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Excerpted 1993-1999 U.S. State Department annual human rights reports' conclusions that the northern and southern "no-fly zones" do not prevent ground attacks. See report sections for further eloboration. Note that the "no-fly zones" were implemented in mid-1992 ***************************************************************** gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/00ftp:DOSFan:Gopher:03%20Publications%20-%20Major%20Reports:Human%20Rights%20Country%20Practices:1993%20HRC%20Report:07%20Near%20East%20and%20North%20Africa:Iraq TITLE: IRAQ HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES, 1993 DATE: JANUARY 31, 1994 AUTHOR: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE IRAQ "Throughout 1993, Iraqi armed forces conducted indiscriminate land-based attacks against the civilian population in the southern marshes. These wetlands historically have been inhabited largely by Shi'a Muslims, who have been joined in recent years by significant numbers of Iraqi army deserters and refugees from other areas of Iraq. As a result, the marshes have become the site of guerrilla resistance. The Allied no-fly zone over southern Iraq, imposed in 1992, continued in 1993 to protect the Shi'a marsh dwellers from attacks by Iraqi helicopter gunships and fixed-wing aircraft. In defiance of the no-fly zone, Iraqi forces in 1993 stepped up their use of land-based artillery to shell marsh villages." ***************************************************************** gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/00ftp:DOSFan:Gopher:03%20Publications%20-%20Major%20Reports:Human%20Rights%20Country%20Practices:1994%20HRC%20Report:07%20Near%20East%20and%20North%20Africa:Iraq TITLE: IRAQ HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES, 1994 AUTHOR: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE DATE: FEBRUARY 1995 IRAQ "In 1994 as in previous years, the armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against civilians in the southern marshes. The marshes historically have been inhabited mostly by Shi'a Muslims, but in recent years they have also become a refuge for army deserters and displaced civilians. As a result, the marshes are the site of guerrilla resistance. The Gulf War allies imposed a "no-fly zone" over southern Iraq in 1992. It continues to deter aerial attacks on the marsh dwellers, but does not prevent artillery attacks or the military's large-scale burning operations." ***************************************************************** gopher://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/00ftp:DOSFan:Gopher:03%20Publications%20-%20Major%20Reports:Human%20Rights%20Country%20Practices:1995%20HRC%20Report:07%20Near%20East%20-%20North%20Africa:Iraq Title: Iraq Human Rights Practices, 1995 Author: U.S. Department of State Date: March 1996 IRAQ "As in previous years, Iraqi armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against Shi'a civilians in the southern marshes and against minority groups in northern Iraq. In 1992 the Gulf War allies imposed a "no-fly zone" over both northern and southern Iraq. The no-fly zones continue to deter aerial attacks on the marsh dwellers in southern Iraq and residents of northern Iraq, but they do not prevent artillery attacks in either area or the military's large-scale burning operations in the south." ***************************************************************** http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1996_hrp_report/iraq.html U.S. Department of State Iraq Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 30, 1997. IRAQ "As in previous years, the armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against Shi'a civilians in the southern marshes and against minority groups in northern Iraq. In 1992 the Gulf War allies imposed "no-fly zones" over both northern and southern Iraq. The no-fly zones continue to deter aerial attacks on the marsh dwellers in southern Iraq and residents of northern Iraq, but they do not prevent artillery attacks in either area, nor the military's large-scale burning operations in the south. Credible reports confirm the ongoing destruction of the marshes. The army continued to construct canals, causeways, and earthen berms to divert water from the wetlands. Hundreds of square kilometers have been burned in military operations. Moreover, the regime's diversion of supplies in the south limited the population's access to food, medicine, drinking water, and transportation." ***************************************************************** http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1997_hrp_report/iraq.html U.S. Department of State Iraq Report on Human Rights Practices for 1997 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 30, 1998. IRAQ "As in previous years, the armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against Shi'a civilians in the southern marshes and against minority groups in northern Iraq. In 1992 the Gulf War allies imposed "no-fly zones" over both northern and southern Iraq. The no-fly zones continued to deter aerial attacks on the marsh dwellers in southern Iraq and residents of northern Iraq, but they did not prevent artillery attacks on villages in either area, nor the military's large-scale burning operations in the southern marshes." ***************************************************************** http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1999_hrp_report/iraq.html U.S. Department of State Iraq Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, February 26, 1999. IRAQ "As in previous years, the armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against Shi'a civilians and large-scale burning operations in the southern marshes. In 1991 and 1992, the Gulf War allies imposed "no-fly zones" over northern and southern Iraq respectively. The no-fly zones continued to deter aerial attacks against the marsh dwellers in southern Iraq and residents of northern Iraq, limiting the Government to ground-based assaults." ***************************************************************** http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/1999_hrp_report/iraq.html 1999 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor U.S. Department of State, February 25, 2000 IRAQ* "As in previous years, the armed forces conducted deliberate artillery attacks against Shi'a civilians and large-scale burning operations in the southern marshes. In 1991 and 1992, the Gulf War allies imposed " no-fly zones" over northern and southern Iraq respectively. The no-fly zones continued to deter aerial attacks against the marsh dwellers in southern Iraq and the residents of northern Iraq, limiting the Government to ground-based assaults. Military operations against Shi'a civilians, particularly in southern Iraq, continued throughout the year." ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address @email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk