Indians abused at US military camp in Iraq

[varun]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_730198,000900020003.htm

...“We were slaves in American kitchens. We barely got two hours of sleep. Any slip-ups and we were tortured for days," says Hameed.

“Once I told the kitchen in-charge that as I was a devout Muslim I could not cook pork. I was beaten up with rifle butts,” says Hameed’s brother Shahjahan.

“Iraqi militia attacked our camps several times. At times, officers used us as shields,” adds Hameed.

The Americans in the camp told the Indians that they had purchased them for a hefty amount, and that they were to work in the kitchen and do other odd jobs....

[yardwork]

1. Purchased them? Slaves????

Just when I think the news can't get any worse...

P.S. The same passage in the Bible that Bush* is using to condemn same-sex marriage prohibits the eating of pork.

[maddezmom]

2. another DU link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x527657

Mr Sinha admitted that it had been found that “some Indians have been smuggled into Iraq from Kuwait and Jordan without valid work permits” and the Labour Ministry had been asked to enquire into agencies involved in this and take action. He said that the Inspector of Immigration had also been told to exercise greater caution in allowing people to go to Jordan and Kuwait.

Mr Sinha was reacting to reports that 1,500 ex-servicemen had been drafted by Indian companies in Iraq for guarding vital installations like oil wells, refineries, supply depots and shore-based facilities and that the matter had assumed serious dimension after some of them were injured in the on-going skirmishes between US army and local resistance forces.

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/may042004/i2.asp


Looks as if Halliburton is outsourcing the mercenary business




more outsourcing :(