The United Nations
One would expect the UN to be a powerful advocate for the beleaguered men and women of Ashraf. They also have clear responsibilities towards the Ashraf residents, especially since the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) designated them as asylum seekers in September 2011. Sadly, this is not the case.
Our greater understanding of the realities of the situation follows from the resignation in 2012 of one senior official of the UN. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Tahar Boumedra for exposing a tale of false promises, false reporting and hidden agendas unworthy of such a high-profile international organisation. Martin Kobler, appointed UN Special Envoy for Iraq in August 2011, has many questions to answer regarding his actions and sympathies.
Dr Tahar Boumedra – Algerian, British based, human rights activist. Former Chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Human Rights Office and then adviser to the Secretary General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Martin Kobler, until his very public resignation as a matter of conscience in August 2012.
Reported to the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sub-committee on Oversight and Investigations - 13th September 2012 on Conditions at Camp Liberty: U.S. and Iraqi failure. Since then has been tireless in his efforts to call attention to the situation in Ashraf and Camp Liberty and call the United Nations to account.
Some, but not all, of his engagements are listed below. Full text of the speeches for these events can be found at www.isdciran.org.
Briefed British Parliamentary Committee for Iran Freedom, London - 29th November 2012
UK parliament briefing on the Truth about Ashraf, London - 11th December 2012
UK Parliament briefing on Martin Kobler’s conduct, London - 29th January 2013
International Conference looking at Change in Iran in 2013, Paris – 2nd February 2013
Condemnation of UNAMI and Martin Kobler after rocket attack on Liberty, Paris - 11th February 2013
UNHCR is responsible for protecting Camp Liberty residents, Geneva – 27th February 2013
Liberty serious threat to Ashraf residents, Geneva - 28th February 2013
Meeting in UN building to call for inquiry, New York - 21st March 2013
Briefing on The Objective of Ashraf Relocation and UNHCR onward responsibility, Brussels - 27th March 2013
Paris, 11th February 2013
“ I take responsibility for what I’m saying, aimed at New York. They should dispatch immediately a commission of enquiry not only to look into the circumstances of this massacre but also to look into how UNAMI and Kobler are handling this situation. This is an option. The second option is to take what I’m saying as defamation of the United Nations and take me to court. So, keeping quiet is not a solution, not an answer. I am a witness and I’m saying what I’m saying, taking responsibility. Take me to court or dispatch a commission of enquiry, but to keep quiet is unacceptable.”
New York, 21st March 2013
What has been reported to people behind me in the building is falsified. It is time for them, it is time for the UN if they want to restore their integrity, their credibility, it is time for them to say words of justice to Ashrafis. It is time for them to do something to save them from what they have been through and it is time to commit to what have been promised.
I requested repeatedly a commission of inquiry to look into what I have said publicly at different occasions. If they keep quiet, that means they are part of this process that has led into commission of crime against humanity. They must be held accountable and they must be stopped from doing these things and spending tax payers’ money.
So, it is time to stop this process and restore the integrity of the UN by launching this inquiry and hold those who misled the international community accountable..
Onward to Freedom, Paris Grand Gathering - 22 June 2013
Paris Grand Gathering - 27 June 2014
Adrianus Melkert, former leader of the Dutch Labour Party and Special Representative of UN Secretary General (2009 to 2011) when he was replaced by Martin Kobler. Very pleased to welcome him to the "family"
Paris Grand Gathering - 27 June 2014
Jean Ziegler– Author, social activist, committed to raising awareness of Third World poverty and Hunger and promote the Right to Food. Appointed deputy, UN Human Rights Advisory Committee, March 2008 - September 2012
“The 3,100 Iranians in Liberty all qualified as refugees under the UN’s charters and should by recognised as such.
By remaining silent on Camp Liberty and Ashraf, by not putting in place the mechanisms of protection for asylum seekers, the UN loses more of their credibility and their honour.”
UNHCR is responsible for protecting Camp Liberty residents, Geneva – 27th February 2013
