Another member of the cult of Rajavi was released from the bars of the cult and returned home. He was warmly welcomed by his family and also other families of Nejat Society whose children are still imprisoned in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty(TTL).
The welcome meeting was held at Nejat Society Mazandaran office where a number of former members of the MKO vigorously received Mr. Mohamamdi.
Another member of the cult of Rajavi was released from the bars of the cult and returned home. He was warmly welcomed by his family and also other families of Nejat Society whose children are still imprisoned in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty(TTL).
The welcome meeting was held at Nejat Society Mazandaran office where a number of former members of the MKO vigorously received Mr. Mohamamdi.
On Wednesday July18,2012 a number of families of Nejat Society Gilan Branch whose beloveds are captives of MKO leaders gathered together . the families participated the meeting from different cities of Gilan province including Rezvanshahr,Talesh,Asalem and Masal.The meeting held under the Title “ MEETING AT LIBERTY CAMP IS OUR ABSOLUTE RIGHT”.
While the ongoing Syrian civil war faces the most serious phases, the news media report of the intervention of terrorist group in the battle against Syrian government. As the international community apparently makes efforts to open peace talks between Assad government and the opposition, members of terrorist groups like Mujahedin Khalq Organization are mobilized to Syrian borders to join the opposition forces.
On August12, 2012 PressTV quoted an unnamed Syrian security official that five MKO members were arrested as they attempted to enter Syria. [1]
A few months earlier on May29, PressTV had also reported that the MKO was organizing operations in Syrian territory. PressTV quotes Mohamamd Javad Hasheminejad the director of Habilian Association – data base of 17000 terror victims in Iran- as saying, ”we have conclusive proof and documents showing that the MKO has a strong and significant presence in Syria.”[2]
The MKO acts as a mediator to funnel arms and money to Syrian armed opposition, according to Mr. Hasheminejad. [3]
Syrian officials warned about MKO’s training of terrorists in Turkey as well as the semi-antonymous Kurdistan region in Northern Iraq. [4]
In his famous article in New Yorker,”Our Men in Iran”, Seymour Hersh reported of an MKO training Camp in Nevada, America. Hersh spoke to various sources to verify his allegations for instance he writes of a senior Pentagon consultant who explained how the MKO got so much efficient for the West. ”Part of it is the training in Nevada. Part of it is logistical support in Kurdistan, and Part of it is in Iran,” he told Hersh. [5]
There are other reports on US-MKO-Kurds relations.
In the early August, Habilian reported of a meeting between a number of US and Turkish officers and some high ranking members of the MKO. The report cites from an Iraqi security source that the meeting decreed that Peshmarga forces transfer a number of MKO elements from Iraq to Turkey and then to the northern parts of Syria in order for these anti-Iran terrorists to join the so-called Free Syrian Army. [6]
Some areas in Iraqi Kurdistan have been turned into military bases to train armed groups fighting Syrian government, according to Arabic language Ur News Agency. [7]
Reportedly the MKO is not the only terrorist group which is activated in Syria to oppose Assad’s regime. “The most shocking development to come out of the conflict in Syria is that Washington is openly supporting Al-Qaida, militarilly, financially and politically,” writes Saman Mohammadi of the Excavator.[8]
Mohammadi also points out Toney Cartalucci’s article in which he writes of a Libyan terrorist group that is paid by the UK government to join Syrian Opposition. [9]
“Washington’s support for MeK terrorism against Iran and Al-Qaida terrorism against Syrian cannot be legally, morally and politically defended,” Mohammadi asserts.[10]
Terrorist groups including Al-Qaida and the MKO are notoriously known opportunists who lie in wait to fan a spark of division and crisis into fire.
