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After UN Denial, Boumedra Tells ICP Kobler Chose Photos, Dropped Inquiry

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 24 -- Two days ago the UN was asked by Inner City Press about the statement by former UN Mission in Iraq human rights officer Tahar Boumedra that current Special Representative of the Secretary General in Iraq Martin Kobler told him to only send out "positive photographs" and to "falsify reports" about Camp Ashraf.

  Yesterday the UN denied it.

   Now, Mr. Boumedra has provided more detail to Inner City Press.

   In a 12 paragraph statement to Inner City Press, below, Boumedra specifies that it was the December 2011 photographs that Kobler cherry-picked, and Boumedra states that Kobler repeatedly told him that the residents of the camp were "terrorists."

   Boumedra says that a UN shelter specialists was pressured into declaring the facilities adequate. He says that a Memorandum of Understanding was watered down to drop reference to human rights law, and that Kobler stopped pushing for an inquiry into killings in the camp in early 2011.

  Back on August 22, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky about Boumedra's claim that he was ordered to only take photographs of the positive things and essentially file inaccurate reports: "I've tried to get an answer from Mr. Kobler and others. Do they deny that these orders were given?"

Nesirky replied that "it’s regrettable that such a distorted picture is being presented of the efforts of the United Nations in Iraq to resolve peacefully the situation of Camp Ashraf," then that he'd "just go back to what’s already been said, and that’s that it is a distorted picture." Video here from Minute 46.

   But, Inner City Press asked, what is the UN saying is distorted: the picture of conditions in the camp, or the claim that a UN official, previously in charge of human rights, was told to "doctor" reports?

   On August 23, the UN provided a more direct denial, which Inner City Press immediately added as an update, that

"Matthew, You asked specifically about allegations by a former staff member of misleading use of photos or 'doctoring' of reports in connection with the work of the UN on Camp Ashraf. We would like to state very clearly that such allegations are false."

  Inner City Press published the UN's denial, but subsequently received a direct reply from Boumedra:

Date: Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 7:29 PM
From: Tahar Boumedra
To: Inner City Press

I hereby reiterate and confirm:

1. That SRSG has instructed us to doctor the photos taken in December 2011 for the purpose of convincing Ashraf residents that Camp liberty meets international standards. A large number of UNAMI staff were involved in this operation under the lead of the UNAMI Public Information Office.

2. Together with PIO, HRO, Military advisors, photos were taken and the SRSG in person made the selection.

3. I was the person who delivered the SRSG message to the Ashrafis in December 2011. The message was written by the SRSG himself. It was written to basically say it is all well in Camp Liberty and you must trust me.

4. SRSG repeatedly said to the residents of Ashraf and their representatives in Paris that he will never sign any document on the relocation without the agreement of the Ashrafis then he signed despite of the protest of Ashrafis and their leadership.

5. SRSG repeatedly said he is an impartial facilitator, yet he deals with the residents on the presumption that they are guilty of terrorism. Whenever I raised concern about the residents fundamental human rights, he reminds me that they are terrorists.

6. A shelter specialist was brought in, to certify that Camp Liberty meets international standards because the UNHCR wouldn't do it. The SRSG reminded him on a daily basis that he is there to certify. When the specialist refused to certify, an agreed ambiguous text was issues by the SRSG saying the infrastructure of CL meets the needs of the population of Ashraf.

7. Earlier drafts of the MOU had a preamble stating the purpose of the relocation and making reference to international law, human rights law and Iraqi international obligations. The Government of Iraq (GoI) refused such reference. We compromised on the instruction of the SRSG by removing the MOU preamble and inserted a clause to the effect that GoI will not recognize the outcome of the UNHCR refugee status determination process without the knowledge of the Ashrafis and the diplomatic community.

8. The Iraqi authorities declared openly that we will make their life "unbearable" to compel them to leave Iraq. National Security Adviser say openly and repeatedly that GoI will not observe UN human rights and humanitarian standards in relation to the Ashraf residents. UNAMI reports to the SG and the SC that the GOI is treating the Ashrafis humanely and is upholding its international obligations.

9. On 15 April 2011, UNAMI under the leadership of Former SRSG Ad Melkert and the HCHR issued a statement requesting the GoI to establish an independent commission of inquiry to probe into the killing of 36 Ashrafis. Throughout this relocation process, SRSG Kobler had never mentioned the establishment of the commission of inquiry for fear of upsetting PM Maliki. Yet we report that GoI is meeting its international obligations.

10. The diplomatic community, lawyers, MEPs, MPs, NGOs are banned from visiting both Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty, except Consular visits (visits to nationals and affiliated residents). This an indication that things are not as positive as SRSG Kobler wants to present them. Yet we do not hear any protest from the diplomatic community . While SRSG reports that there are visits of diplomats.

11. Ashrafis in both Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty despite the restrictions imposed on their contacts with the outside world, are providing for themselves and pay the market price. SRSG reports make it as if the GOI is providing for them and that they are getting more than the average Iraqi citizen. this misleading.

12. If the UN HQ is questioning my statements or have doubts about them, I invite them to send an independent person or persons to investigate and look into the real objectives of the relocation plan. I worn that the objectives are more cynical than what has been reported.

Tahar Boumedra

   So, Boumedra now specifies that it was the December 2011 photographs that Kobler cherry-picked, and states that Kobler repeatedly told him that the residents of the camp were "terrorists."

  He says that a UN shelter specialists was pressured into declaring the facilities adequate. He says that a Memorandum of Understanding was watered down to drop reference to human rights law, and that Kobler stopped pushing for an inquiry into killings in the camp in early 2011.

   What does the UN say? Watch this site.