WALLS
Lal Chakraborty

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21Ân ®gh˦u¡l£, 2003

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Prologue 

Das Wright, an Afro-American of strong built, looked through the keyhole and saw the tanned face of an Arab dressed in an impeccable white suit and a golden tie. When he opened the door the Arab greeted him in fluent English.

"Unlike others with whom I have talked here in Tehran, your English has a touch of America. Did you stay there long?" Das inquired.

"Quite long, Sir. About twenty years and that too in your native state - Illinois. I was Iranian ambassador to USA at that time. But let me introduce myself. I am Kamal Yeddesh, currently advisor to the Prime Minister of Iran."

This was the first visit of any official from the Iran Government in Das' stay of over three months in the capital of Iran. He knew that Mazhar Muhammad, an Iranian member of ONE, had vanished one fine morning without any trace and that the Iran government had not allowed any probing into the incident. Several other members had also received direct threats from the police. The internal security force of the Government also had a hand behind a bombing incident in a meeting of ONE in Tehran that resulted in seven casualties. However, Shami Muhammad, one of the last ONE members in Iran, had told Das, "The government won’t touch you right now, as that might lead to an international uproar. After all you are an American citizen and not their immediate enemy like me." Das knew his movements were tracked, but, he thought, as long as he didn't pose a threat to the Government he would be safe. So, he never expected this direct call.  

"I am sure you have heard what happened in the United States."

"Are you talking of the impeachment of the President?" Das asked. The President was forced to resign over a controversy related with a black senator and the former Vice President had taken the Presidential office. Since elections were just four months away, this was a very crucial moment for ONE. 

"Yes. And also about the events that lead to the resignation of the President, the anger of the Black population, if you will permit me to use the word, and the new opportunities that have come up. Though the President has resigned, still the power is with the party as they have the Vice President on their side. The Party in power will wait 'til the cause diffuses and the Black leaders can be isolated by scandals and accusations, hunted and forced to flee like you. Perhaps then a new date for the election will be declared and who knows, the President might again stand as a candidate." 

The Arab, for whatever his reason, was playing his cards straight. Das had the same opinion about the situation. He was troubled. He wanted to go back but knew that as soon as he landed in America he would be captured and then no luck could save his life. He also thought of getting in through Mexico or Canada with a forged passport. But the chances were slim, as the borders had surely been warned. Besides, he knew that even here in Iran he was followed. His every move was noted and reported. The moment he bought a plane ticket his plans would be made known. The Arab brought this issue up.  

"I am sure you have considered going back to USA," the Arab said.  

"I have thought about it in my leisure." 

"Pardon me for saying so, but you must have also realized how dangerous it would be for you even to try such a move and you must have refrained yourself. You are currently the only serious threat to the existing power and they won't stop at anything."  

Das just looked at the man.  

"Mr. Das, the reason I have come today is to say that we are ready to help you go to USA without any of these personal risks."  

Das’ eyes measured the man for some time. "Why?"  

Kamal Yiddesh smiled. It was a friendly warm smile. "I heard that you drink a lot of coffee everyday. May I have a cup?" 

Das smiled back. In his head, he couldn’t fit this man anywhere. He knew the Middle East had not embraced the idea of ONE very warmly. They had been brutal to ONE members and had almost killed the movement in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Yet, Kamal was being straight and decent in his approach.

Kamal talked about Illinois and his experience there, his first winter when he saw snowfall for the first time, his first American friend - a divorced girl. The coffee meanwhile dripped in the machine and only when both of them had finished their cups Kamal raised the topic again.  

"It has often been seen in history, when the head of a state is in internal trouble, he escapes by creating an external real trouble. In the face of the outside threat small inside differences disappear. Being forced to give up 'Prime Minister'-ship and faced with an election, the Indian Prime Minister had waged a war against Pakistan. The American President, few years back, had ordered a fresh assault on Iraq the day before the senate sat to vote his impeachment. 

"We have strong reasons to believe that this time too, USA will strike Iraq with some lame excuses. This would be a cheap way to regain the lost popularity for the President." 

"That shouldn’t worry you. According to my facts Iran is against Iraq and has always supported the military strikes," Das said. 

"We are against Iraq’s aggressive strategies. But then, they are our brothers and we don’t like to see a third party shed their blood. Especially not in the bloody American way of bombing civilians. We had to support the strikes but we never did it whole heartedly." 

