NCRI – The Iraqi forces on Thursday evening, March 11, sent away a fuel tanker after waiting for two weeks to be allowed into Camp Ashraf. The Iraqi committee responsible for suppression of Ashraf residents refused entry permission and kept the tanker waiting in a parking at the entrance to Ashraf. In the meantime, lorries carrying supplies were also sent away after two weeks hitch. In the past 14 days, the Iraqi forces have been creating a lot of obstacles for entry of fuel tankers and supplies that have been paid for by Ashraf residents. The consignments were obtained through great difficulties by the residents.
The committee responsible for suppression of Ashraf has been obstructing entry of fuel to Ashraf for almost six months as part of increasing pressures on the residents. During this period the residents have only been supplied with 20 days of their need. This has created enormous difficulties and hardship for the residents in the cold winter.
From 2003 to 2006, Ashraf residents received monthly fuel supplies and oil derivatives based on a quota for every Iraqi citizen. They paid the Iraqi Oil Ministry for the supplies. In 2006, their quota was cut off and the residents had to purchase their fuel from free market or sometimes from outside Iraq for much higher prices. But since October 2009 entry of fuel to Ashraf has been blocked.
These pressures are blatant violations of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Conventions and in particular the Common Article Three of Geneva Conventions and those responsible for the cruel siege on Ashraf are liable for prosecution for these breaches.
The Spanish National Court is prosecuting a number of Iraqi officials for violating the Fourth Geneva Convention that offers protection to Ashraf residents and killings of July 28 and 29, 2009 in Ashraf charged with crimes against humanity. The case for the Iraqi authorities has already been opened.
The Iranian Resistance calls on the UN Secretary General, UN Security Council, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq and UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to take urgent steps to lift the inhumane siege on Ashraf in particular the prohibition imposed on fuel deliveries.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 12, 2010
