News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: POW-MIA Recognition Day - Kuwait

Date: September 17, 1999

National Recognition Day: Letter from Kuwait
From: FRANCO SABBADIN
To: Advocacy And Intelligence Index

Dear Sirs:

We enclose copy of a letter sent today to Mr. Robert L. Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, through the US Embassy in Kuwait.

Best regards,

Franco Sabbadin
Consultant
National Committee for Missing & POWs Affairs
State of Kuwait

Kuwait, 15 September 1999

\Mr. Robert L. Jones
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs
Department of Defense
US Government

Dear Sir:

On occasion of the National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the State of Kuwait, families of Kuwaiti POWs held in Iraq, express warm solidarity to families of American POWs and missing servicemen.

Since more than 25 years these families are experiencing an ordeal that is hardly describable in common words. In a special document by the Council of Europe, dated 1984, it is called "sustained shock, protracted state of potential crisis"; whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) labeled it as "agonizing limbo, intolerable distress, impossible to live a normal life."

We must say that we know how it feels. More than 600 families in Kuwait are enduring the same terrible anguish since nine long years; that is, since the Iraqi military forces invaded Kuwait in a unilateral act of aggression that was condemned all over the world.

Like for American servicemen in Southeast Asia, also the humanitarian tragedy of Kuwaiti and other POWs could have been averted, or at least greatly attenuated, if Iraq had honored her obligations under International Humanitarian Law. But the Iraqi regime prevented the ICRC and similar humanitarian organizations from entering Kuwait during occupation and from visiting all POWs held in Iraq after Liberation. Until now, Iraq did not allow the ICRC to perform its humanitarian tasks in Iraqi prisons.

Moreover, since January 1999, Iraq is boycotting the official meetings aiming at shedding light on the fate of our POWs, known as meetings of the Tripartite Commission and of the Technical Sub-Committee, held under ICRC chairmanship on strictly humanitarian grounds.

In this condition, families of more than 600 Kuwaiti and other POWs can only hope in resolute international pressure on the Iraqi regime to bring an end to their long-lasting tribulation.

As our brotherly nations approach the turn of the century, and the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions is being universally celebrated, our thoughts go to American, Kuwaiti and any other POWs under prolonged or unjustified detention anywhere in the world, and to their broken hearted families. Our humanitarian appeals go to whoever is in a position to end or at least alleviate their deep agony. Our wishes go to future generations, hoping that they draw due lessons from past and current situations, and work untiringly to prevent the same crimes from occurring ever again.

Yours sincerely,
Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shaheen
Vice-Chairman