Apologies for cross posting

________________________________

From: Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kenna, Stephanie
Sent: 09 August 2007 08:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE IRAQ
NATIONAL LIBRARY AND ARCHIVE
Importance: High


STOP PRESS
 
I have just received the urgent message below from Dr Saad Eskander,
the Director of the Iraq National Library and Archive (INLA) in Baghdad.


According to Eskander, a group of Iraqi national guards broke into the
National Library and Archive's main building as the government declared
a 4-day curfew period. Eskander believes this will put the INLA's staff
and library and archival collections in real danger. 

[The British Library has been posting Dr Eskander's diary blog at
http://www.bl.uk/iraqdiary.html <http://www.bl.uk/iraqdiary.html>  since
the end of 2006. Eskander's blog provides cogent and unmediated witness
to the perilous and tragic conditions that the Iraq National Library and
Archive and its staff are  operating under]. 

If you want any further information or want to contact me - as it looks
as though it may be difficult to contact Eskander himself - my direct
dial number is 0207 412 7269 (mob:  07986840861)

With Best Wishes

Andy

Andy Stephens 
Board Secretary and Head of Corporate Secretariat 
The British Library 
96 Euston Road 
London NW1 2DB 
Tel: (020) 7412 7269 
Fax: (020) 7412 7093 

 

________________________________

From: assaad eskander [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: 08 August 2007 15:13
To: Stephens, Andy
Subject: Urgent Moral Support


Dear Andy
 
Can you spread the following news about the national guards' occupation
of Iraq National Library & Archive. I need all the support I can get
from around the world.
Perhaps you can contact some British newspaper such as the Guardian...
Below is the text of a message I sent to a dear American friend who
always stood by us..
(please note it will be difficult for me to have an easy access to the
internet because of the 4-day curfew) 
 
All the Best
Saad 
 
Dear ...
I hope this message finds well. 
I would like to inform you that the unruly national guards are
continuing their aggression against the INLA and its staff. 
This morning, (8 August), a group of Iraqi national guards has broken
into the National Library and Archive's main building. 
By this action, the national guards have violated the instructions of
the Council of Ministers, which clearly assert that Iraqi security and
armed forces cannot enter any state-run institution without a prior
approval of the government and the concerned authorities. 
The national guards took their action without consulting or asking me;
they simply entered the building by force. As the government declared
4-day curfew period, I was not able to go the INLA to be with the INLA's
guards, who did not know what to do. Therefore, I talked to the
commander of the national guards by phone, asking him politely to leave
the building immediately. He refused to consider the idea of evacuating
the building, claiming that he had orders from his superiors and the
Americans to occupy the NILA. He justified his action by claiming that
the national guards wanted to protect Shi'i visitors of the holy shrines
of al-Kadhimiyah, which is 30 km away from the INLA!! 
I would also like to draw your attention to the fact on Monday (6
August), a US military patrol entered the INLA's main building without
my permission. The commander of the patrol interrogated the INLA's
guards and ordered them to show their IDs. Please note, this was not the
first time in which US patrols entered the INLA without my permission.
In July, US soldiers entered the INLA three times. It seems clear to me
that the actions of US soldiers' have encouraged Iraqi national guards
to do the same, i.e. entering and then occupying the building by force.

By the way, US army units and the national guards have their own bases
in the same old building of the Ministry of Defense, where they
coordinate their security efforts.  The old building of the Ministry of
Defense is just opposite the INLA. 
I contacted US authorities In Baghdad indirectly, hoping to stop the
violations and the unlawful actions of both US soldiers and Iraqi
national guards against the INLA and its staff. They showed no interest
whatsoever.   
As you and others are fully aware, my staff and I have spent a lot of
time and efforts on the reconstruction of the INLA, after it was
destroyed in mid-April 2003. The reckless actions of US Army and the
Iraqi National Guards will put the INLA's staff and library and archival
collections in real danger. I hold both US Army and the Iraqi National
Guards responsible for all future material damages, cultural losses and
human casualties. 
I need your support and that of your colleagues 
I will ask some of my friends in Europe to support us whatever the means
I will not cease my efforts to expose the wrong doings of the national
guards and those who are behind them 
As Ever
Saad Eskander


 

________________________________

Posted by:
Stephanie Kenna 
Manager, Regional and Library Programmes 
The British Library 
96 Euston Road 
London 
NW1 2DB 

Tel:  020-7412-7126 
Email:  [log in to unmask] 
Website: www.bl.uk

 
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