Camp Liberty-No.15
NCRI – Iraqi Prime Ministry has banned entry of tools and equipment that Camp Liberty residents need to fix water, electricity and sewage systems, as well as construction and maintenance materials. Sadeq Muhammad Kazem, representative of the committee tasked with suppression of Ashraf, notified the Liberty resident of this repressive decision on Tuesday, February 28 in the presence of UNAMI representatives.
This is while according to the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 25 December 2011 between the Government of Iraq and the UN Secretary General’s special representative, Liberty residents are allowed to provide and take necessary equipment and items to the camp at their own expense for maintenance and renovation purposes.
Given that water, electricity and sewage systems of the camp are completely out of order and need continuous repair, maintenance tools and equipment are vital need of the residents; yet, the Government of Iraq makes the conditions in Liberty prison harsher by preventing entry of such items.
Two days ago, the residents wanted to enter some water heaters and nettings which they had purchased, but Sadeq Muhammad Kazem, who is practically managing the camp, said that those items were banned to enter upon the Committee’s order.
In the meantime, on February 28 and 29 more water pipes were broken due to being worn-out and more sanitation facilities became out of order; but Iraqi forces are preventing the residents from any construction or renovation of facilities in Liberty.
On February 28, the Iraqi forces returned two Iraqi lawyers who had gone to the camp to meet with their clients. Also last week, another lawyer of Ashraf residents was not allowed to enter the camp and meet with his clients. Upon the suppressive committee’s orders, no lawyer is allowed to enter Liberty or Ashraf to visit the residents.
In yet another inhumane move on February 27, two patients in critical health conditions were taken to the hospital after four hours of delay while escorted by Iraqi armed forces. They were accompanied by two armed soldiers everywhere, even when they were being examined by the physician; the patients’ insistence to leave them with the physician during the examination was rejected. The soldiers told them that they had been ordered to follow the patients everywhere.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
February 29, 2012
