury people be forced to live in such condition. What is absolutely appalling is that both UN and U.S. are supporting this inhumane condition simply because they do not want to jeopardize their relation with Nouri al-Maliki.

Ambassador Fried that, in his view, the residents should not ask to take their own personal cars to Camp Liberty is shocking. The question is why should there be any restriction on the residents to take their own properties. They are being unlawfully evicted by the Iraqi government, ironically supported by the US and UN Secretary General Special Representative, and yet are even denied the right to take their own property. The Iraqi government has so far even prevented the disabled to take their indispensible facilities, without which they cannot survive. Yet, the UN and State Department are blaming the residents for not moving ahead while keeping silent on the Iraqis suppressive measures.

Using FTO listing to force the resident to move into an inhumane environment is nothing but blackmail.  It intends to force the MEK to trade delisting of the organization with the well-being and safety of its members in Iraq.  That is something that is not becoming of a well respected, internationally known and recognized movement for freedom and democracy.  It is not the MEK Iranians know.  It will not happen. The safety and security of the residents should have priority to every other consideration including delisting of the MEK.

On the other hand, it would bring much shame to the Department of State to deceive the Iranian exiles, who are there fleeing persecution at the hands of the mullahs’ regime, into walking into what may well turn into their killing field.

Camp Liberty

World Heroes Support MEK; We Will not Relent

The US State Department is best at toppling Heroes; According to Washington’s’ definition of a ‘terrorist’; George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela were terrorists.

Dedicated to Mahin Saremi: Iranian political prisoner and 2009 protest organizer

With the US State Departments’ contentious defiance of the Rule of the law to delist MEK , the main question repeated is: Who are the terrorists? Those who are at the very center of an international network of terrorism, or those who are protesting at their activities and presenting the best revelations for the sake of International peace and security?

Danielle Mitterrand, the First Lady of human rights, Raymond Aubrac and his comrade in arms Lucie Aubrac, Lord Corbett and Lord Archer, have one thing in common; the struggled for global justice. Each had remarkable achievements ranking them one of a kind in the war against misery, injustice and oppression. Daniel Mitterrand was labeled a terrorist by France and later named a hero. Raymond Aubrac was accused of spying by the French government while his fame for “courage and resistance” against the Gestapo became a beacon of hope for thousands who fought fascism. Lord Corbett of Castle Vale was accused of vehemently supporting a terrorist Iranian group (MEK) while his gallant journalism revealing the Iranian spying network was a serious setback for the ayatollahs’’ ominous plans. Lord Archer a former Solicitor-General, Crown Court Recorder, and Chairman of the Council on Tribunals and a member of the Select Intelligence and Security Committee of the UK parliament, was a stout supporter of the MEK who announced the de-listing of the group by the EU high court as “important stepping stone to a new beginning for the Iranian people.”

They all challenged rehash of accusations and lies spurred by their government, at the behest of Tehran against the pro-democracy MEK.

Terrorism can be extremely inhuman, particularly when it undermines essential values and benchmarks. When State terrorism includes ‘coercing’ heroes instead of villains, and leashing the bacon of hope of millions of people in a crusade of insidious calumnies buried under a double entendre, there is a need for stupendous gallantry to break the spell.

The US “FTO” listing of the Iranian pro-democracy movement of (MEK), anti-thesis to Islamic fundamentalism, has been an outstanding stain in the history of American failures for the good and the advent of evil.

Heroes are not only legendary characters in comic strips or ‘Smallville’ scenarios, but are real people who take on tasks to change the nature of the world through their acts of courage and selflessness. They endure much resistance, hardship, and danger organizing change in the advent of greatness; make difficult choices and bring out the best in people. Stories for heroism have served as moral examples for centuries. In counter factual history, we tend to question what would happen if heroes did not exist.

In the case of Iran, the axis of world crisis, the question of ‘to be or not to be’ is very much contingent with how the world is setting boundaries to distinguish heroes from vigilantes and terrorists.

We would have to comprehend that ‘resistance’ in Iran exists because there is a vile tyranny unleashed that manipulates religion to stone women; gouge eyes and mutilate bodies; carry out collective hangings; train zealots ready to massacre in Syria and anywhere else in the world and fool the world to acquire the nuclear arsenal.

