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PRESS RELEASE
COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY
http://www.iraqcoalition.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joe Pally
Tel: 1-914-360-3777
Shane Wolfe
Tel: 1-914-822-4935
AMBASSADOR BREMER ANNOUNCES CREATION OF SPECIAL TASK FORCE
ON COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS OF THE FORMER REGIME
Dr. Malek Dohan Al-Hassan, President of the Iraqi Bar Association, to Serve as
Chairman
Baghdad, Iraq…May 26, 2004 – Citing the countless Iraqi families who suffered
under the regime of Saddam Hussein, today Ambassador L. Paul Bremer announced
the creation of a special task force on compensation for victims of the former
regime. Dr. Malek Dohan Al Hassan President of the Iraqi Bar Association has
accepted Ambassador Bremer’s invitation to head the task force.
“No government or any other institution can erase these past abuses or remove
the scars they have left behind. However, compensation can provide an element of
justice to those who suffered under Saddam’s brutally oppressive regime,” said
Bremer.
Many Iraqis lost jobs, were imprisoned, or were executed because they were
accused of having opposed the regime, refused to join the Ba’ath party, or
simply were related to someone considered by the previous regime as an opponent.
The history of these abuses is complex and involves many thousands of people.
The Coalition is establishing this task force to ensure the responsibility for
judgments about how justice is to be done will be taken by Iraqis. CPA is also
setting aside initial funding to bolster this important effort on behalf of the
Iraqi people.
Dr. Malek along with two assistants that he will select, will work with victims
and with ministries to define the types of injustice for which compensation
should be provided – other than those issues already being dealt with in other
areas such as the Iraqi Property Claims Commission (IPCC). It will also consider
how individuals can demonstrate their eligibility for such compensation, make
recommendations about the level of compensation that should be received, and the
mechanisms through which it should be delivered. In order for this to be a fully
Iraqi process, the CPA has asked that Dr. Malek’s report be concluded by August
1, 2004 so that it can be provided to the Interim Government as soon as possible
after the transfer of sovereignty. Iraq’s leaders, in the best interests of the
Iraqi people, will determine how to act on the recommendations.
The Coalition will reserve $25 million for initial compensation payments to
victims as well as the operating costs of the Task Force.
If you have any questions, please email Joe Pally at
pallyj@orha.centcom.mil
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