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Update:Chicago IMC Fundraiser for Iraq Delegation.

Update on Iraq Fundraiser in light of CPT Iraq withdrawal to Amman, Jordan...
Hi folks,

On April 14th, Iraq CPT team has withdrawn to Amman, Jordan in light of extreme volotility in Iraq and increasing inability to do peacework without putting Iraqi friends at risk. According to reports there are over 40,000 'civilian contracters' in Iraq which are in actuality a private army of mercenaries. Many of these people pose as members of NGOs. This amongst the many broken promises of the Coalition force and especially the massacre in Fallujah has caused extreme mistrust of all foreigners.

The May 20th delegation has not at this time been cancelled and the Fundraiser will continue as planned. In case the delegation is cancelled, it will be pushed ahead to the nearest feasible time. Our solidarity with the Iraqi people will be as important then as it is now.

Chicago Independent Media Center and myself thank you deeply for your continued supprt in this project. I am reminded of Daniel Berrigan's words about those of us working against war doing so with only half our hearts when the waging of war is done by so many in complete totality of conviction. So the fundraiser is not cancelled, and we look forward to a good time with all!

sincerely,
Garth


Here is the article:

CPTnet
April 14, 2004

IRAQ: CPT delegation and team leave Baghdad as advised by Iraqi colleagues


CPT's Chicago office received a phone call early this morning from CPT's Iraq team, saying they and the CPT delegation had left the country on the advice of their Iraqi co-workers.  Both team and delegation are currently in Amman, Jordan.

The extremely aggressive actions of the U.S. and Coalition Forces throughout Iraq and especially in Fallujah have created widespread suspicion and fear of the intentions of these foreign armies.  This suspicion puts all internationals at risk.  Reports from Fallujah indicate that 60% of the fatalities in that city are women and children.  The U.S. has bombed one hospital there and confiscated another for use as an emergency command center for its troops.  Coalition Forces are detaining massive numbers of people throughout Iraq and Iraqis are afraid that residents of Najaf will soon experience the same treatment as the residents of Fallujah have.

CPT's most trusted Iraqi partners have urged the team to leave, saying that the current situation will make it impossible for the team to engage in normal, honest engagements with Iraqis or fulfill their mission to deter violence.  They have also suggested that CPT's presence might actually endanger their local Iraqi partners in the emerging violent chaos.

The team will be watching the situation in Iraq from Amman, where, according to CPT director Gene Stoltzfus, they "will be taking a well-earned rest."

CPT's work to highlight the problem of Iraqi detainees "needs to continue unabated," Stoltzfus says.  After the current Coalition Forces' offensive is over, thousands of additional detainees, many of them swept up in the U.S. dragnet simply because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, will be filling U.S. military prisons.
 
 

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