Resistance against mullahs’ dictatorship is the legitimate right of the Iranian people challenged by the Obama administration.

The pro-democracy organization, MEK, has been targeted in a criminal scenario and ploy orchestrated in Tehran; downplayed by the US state department is only the consequence of misplacing advocacy values for short-term objectives. The best-case scenario in this ploy is “US state Department toppling of heroes instead of the villains.” Let us not forget that the sweep of human history is for freedom.

What has MEK achieved in the past 30 years that would absolve it from any terrorist accusations?

• It has provided the International Community with extensive Human right revelations, first hand testimonies and documents for the UN human rights council and rappateurs leading to fifty Five UN resolutions; limiting Iranian regime’s ability to expand massacre.

• It has provided the International community with the best intelligence on warmongering ambitions of the clerics in Iran to obtain nuclear arsenal as part of a broader objective to establish an Islamic Empire, demanded in Khomeini’s will.

• It has been a thorn in the throat and a solid barrier to expansion of Islamic fundamentalism, because of its tolerant nature and belief in true democracy; separation of church and State and freedom of choice and belief based on the Universal declaration of Human rights, despite its Muslim tendency.

• It has been the “most feared” opposition of the Ayatollahs with an extensive role in organized protests as exclaimed by clerics in State-run media. 

• It has the only serving heroes, resolved to support “freedom and democracy” in Iran, Camp Ashraf, Camp Liberty and throughout the world, despite a multimillion dollar mud-sliding campaign by Tehran.

• It is the only opposition movement to have united bi-partisan tendencies from five continents on one axis: to prevent a third world war speared by the ruling mediaeval fascists in Iran; while helping the flow of untapped potentials within the movement to bring about a lasting peace in Iran and the region through a democratic change.

• It is the only freedom movement with the ability to sustain financial independence because of a spectacular host of popularity around the globe.

• It has led an unprecedented legal battle to retain its just status as a “pro-democracy” movement and has won 22 judicial requisitions, which rejected the terrorist label as “perverse” (2).

Coherently; in the world of armchair bloggers who created a generation of critics instead of leaders and heroes, the MEK/PMOI is actually working to establish freedom and democracy in Iran.

The astounding heroism of the movement is met with denial by the US State Department, partially out of fear and partly malfeasance.

The MEK’s activities have been painted with an unjustified brush of terrorism, thereby conflating instances of otherwise legitimate resistance against a tyrannical system with horrid acts of blind terrorism.

John F. Kennedy, underlined the benchmark in his inauguration speech; Taking responsibility alongside heroes.

“In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it – and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

The fallen hero of America saw a hero in all those who bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, rejoicing hope for millions, in a struggle “against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” He embraced the values that America stood for with a cost, because heroes are set in the moment against a mutual enemy, and not in the past or hesitation of the future.

In a mutual article Gen. David Phillips, Col. Wesley Martin and Lt. Col. Leo McCloskey defined margins that distinguished the “hero” from the villain and the “friend” from the “foe”:

“The first and the most common interpretation is the need for leaders to understand the plans, intentions, and motives of an avowed adversary. The second meaning is more fundamental, and in many ways more crucial: know who is, in fact, your enemy – and who isn’t. The failure to detect a real enemy means not only diverting precious resources and attention from dealing with a threat; it can also mean mistaking a friend for a foe.”

Unfortunately, the staggering brazen orchestra of denial by the State department overwhelms any moral substance, while promoting judicial Machiavellianism.

Recently, US Federal Court of Appeal in Washington asked the US Secretary of State to review the FTO designation of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) within four months after this issuance of this writ adding, “Should the Secretary fail to take action within the four-month period, the petition for writ of mandamus setting aside the FTO designation will be granted.”

The US State department, however, announced that a “key factor” in making a decision on PMOI’s 2008 petition to revoke its FTO status, is “cooperation in the successful and peaceful closure of Camp Ashraf.” (3)

By taking a humanitarian crisis “hostage,” manipulating the safety and security of 3400 pro-democracy dissidents of Camp Ashraf, the State Department has landed the Obama Administration on a slippery slope of ethical values.

The MEK welcomed the change immediately; publicly announced its willingness to leave Ashraf (4)cooperated in the transfer of 1,200 residents to Camp Liberty/Hurriya under challenging circumstances (5) praised by State Department officials for its cooperation. (6)

Despite hoax promises that have turned ‘Liberty’ into a concentration camp, the residents have co-operated at a new level of leniency, while asserting there are limits to refuted unilateral goodwill gesture.

The US will not win the war against terrorism and its policy of sanctions against the tyrants in Tehran, unless it abides by its founded values and integral laws.

To break way from political archetypes, the secretary of State, Clinton, has to act like a hero; stand firm on legal principles and not political assumptions which will be misleading.

Do not topple the heroes that make our world a better place; face our mutual enemy: de-list the MEK.

Annotations:

(1): For more information on MEK please refer to the link below :http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ali-safavi/reality-check-the-guardia_b_814605.html

(2): On May 7, 2008, Britain’s Court of Appeal Court ruled that “The reality is that neither in the open material nor in the closed material is there any reliable evidence that supported a conclusion that PMOI retained an intention to resort to terrorist activities in the future. There is no evidence that the [MEK] has at any time since 2003 sought to re-create any form of structure that was capable of carrying out or supporting terrorist acts. There is no evidence of any attempt to “prepare” for terrorism. There is no evidence of any encouragement to others to commit acts of terrorism…”

(3): Quoted in MEK Status on Blacklist Hinges on Iraq Camp Closure, Reuters, Feb. 29, 2012.

(4): Maryam Rajavi, 400 Ashraf Residents Are Prepared to Go to Camp Liberty at First Opportunity, NCR-Iran.org (Dec. 28, 2011), http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/ashraf/11575.

(5) UNHCR, Camp New Iraq (Formerly Camp Ashraf) Residents and the Determination of Their Refugee Status Claims (Mar. 28, 2012), http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4f7417e72.pdf.

(6): Press Release, U.S. Dep’t of State, Update on Camp Ashraf (Feb. 18, 2012),http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/02/184204.htm

Mahin Saremi is a former political prisoner who escaped from Iran last year, one of the active organizers of the 2009 protests in Iran and activist has recently entered the realm of freelance writers. Her articles have been published since she escaped from Iran.

MEK: UN-Kobler Statement Breaches Neutrality; Conceals Facts: Ignores Legitimate Demands

Camp residents call for independent investigation on demands; immediate intervention of UN Secretary General, US Secretary of State, EU High Representative and UN High Commissioner for Refugees to prevent plot for onslaught

…where as legal demands to recognize garrison Liberty as a ‘Refugee’ Camp have fallen to deaf ears, may not be inadvertent.

The UN Special Representative to Iraq’s latest trip to Tehran, praising the Ayatollahs’ for their role in ‘securing’ Iraq and ‘strengthening’ political change throughout the region, takes a height when meeting Iranian intelligence payrolls. The outcome of this “affair” has been a malignant statement by the UN representative, deviously placing the finger for blame on the “victims”. After more than 100 occurring breaches of obligation by Iraqi government, Mr.Kobler decides to fry the victims in a statement in breach of neutrality; while concealing facts; ignoring their legitimate demands. 

MEK: Do Not Enchain Iranian Peoples' Hope For Freedom

MEK: Do Not Enchain Iranian Peoples' Hope For Freedom

Favoring Mullahs Lobbies to American Rich Values
by S। Azad

(5PR Media)

David Amess, a prominent British member of parliament in an article wrote:

“The State Department is playing a dirty game. Anyone bold enough to express concern about dubious actions of the State Department regarding the PMOI(MEK) is chased by the Treasury, and yet the State Department expects the Iranian Diaspora to express openly its support for the PMOI. What an irony. Inside Iran, anyone daring to support them, if caught, would be sent to the gallows almost instantly. Now in the U.S., that seems to be the case, too. A different kind of gallows – defamation.”

Wide arrays of knowledgeable persons have recognized that there is no justification for MEK’s continued presence on the FTO list.

In Europe alone 4000 parliamentarians from four continents appealed to the US for a change of attitude towards Iran’s main opposition movement in 24 officially votes statements.