Mazda Parsi
Reference:
[1] PressTV, Syrian security forces arrest five MKO terrorists: report, Aug12, 2012
[2]PressTV, MKO planning major terrorist operation in Syria: Report, May29, 2012
[3] ibid
[4] PressTV, Syrian security forces arrest five MKO terrorists: report, Aug12, 2012
[5]Hersh, Seymour, Our Men in Iran, The New Yorker, April6th, 2012
[6]Habilian Association, Report: MEK to join terrorists in Aleppo, Aug7, 2012
[8]Mohammadi, Saman, Washington’s Anti-terror Narrative Comes Unglued in Syria, The Excavator, Aug12, 2012
[9] ibid
[10] ibid
We are families of Mujahedin- E- Khalq organization members. We founded Nejat Society (Salvation Society) about a decade ago. We have worked here to help release our loved ones who are holding as hostages in the MEK.
We suffer long-term separation from our children who have been imprisoned at camps of Mujahedin Khalq Organization. The group does not allow us to meet them. We have been picketing in front of Camp Ashraf, Iraq for over two and a half years.
Appreciating the efforts by the UN, ICRC and particularly Mr. Martin Kubler who recently presented a roadmap to evacuate Camp Ashraf, we urge them and other related international bodies to pave the way for us to visit our loved ones.
Despite the tough work done by the UN and Iraqi government to move Ashraf residents to Temporary Transit Location (Camp Liberty), the MKO leaders seek to blockade or at least to slow the relocation process by excuse-making and trouble-mongering. They try to tighten the bars of the cult around the members by preventing them from visiting their families.
Where in the world people including prisoners are forbidden to visit their family and friends?
We want our children back in the warm embrace of the family.
The following is a list of requests Nejat families ask to be addressed:
1-that the 1200 people remaining at Camp Ashraf be moved to TTL as soon as possible.
2- That residents of Camp Liberty (TTL) be allowed to meet with their families, relatives and friends freely without the presence of the MKO officials.
3-That UNHCR help find third countries for residents of TTL and help them get residency or refugee there.
4- That residents be granted the right to make phone calls and send letters to their families. Some of them have been never allowed to contact their families for over three decades.
Once again, we support Mr. Martin Kobler’s roadmap on Camp Ashraf and condemn the MKO for the barriers it makes against the plan which complies with the rights of Ashraf and liberty residents and their families .
Sincerely,
The MKO is not cooperative with the UN and Iraqi government to vacate Camp Ashraf.
Following the stall in the relocation process of Ashraf residents to Temporary Transit Location (Camp Liberty], the United Nations mission in Iraq presented a roadmap to the government suggesting series of steps to complete the peaceful relocation of the camp residents.[1]
The MKO’s reluctance to leave Camp Ashraf concerned the UN, the GOI and even the US. Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq, Mr. Martin Kobler said:”our commitment is strictly humanitarian: to facilitate a voluntary temporary relocation of residents to Camp Hurriya as a first step resettlement to countries outside Iraq.”[2]
As Mr. Kobler says, the residents’ relocation is “voluntarily” and “temporary" but the group seems not to be a volunteer to leave the camp and about those who have resettled in TTL, they seem to intend to stay in the new camp for ever or at least not “temporary” for the time being. That’s why they want it to be as equipped as their former ”Ashraf City".
To halt the voluntary evacuation of Camp Ashraf, the MKO uses some repeatedly claimed excuses: they claim that TTL does not meet the residents’ basic humanitarian needs such as water shortage, power generators and air conditioning. However, numerous reports by UNAMI or US State Department confirm that the condition at camp Hurriya (TTL) is not as bad as what the group claims. On July 6th, during a call with reporters, State Department officials spoke on issues related to the MKO. Special Advisor to Secretary Clinton on Camp Ashraf, Ambassador Daniel Fried said that he considered some of the group’s demands legitimate but not all of them. ”Some of the MEK demands are reasonable. For example, given the hot weather in Iraq, they’ve requested more air conditioners”, he said. The Iraqi government has agreed to provide them, that is agreed to allow a special shipment of air conditioners from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty and this is being arranged as we speak,” Fried said, ”but it has been frustrating to deal with constantly shifting demands, many demands. We find that US Embassy and State Department and the UN will work to resolve problems and, a la wack-a-mole, you find that new ones- you’re constantly presented with new ones.”[3]
Once more on July23, Ambassador Martin Kobler stated that conditions at TTL comply with UN living standards. He stressed that the UN monitoring team observed the needed water and electricity of the Camp.[4]
While the MKO propaganda accuses the UN and DOS and GOI of committing “outrage” against Ashraf and Liberty residents, the officials of UN, US and Iraq urge on more cooperation to relocate the residents of Ashraf and to facilitate their further resettlement in third countries.
