Thirsty Sands (Part 19)

2019-12-10

Thirsty Sands (Part 19)

Jafar Rabiei

Design: Ali Vaziri

First published in 1991

Publishing House, Islamic Propagation Organization

Printed at the Aryan

From the 10th of Bahman onward the behavior of the guards changed little by little and the enmity hidden in their hearts came into the open in their words and deeds. There was no longer any sign of their so-called free discussions. And those who had been deceived by this superficial mild behavior were harassed. Among those subjected to harassment was one of my friends whom the Iraqis summoned and asked to give them some account of the general situation of our country. One of the questions always amazing to the Iraqis was to know how several hundred thousand strong force were prepared each time for operations. In this connection our dear friend had been asked how so many forces rushed to the warfronts in every stage of the operations. Our friend had replied saying: “Through radio and T.V. people are called on to introduce themselves to centers of dispatch to warfronts.” The Iraqi officer had asked: “what motivation pushes them to rush to warfronts?” Our friend had replied: In Iran it is said the enemy had attacked your country and occupied your territory and you should fight the enemy out. This Quranic verse is employed in this regard and the people are sent to warfronts with religious incentive.

Another question was set forth in their talk which dissatisfied the Iraqi guard. However, due to the policy of leniency and flexibility the guard showed no harsh reaction. After the internal situation of the camp completely changed, the name of my friend was first in the list of those to be punished and on the first nigh he was taken out of the camp to be flocked.

On the same day, on the orders of the camp’s authorities loudspeakers were installed inside all the halls, through which Iraqi radio programs, those of the Munafigheen and others some­how fled Iran and taken to Iraq were broadcast.

On Esfand 3, the Iraqis opened the doors to take a count of all in the hall. Their behavior was totally different from that of previous days. They beat up any POW they could get their hands on and insulted everyone. This sudden change of behavior showed that something important must have happened. Other signs also strengthened this feeling. The water had been cut off, and the number of free hours had been also reduced and ...

Everyone restlessly waited the arrival of newspapers but there were no papers distributed that day. The loudspeaker broadcasting Iraqi radio programs only broadcast music program torturing our spirits.

On the fourth of Esfand news spread around the camp that Iran had launched a vast operation in the southern axes of Iraqi soil. The news was brief, but opened a world of hope in the hearts of the POWs. The Iraqis had somehow to pacify themselves. When we looked at the wrinkled faces of the Iraqis, despair and disappointment at the future waved in their entire being.

The Iraqis should have somehow relieved themselves and removed this grudge and enmity in them. They were so angry that their anger had destroyed their human characteristics, an iota of which had at times been found in them. Each of the guard had been turned into an injured animal ready to attack everyone passing by.

The whistle calling for an end to the free hours sounded an hour earlier. In the afternoon of the same day the Iraqis, who knew they could not hide such news more than one or two days, began to distribute their newspaper inside the hall. The truth of Iran’s operations was confirmed in the banner headline carried on the first page of the daily. A wave of happiness enfolded us all. We all single-heartedly prayed for the victory of the Islamic combatants. Two days later the news of the start of Iran’s biggest operation throughout the war, known as the “Khaibar” operation was spread around the camp. The operations carried out in the front lines of the warfronts was so heavy for the Iraqis stationed in the camp that they were forced to direct part of their counter attack at the POWs. Then the Iraqis displayed their real face, pushing into oblivion their past several month simu1ation in the name of human rights and humanitarian treatment of the POWs, thus unveiling their black face.

We said to ourselves: we should tolerate any amount of pressures, threats and cruelties since our brothers were sacrificing themselves at the fronts.

To be continued…