DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39049
TITLE=IRAQI EXILES
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER
ACCESS TO IRAQI WEAPONS SITES IS NOT LIKELY TO HAVE MUCH IMPACT
ON THE ESTIMATED THREE-MILLION IRAQIS WHO HAVE FLED THE COUNTRY
DURING THE ALMOST 30-YEAR RULE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. MANY SAY THEY
CANNOT OR WILL NOT RETURN AS LONG AS THE IRAQI LEADER REMAINS IN
POWER. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS HAS BEEN SAMPLING OPINION
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF IRAQI REFUGEES AND EXILES IN AMMAN,
JORDAN.
TEXT:
/// PRAYERS ///
A GATHERING POINT FOR IRAQI CHRISTIANS IN JORDAN IS THE SYRIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAINT IFRAHIM IN A HILLTOP RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICT OVER LOOKING THIS SPRAWLING CAPITAL CITY. THE SMALL,
BRIGHTLY LIT CHAPEL IS IMMACULATELY CLEAN, ITS WOODEN PEWS
FRESHLY POLISHED AND THE AIR HEAVY WITH THE SMELL OF INCENSE.
THE FAITHFUL HAVE TURNED OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS FOR THE WEEKLY
SERVICE ON THE LAST SUNDAY BEFORE THE LENTEN FAST.
MANY OF THE IRAQIS ATTENDING THE SERVICE ARE RECENT ARRIVALS.
THEY AGREED TO TALK TO A WESTERN REPORTER ONLY ON CONDITION THEIR
NAMES ARE WITHHELD. MOST ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THEIR UNCERTAIN
STATUS IN JORDAN AND MANY ARE FEARFUL FOR RELATIVES WHO HAVE
STAYED BEHIND IN IRAQ.
THE EXILES PAINT A PREDICTABLY GRIM PICTURE OF LIFE INSIDE IRAQ.
A 30-YEAR-OLD ARCHITECT SAYS HE WAS REDUCED TO SELLING TRINKETS
IN THE BAGHDAD MARKETPLACE TO MAKE ENDS MEET, HIS MONTHLY SALARY
NOT ENOUGH TO BUY A CARTON OF EGGS.
A BIOLOGY TEACHER SAYS HE ACCOMPANIED HIS PREGNANT SISTER ON THE
LONG OVERNIGHT DRIVE FROM BAGHDAD BECAUSE THE LOCAL HOSPITAL HAD
NO ANESTHETICS FOR THE CAESAREAN OPERATION THAT WOULD BE NEEDED
TO DELIVER HER CHILD.
MOST OF THESE IRAQIS SAY THE CRISIS OF U-N ACCESS TO SUSPECTED
IRAQI WEAPON SITES AND THE THREAT OF ANOTHER U-S LED MILITARY
STRIKE PROMPTED NO GREAT FEAR OR PANIC AMONG THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
WE HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH CRISES FOR YEARS NOW SAYS ONE MAN, AND
WE ARE JUST TOO EXHAUSTED TO CARE.
THAT SENTIMENT IS ECHOED BY DHOGAN KADHIM, A SENIOR MEMBER OF AN
EXILED OPPOSITION GROUP, THE IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD.
/// KADHIM ACT ///
WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS PEOPLE CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN. MOST OF THEM TRY TO FIND PERSONAL
PROTECTION THROUGH GATHERING THEIR NECESSITIES AND
BUYING EXTRA THINGS JUST IN CASE. SOME OF THEM TRY TO
LEAVE THE CAPITAL AND THE CITIES AND GO WHERE THEY HAVE
COUSINS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE THEY FEEL THEY WOULD BE
SAFER.
/// END ACT ///
MOST OF THE EXILES SAY ANY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ WOULD
ONLY EXACERBATE THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, BUT MOST
QUICKLY ADD THE REAL PROBLEM THE COUNTRY FACES IS SADDAM HUSSEIN.
HE HAS US UNDER SIEGE, SAY IRAQI CHRISTIANS HERE, WE ARE MORE
AFRAID OF HIM THAN WE ARE OF THE AMERICANS.
DHOGAN KADHIM SAYS THERE CAN BE NO REAL END TO IRAQ'S CRISIS SO
LONG AS SADDAM REMAINS IN POWER.
/// KADHIM ACT ///
THE MOST SERIOUS SUFFERING THE IRAQI PEOPLE FACE IS THE
EXISTENCE OF THIS REGIME AND ANYTHING WHICH WOULD PUT AN
END TO THEIR SUFFERING SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION
GETTING RID OF THIS VICIOUS DICTATORSHIP.
/// END ACT ///
MR. KADHIM SAYS THE IRAQI LEADER MAINTAINS A VICE-LIKE GRIP ON
POWER. PRESIDENT SADDAM HAS USED 30 YEARS OF OIL REVENUE TO
ENSURE HIS CONTROL HE SAYS AND THE VAST STATE INTELLIGENCE
SERVICE HAS EYES AND EARS EVERYWHERE. CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT TO SPY
ON THEIR PARENTS, SAYS MR. KADHIM, AND NO ONE IS ABOVE
SUSPICION, EVEN IN THE ARMED FORCES.
HE RECOUNTS AN ANECDOTE THAT IS PURPORTEDLY MAKING THE ROUNDS OF
THE IRAQI OFFICERS CORP. IT HOLDS THAT THERE ARE THREE LEVELS OF
EXPRESSION FOR ARMY OFFICERS -- WHAT THEY DARE SAY IN PUBLIC,
WHAT THEY DARE SAY TO THEIR FAMILIES, AND WHAT THEY DARE SAY TO
THEMSELVES.
CRITICS ASSERT THAT EXILED OPPOSITION GROUPS LIKE MR. KADHIM'S
IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD HAVE LITTLE SUPPORT INSIDE IRAQ AND HAVE
FAILED TO PRESENT A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE SADDAM GOVERNMENT.
MR. KADHIM ACKNOWLEDGES IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO OUST THE IRAQI
LEADERSHIP. BUT HE INSISTS THAT FINDING A SUCCESSOR WILL NO BE A
PROBLEM.
/// KADHIM ACT ///
WHEN DICTATORSHIPS FALL THERE IS ALWAYS AN ALTERNATIVE
THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS MANAGE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN AFFAIRS IN
A MUCH BETTER WAY IN COMPARISON WITH THEIR SUFFERING AND
DICTATORSHIP.
/// END ACT ///
FOR THE IRAQI REFUGEES HERE THE OUSTER OF PRESIDENT SADDAM
CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH. WE ARE JEALOUS OF THE JORDANIAN
CHILDREN WE SEE HERE, SAYS ONE IRAQI WOMAN OUTSIDE THE CHURCH OF
SAINT IFRAHIM. THEY ARE GOING TO GOOD SCHOOLS AND LEARNING
FOREIGN LANGUAGES WHILE OUR CHILDREN ARE OUT SELLING CIGARETTES
IN THE STREETS JUST TO HELP US SURVIVE. WE HAVE ONLY DESPAIR
SAYS THE WOMAN, AND AS A PEOPLE WE ARE EXHAUSTED.
/// SINGING ///
(SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH
23-Feb-98 9:19 AM EST (1419 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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