“Time is running out to find out a sustainable situation,” Mr. Kobler said, “Without prospect for resettlement the ongoing process runs the risk of collapsing.”[5]
Seemingly, the MKO is seeking the “collapse” of the UN-US- Iraqi plan to evacuate Camp Ashraf.
The GoI has made it clear that it wants Camp Ashraf shut down and the MeK which once fought alongside Hussein and is designated by the United States as a terrorist organization – to leave Iraq, according to the UN News Centre. [6]
Iraqi authorities have so far taken strong stance against the group’s defiance to leave Camp Ashraf. Iraqi government is now trying to use other legal ways to totally evacuate Camp Ashraf, reported IRNA. The government of Iraq has issued warnings to the group to get prepared for the camp closure and the transfer to TTL. [7]
Mayor of Al Khalis, the province where camp Ashraf is located also warned of possible expulsion of remaining MKO members at Camp Ashraf, according to Habilian Foundation. [8]
The most recent stance by GOI was declared in a conference held on July 31. "We have reached a dead end (with them) and the extension ends today, they have to move," Falih al-Fayadh, Iraq’s National Security Advisor, told a conference attended by the U.N. mission in Iraq, aid groups and Western and Arab diplomats. [9]
Martin Kobler also said in the conference that the UN is directly involved in the issue and called for finding a peaceful solution for the MKO issue in Iraq. [10]
It’s not a surprise that the MKO denounced the conference. National Council of Resistance, the propaganda arm of the group called the meeting "devoid of any credibility".
Earlier last month, the Unites Nations’ News Centre warned that a slowdown in the relocation process during May and June –and even July – prompted renewed tensions and recriminations. “The situation continues to be fragile”, said Ambassador Kobler.[11]
While the State Department supports the UN roadmap for Camp Ashraf closure, it stressed, ”the government of Iraq has recently taken constructive steps to advance this process.”[12]
The State Department reported of a cargo convoy of 300 additional air conditioners, several large water tanks, additional generators, and other goods transported from Ashraf to TTL to improve the residents’ quality of life at TTL. On July19, the Iraqi government transported to camp Hurriya three especially equipped vehicles for residents with disabilities. [13]
As the International community is seriously concerned about peaceful evacuation of Camp Ashraf and consequently resettlement of its residents in third countries, the MKO propaganda is working hard to undermine the UN efforts to resolve the problem. The group is not cooperative to advance any plan presented by either the UN or the GoI because it doesn’t actually want to leave Camp Ashraf.
Peaceful relocation appears not to be a good solution for the MKO leaders who prefer a forceful relocation. They seem to seek another bloody clash with Iraqi government –which has shown enough tolerance towards the presence of foreign terrorists in its territory so far. In their idea, victimization of some other dissident members of the group would be a useful way to both clear the cult off disloyal members and to feed the propaganda machine of the group. Lack of cooperative behavior by the side of the MKO proves its violent approach.
