Each month we summarize the different things we've done in a update which is sent out to the whole CPT constituency. I was responsible for the August update. I am posting it here if people are interested in learning about what kept us busy last month. I'm going to try to put together a post full of pictures soon. People have been asking to see pictures so I'll try to share some soon. I'm getting used to being here. It's interesting that I've only been in Iraq for six weeks and I already feel like life here is normal. I'm happy being here even though I miss family/friends back home. The first two weeks here there were only three people on team. Now there are five of us. The more the merrier. I enjoy social interaction so being around more people helps me not miss home as much. Love, Stefan.
On team during this time were: Chihchun Yuan, Garland Robertson, David Hovde, Stefan Warner, and Lukasz Firla
Visits, at home and away
The month started off with the team visiting the Zakhmatkeshan Iranian refugee camp. The team interviewed multiple people, mostly learning about the situation of Kurdish Iranians. David met with the priest of the local Chaldean Catholic church to learn about the situation of Christians now in Suleimaniya and some of the history of their experience in Iraq.
The team attended a special Parliament meeting in regards to the current plight of villagers who are affected by Iranian shelling.
Karwan, attorney shot the spring protests, and his fiancé visited the house to further discuss his foot after the shooting. He also shared about further harassment him and his family have received. A young man from the NGO, Preemptive Love Coalition visited the team. Preemptive Love Coalition works with the local medical community in dealing with young children who were born with heart defects. The team traveled to Rania where seven civilians were killed in an aerial attack by Turkish military. The team was invited to attend part of the funeral for the family. The team also interviewed partners from Rania about the attack.
Actions
Much of the team’s work this month dealt with organizing and carrying out public actions in response to Iranian shelling and Turkish bombings. Local partners expressed excitement about this because there has been little international pressure about the shelling and there is fear that the there would be repression if KRG citizens took part and/or organized these actions.
The first action took place in front of the Iranian consulate in Hawler, The action went well, a statement was read and given to the representative of the consulate. Media covered the event and spread back to Suleimaniya where someone recognized Garland on the street from the television and thanked him for the action. Local partners expressed interest in the team continuing the actions so the team planned another action in Hawler but in front of the KRG Parliament building. The action went well. The team invited some folks from the IDP camp to come and join the action. One man did join the action. He was able to speak with the media and three members of Parliament.
The team decided to organize another demonstration, this time in front of the U.S. Consulate. While planning the action, the family of seven was killed by the Turkish military. So the team decided to also stop by the Turkish consulate in Hawler to deliver a statement and speak with the Consul. The team joined by three Kurdish men set up across the street from the U.S. consulate for the action. After demonstrating for an hour, the group went across the street to speak with the Consul, who would not speak with anyone from the group. Garland and the team’s adviser spoke with the press in front of the Consulate until security demanded the group to leave.
Other Happenings
Lukasz Firla arrived from Europe in the latter part of August after doing outreach for CPT in the summer. A couple folks from the team visited Halabja to learn the history of the chemical bomb massacre in 1988. Team said good-bye to its beloved Doug Pritchard, who has faithfully been the team's project support coordinator for many years and welcomed its new temporary support coordinator Sylvia Morison. It was a bittersweet skype call.
