Point scoring in Bam
BY MARYAM NAMAZIE
The Guardian - United Kingdom; Jan 02, 2004
* The main culprit is the Islamic Republic of Iran - its utter disregard for
people's lives and safety, neglect in creating adequate housing during its
brutal 25-year theocracy, its imposition of desperate poverty on the
population at large, its late and chaotic response to the tragedy, poor
building methods, lack of proper regulations, its refusal to heed
recommendations made by a series of inquiries after the 1990 earthquake in
north-west
In the face of this catastrophe, though, the outpouring of support by people
throughout the world has been heartening. This support and solidarity will
be instrumental in saving and rebuilding the lives of the devastated
survivors. It can also exert pressure to ensure a review of construction
laws and standards and the establishment of an international inquiry into
the real causes of this tragedy. We must not allow Bam to be repeated.
Maryam Namazie
London