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Hello all,
welcome to the "liberated and free" Iraq. And may only the "embedded" press report us about what
happens in Iraq and let the conquerors rewrite history.
How come the US refuses to let delegations enter Iraq? How come they assault visitors on their way
to "the land of the free" (Iraq)?
Is this the "freedom" the US/UK promised? Chaos, Ethnic violence, cholera, DU, Cluster bombs,
stealing the oil, looting the heritage, burning all public buildings etc.etc.. That's the price the
Iraqi population pays for not submitting to the US and for defending their right to
self-determination. And I welcome the postings of Nermin and the letter of Ghazwan to AI. I wonder
what happened to other list-members, like Nasra Al-Sadoon, who is a good friend of mine. Where is
Huda Amash ("Mrs Anthrax"), a woman I respect very much? Shouldn't we start asking questions to
US/UK governments about the sort of our dear friends in Iraq?
Greetings.
Dirk Adriaensens
www.irak.be
An italian caravan organized by association Ya Basta has been physically assaulted while trying to
cross the Iraqi border.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ITALIAN CARAVAN ASSAULTED BY AMERICAN MILITARY IN IRAQ
A caravan organized by association Ya Basta departed Friday the 30th of May to take a one week trip
through Iraq and Palestine to organize and aid humanitarian projects in the two war torn areas.
The caravan departed from Amman, Jordan to cross the Iraqi border to go to Baghdad, the first stop
schedualed by the caravan.
However, upon reaching the Iraqi border, the caravan was stopped by the American military
checkpoint. They were told that they needed to apply for entry visas to Iraq from the American
command in Baghdad.
After an entire day of waiting in the middle of the desert, the caravan returned back to Amman.
Sunday the 1st of June, the 40 Italian activists occupied the Italian Embassy, refusing to leae
untill the necessary procedures to obtain permission to enter Iraq were undertaken.
Sunday evening, official permission was granted by both the Italian Embassy in Amman and Baghdad as
wel as the American authorities in Baghdad.
However, upon reaching the American checkpoint monday morning, the participants were informed that
although their permission to enter Iraq was valid, there were "communication" problems that
prevented the American check point from allowing them to enter.
After waiting for another entire day, the caravan refused to leave the border zone which provoked a
violent response from the American military.
As of 6pm Iraqi time, 6 participants have been injured as the american soldiers violently loaded
them into cars.
Live corrispondence including translation is availible from GlobalRadio.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jason
GlobalRadio
Studio: +39 049 8752129
Cellular: +39 340 7270917
Fax: +39 049 664582
www.globalradio.it
Email: info@globalradio.it
Email: tragicoptimist@hotmail.com
update for the day 6/2/2003
After having occupied and negotiated with officials at the Italian Embassy in Jordan, the
delegation had got an 'ok' from embassies in Jordan, including from the American, to cross over to
Iraq. They also obtained a written statement about wanting to cross over into Iraq which was
approved by the US command.
The delegation once again made its way to the border today. They got past the first checkpoint but
were stopped at the second one, where they were told to go back into Jordan. The activists then sat
down on the ground. Six activists were subsequently injured as American soldiers dragged the
peaceful sitters back onto their jeeps. The drivers did not want to get off the jeeps and were
persuaded to go back to Jordan. One activist speaking on the radio said that they were the only
ones refused entry into Iraq.
Back in Jordan, the Jordanian authorities wanted to take away their cameras in order to keep the
films.
Luca Casarini has been urging the Italian Foreign Ministry to get involved.
The problems this delegation has met trying to enter into Iraq have been published in the Italian
press, in the Manifesto, on Sunday.
There is a refugee camp in this stretch of no man's land, peopled by Palestinians. The delegation
wanted to remain in the no man's land in order to go and greet the people from the camps, which are
run by the UN. The American soldiers did not allow it. The delegation said that the refugees were
being treated badly, but we have no more details about this at the moment.
For a complete coverage (in Italian ), go to www.yabasta.it
report from yabasta delegation to Iraq 6/2/2003
i have just spoken with a member of the Ya Basta delegation, which is still trapped in no-man's
land between iraq and jordan. they arrived after having gotten permission from Italian and even
American officials to enter, but once at the checkpoint, it was decided that they are subversive
and a danger. they have been beaten and assaulted, and they were at one point under threat of being
shot by US troops if they didn't leave (though no one can be sure how serious the threat was). they
have also had problems with the Jordanian police, who wouldn't allow them contact with Iraqis in a
nearby refugee camp.
www.yabasta.it
have spoken to an activist from the delegation and has given me a summary of the day... 3/6/2003
I have spoken with a member of the delegation, who reiterated in very frustrated tones how they
were left standing for nine hours yesterday before being told that they couldn't get through the
checkpoint although they had got an 'ok' from embassies in Jordan and the US high command to go
through. Guns were pointed at them and they were told to leave. They refused to do so, and sat
down. The people who were slightly injured whilst being forcibly removed from their sit down
protest by American soldiers back into the jeeps are alright.
Today, the delegation found out that the reason this 'ok' was actually a 'no' was that the US high
command thought they were a delegation of anti globalisation activists, which tells a lot about the
new and democratic Iraq the US have pledged to build and given as one of their reasons for invading
and bombing the country, as part of freeing it of its undemocratic regime!
So the delegation has decided to thin down, leaving a subtantial core of people, and is fighting to
get a formal 'ok' from the Italian ambassador to Jordan himself, De martino. He will only get this
formal approval from the Us Command in Bagdad, so in theory, if the delegation gets an approval,
this time they should be able to get through. They are now in Amman, waiting for a reply. Meanwhile
they are liaising with many organizations working with Palestinians refugees in Jordan, and dealing
with Palestinian issues, in order to update them on the refugee camp they saw in the no man's land
between Iraq and Jordan, where many Palestinians who fled Iraq during the war but were refused
entry into Jordan have been staying for some time now. The camp is run by the UN, but members of
the delegation have said that the refugees are being mistreated by the US soldiers. The delegation
had tried to make contact with them but were prevented by the soldiers.
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