An array of former American administrative, military and state officials, including a former Attorney General, FBI director, Homeland Security Secretary, two CIA directors, three former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former NATO commander, two former US envoys to the UN, President Obama’s ex-National Security Advisor, and political heavyweights Howard Dean, Rudi Giuliani, and Patrick Kennedy support the call for the de-listing of the MEK.

In the Iranian New Year Nowrouz celebrations last week, in the European parliament, Mr. Struan Stevensson President of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq said:“It is disgraceful that the US continues to maintain the PMOI-NCRI on the US State Department black list. This is used continually by the Iraqi government as an excuse to attack and persecute these innocent people. Now the State Department facing yet another demand by the American courts has come up with the lame excuse that Hilary Clinton has been too busy traveling around the world to have time to consider this issue.”

Mr. Jim Higgins, a member of the European parliament's Bureau from Ireland said: “Unfortunately, the story today is a sad one when the United States seem to have decided to turn a blind eye.”

The Italian senator Lucio Malan expressed his and his colleagues support for the main Iranian opposition MEK and said that both in the House of Deputies and in the Senate advocate the resistance and have declared their support for protection and rights of Ashraf residents on many occasions. The senator rejected recent smear campaigns of US supporters of the MEK and said : “This is unfortunately happening in the U.S. right now at the cost of discrediting some of the most trusted and trustworthy former officials of that nation who are brave men known for speaking out the truth and opposing injustice. They are following the path of the great heroes of American history. I deeply admire them. And I want to tell them on behalf of my Italian colleagues that we join our hands with yours and we join our voices to yours for the protection of the Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty residents.”

In an article David Amess, the prominent British member of Parliament while greeting the Iranian New year wrote: “I have been a supporter of the residents of Ashraf (and now in camp Liberty) for more than 20 years; I stand with them today. The pro-Iranian lobby in the U.S. is trying to smear brave American politicians, military officials, and human rights activists who have been defending our course. We were honored to have a number of these officials with us on our panel. Some in the American government claim the PMOI does not have the support of the people of Iran. This is their justification for the continued unjust designation - and what an absurd justification, as well as a totally untrue claim.”

MEK was classified as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” (FTO) (1) during the Clinton administration at the request of the Iranian government in a futile effort to placate the mullahs in Tehran whom Clinton believed were open to negotiations

Today, the organization has strong bipartisan support in both the U.S. House (2) and Senate.(3) The poisonous “terror tag” has been removed by both the United Kingdom (4) and the European Union by 22 court orders and 3 main High EU courts.

The inclusion of the MEK in the State Department list of terrorist organizations was a “goodwill gesture” by the Clinton administration to then newly elected President Mohammad Khatami. Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State of Near Eastern Affairs at the time MEK was blacklisted, told Newsweek on September 26, 2002, “... [There] was White House interest in opening up a dialogue with the Iranian government. At the time, President Khatami had recently been elected and was seen as a moderate. Top Administration officials saw cracking down on the [PMOI], which the Iranians had made clear they saw as a menace, as one way to do so.”

Putting Iranian politics' considerations parallel to those concerning foreign terrorist organizations is unethical in the first place, and is detrimental to US anti terrorist policy in the second. At the end, it undermines democratic principles of coherent state behavior.

Tehran’s regime is the world’s first sponsor of State terrorism, according to State Department’s categorical definitions. Listing the main opposition movement to the same regime in the FTO list sends a wrong signal to all parties. It suggests that everything, including FTO lists, can be subject to opportunistic bargaining when it comes to short or middle term political interests.

Even if we were putting foreign policy considerations first, the worst policy is to continue a failed policy with no reason. Mohammed Khatami never delivered the promised “reforms”. On the other hand, the engagement policy or “walking behind” has only emboldened the ruthless clerics in Tehran. It has permitted them to quietly construct their array of enrichment centrifuges needed to produce more than necessary enriched uranium to bring the country close to making its first Bomb, creating one the most serious foreign policy challenges of all US administrations thereafter.

The brutal regime in power in Iran has definitely not changed its behavior, nor has the State Department in listing the MEK.

In a Paris conference Lieutenant Colonel Leo McCloskey who served at camp Ashraf,Iraq for 13 months said MEK is not a terrorist organization:“ The people of Ashraf are not terrorists. They are people trying to be a symbol of courage, as you are in here. They have willingly undergone years of isolation in a very difficult environment. They have cooperated with the United States military, U.S. embassy, UNHCR, International Red Cross, the government of Iraq. They have demonstrated that they’re willing to go to the extremes to help out the situation, as they’ve done now with the people that have moved to Liberty in the hope that by moving there they would find freedom. But they’re not finding that.”

The MEK is not a terrorist organization. It has neither the intent nor ability to engage in terrorism or terrorist activity.

Smearing the main opposition to the Clerical dictatorship in Iran, the MEK, is not only unjust to the people of Iran, who thirst for freedom, but it is an injustice to the notion of peace and stability in the Middle East and security of our world.

The FTO list is an important tool in combating terrorism, but its designations must stand to reason. If due process is completed in an impartial and objective manner and not influenced by the likes of an unsubstantiated, amateurish cut-and-paste job like the LHM, then it would lead to delisting the MEK.”

S. Azad, Analyst on Middle East affairs and security, freelance writer and film editor.

Why are American MEK supporters targeted now?

Why are American MEK supporters targeted now? Anything to do with the recent court ruling in DC in favor of the MEK?

By Sam Azizi
March 15, 2012

After the US court decision about the mandamus of the MEK (the main Iranian opposition movement known by their Farsi name, Mojahedin-e-Khalq) on their unjust designation as a foreign terrorist group, came an orchestrated campaign against US dignitaries, military and political personalities who have expressed their support for the MEK.

But why all these allegations now?

The simple truth is that if the State Department had any logical argument about this group and its links to terrorism, it would have provided it to the court and to the media in order to justify the designation. And that would have been the end of argument.

But as it is very routine, when there is no evidence, allegations and disinformation campaign is used as an instrument to undermine and derive the course of events.

Little by little we are witnessing footprints of well known lobbies of the Iranian regime disguised as a noble U.S. citizens or outfits, yet with a sinister intent and objective.

One of those is an indiviual called Trita Parsi. according to Washington Times, Trita Parsi, who heads the "National Iranian America Council", argues that the money is connected to the MEK and as such is trying to muddy the water for the US dignitaries who support the Iranian resistance and in particular believe terrorism designation must not be a tool of political deal-making, especially deals with the likes of the mullahs’ regime.

According to the Washington Times on March 9: "Mr. Parsi claims that officials from the State Department have privately told him that the MEK sets up 'shell organizations' to raise money. When asked about Mr. Parsi's claim, a State Department spokesman declined to comment."

So even the State Department is reluctant to confirm these allegations!

It is ironic that Trita Parsi is himself subject of an ongoing investigation for his role and function as an influence peddler of the Iranian regime in Washington, DC.

Actually this mud-slinging and slur campaign is nothing new in Iranian politics at all. The Iranian regime's notorious secret service, MOIS , is a master of tarnishing the image of the regime's dissidents.

But there is another side to this experience. Whenever the person who was targeted showed no fear and did not succumb, the MOIS had no choice but to retreat.

In this case, as they have no evidence against the MEK they try to conjure up evidences and as such to neutralize MEK supporters.

This group of U.S. senior former officials represent an impressive, bipartisan group that is a very rare in Washington, DC. They include three Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of FBI, the Attorney General, the State Department’s coordinator of anti-terrorism, the State Department’s director of policy planning, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, two Chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, two CIA Directors, the President’s National Security Advisor and the President’s Homeland Security Advisor, believe the U.S's principles and values are not matters of bargaining, with Baghdad tyrants, their masters in Tehran or anyone to that effect. They are the voice of conscience of the true values of the US.

They are the ones who dared to do the difficult right, instead of going with the easy wrong.

They do not want to witness again that US put MEK off its list after mullahs are gone, very similar to what happened to Nelson Mandela and its organization. He was targeted by the same allegations but nothing could stop him and his movement to restore freedom and democracy in their country.

But this could be a slough for mullahs' lobbies and those at the Foggy Bottom who have gone over the board over the years in their bid to appease Tehran tyrants. It seems they have not noticed that the end game is near and the death bell for the defunct policy of appeasement and all of its by-products, including the inclusion of the dissidents in the terror list is ringing.

