Amnesty International on current situation in occupied Iraq

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release Monday June 23, 2003 13:00 by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign corkantiwar at hotmail dot com 087 1258325

News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International

AI INDEX: MDE 14/136/2003 20 June 2003

Iraq: Human rights must be foundation for rebuilding


Amman - On the eve of a major conference being organised by the World
Economic Forum, where the future and reconstruction of Iraq will be
discussed, Amnesty International today expressed concern over the
current human rights situation in Iraq, saying: " respect for
human rights must be the foundation to achieve security, peace and
freedom in Iraq."

Delegates returning from Iraq reported that the occupying powers, the
United States and the United Kingdom, are not living up to their
responsibilities in ensuring the security and welfare of the Iraqi
population. The organization is also concerned that more than two
thousand Iraqis remain in detention in the custody of the occupying
powers in the airport and other holding centres with no access to
family or lawyers, and with no access to judicial review.

"The notorious Abu Ghraib Prison, centre of torture and mass
executions under Saddam Hussein, is yet again a prison cut off from
the outside world. On 13 June there was a protest in this prison
against indefinite detention without trial.Troops from the occupying
powers killed one person and wounded seven." Dr Abdel Salam
Sidahmed, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East
Program, reported following his visit to Iraq.

In a newly released report, On whose behalf? Human rights and the
economic reconstruction process in Iraq (Full report online at http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabb15aaYLSYbdR4zmb/
), Amnesty International argues that: "the goal of
reconstruction should be to ensure the effective protection and
realization of all human rights for all Iraqis. Reconstruction will
only succeed if human rights are at the centre of the process."
The report raises numerous concerns addressed to the occupying powers
and to private companies who are rushing to enter or invest in Iraq.

UN Security Council resolution 1483 of 22 May 2003 lifted the
long-standing sanctions regime and provided an international
framework for the reconstruction process. However, the
"Development Fund" mentioned in the resolution, and where
monies raised from oil sales will be deposited, is under the clear
control of the occupying powers, and even the "independent"
body mandated to oversee expenditures from the Fund, is not directly
accountable at an international level.

"Without some international accountability, there is no
assurance that either body will direct reconstruction efforts towards
the protection of human rights," said Amnesty International,
"or, at a minimum, ensure that development projects do not end
up causing human rights abuses."

There was a good deal of talk from the coalition forces about the
human rights of the Iraqi people before the war. "If this was
genuine, the US and UK should now make clear that projects directed
at human rights protection will receive priority attention in the
reconstruction process" said Amnesty. They should also commit to
including information on how disbursements made under the Fund
further human rights protection in their reports to the Security
Council.

The conference is being billed as looking to the future: "It is
worrying, therefore, that human rights issues are not even mentioned
on the detailed, 8 page agenda," said David Petrasek, Senior
Director of Amnesty International's Policy and Evaluation Program.
"We are attending the meeting to insist that there can be no
rebuilding without a foundation comprising the rule of law, equality
and respect for all human rights of all Iraqis. The successful
reconstruction of Iraq demands too that there is effective justice
for the hundreds of thousands of victims of past human rights abuses
in Iraq."

"Reconstruction is not just a narrow economic matter,"
added Amnesty International. Particularly in a situation of
occupation, the rebuilding process will necessarily impact greatly on
political and social issues, and on human rights across the board.
"There must be justice for past abuses, but what is needed also
is an assurance of social justice in the future."

The report raises concerns about a lack of transparency in the
awarding of contacts and the reconstruction process, arguing that the
lack of information denies Iraqis their right to participate in
making decisions on important issues including the rebuilding of the
justice system, and projects in relation to policing, health, and
education.

The current situation in Iraq shows the occupying powers failing to
meet the security and personal safety needs of the Iraqi people.
Hundreds of thousands of families are struggling to meet the
requirements of daily life without salaries or pensions. In this
situation, people are increasingly frustrated and do not know who to
turn to with their concerns or complaints.

"It is almost impossible to find out the names of the frequently
changing officials who are running government departments and there
appears to be no system of regular communication between the Office
of the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi
population," said Amnesty International.

"The occupying powers must make an explicit commitment to
involve Iraqis in decision-making related to the reconstruction.
Iraqis themselves, ideally through representative institutions, ought
to make decisions on rebuilding, on foreign investment, and on the
selling of state assets," the organization said. Women too must
be fully involved in the reconstruction process, as a necessary
condition for the successful and peaceful rebuilding of Iraq.

The report directs several concerns at private companies, noting in
particular the fear that company practices should not undermine
support for the rule of law through encouraging corruption. Amnesty
International is asking companies to measure their conduct against a
new set of UN human rights principles drafted especially for
business, and to avoid the arbitrary displacement of people that
large infrastructure projects can often lead to. The report also
urges companies to observe internationally-recognized security norms,
in particular in employment and instructions to security personnel,
and to avoid any kind of discrimination in their employment of
Iraqis.

"A failure to fully integrate reforms to protect human rights in
the process of change would be a betrayal of the people of
Iraq." Amnesty International concluded.


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Further information:

Report: On Whose behalf? Human rights and the economic reconstruction
process in Iraq
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabb15aaYLSYbdR4zmb/


Take action: Tell the US and UK that oil revenues must be used to
secure rights of all Iraqis
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabb15aaYLSZbdR4zmb/


Human Rights and the Economic Reconstruction Process in Iraq
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabb15aaYLS0bdR4zmb/


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