Spandan Docu Theatre

Operation Flush, the drama at is best

EL

What a drama can render? Again the potential of that media proven its tremendous effect in Pakistan.. And most surprising factor is that, a theatre group from India, Spandan made it possible. Operation flush, the drama is a epic conversion of brutality and tortures of US army at Iraq. Yesterday at Hall 1 of Alhamra cultural complex suddenly turned into a formidable force of this continent, Spandan broke the all quoted barrier among the two countries. The people who have watched the show may not forget the experience of that evening.

The play is a trial, may be fiction, resembles the true frame where the Human rights commission lawyer Tarse alleged that there is a secret group inside the U.S. Army called Project for New American Century (PNAC) whose activity

is similar to what S.S. was to the Nazis and which is the mastermind behind these activities and Sarsman is a member of this group. They are experimenting the reactions of human bodies at different stages of torture from the blood samples taken from the prisoners while being tortured.

It has also come to know that Sajida was brutally tortured raped, and when found she was still unnerved, Sarsman ordered to cut her tongue which was executed by Harding. Sarsman also says that Sajida died of heart attack right after that. But Tarse, plays his trump card by saying Sajida is not dead and brings her in as the final witness. Sajida declares that she was not at all scared when being tortured and Sarsman had written down something on her back with his burning cigar. Although initially Sarsman and Davis try to prove that the woman in question is no the original Sajida as because a person can not speak when her tongue is cut off.

But when Sajida's back is uncovered, nervous Sarsman admits that he has written "Fuck Iraq" on her back and his action proves that it is the original Sajida who was tortured by Sarsman. Tarse then unearth the mystery behind the survival of Sajida. He says that Sajida was freed from the jail by Cell Commander Luke Harding. Harding emotionally admits that he did not execute the final order from Sarsman as he considers himself to be a true soldier and not a sadist. Suddenly a chaos breaks up and the guards take control of the situation.

Finally the court finds Sarsman guilty and orders to suspend him from the army. But it makes a mockery of the punishment as Sarsman becomes entitled to various facilities like huge pension for life, free air ticket to travel and a mansion to reside.

Spandan performed in World performing & Visual Arts Festival in collaboration with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) as part of the initiatives to bring together people, cultures and values across SAARC countries. "This was an overwhelming experience. We are extremely impressed by the hospitality of the Pakistanis, said Samudra Guha, director of the play.