Bipartisan Political Leaders Urge Removal of MEK from Terrorist List, Denounce Attempt to Silence State Department Policy Critics

WASHINGTON, March, 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX

With a federal appeals court deadline looming for the U.S. State Department to answer why it has defied earlier court rulings requiring review of a decision to maintain the main Iranian opposition movement, the Mujahedin-e Khaq (MEK) on the terrorist list, top former US officials and Members of Congress are urging the Department to remove the group immediately.

"I believe we will not only get our day in court, I believe we will succeed," former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge told an audience of Members of Congress, staff members, and Iranian-Americans during an event, marking the Iranian New Year, Nowrouz. "Sometimes justice takes a little longer than normal, but sooner or later, righteousness and the law prevail, and we will prevail."

Other speakers included Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and retired Army Col. Wesley Martin, who commanded Camp Ashraf.

At issue is the fate of 3,400 Iranian dissidents now housed at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty in Iraq; their safe relocation has been vastly complicated by the State Department's refusal the make a decision on the Status of the MEK.

In 2010, a three-judge panel in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously ruled that the State Department had violated the due process rights of the MEK and ordered the Obama administration to revisit the issue. Since then, the State Department continues to be in violation of the due process in virtue of its refusal to make a decision based on instructions given by the Court.

Earlier this month, attorneys for the MEK filed a writ of mandamus seeking the court's intervention in light of State inaction. The court did so expeditiously, and gave the government a deadline of March 26 to respond to the mandamus.

In the meantime, in a move which some observers believe is tied to the court developments, the Treasury Department is apparently contemplating a "potential" investigation into the source of funding for events where a number of senior former federal law enforcement, intelligence and national security officials had urged that the MEK be dropped from the State Department's terror list and the residents of Ashraf be protected.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-CA, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, has called this inquiry "a travesty," adding that it is "a sin that our government is going after these people trying to support the people of Iran."

"It seems that the method to silence those who are in favor of the liberation of the MEK from the foreign terrorist organization... is to attack them personally... That is not going to work. Whoever is behind the attacks on these good men and women with unbelievable credentials, who believe in the de-listing of the MEK, it will not succeed," emphasized the Texas Republican, Rep. Ted Poe.

Since the Court ruling, nearly 130 members of Congress, including House Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers (R-MI), Oversight and Government Reform Chair Darrel Issa (R-CA) and Armed Services Committee Chair Howard McKeon (R-CA), have co-sponsored resolutions calling for the delisting of the MEK

SOURCE California Society for Democracy in Iran

Vipers at Liberty Prison

Camp Liberty-No.13

NCRI - On the afternoon of Saturday, February 25, near the residents’ sleeping trailers at Liberty, several snakes and vipers were seen, two of them captured by the residents (3 Photos are attached). This is due to the non-livable conditions of this abandoned location and the catastrophic infrastructures at the camp whose readiness and compliance with humanitarian standards were certified at the end of January by Mr. Martin Kobler and his shelter building technician. Meanwhile, the daily walk-through of armed Iraqi forces in the small residential areas of residents continues for 30 to 50 times a day.

Pictures of these snakes tarnish the so-called golden image of liberty and as Alan Dershowitz said two days ago at a conference in Washington, D.C., it leaves behind nothing but a scandal. The world’s most prominent criminal lawyer added:

“What we need immediately is a commission of inquiry to determine how this fraud was perpetrated. Who certified -- who approved that hell hole, that garbage dump? Who said that it met United Nation's standards? Somebody is responsible for perpetrating that fraud and for getting 400 innocent people to risk their lives and their health to be exposed to that kind of trash and that kind of hazard to their health. We have to get to the bottom of this."

Also at that conference Mayor Rudy Guiliani said:

"This isn't a jail. This is a concentration camp. That's what it is. This is a concentration camp. Let's call it what it is."

Consequently, “Liberty residents have come to the conclusion that without the guarantee of their minimum assurances, the only solution to prevent the degeneration of the status quo is their return to Ashraf.” (NCRI Statement on Liberty, No. 12, February 24)

And the Ashraf residents have written in their letters to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that: “We cannot accept any relocation without minimum guarantees. By obtaining confirmation of their conditions for Liberty by UNAMI, the Iranian regime and the Iraqi government want to give us a choice between death and surrender to religious fascism.”

