Tracking Number: 238554
Title: "Iraq Systematically Repressing Kurds, Shia, UN Told." US Ambassador to the UN Edward Perkins told the UN Security Council August 11 that Iraq is systematically repressing
its Kurdish and Shiite minorities through economic blockades and bombing and artillery attacks and is trying to force out international aid workers. (920811)
Translated Title: L`Irak reprime systematiquement les Kurdes, les
Shias. (920811)
Author: AITA, JUDY (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19920811
Text:
IRAQ SYSTEMATICALLY REPRESSING KURDS, SHIA, U.N. TOLD
(Perkins relates "serious new developments") (1070) By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- Iraq is systematically repressing its Kurdish and Shia minorities through economic blockades and bombing and artillery attacks and is trying to force out international aid workers, the Security Council was told August 11.
The council met at the request of the United States, Belgium, France, and Great Britain to discuss the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Iraq and Baghdad's deliberate violations of council resolutions.
U.S. Ambassador Edward Perkins said that one of "the most serious new developments" has been Saddam Hussein's use of fixed wing aircraft, including jet fighters, to bomb "Shia villages in the southern marshes."
"Unfortunately, we have no reason to hope for amelioration of the situation under the cruel regime of Saddam Hussein. Instead we have reason to believe that additional villages will be attacked, bombed, and destroyed, and civilian casualties will rise," Perkins said. "Baghdad's opposition to relief efforts throughout the country, moreover, will deny the means to care for the wounded and the displaced."
"In his most cruel hoax, Saddam Hussein has blamed the number of malnourished Iraqis on the U.N. sanctions rather than the Iraqi military and his own policies of repression," the ambassador said.
One of the council's major concerns is the refusal of Iraq to renew a "memorandum of understanding" (MOA) with the United Nations that allows humanitarian aid workers and U.N. guards to operate in the Kurdish areas. The U.N. personnel, who have remained in country since the memorandum expired June 30, have come under increasing harassment and attack; several were wounded recently and one murdered. U.N. Undersecretary General Jan Eliasson is due in Baghdad August 17 to renew MOA negotiations.
Perkins said that "if we accept that Iraq can control the entry of U.N. personnel by denying visas, Iraqi intransigence could reduce the number to 127 U.N. guards of a needed contingent of 500 one week from today. With a reduced number of U.N. guards and with U.N. personnel unable to travel between Baghdad and the north, the Iraqi government could increase its harassment of groups throughout the country that rely on the U.N. presence to care for their humanitarian needs."
Max van der Stoel, special rapporteur for Iraq of the Commission on Human Rights, appeared as a "private citizen" before the council to outline his main conclusions on the worsening human rights situation in Iraq. He cited several Iraqi violations of council resolution 688.
First, he said, "while it is even more urgent than immediately after the gulf war, international human aid organizations are unable to perform their task to the fullest. Continuous harassment, travel restrictions, and refusal to grant visas make continuation of their work virtually impossible."
Second, "the food blockade against the Kurds in the north and the Shia in the southern marshes can rapidly lead to a situation where famine can only be avoided by a major international relief operation," van der Stoel said.
Third, "recent artillery bombardments, attacks by fixed-wing aircraft in the area of the southern marshes points to the start of a major military effort by the Government of Iraq to restore its control over that region whatever the cost in human lives," he said.
"In the late 80s the world looked on passively when the government of Iraq conducted operations against the Kurds which resulted in the extermination of a part of the population," van der Stoel said. "I hope that members of the council will agree that everything possible ought to be done to avoid a repetition of this drama."
Iraqi's June statistics showing a rapidly deteriorating health situation "suggests there is an increasing need of direct international humanitarian assistance," but instead Iraq has been obstructing international humanitarian aid workers trying to help the suffering, van der Stoel said.
"Against this background, I can only express my alarm that the humanitarian aid program is inexorably grinding to a halt," van der Stoel said. "Iraq refused new visas for aid workers...those staying they are subjected to various forms of harassment...Fuel restriction to aid agencies add to their difficulties."
"While complaining about the effect of the (U.N.) embargo, the government of Iraq has not hesitated to impose an even stricter embargo against the marshes in south and areas in the north," he said. "The embargo against north has even tightened in recent weeks and virtually no food supplies are going in and oil supplies have been cut."
Although Iraq denies responsibility for "hit and run raids" against aid workers and U.N. guards in the north in recent months, "it is difficult to imagine that such acts would be committed by Kurds who, regardless of their differences, all realize the value of the aid," the rapporteur said.
The Shia population of the southern marshes "is in urgent need of humanitarian relief," he said pointing out that Iraq never allowed aid organizations to work in that area -- a "clear violation" of resolution 688.
"All developments point to the same conclusion. The government of Iraq is in the process of undertaking an operation to subdue the population in the marshes," van der Stoel said.
Russian Ambassador Yuliy Vorontsov called the situation a "very serious violation of human rights."
Vorontsov said that Iraq's actions against the U.N. personnel are "totally inadmissible....and testify to the clear unwillingness of Iraqi authorities to have witnesses to their actions against the Kurdish population."
Calling Iraq's response "inadequate," he emphasized the "groundless and uselessness of any attempt by Iraq to test the firmness of the Security Council to achieve full and unconditional implementation by Iraq of all Security Council resolutions (as well as) 688."
"Iraq should finally understand the international community will not countenance any further delays," Vorontsov said. "Only constructive cooperation will avoid serious consequences. Cooperation would be in the national interest of Iraq."
British Ambassador Sir David Hannay said Iraq must end the blockade of the north, stop repression in the south, and renew the memorandum of understanding with the United Nations.
The council adjourned without taking further action. Diplomats said that the outcome of Eliasson's talks in Baghdad later this month will have a bearing on what the council decides to do.
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File Identification: 08/11/92, PO-205; 08/11/92, EU-209; 08/12/92, AE-303; 08/12/92, AR-305; 08/12/92, NE-305; 08/13/92, AF-407; 11/02/92, PGM000
Product Name: Wireless File; Policy Note, Iraqi Noncompliance
with UN Resolutions
Product Code: WF; PN
Languages: French
Keywords: IRAQ-US RELATIONS; IRAQ/Politics & Government; ATROCITIES; MINORITIES; KURDS; MOSLEMS; TOTALITARIANISM; COMBAT
OPERATIONS; UNITED NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; PERKINS, EDWARD; VAN DER STOEL, MAX; REPORTS & STUDIES
Thematic Codes: 1UN; 2HA; 1NE
Target Areas: EU; AF; AR; NE
PDQ Text Link: 238554; 238902
USIA Notes: *92081105.POL
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