Personal Stories (Iraq)
Lesson for Iraq in the Asian Soccer Cup
by Caesar Chelala
NEW YORK, New York - Two very dissimilar events with contradictory results took place recently in Iraq, practically simultaneously: the withdrawal of five Sunni ministers from the so-called unity government of Nouri al-Maliki and the victory of the Iraqi national soccer team over Saudi Arabia for the Asian Soccer Cup. The first is indicative of the battle for power being waged among the factions present in that troubled country, while the second succeeded precisely because those factions were able to overcome th eir deep-seated differences and work towards a common goal. The politicians could learn a valuable lesson from the latter.
U.S. War Resister Cases Work Their Way Through Canadian Courts
 Canada's Federal Court of Appeal prepares to hear appeals from resisters Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey. Both are appealing April 2006 Federal Court decisions which upheld findings by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) that the Americans did not qualify as refugees under the 1951 Geneva Convention. Hinzman and Huey both face court martial and up to five years in jail as deserters if they are ordered returned to the U.S. Nevertheless, the IRB rejected their arguments that they did not want to participate in an illegal war and that they would be punished for acting on their conscience. |
CPT rejoices in the release of our peacemakers
Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad. Christian Peacemaker Teams rejoices with their families and friends at the expectation of their return to their loved ones and community. Together we have endured uncertainty, hope, fear, grief and now joy during the four months since they were abducted in Baghdad.
by Doug Pritchard and Carol Rose (co-directors of Christian Peacemaker Teams)
Iraq: Looking down the barrel of a gun
by Greg Rollins
BAGHDAD - Before I tell you this story, I want to assure you that the following does not happen to Christian Peacemaker Teams staffers often, especially here in Iraq. Please do not worry for any reason.
At the end of our street there is a small gang, the kind with nothing better to do but loiter around shops and in front of homes. Often they are friendly with us, but this evening they had something else on their minds. It was well after dark. The heat rose off the pavement as it remembered the sun. CPTers Sheila Provencher, Stewart Vriesinga, and I were on our way home from the ice cream shop. As we passed the gang at the far end of the block, they stood in our way. Then they surrounded us. I didn't trust their smiles.
One of them pulled out a gun. At first we weren't alarmed. It's common to see guns in Iraq. All Iraqis have at least one for protection - even the church we attend has armed guards. But this gun and the smile on the boy's face were ill-matched.
