WE HADN’T HEARD FROM DONNA MULHEARN FOR SOME DAYS, AND WERE, TO PUT IT MILDLY, WORRIED. HERE’S HER REPORT FROM FALLUJAH. (I know, that town is spelled differently very day!) (we just pass it on, I ain’t there!)
CoWARd’s blah and Hermann Downer’s) "Ms Mulhearn is being reckless and is only in Iraq for political reasons"
gives A PERFECT DESCRIPTION – NOT OF DONNA, OF HER WORK (DURING THE PAST 5 MONTHS RUNNING A HOME FOR A SCORE OF HOMELESS IRAQI KIDS IN BAGHDAD, DRIVING INTO FALLUJA WITH MEDICINES AND BRINGING OUT WOUNDED BECAUSE ONLY THE WHITE FACES GAVE THEIR AMBULANCE / BUSSES A CHANCE OF NOT BEING KILLED BY THE US MARINES –
but of what passes for "thinking" by Oz politicians. Other comments are not necessary. max ps I’ve just been told that Donna intends to stay, as she planned, in Iraq working for another month, six months in all. Pps: of course CoWARd hopes to keep other Ozzies, the Soldiers, there for 41 years, to occupy the country one year longer than the Brits did (1918-1958)
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----- Original Message -----

From: Donna Mulhearn

Subject: [The Pilgrim] Fallujah - shot at, captured, but okay!


Dear friends,

I'm back from Fallujah and it was quite an experience.

I was shot at by American soldiers when we tried to accompany an ambulance containing medical aid across the city. Later we were taken by local Mujahadeen soldiers and held for 24 hours. They treated us with respect and kindness.

I was appalled by the situation in Falluja and the plight of its people. I'm very glad I went there to witness this and to show solidarity with the people there.

I'll write stories about all this to send you, but in the meantime, just wanted to send you this media statement which is a short summary about the two main events for me.

AUSTRALIAN AID WORKER IN IRAQ RELEASED

April 15, 2004

Australian aid worker in Iraq, Donna Mulhearn, has been released by insurgents in Fallujah after being held captive 24 hours. Donna said she and three other internationals, were treated with respect by their captors and were released without harm . Donna was in Fallujah with an international team of humanitarian workers who went to the beseiged town to help distribute medical aid and evacuate wounded civilians.

She was shot at four times by American soldiers while trying to do this work.

It was when leaving the city on Wednesday afternoon that the team was taken captive by local Mujahadeen fighters.

"We were interrogated and our belongings were searched, but we were treated very well, especially when they heard about the work we were doing" Donna said.

‘I realised quickly that my Prime Minister, John Howard, had placed me in great danger by making inflammatory comments about the war just a few days ago. These comments were played all over Iraqi TV and Arab networks. "I was questioned about Australia’s involvement in the war, about the current role of Australian soldiers and the views of Australians at home. They asked why Australia wants to hurt Iraqi people.

"I felt a great deal of shame about how my blindly my Government follows the lead of the US in terms of foreign policy.

"As the bombing and gunfire continued around Fallujah, I realised that I was not the captive. These people were, the ones who are caught in this hellish situation."

"All our captors had brothers and fathers killed in Falluja in recent days, yet they showed no anger or retribution. They showed us their humanity. They were gentle and grateful for the work we were doing."

Donna said the situation in Fallujah was reaching the point of an humanitarian crisis with many families stuck in the city with few supplies because US soldiers would not allow them to leave.

"Even during a so-called cease-fire, Fallujah was under siege with bombing, missiles and mortar attacks," she said. "But the worst form of attack was the US snipers hiding on rooftops who kill hundreds of civilians as they tried to move about the city."

Donna said she and her three colleagues were shot at by American soldiers four times while trying to transport an ambulance full of medical aid to a clinic.

"We were clearly unarmed civilian workers, we had our hands in the air, with our passports in our hands. We used a loud speaker to communicate with them, but they responded with gunfire."

HERE IS HOW "OUR" ABC REPORTS THE ABOVE



Australian hostage foolhardy: Howard. 16/04/2004. ABC News Online

Last Update: Friday, April 16, 2004. 4:07pm (AEST)
Donna Mulhearn feared for her life when captured in Fallujah (ABC TV)


Australian hostage foolhardy: Howard
Prime Minister John Howard says Donna Mulhearn, the Australian woman who was abducted in Iraq, is risking others' lives by staying in the strife-torn country.
Mr Howard says Ms Mulhearn was careless and foolhardy to ignore the Government's warning for Australians to stay out of Iraq and has given a stern warning to others planning to visit the country. (WHAT, HE WANTS THE OZ TROOPS OUT NOW ?)
"If you behave in a foolhardy fashion in an unsafe environment, then the likelihood of you being hurt, captured or even killed is the greater," he said.
His comments have been echoed by the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, who says Ms Mulhearn is being reckless and is only in Iraq for political reasons. RUNNING A HOME FOR STREET CHILDREN ! YOU SAID IT, HERMANN !
Ms Mulhearn says she feared for her life because of the Federal Government's support for the war in the country.
She had been distributing MEDICAL aid in Fallujah when she was taken hostage by militiamen. She was released unharmed about 20 hours later.
Ms Mulhearn says initially she held grave fears for her safety.
"It was a bit hairy at first of course when they got out the rocket propelled grenades and the machine guns and pointed them in our faces and it was awkward because they didn't know who we were," she said.
"We didn't know who they were so there was a few moments there where you just don't know what they're going to do."