The United Nations must send Blue Helmet peacekeepers to Iraq to protect Iranian dissidents in Camp Liberty from further deadly attacks, two leading US congressmen have demanded.
Congressman Ted Poe and Congresswoman Dana Rohrabacher also called for the UN to secure the immediate release of seven hostages taken captive during the Camp Ashraf massacre in which 52 dissidents were murdered.
In a letter to UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, they wrote: “Since the attack it has been reported that the Iraqi military is the entity detaining these kidnapped victims. Furthermore, subsequent video of the attack recently released appears to identify the gunmen as members of the Iraqi forces.
“In negotiations leading up to the MEK’s move from Camp Ashraf to Camp Hurriya (Liberty), residents were repeatedly assured that should they agree to move they would be safe and protected. Since they moved, 113 have been killed in five separate attacks – all perpetrated by the government of Iraq. It should be evident to all now that the government of Iraq can not be trusted to keep these refugees safe.”
All Camp Liberty’s residents were protected persons, the letter said, adding: “We respectfully request that you explore the feasibility of placing a United nations peacekeeping force in Camp Hurriya and bring this possibility to the attention of the Security Council.”
