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Hi everyone, It's been a while, but here are two rather new updates from CPT in Iraq.

CPT Iraq Team Report, June 20, 2003 The 11 person CPT delegation completed its time in Iraq with a full range of impressions including a new appreciation for problems of survival in a hot climate where temperatures regularly reach 110F. The team in Iraq reports rising levels of tension among all sectors of Iraqi society. One example was a well organized demonstration made up of former members of the Iraqi army who have been promised jobs only to be disappointed on the day when the promise was to be fulfilled. One of the former Iraqi soldiers threw a rock in the demonstration and this led to the shooting death of two Iraqi demonstrators from the US army.

The team reports 100s of little and large nonviolent action groups popping up here and there often led by religious clerics. In one such demonstration a US tank appeared and began panning the crowd with its high powered gun. CPTer Anne Montgomery went to the tank commander and requested that this show of power stop immediately because it was unnecessarily threatening and created a situation of inappropriate danger. The tank stopped panning its gun whereupon another US army vehicle drove in a very invasive way directly into the crowd once again creating a dangerous and explosive situation.

CPT Team members have been asked by various groups to accompany them in their public demonstrations. CPTers welcome these invitations when they are confident that their presence can contribute sustaining nonviolence. In each case CPT goals of nonviolence are carefully explained and agreed to before accompaniment begins. In one case two days ago after an agreement was worked out Team members appeared at the appointed place where three squadrons of US soldiers were present. The Iraqi leaders worried that the presence of American soldiers would lead to bloodshed as it has so often so the leadership canceled the demonstration.

CPTers have helped to gain the release of several Iraq civilians who were arbitrarily detained by the US forces. Much more could be done in this regard. The team reports that much remains to be done to communicate to the American people and congress regarding the dangerous course that has been charted the US forces, control of nonviolent demonstrations by insulting displays of force, failure to respond to whole sectors of society with respect to jobs and basic human welfare, and the deployment of soldiers into contexts of occupation who lack basic training and skills for peacekeeping.

CPT Iraq Team Report, June 17, 2003

The CPT delegation arrived back in Baghdad after spending 2 days in Basrah, southern Iraq. Team members who had been in Basrah before the recent war were shocked by the extent of the damage caused by U.S./UK bombing of the city. Many commercial buildings, hotels, and residential areas had been heavily hit. However, they also noted that there were far fewer troops on the streets than in Baghdad and that the soldiers and civilians were more relaxed. On the way back to Baghdad, the delegation attempted to visit Ur, the birthplace of Abraham. However they were denied entry as the site has now been taken over for a U.S. military base. They could see that the famous ziggurat at the site has been defaced. The delegation also stopped at the place on the highway where CPTer George Weber was killed in a road accident on Jan. 6, 2003. Team members Anne Montgomery and Peggy Gish, and Iraqi drivers Sattar and Ismail, who had been with George at the time of the accident, led in a joint service of remembrance.

Back in Baghdad, the delegation came upon a peaceful demonstration of 300 Iraqis in Paradise Square calling for a united Muslim government. A U.S. tank lowered its gun barrel and repeatedly swept it over the crowd. Anne Montgomery intervened with the tank crew and they stopped.[Maureen Jack: I hear some shooting in the distance.] Maureen Jack and Cor Keijzer visited a new Palestinian refugee camp at the Haifa Sports Club in Baghdad. The refugees had been displaced from their subsidized housing when Saddam's government fell. This group was now living in 250 tents on an open soccer field. Conditions are miserable as temperatures are well above 40 degC. There are no showers, little electricity, and only 8 exposed squat toilets and 2 water taps for over 1,000 people.

Elsewhere in Baghdad, some streets have normal pedestrian and commercial traffic but other streets close up by 4 pm because of the fear of looting. Electricity supply is still very episodic, although line-ups for gasoline are a bit shorter. [Maureen: There is more shooting again.]

CPT Iraq Team Report, June 13, 2003

The delegation met with Chaldean Bishop Warduni. He insisted that the problem of Saddam Hussein could have been resolved without war because Saddam was already in decline. Now the war has brought other problems, "It is like breaking a dam and now you have a flood. Freedom without justice is no freedom. We have the same Bible as Bush and we must all use it for peace. The Americans must have wanted us to suffer more or else they would have come prepared to begin the rebuilding immediately." He said that churches and mosques are cooperating in relief efforts, but "This is not the time for evangelism. We have to live out our faith, not speak it."

The delegation came across two demonstrations. One was by a group of physically disabled people who are now involved in clearing landmines. They had laid out a simulated minefield with a large pile of shoes from the limbs they had lost, and called for more attention to the problem of unexploded ordenance. Another angry but nonviolent protest demonstration accused U.S. soldiers of breaking into a mosque and stealing money. They said that Saddam had never defiled mosques in such a way.

At the Maternity Hospital, Sr. Bushra told the delegation said that women patients cannot afford the fees for the hospital's services. However, the hospital does not turn anyone away. Women are often anaemic and malnourished which endangers them and their babies. She said it was good that Saddam was gone, but that conditions in the country were now worse than ever. The delegation also visited with a group of Dominican Brothers. They too talked about how conditions had worsened. They were angry that U.S. forces had preserved the Oil Ministry but had bombed all the other government ministries and communication facilities.