Prominent Iraqi jurist to head special task force on compensation

Ambassador L. Paul Bremer announced the creation of a special task force to compensate the numerous victims who suffered under the Saddam Hussein regime.

In a press release from the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad May 26, Bremer said that although "no government or any other institution can erase these past abuses or remove the scars they have left behind," this task force "can provide an element of justice to those who suffered under Saddam's brutally oppressive regime."

Dr. Malek Dohan Al Hassan, president of the Iraqi Bar Association, has accepted the ambassador's invitation to chair the Special Task Force on Compensation for the Victims of the Previous Regime.

Following is the text of the press release:

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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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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)