Comments on: Iraqi employees campaign latest MP responses

By: douglas clark

douglas clark — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:40:32 +0000

I have had the following response from Tom Harris, who is my constituency MP for Glasgow South.

“Dear Mr Clark,

Thank you for contacting me on the matter of Iraqi civillians working for British Forces in Southern Iraq.

I think it is important to establish that many thousands of Iraqis have volunteered to work for and with British forces in the post-war period and that their contribution has been invaluable. It is estimated that some 15,000 civillians have in some capacity worked in support of or in tandem with our troops and agencies in the region.

As you know, it has recently been reported that thos civillians employed in an Interpretation capacity have unfortunately become subject to higher than average risk of harm as they are seen by some factions as ‘collaborators’. These people have provided an essential service and this has not gone unnoticed.They are held in the highest esteem by the people with whom they work and are credited with wanting to do the best for their country in it’s troubled infancy.

Obviously the security situation in Iraq is volatile and involves frequent tragic losses and casulaties in all quarters. Although the wellbeing of those interpreterss is not taken lightly they are subject to the same risks as the troops with whom they patrol.

Recent reports suggest that th interpreters and their families would be in gerat danger upon the withdrawal of British troops and that they would receiv no special treatment in their requests for asylum in the UK. It is my understanding that this initial position was based upon the potential volume of asylum applications from those thousands of Iraqis mentined above and that individual cases of the interpreters would be considered on their merits and in conjunction with the many glowing reports and recommendations from senior armed service Officers.

The Secretaries of State for Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs are currently preparing reports that will be presented to ministers in the autumn. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also said that cases of 91 Iraqi interpreters will be looked at again.

I will of course write to both the Rt Hon Des Browne MP and the Rt Hon David Milibrand MP to ask for an update on the current situation and to convey your concerns and will write to you again as soon as I receive a response.

Thank you again for contacting me on this issue.

Best wishes

Tom Harris MP.”

Which, I think is a reasonable response. Any typing errors are mine and were not in the original.

By: dsquared

dsquared — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:04:22 +0000

Chris Bertram’s had a response from Stephen Williams (Bristol West)

http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=3699020&postID=9163607531550605283&isPopup=true

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:14:25 +0000

One has to say that this procrastination is all of a piece with what the British Legion describes as the government having boken the covenant with ‘our’ armed forces…
As an interviewee on Five Live hinted, there’s a cold blooded common sense reason for dong everything we can to protect those who have rendered signal service to assist our forces in their work – which is what interpreters do, after all.
I would like to think that there is still a sufficient ability to conceive of the moral standing, as well as the debt of honour that we owe to these interpreters [and their families, come to that]
In other words, I contend that for our own continuing self respect as a nation in the world, we should acknowledge and pay our debts of honour- and do so promptly.
Yes, if government paper pushers analyse and procrastinate long enough, the majority will be dead, which will solve what is perceived purely as a problem by the paper people. To allow this to happen would be to undermine any good purpose which might currently be claimed in our presence in that beleaguered country.
Yes, I am writing to my MP to this effect.
Thank you, to those who began and are sustaining this campaign.

By: In Actual Fact

In Actual Fact — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:42:49 +0000

Charlotte, even.

By: In Actual Fact

In Actual Fact — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:41:28 +0000

Don’t know if anyone else has picked her up but got this from Charoltte Atkins, LAB, Staffordshire Moorlands…

“I entirely agree. We must protect and look after the Iraqi interpreters and others who worked with our troops. I have already written to the Foreign Secretary on this issue but am happy to take this issue up again as I focussed more particularly on the interpreters before.“

By: Ministry of Truth » Blog Archive » The End of the Argument

Ministry of Truth » Blog Archive » The End of the Argument — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:12:34 +0000

[...] Let us know in the comments if you get a response. [...]

By: Dan Hardie

Dan Hardie — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:06:09 +0000

He’s no longer an MP, but I should also add that Paddy Ashdown has emailed me several times- he strongly supports the campaign. He would speak at the meeting but is, alas, out of the country on the 9th October- he will be seeking to raise the matter in other ways. Good news.

By: Dan Hardie

Dan Hardie — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:04:30 +0000

Two more, by email.

Michael Howard (Conservative, Folkestone and Hythe): ‘I am extremely sympathetic to your cause.’ He will attend the meeting if he is in the country.

Malcolm Bruce (Lib Dem, Gordon) ‘is fully supportive of the aims of the ‘We can’t turn them away’ campaign, and will be seeking to consult with colleagues regarding this matter on his return.’

By: Pickled Politics » Iraqi Employees campaign goes to Parliament

Pickled Politics » Iraqi Employees campaign goes to Parliament — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:34:47 +0000

[...] an impact. So: 1) Look up your MP. 2) Write to them. (draft letter) 3) Tell us about your MPÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s response. 4) Spread the [...]

By: Dan Hardie

Dan Hardie — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:04:08 +0000

A reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, wrote to Theresa Villiers (Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury) and got a very positive reply:

‘I agree that Britain has a moral duty to protect those whose life is in
danger because of service they have given to this country and our armed
forces…It only remains now for the current government to change its position and
adopt a more reasonable position.

‘I have also written to Mr Liam Byrne, Minister of State for Nationality,
Citizenship and Immigration to make him aware of your concerns. I will of
course be in touch again once I have received his response.’

Bingo.