ACROSS BORDERS Photo Exhibition - Medecins Sans Frontieres

While in Amman, Jordan, I was able to contact Medecins Sans Frontiere and through this honorable organization was able to visit Iraqi victims of war sponsored for medical treatment in Amman, Jordan. I want to thank Enass who helped me arranging interviews and providing interpretation.

The exhibition features photography on the reconstructive sugical project for Iraqi wounded in Amman.

July 22, 2008 interviews with Iraqi Refugees

"M" going to his one room apartment in a poor neighborhood of Amman.

"M" and "Z" and their child, their faces are hidden as they fear reprisals from everyone!

Next Artry and I visited M and Z who live in a decrepit one room apartment for which the pay 15 JD a month. He worked as a “journalist” for the American forces. He endangered his life, the life of his wife and child as they posed as an innocent family traveling to visit family. They went to extremely dangerous areas, M with a hidden camera clipped on his shirt. M would film the fighters, pinpointing their location and well I will not get into details as its very very unsafe to speak of this. They are also converts to Christianity, a double price on their heads. Z’s brother converted in Iraq and fled years ago to Sweden.

Z told me of the bodies she saw who had been tortured. “ Everyone knows when it is Shia work, because they torture using cigarettes and then strangle people with wires. Sunnis would simply shoot them. My neighbor was visited in the night by the “DEATH ARMY” that’s the name we give to the Mehdi army, the Death Army! They came to my neighbor and said you must tell everyone we are good, we are better than good. My neighbor refused he said no, you are not good, you have no honor. They told him if you don’t say what we tell you we will take your wife. My neighbor said okay I will tell everyone you are good. No they said, you must tell them we are the best. My neighbor refused, saying he can not lie like that. They raped his wife in front of him and then threw their 3-month-old child against the wall. My neighbors’ wife died of shock. See what has happened to Iraq it’s the Iranians these Shia are animals they have no soul, they still hate us because of the war, they hate us and now they want to control Iraq.”

M told me in a cool and controlled manner that the Iranians are definitely in Iraq and are in the Death Army the Mehdi Army. The fighters speak fluent Arabic but when they are alone and think no one is around they switch to Farsi.

M seriously risked his life and saved hundreds of American soldiers due to his work. He has all the papers, which I have read, and which shocked me. He was allowed to carry weapons, had training etc etc and when he went to the American Embassy here they shut the door in his face! They are registered with the UNHCR and like all others are waiting, terrified that someone will find them and kill them.

“I am not afraid to die, they can even kill my husband. We did what we did and will suffer the consequences. But don’t kill my daughter, its not her fault. If they kill us okay, the church will look after our daughter, and she can live her life as a Christian, I will be happy if they just kill us but please please God don’t let them kill my beautiful daughter,” said Z as she held me, tears falling on my shoulders.

July 22, 2008 Interviews with Iraqi Refugees

Randa shows her UNHCR registration certificate in her apartment in Al Hussein, Amman, Jordan

Randas son looks out the window from his home in Al Hussein, Amman, Jordan. traumatized by the war in Iraq, this 5 year old boy will not go out of his home alone. He also suffers from constipation because he will not -go to the toilet.

Randa

Today I met up with Artry a 20-year-old Armenia refugee who has been in Amman for 5 years waiting to immigrate. She wants desperately to go to California and go shopping. She wants to be a teenager a real teenager, free to shop, to go to Starbucks, and most importantly to fully recover from cerebral palsy, which is a congenital birth defect. Artry is amazing, she is strong, and has learned excellent English. She has offered to be my interpreter. at

The first family we visited was Randa Haumis Paulus a Chalaean Christian who worked for CARITAS in Baghdad. “During the war we would go to victims of bombing, terror and try to stop the bleeding on the site, to prepare them for the ambulances,” says Randa of her service work. “I also visited victims, we gave money to Christian, Muslim it didn’t matter the organization we helped everyone. Then we started getting death threats for working for an international organization. I still don’t understand, we helped Muslims, everyone, why did they want to kill us for helping people? In our apartment building the Music store was bombed, there were rockets flying across the sky. The areas were so unsafe.” She went on to say, “we were rich, we had enough money, now it’s all gone, we spent it all coming here.”

Randa is married and has a 6-year-old son. “My son is traumatized from the war and suffers from severe constipation because he will not go to the toilet. He will not go out of the house without his me,” says Randa of her sons condition. “As far as government schools go, I will not send my son, I know that the Iraqi kids are called names, beaten up and this would only traumatize my son more.” Randa began crying when as she went on to say, “my son wants to play, he wants toys, he cries because he wants to have a normal life, he just wants to be a kid.”

