[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CAMP ASHRAF IN IRAQ

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                         HON. DANIEL E. LUNGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, the clock is 
running down for the 3,400 residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq. I share 
the concern of many of my constituents and others across our country 
and around the world for the status of those living in Camp Ashraf. It 
is my fear that if the Iraqi government follows through on their threat 
to shut down the camp that we could be facing a monumental human rights 
tragedy. I have joined many of my colleagues in calling for access to 
the camp by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It is 
indefensible that UNHCR has not been given access to those in Ashraf. 
This in itself seems to be a violation of international human rights 
law.
  It is imperative that the government of Iraq revoke its year end 
deadline for the closure of Ashraf. UNHCR must be provided sufficient 
time to process each and every one of these individual cases. 
Regardless of the State Department's position concerning the legal 
status of MEK, the department has both a moral and legal responsibility 
to do everything in its power to ensure that UNHCR is provided access 
to the camp.
  It is my hope that when Prime Minister Maliki visits with President 
Obama, that he will agree to remove the December 31 deadline for the 
closure of Camp Ashraf. There is still time to avoid a catastrophe and 
the Secretary of State should act with the assurance that decisive 
action will have the support of Members of Congress on both sides of 
the aisle.

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