Mrs. Rajavi, the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, drew the attentions of UN Secretary General, Secretary Clinton, and Baroness Ashton to this unhealthy and anti-human environment by her strongest protest against prison-building and catastrophic conditions of Liberty, and asked for immediate attention to this shameful situation. She reiterated that as Ashraf residents have announced repeatedly, without minimum assurances, no one should expect any voluntary relocation from Ashraf to Liberty.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
February 27, 2012

http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/ashraf/11746-vipers-at-liberty-prison

Maryam Rajavi: If Minimum Assurances are not provided in Liberty, residents of Camp Ashraf and Liberty ready to temporarily relocate to the Jordanian

Mrs. Rajavi informs Secretary Clinton that if the minimum assurances are not provided at Camp Liberty, all residents of Ashraf and Liberty are prepared to leave Iraq in March with their moveable properties and temporarily relocate on the Jordanian side of the border under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNHCR. During the 2003 war, ICRC and the UN had set up tents to accept tens of thousands of asylum-seekers in that area.

• NCRI - To ensure that the Jordanian government maintains control and feels assured, the area will be fenced by the residents, who will not leave the premises until being resettled in third countries, except for patients who could not be treated within the fenced area.
• As such, there will be no need for Liberty detention center and the chain of problems and difficulties. At the same time, this will demonstrate maximum flexibility on the part of the NCRI and the residents of Ashraf and the Iraqi government will also achieve what it desires the most.
• This plan does not require any budget or cost as far as the UN, the US and the EU are concerned. Flattening the land, installing tents, providing logistical support, services and construction materiel will be undertaken and paid for in full by the residents and under the supervision of Jordanian authorities. Electrical power generators will be transferred from Ashraf. The residents’ fixed property will be sold under the supervision or arbitration of the UN and the US and the proceeds will be used to relocate and resettle the residents in third countries.
• Mrs. Rajavi appealed to Secretary Clinton, the UN Secretary General, Baroness Ashton, Antonio Guterres, Navi Pillay and the ICRI President to announce their agreement with, and support for, this relocation to end the crisis in Ashraf and the slaughter of its residents once and for all,.

While there are still two months left before the deadline for the closure of Ashraf at the end of April, announced by Iraqi Prime Minister, Iraqi authorities have begun threatening Ashraf residents to forcibly relocate to Camp Liberty. None of the minimum assurances that Ashraf residents had sought, has been met. In effect, they are left with only two options: Massacre and death at Ashraf or gradual death in a place called Liberty, under the name and supervision of the UN.

The International Union of Lawyers that represents nearly two million lawyers in 110 countries, the International Committee "In Search of Justice" (ISJ) that represents more than 4,000 parliamentarians in 41 countries, including majorities in 30 parliaments, more than 10,000 European mayors in France, Belgium, and Italy and prominent political, military and judicial personalities and former US government officials in the United States have described Liberty as a being akin to a prison or a “concentration camp.”

In its March 1 statement, the ISJ underscored, "Contrary to the January 31 statement and promises made by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Liberty does not meet humanitarian and human rights standards and is a severely dilapidated complex in need of total reconstruction. The extensive presence of Iraqi armed forces many surveillance cameras and a lack of freedom of movement have turned the camp into a virtual prison, which has aroused the outrage in the world community and the European Parliament."

This is while the UNHCR has recognized Ashraf residents as "formally asylum- seekers under international law" and "people of concern" who "must be able to benefit from basic protection of their security and well-being. This includes protection against any expulsion or return to the frontiers of territories where their lives or freedom would be threatened".

In an update on the this matter, UNHCR announced on March 1, "Any relocation outside Camp New Iraq [Ashraf] proceed on a voluntary basis, with freedom of movement the most desirable state at the site of relocation".

