BBC Thrown Out of Rented House in Basra - British Army Base Attacked - pictures
E.J | 25.02.2004 12:49
Here are some pics taken following a mortar attack on CPA South at approximately 5am three days ago. CPA South had been on 'High Alert' for three days prior to the attack. The bombing, in which noone was killed or injured, marks three days of threats and planted bombs in the now increasingly volatile governorate of Barsa. People are getting tired of the occupation and gaining more energy, strength and organisational skills following their trauma under the regime, in order to challenge it.
Indeed, before I left, I witnessed open social hostility to British troops with pedestrians shouting and gesturing at passing jeeps and children throwing rocks.
The BBC were also evicted from their house which is virtually attached, like its ideological position and reporting, to the CPA South. The landlady, a Palestinian woman, informed a friend in Basra that the female reporters had violated her house rules and cultural propriety by bring men home at night. She also stated that at times, at least one of the reporters appeared to be drunk but did not smell of alcohol...
The BBC staff she said, were also demanding. The BBC's reputation amongst Basra residents is one of 'occupation collaborators' due to their lack of any critique of the Occupation or CPA and its lack of grassroots reportage. People also say that the BBC's translator was rude and much disliked and distrusted.
Its no secret that translators are distrusted throughout the country - if they were translating for foreigners under the regime they either were themselves or had to report directly to the Mokhabarat - Secret Intelligence, of which there were 5 separate agencies in Iraq. Many of these secret officers, responsible for the deaths of resistors to the regime, have been re-employed by the Occupation, along with key industrial managers, directors, government ministry, police and military employees, much to the disgust and perpetuated oppression of ordinary working class Iraqi people.
The former home of the BBC may now be rented by a Kuwaiti construction company manager.
The BBC were also evicted from their house which is virtually attached, like its ideological position and reporting, to the CPA South. The landlady, a Palestinian woman, informed a friend in Basra that the female reporters had violated her house rules and cultural propriety by bring men home at night. She also stated that at times, at least one of the reporters appeared to be drunk but did not smell of alcohol...
The BBC staff she said, were also demanding. The BBC's reputation amongst Basra residents is one of 'occupation collaborators' due to their lack of any critique of the Occupation or CPA and its lack of grassroots reportage. People also say that the BBC's translator was rude and much disliked and distrusted.
Its no secret that translators are distrusted throughout the country - if they were translating for foreigners under the regime they either were themselves or had to report directly to the Mokhabarat - Secret Intelligence, of which there were 5 separate agencies in Iraq. Many of these secret officers, responsible for the deaths of resistors to the regime, have been re-employed by the Occupation, along with key industrial managers, directors, government ministry, police and military employees, much to the disgust and perpetuated oppression of ordinary working class Iraqi people.
The former home of the BBC may now be rented by a Kuwaiti construction company manager.
E.J
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