Daniel Benjamin, the State Department Coordinator for Counter terrorism official said,” this is MEK’s moment to show that it has taken a fundamentally different character.[…]And that really is going to be a very important demonstration of what the MEK’s orientation in the future will be.”[14]
By Mazda Parsi
Refrences:
[1] UN News Centre, UN puts forward roadmap for relocation of Iranian exiles from Camp in Iraq, July24, 2012
[2]ibid
[3] Lach, Eric, Iranian Group Advocated Tried to get State Department. Meeting under False Pretences, TPMMuckraker, July9th, 2012
[4] UN Webcast, Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq – Security Council Media stakeout , July19, 2012
[5]ibid
[6]ibid
[7]IRNA, Iraqi government issues deadline to evacuate Ashraf, July25, 2012
[8]Habilian Association, Iraqi official warns of people’s anger over delay of MKO expulsion, July26, 2012
[9]Reuters, Iraq says will force out Iran dissident group, July 31, 2012
[10] Press TV, Iraqi government requests for MKO evacuation, July 31, 2012
[11] UN News Centre, UN puts forward roadmap for relocation of Iranian exiles from Camp in Iraq, July24, 2012
[12]US State Department, US support for UN roadmap on Camp Ashraf, Press statement, July25, 2012
[13]ibid
[14]Lach, Eric, Iranian Group Advocated Tried to get State Department. Meeting under False Pretences, TPMMuckraker, July9th, 2012
Dear Mr. Kobler,
We are family members of Mujahedin Khalq organization forces. We founded Nejat Society (Salvation Society) about a decade ago. We have worked here to help release our loved ones who are held as hostages in the MKO.
With greetings and respect to you and your colleagues at the United Nations Organization.
Your peaceful actions to avoid violence and bloody conflict between the MKO cult and the Iraqi government in relocating of the group captives to Camp Liberty and eventually to the free world have provoked the group leaders’ anger and wrath against you!
Appreciating you and your honorable colleagues we should mention that your effort for peaceful relocation of 3400 men and women –stranded in the MKO’s cultic thoughts– to Camp Liberty and from there to the free world, is a humanitarian and highly admirable deed. As the families and victims of the cult we know that the cult leadership who has always welcomed bloodshed and tension between cult members and the Iraqi government, do not like your suggested roadmap for camp Ashraf closure and instead of showing their gratitude to you and the United Nations for your endeavors, they have consecutively created spurious and baseless tensions, problems, excuses and obstructions in this peaceful relocation process.
Mr. Ambassador,
We would be pleased to cooperate with the United Nations in their humanitarian commitment to resolve Camp Ashraf issue. The followings are some suggestions to boost the plan:
-All the people at camp Ashraf and Liberty to be interviewed separately and freely with UN and ICRC.
-The residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty to be allowed to meet their families and friends in a free atmosphere.
-The residents of the camps to be granted the right to choose for their own fate.
Sincerely,
Nejat Society
Inside This Issue:
1. UN puts forward roadmap for relocation of Iranian exiles from camp in Iraq
2. Lobbyists for listed Iranian terror group face new scrutiny
3. Who’s Hanging Out With The Iranian Terrorist Group Now?
4. Iranian Terrorist Group M.E.K. Pays Big to Make History Go Away
5. U.S. steps up warnings on Camp Ashraf in Iraq
6. America’s own terror group Mojahedin Khalq
7. Caught in a Bad Alliance
Download Pars Brief – Issue No.67
Download Pars Brief – Issue No.67
19 buses arrived at Camp Ashraf to transfer the sixth convoy of Ashraf Residents to Temporary transit Location (Camp Liberty).
On Tuesday after noon the buses arrived at the Camp, according to Nejat Society reporter.
Earlier Nejat Society reported of the exit of 28 trucks that moved the camp’s air conditioners, refrigerators and other equipments.
Families picketing in front of Camp Ashraf told of the company of 2 MKO members with the trucks.
Like previous transfers, the convoy is supposed to leave the camp at night.
Iraqi government has assigned July 20th as the deadline to shut down Camp Ashraf.
Time is running short to vacate camp Ashraf, according to the US State Department. Following the stall in the relocation process of the residents of Camp Ashraf, the State Department has 
several times warned the Mujahedin Khalq Organization that their time to leave the Camp is on the verge of deadline. [1]
After the June 18th special briefing on Camp Ashraf at the DOS, again on Friday July 6, the departments’ coordinator for counter terrorism, Daniel Benjamin said that the MKO should not assume that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will decide to remove the group from the US terrorism list, according to the Associated Press.
