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FOR helps open the International Occupation Watch Center in Baghdad, Iraq July 21, 2003, New York, New York Just back from Iraq on a mission to open the Center, three U.S. based peace workers will report on Occupation Watch's first days of operations at a news conference in New York. Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, Gael Murphy of Code Pink: Women for Peace, and Rev. Patty Ackerman of Fellowship of Reconciliation. From Baghdad, by teleconference, they will be joined by Eman Ahmed Khammas and Nermeen Al-Mufti, who work at the Occupation Watch Center. The Center will enable ordinary Iraqis to inform people around the world about conditions under the U.S. occupation. "Americans have no idea of the total chaos in Iraq. Not only are there dozens of attacks on U.S. soldiers every single day, but regular Iraqis are suffering with no electricity in 120-degree heat and have no protection from thieves and other criminals, who are running rampant," said Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange. The Occupation Watch Center is supported by United for Peace and Justice, a major U.S. anti-war coalition with more than 600 member groups under its umbrella. "The Occupation Watch is a priority for our work because it will help the whole world understand what is going on in Iraq under U.S. occupation," commented Leslie Cagan, national coordinator of United for Peace and Justice. "It is a critical component in a campaign to bring peace to Iraq," she said. The Center is staffed by two Iraqi women and two international peace workers. It is also supported by many Iraqi exiles. "This is a critical effort of friendship and solidarity from the international community, as opposed to the aggression and occupation of the occupying forces," says Iraqi professor and Occupation Watch Advisory Board member Kamil Mahdi. "That is why my colleagues and I are giving it our full support."
WHO: American and Iraqi peace workers Further information is available on the web at: www.occupationwatch.org
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