The day we visited Randa had just received a refrigerator from a family who was able to immigrate. A few days ago he got a cupboard to put her clothes in and a bike for her son. The Iraqi refugees who do migrate give away their meager possessions to those left behind.

Randas family is also registered with the UNHCR but have no residency or guest visa. Randa is terrified because she works as a waitress in a club that caters to marriages. She earns 5JD a day and works from 4pm to 1am. She complains that the customers treat her badly, call her bitch and are very rude. She is tired and desperate and finds it difficult to sleep due to the stress and worry she faces everyday.

July 20 Iraqi refugees in Amman Jordan

Araz Humbersom a 40 year old Armenian electrician and his 32 year old wife Danchur Vresh in their modest home at the Al Mahat'ah refugee camp in Amman, Jordan.

Danchur Vresh showing the article by Washington Post writer, Pamela Constable about her mother who was shot by terrorists in 2005, simply because she worked doing laundry for the American Army. Washington Post writer.

Danchur shows a copy of the photo of her mother and colleagues who worked doing laundry for the American forces in Iraq. This photo is proof that going back to Iraq could be a death sentence.

I was asked into the home of Araz Humbersom a 40 year old Armenian electrician and his 32 year old wife Danchur Vresh. They are from Baghdad, and came to Jordan in March 2007. Their home in Al Mahatah camp is spacious, clean and very well kept, it costs 45JD. They get 70 JD from CARE and 40JD from the church every month. (To convert US$100.00 = 70JD) Both Araz and Danchur are registered with UNHCR, but are not allowed to work. Araz earns extra money by doing odd repair jobs from his home.

In Iraq Araz worked in hospitals as an electrician. After the war he took a job with a company owned by Iraqis to reconstruct Iraq. According to Araz, the company became a sub-contractor for the Americans or British. His 3 brothers also worked in various capacities for the “occupying forces.” Danchurs mother worked doing laundry for the Americans in Fallujah. They began receiving phone calls… death threats. Danchurs mother was shot but survived. To date Danchurs mother, father and sister have resettled in Australia.

Showing employment documents given by the Americans or any of the “coalition of the willing” speeds up the immigration program. Pamela Constable a writer for the Washington Post published a story and photo of Danchurs mother, this is excellent proof and a fast reliable ticket to a new life in a new land. But, having these documents in a room in Iraq or carrying them to Amman is surely a death ticket. Araz confirmed the dismemberment mode of terrorist retribution, when he told me of a fellow worker who was kidnapped and dismembered.

“Our biggest concern and why time is essential is because we are childless.” Says Danchur. “In Baghdad I was pregnant and had a miscarriage. I was scared all the time, my husband, his brothers, my mother, everyone in my family worked for the Americans. I worried all the time. That’s why I had the miscarriage and now I can’t get pregnant. I want to go to a country where I can get reproductive help and where people respect humans, respect life.”

Hidden In Plain Sight at BLISS in Taipei, Taiwan May 25th

We will be hanging the "silent auction" photos for the "Hidden In Plain Sight" Benefit for Iraqi and Palestinian refugee, event and exhibition on May 18th at Bliss. Only 1 photo can be sold per show which will be up until May 31st when we will be announcing the top bidders. Looking forward to seeing you and come by as many times as you like to choose your favorite photo.
Kloie

Ricardo Garcia

I am pleased to announce a new addition to "Hidden In Plain Sight" PHOTOGRAPHER Ricardo Garcia from RGPRESS. Ricardo has generously donated 6 photos from Haiti. Thank you Ricardo!

Also I would like everyone to know that Wednesday March 19th is the 5th year anniversary of the Illegal Occupation and War in Iraq. To mark this horrible day Musician and composer Andre Van Rensburgh will be performing, A film about Iraq is showing and we are holding a candle light vigil at the River Restaurant in Chung Li, Taiwan.

Come and join us as we remember this day and all the victims of war!

Hidden In Plain Sight Event and Exhibition

March 15 - 29th at the River Bar and Gallery in Chung Li, Taiwan

I would like to invite everyone to "Hidden In Plain Sight Photo Exhibition and Event" marking the 5th year of the war for black gold in Iraq. We are going to raise money to help Iraqi and Palestinian Refugees. To date there are roughly 2,000,000 Internally displaced Iraqis, 750,000 Iraqi Refugees in Jordan, 1,200,000 in Syria, 350,000 in Lebanon, 10,000 in Egypt, and 20,000 in Turkey. Yes and even about 1000 in America!