The MKO pushes its propaganda machine in hope of being delisted from the US Foreign Terrorist Organization list thanks to their multimillion-dollar campaign of western politicians. As part of strategy, supporters of the group have recruited prominent former lawmakers and government officials from both parties to appear at pro-MEK events in both the US and Europe. [2]
July 6th Washington Post’s piece on the problematic issue of the MKO reports of “new questions” that “have been raised about weather private meetings, conference calls and other contacts with officials at the State Department and elsewhere in the administration over the past year require the advocates’ registration as lobbyist or agents of a foreign entity.” [3]
“Under federal law advocates for foreign organizations are required to register as lobbyists and provide details about their clients and income. But the MEK supporters have not registered, which would require disclosing the amounts they are paid and the identities of officials with whom they meet.”[4]
Thus, advocating for the cause of the MKO includes paid speeches of US prominent politicians and their calls and meetings with the state department to represent the interests of the group.
This kind of activities simply meets the definition of lobbying under the foreign Agent Registration Act. [5]
The lobbyists for the MKO are actually acting for a foreign agent. As Washington Post says, federal lobbying law defines a foreign agent as someone who acts “at the order, request, or under the direction or control, of a foreign principal, or of a person any of whose activities are directly or indirectly supervised, directed, controlled, financed, or subsidized in whole or in part by a foreign principal.”[6]
Definitely the MKO is a foreign principal and those who run their cause in the US administration are foreign agents so FARA applies to them. But why such a disgrace seems so trivial to a foreign terrorist designated group’s supporters? Because of greed, cluelessness and poor judgment according to Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. [7]
Elizabeth Flack of the USNews writes in her piece on the group’s “big money to make history go away”, ”Ask any politicians who has supported the MEK ,though and they are unlikely to be able to tell you very much about the group or its history”. [8]
About greed it should be said that the money the MKO offers is obviously enough to tempt that big number of prominent former officials. Even if the MKO weren’t considered as an FTO the lobbyist of the group are required to register as their foreign agent,” A USNews investigation found that three major lobbying firms were together paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by US based Iranian-American community groups with ties to the MEK to drum up support for the resolution, writes Flock. [9]
As “skilled manipulators of public opinion”, according to RAND report, the MKO’s masterful use of propaganda is hard to resist for their targets.” there’s no doubt the MEK knows how to charm, writes Elizabeth Flock. She refers to the group’s spokesman Shahin Qobadi’s allegations and the time he spends on answering questions — actually manipulating the media. [10]
Karim Sadjadpour told the media that the MKO is working hard to take the gesture of a popular democratic opposition group.”The reality is that they’re neither popular nor democratic”, he said. [11]
Since the MEK’s American advocates obviously know so little about the group’s history, why should anyone else trust their judgment when they say that the group shouldn’t remain on the FTO list, wonders Daniel Larison of the American Conservative. [12]
As a matter of fact poor judgment is not only by the side of the group advocates but also is the MKO itself on wrong way.” While it initially looked as though the M.E.K. would be delisted in October, new comments from the White House suggest the group won’t be.”, concludes Flock. [13]
Earlier the DOS officials told reporters that t he MKO may have ‘over interpreted “the court’s ruling and they are “quite plainly, wrong” if they think that the Secretary Clinton is ruled by the court to delist them. [14]
Poor judgment is the explanation to justify the MKO’s expectation from the US administration and its supporter’s blind advocacy.
By Mazda Parsi
References:
[1]The Associated Press, US pushes Iran opposition to vacate Iraq Camp, July6, 2012
[2]Warrick,Joby, Julie, High-priced advocacy raises questions for supporters of Iranian exile group, the Washington Post,July6,2012
[3]ibid
[4]ibid
[5]ibid
[6]ibid
[7] Flock, Elizabeth, Iranian Terrorist Group MEK Pays Big to make History Go Away, the US News, July6, 2012
[8]ibid
[9]ibid
[10]ibid
[11]ibid
[12]Larison, Daniel ,The Greed, Cluelessness, and Poor Judgment of the MEK’s American Advocates, the American Conservative, July8, 2012
[13] Flock, Elizabeth, Iranian Terrorist Group MEK Pays Big to make History Go Away, the US News, July6, 2012
[14] Special Briefing, Background Briefing: Senior Administration Officials on Camp Ashraf, June 18, 2012
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/06/193141.htm