"OK. But you still haven’t answered why you would like to ship me back to USA?"

"Because we believe in your trouble-making powers. USA does not possess enough stamina to fight both you and Iraq." 

Das smiled, "So you want to ship me back to USA with the hope that my presence there might stop the President from declaring an attack on Iraq. Though your country has killed numerous ONE members, has threatened the existing ones, you would not hesitate in helping me reach America." 

"If the devil can stop America then we will work with the devil. If you agree to this in principle then we will discuss various alternatives." 

Das agreed and for the next few days, he met several diplomats in Iran. Shami Muhammad accompanied him and often acted as the translator. Among several suggested alternatives, one was proposed by Kamal.  

"We will send you to the Iraq border where Iraq Government will take you and transport you through Iraq to Saudi Arabia. From Jeddah you will take a ferry to Musawwa in Eritrea and then a car to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. There in Ethiopia, you will be given passport as an Ethiopian diplomat and you will fly into Chicago as an Ethiopian diplomat. Once in Chicago you will vanish while the diplomat, who would have gone there through other means, will take your place."

"This is absurd Kamal. First, USA and Iraq have an ongoing tension between them. Iraq has banned all Americans in their country and they will capture me as soon as I set foot over there."  

"We will get a written agreement from Iraq Government."  

"Still I can’t. I can’t make deals with a country with which USA has strained relations. That would make me a traitor to my country. Why can’t you fly me to Ethiopia?"  

"We can’t do that because airports are always full of eyes and, believe me, your country has spies everywhere. The only place where it cannot penetrate is Iraq because of the long ongoing war. Ethiopia is not ready to take a risk if you are shipped in a plane. The safest journey is through the darkest place."

"Then send me through Turkey or Jordan."

"Turkey is an ally of the USA in true sense. Once you reach there, it will be impossible for us to ensure your safety. The same holds for Jordan. Remember your safety and success of this mission is more important to us than you think."  

Das knew Kamal was speaking the truth. He also knew that this was one offer he couldn't ignore. He must go.  

In the next few days Kamal's first plan became the one that was pursued by Das. He initially had set the following conditions for Iraq Government to comply.  

Shami Muhammad would receive permission to conduct an American through Iraq. 

For this purpose, he would be allowed to drive a vehicle through Iraq and during the journey; the vehicle would not be inspected or entered anyway.

The vehicle was to have ex-territorial rights.

Iraq government would be responsible for the safe passage of this vehicle.

Shami would use his own money to pay for the expenses during this trip.

The vehicle would not be stopped during the trip.

The Iraq government agreed to all the clauses and added one. Iraq wanted a written agreement that Das would not try to communicate with any ONE member of Iraq. Das agreed in principle but was not ready to provide any written deal. He was surely thinking of how it would be interpreted in America.  

Kamal Yeddesh worked with Iraq for this agreement requirement and finally had Iraq drop it. However, Iraq came out with another safety clause that said that three military vehicles and a plane would follow them in order to ensure safety. Ethiopia disagreed on this one stating that US satellites may pick up such movement of military cars. Finally, it was agreed that a civilian car would follow them.

Das also wanted an assurance from the Iran Government about Shami’s safety there after. However, Shami privately told Das that he would not return to Iran but would travel down to South Africa where he had some friends. He had no living relatives in Iran and therefore did not have any particular attachment to the country.  

"I don’t have a soul who would miss me here. So, what is the point of getting back here? The movement is almost dead and we need some external stimuli to rock from this position. I will go to South Africa where things are happening. People are alive there. They still remember how to fight."  

Das felt bad that Shami would be gone from Iran. However, he didn’t want him to die. In South Africa, he would be safe and active as well. The Iran base would have to start afresh.  

Kamal told Das that it would not be possible for the government to assure anyone’s safety in special. However, Kamal pulled a few strings and agreed to buy Shami’s property and his business with a price above that of the market. "He gets a lot of money and is free to settle anywhere else. He can even go to USA later", Kamal said.

"Sure.  You want every ONE member to be in USA." Das knew that the Iran government was going further than he expected. They must be desperate.  

"I need a telephone that is not bugged. I am sure you don’t want to know any details about my plans in USA because then you will become a party to it." The Iran government really did not care what he did in the USA. Kamal showed him a public telephone that was not bugged.  

"We could have allowed you to use our office phone but I am sure the people whom you would call have their telephones bugged and we don’t want your government to know that we are helping you."  