For Press Inquiries, please contact:
Kloie Picot
Tel: 0910878917. Email: oneshotmore@kloie.com
For Chinese enquiries:
Eddie
Tel. 0917276761 Email: yungsheng1108@yahoo.com.tw

Press Release

“HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT” Event & Exhibition
A Benefit for Iraqi and Palestinian Refugees

– Kloie Picot, a Canadian photographer and filmmaker living in Taiwan, is organizing “HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT” Event & Exhibition, to benefit Iraqi and Palestinian Refugees. The event will feature an exhibition and silent auction of photographs by internationally-renowned photojournalists, live music, and films about the conflict in Iraq and Palestine. It opens on 15 March and runs until Saturday 19th, the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, at the River Bar and Restaurant in Chung Li.

While the war in Iraq has generated a new flood of refugees fleeing the conflict, Palestinians have lived as refugees both inside and outside of Palestine for over 50 years. This event will bring attention to and raise funds for Iraqi and Palestinian refugees from these conflicts.

All proceeds will go to CROSSING LINES, a nonprofit to be established in the Middle East by Kloie Picot, the driving force behind the event. Her aim is to establish a mobile Community Learning Center, with classes offered in subjects like English, Film, Photography and Clothing Design. One proposed class will help refugee women make and sell simple yet practical accessories such as shopping bags with unique Iraqi and Palestinian embroidery designs.

“Through this project, I hope to help people who have been displaced by conflict, to get access to materials and skills so as to become self-sustaining”, says Picot. “But perhaps more importantly, it can help them find a voice and express themselves, even find dignity and a reason to live again.”

Picot stressed that all the artists and musicians contributing to the event have volunteered their talents and time. “Even proceeds from the drinks sold at the River on Saturday night, will go directly to helping to Iraqi and Palestinian Refugees,” says Kloie. “So by having a good time in Taiwan, we can help displaced people.”

Event Program:
March 15th at 9pm will begin a Photo Exhibition and Auction of limited edition photographs donated by internationally-renowned photojournalists such as Lisa Hogben, David Bathgate, Laura El-Tantawy, Katharina Hesse, Susetta Bozzi, James Chance and others. The photographs will be on display for 2 weeks from March 15-29th, and are for sale by silent auction.

Entertainment for the opening night begins at 10pm with The Anglers member Tyler Daiken, Hip Hop bands Foreign Affairs and T.H.C., Comedians Kurt Penny, Matt Goding, and Thomas Levene, as well as a performance by the Asmah Belly Dancers from Taipei.

Upstairs in the restaurant will be a screening of Picot’s own award-winning documentary film, Shots That Bind - Palestinian photojournalists in Nablus.

Prizes
Also on opening night a raffle will be held with prizes ranging from artwork from local artists, Corel Digital Media software, MP3 players, a chance to participate in a photo workshop by Kloie - who will share what she learned from her mentors James Nachtwey and David Allan Harvey - and a 80GB iPod Classic. A donation of NT$200 ensures patrons entry at the door and a ticket to win raffle prizes.

Film Screenings
Each night leading to the 19th, films will be shown at the River Restaurant from 9:30-11:30pm. Titles include Iraq in Fragments and Gaza Strip by James Longley, Operation Filmmaker by Live Schreiber, and Jenin Jenin by Mohamed Bakri.

Anniversary Ceremony 19th March
To observe the start of the war in Iraq 5 years ago, a special program will be presented on the 19th. This will include a screening of James Longley’s film Iraq before the War, and a performance by the well-known South African Experimental musician and composer André van Rensburg, playing Middle-Eastern-inspired music. A candle-lighting ceremony will conclude the evening, which promises to be a moving experience for all who oppose the war or who simply have something to say about it.

“When I was teaching documentary filmmaking to a group of young Palestinians in Nablus, Palestinian Territories, I saw that this gave them a purpose, and instead of joining Palestinian militant factions, they joined my workshops and channeled their energy into something positive,” says Kloie. “When I tell of my experiences living with and documenting refugees in the Middle East and Afghanistan, many people in Taiwan have said they would like to make a difference, and many have already volunteered to come and spend time among the refugees, sharing their practical or artistic talents. “

The River Bar and Restaurant is located in Chung Li, Taoyuan County, at Da Tong Rd 18. Telephone: 0927555025.
Donations can be made and raffle tickets bought at the restaurant. For more information, contact Kloie Picot at email: oneshotmore@kloie.com

About Kloie Picot:
Kloie Picot is a Canadian-born videographer and journalist and has been covering the people and events in the Middle East for 6 years. Her film Shots That Bind, about the lives and work of Palestinian photojournalists and cameramen in Nablus, Occupied West Bank, won the Best Cinematography (Documentary) Award at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2006.
Ms. Picot is currently based in Taiwan, from where she travels to countries like Sri Lanka, Banda Ache, and Afghanistan to document social issues caused by conflict. For more on Ms Picot and her work, visit her website at www.kloie.com.