It is noteworthy that in his December 28, 2011 to the residents of Ashraf, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Iraq, Martin Kobler, had written, “As 'asylum seekers', you will be eligible under international law to enjoy basic protections and well-being". I am aware of your request for respect for your privacy, in particular regarding women. I will continue my efforts with the Government of the Republic of Iraq in this regard to establish the appropriate arrangements, with the agreement of the Government of the Republic of Iraq, which would respect the sovereignty of Iraq". With regard to other issues, such as assets and properties, we will continue the discussions towards reaching a solution that respects the property rights of the residents in an organized way under Iraqi law". Regrettably, none of this items have been implement in the manner that would satisfy the residents and give them confidence.

Moreover, in his letter to the residents of Ashraf on the arrangement for the relocation of the first 400 residents of Ashraf to Liberty, dated February 25, 2012, Mr. Kobler had referred to only one police station inside Liberty. It has now become evident that there are six additional police posts with Iraqi guards armed with heavy machine guns within the Camp who engage in patrols 50 to 60 times a day. Mr. Kobler had written that the belongings of all 400 would be transferred as well. Yet, since February 17, more than two-thirds of the belongings loaded on the trucks have not been transferred.

The SRSG had written, “The residents will bring their medical equipment to CL.” However, it is evident that identical to what happened at Ashraf, the Iraqi government wants to take control of the medical equipment.”

None of the earlier promises has been kept. In addition, as European Parliament Vice President and President of the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) Alejo Vidal Quadras announced on March 1, “A campaign of disseminating lies” has been started, “with the intention of blaming the residents of Liberty responsible for the current state of affairs.”

In Separate letters on February 29 and March 2 to the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-moon, EU High Representative Baroness Ashton and UH High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, drew attention to the campaign of demonization and dissemination of false information in order to justify forcible relocation, resorting to violence and blaming the victim, requested their immediate intervention and support for the minimum assurances necessary for the relocation of the residents of Ashraf to Liberty. They include the removal of armed Iraqi guards from seven position from the small and tight area of the Camp, where 1,000 Muslim women will be residing, open and direct access to medical services, lawyers and family members, freedom of movement, the transfer of vehicles and moveable property from Ashraf to Liberty or their shipment outside Iraq and the sale of fixable property at Ashraf under UN supervision and reimbursing the proceeds to pay for the cost of relocation and resettlement in third countries.

This minimum assurances are legitimate and lawful and have no contradiction whatsoever with Iraqi government sovereignty. Not agreeing to them clearly forebodes of evil intentions to break down and destroy the Iranian opposition or a massacre at Ashraf.

For this reason, on March 2, Mrs. Rajavi informed Secretary Clinton that if the minimum assurances are not provided at Camp Liberty, all residents of Ashraf and Liberty are willing, if the Iraqi government does not prevent it, to leave Iraqi in March with their moveable properties and temporarily relocate on the Jordanian side of the border under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and UNHCR. During the 2003 war, ICRC and the UN had set up tents to accept tens of thousands of refugees in that area. To ensure that the Jordanian government maintains control and feels assured, that area will be fenced by the residents and the residents will not leave the premises until being resettled in third countries, except for patients who could not be treated within the fenced area. As such, there will be no need for Liberty detention center and the chain of problems and difficulties. At the same time, this will demonstrate maximum flexibility on the part of the NCRI and the residents of Ashraf and the Iraqi government will also achieve what it desires the most.

This plan does not require any budget or cost as far as the UN, the US and the EU are concerned. Flattening the area, installing tents, providing logistical support, services and construction materiel will be undertaken and paid for in full by the residents and under the supervision of Jordanian authorities. Electrical power generators will be transferred from Ashraf. The residents’ fixed property will be sold under the supervision or arbitration of the UN and the US and the proceeds will be used to relocate and resettle the residents in third countries.

Mrs. Rajavi appealed to Secretary Clinton, the UN Secretary General, Baroness Ashton, Mr. Guterres, Madame Pillay and the ICRC President to announce their agreement with, and support for, this relocation in order to end the crisis in Ashraf and the slaughter of its residents once and for all.

Mrs. Rajavi added that all residents of Ashraf and those in Liberty can be relocated to the border regions of Iraq’s neighboring countries (Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait).

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 3, 2012

http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/ashraf/11774-maryam-rajavi-if-minimum-assurances-are-not-provided-in-liberty-residents-of-camp-ashraf-and-liberty-ready-to-temporarily-relocate-to-the-jordanian-side-of-the-border