Das called Poker in the USA first and asked him to go to Bernards’ house to receive the call. Before his death, Rock had told the core group members earlier about the three public phone booths that they should use to call in case they wanted to talk to each other. "These phones are not bugged but only use them in extreme emergency. If any member is asked to go to these booths, ensure that you are not followed. Act quickly and make at least two calls from public booths before coming to the designated one. Finally, while you are calling these booths call them from telephones which themselves are not bugged."

These three phones were to be called A’s house, B’s house and C’s house. Das always felt that the biggest casualty of this war was Rock. If only he was alive, he would have arranged everything.  

He called Poker after an hour. He picked up the phone at the first ring.  

"Hello. You OK?"  

"Das are you all right."  

"I am fine. Where is Gun? Is he OK?"  

"He is OK. Was in hiding and came out after the President resigned. All our activists have come out. But we don’t have you or Pirammazi. We all feel we need to do something. We have received Pirammazi’s articles and we are publishing and distributing them. But we need a spokesman who has acceptance among people. So many things are happening."  

"I am coming."  

"I think it will be very risky."  

"I have to. If I don’t go back now I won’t ever forgive myself. I have to take the risk. If I have to go then this is the best time. Once the chaos settles down I won’t have a chance."  

"Is Pirammazi coming too?"  

"No. I don’t want to risk his life yet. I’ll let you know my plans. But arrange a core meeting and discuss about it. I will be landing in Chicago."  

Over the next two days, Das worked eighteen hours a day. Every plan was checked and rechecked. Everything had to be cleared by four governments. Finally, on the scheduled morning Das went to Kamal’s house. Shami had stayed the night over there. When he arrived in Kamal’s house, he saw a white recreational vehicle ready to be towed by a white van. Kamal was awake and greeted Das. Das was to travel inside the RV and Shami would lock him in from the outside. Shami would drive the van.  

"We are just taking care that no one can harm you," Kamal tried to be humorous.

Das went inside the RV, Shami locked him from the outside, and the journey began. The British Prime minister later said "Like an anthrax spore they transported him in a sealed truck across their lands to ship him into America." The idea of using the ONE movement to weaken America’s strength was not new and it had already been toyed with by different governments, who played a dual role of supporting all the ONE activities that were aimed outside their country and curbing all such movements inside their own.

Iran and Iraq had started to seriously work on the idea as the US President descended into troubled territory even before Kamal had approached Das. Surprisingly, America was not aware of Iran’s entrance into the plot. They had assumed Iran’s support in their crusade against Iraq.  

Although Das was preoccupied with planning his journey, he still found time to pen down a number of articles on his own reaction to the resignation. He also authored, jointly with Pirammazi, a longish analysis of how ONE could benefit from the situation. The later article was circulated among the core members. It formed the blueprint of all activities of the movement during that period.  

The journey began at the crack of dawn and continued throughout the day with small stops. The part through Iran was uneventful. At the border, formalities were minimum and a car followed them throughout the journey. The Iraq government was keeping their part of the deal. He wasn’t stopped at all. Whenever they came near a checkpoint the following car would speed up and reach the checkpoint to clear the passage of the RV.  

Das had nothing to do but to gaze at the outside scenery and wonder how he would fare in the USA. Outside, the day grew into night. He passed into Arabian hands from the Iraqi.

The first hitch came at Jeddah. A storm was blowing and the ferry could not start. He waited patiently hoping that the sky would clear the next day. However, that meant connecting plans needed to be changed also. To top it the Saudi Arabian government was not ready to wait. They wanted him to travel back to Iraq and wait there. Iraq of course refused and a stalemate ensued. Das did not know what was happening in the official circle. He waited for the decision.  

Saudi Arabia was not very happy to be pushed into a plot that offered them nothing but risk. They could not refuse because Iran and Iraq both backed the plan. When it was clear that Das had to be stationed in Jeddah until the weather turned fair, they wanted to back out of their plan. Ethiopia, which had been lured into the plan with big promises, was uneasy as well.

Fortunately, Saudi Arabia decided to be patient a little longer and in the early hours of the next day, a steamer started with Das on it. He gazed out of the window.  

As dawn broke over the dark night, it brought memories. And memories, bitter and sweet, stale and crumbling, always bond together with the passage of time to form a fabric that assumes an official name - History.