Gulf Peace Campers Heading for Kuwait An advance party of the London-based Gulf Peace Team is now in Iraq. The international team of seven, which set off from Heathrow on 16 November, intends to establish a camp as near as possible to the line dividing Iraqi forces from those of the USA, Saudi Arabia, and other nations in the conflict area. If conditions are appropriate for a more permanent peace camp in the area - and non-interference by the Iraqi authorities is the critical factor in determining the project's viability - one member of the team will return to London and mobilise the next wave of volunteers. "We intend to explain to the Iraqi authorities that the rest of the team will join us later on, only if we are allowed to go to the border area and to operate with maximum independence", Jean Dreze of the advance party said prior to leaving. The advance group includes Pat Arrowsmith, Jean Dreze, Bela Bhatia, Sa'ad Allah Atrib, Bassam Fattal, Richard Crump, and John Steel. They arrived in Baghdad late Sunday night, 18 November, and were accommodated with other peace delegations at "International Peace House", a holiday camp on an island to the south of the city. Pat Arrowsmith, speaking to Peace News on 19 November, said the group hoped to meet Iraqi officials the following day. "Indications are that they will receive our plan favourably." The group spent two days in Jordan en route for Iraq. Bassam Fattal met Princess Zein, daughter of King Hussein, who pledged backing to the expedition. While the group went shopping for supplies, the US television network NBC accompanied them; journalists reportedly expressed surprize that the British media had largely ignored the team's project. Several other international peace groups are in Baghdad or plan to travel there in coming weeks, but the British group is at present the only one intending to use Kuwait as a base. A second Italian delegation has arrived at International Peace House; the first team of volunteers returned from Iraq in late October, having secured the release of 112 Italian hostages. A Greek group, including three retired generals, is in the Iraqi capital making arrangements for a cruise ship to sail into the Gulf to mark the New Year. The first delegation from US Fellowship of Reconciliation returned from Baghdad in late October. A second delegation is expected to arrive around 25 November; like the first group, its members will stay about one week. They will bring medicines, and will contact US detainees as well as Iraqi officials, citizens, and the Red Crescent. Members of the first group negotiated the release of a group of sick and elderly detainees. Four Spanish members of the Association of Artists and Intellectuals for Culture and Peace in the Mediterranean went to Baghdad during October, meeting musicians, writers, and the press as well as government officials. The group will send another team soon. A German group will travel to Baghdad later in November. The volunteers will stay in Baghdad, and intend to hold a fast as well as meeting local groups and delivering medical supplies. A second team would travel to Iraq in early December. Gulf Peace Team, 7 Cazenove Rd, London N16 6PA (tel +44 81/081 442 4664; fax +44 81/081 442 4694) liberated from Peace News, No 2336 December 1990. When you read this an Australian team will have flown to Iraq via Amman, Jordan where they will have met peace camp organizers to arrange the next steps to Baghdad and the peace camp, which will be several hundred kilometres away in a stony desert. Conditions will be harsh with no running water, low night-time temperatures, scorpions and snakes, but current intentions are for the camp to exist for as long as necessary to prevent the war planned for the 15th of January. A communication network has been organized using phones, fax and the Pegasus network to assemble this team and provide continuing support. For the future, money is needed, not a lot but several thousands, as are experienced people with a commitment to nonviolence, either as campers or supporters. If you feel it's right for you, donations can be deposited in any National Australia Bank to account number 083 422 226 000 571: Gulf Peace Team. Otherwise contact Gulf Peace Team, PO Box 256, Carlton South, Vic 3053; Phone - (03) 387 3398 (Rob Burrowes or Alex Perry); Fax - (03) 699 4658; Email - igc:peg:burrowes.