The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
& further into the big Muddy ....
Ethnic rivalries and pretentions.
Best
Andreas
Sumerian Undergound Army
... or so ...
--------------------------
http://english.daralhayat.com/arab_news/07-2003/Article-20030730-b2eef383-c0
a8-01ed-0054-c0548614756c/story.html
Shiites, Turkmen, Assyrians and Yazidis Demand To Be Represented In The
Ruling Council
Al-Hayat 2003/07/30
Turkmen Shiites in Iraq have asked to be represented in the transitional
ruling council and to have one ministerial seat attributed to them in the
future government.
The Secretary General of the Islamic Union for Iraqi Turkmen, Abbas
Al-Bayati, said in a communiqué he sent to the civil governor in Iraq, Paul
Bremer, that "the absence of negotiations with the Turkmen political forces
in determining a representative in the council has raised many questions,
especially since the Turkmen are not familiar with those who represent them
in that council." He added: "The Shiites who represent 50 per cent of the
Turkmen were very disappointed when they did not find a representative."
Al-Bayati insisted on the need to restore balance amid the members of the
ruling council, and to include a variety in the Turkmen community by having
a representative for the Shiite Turkmen, along with the current Sunnite one.
Moreover, according to Al-Dalil newspaper, which is published by the Islamic
Union for Iraqi Turkmen, mentioned that banners were being raised in Kirkuk
hailing certain political forces, and that this activity was made without
consulting the city's residents or their real representatives.
The newspaper also insisted that "the national identity of Kirkuk was never
determined by a flag or a slogan, and no one has the right or power to
settle this issue, knowing that Kirkuk is the city of brotherhood and
national unity, and is always open to everyone." This came as an indication
to the Kurdish demand of considering Kirkuk part of Kurdistan. It added that
"the right step to solve this conflict of flags is for the city's board to
adopt a unified flag for Kirkuk, that would express its national and
confessional pluralism."
On the other hand, a high-level official in the Iraqi Assyrian movement
warned of the continuation of the foreign occupation in the country, saying
that "ignoring the Iraqis' demands and keeping the occupation will entail
dangerous repercussions."
Isaac Isaac, member of the Assyrian Democratic Movement in Iraq, said that
his movement was trying to achieve this "by participating in the ruling
council and representing a strong political party that affects the Iraqi
political equation, knowing that there are a million and a half Christians
among the Iraqis." Isaac expected the dislodged Christians to return to Iraq
to settle and make investments. He said: "the Assyrians have played a major
role in providing security for the villages where Christians lived during
the advance of the coalition forces," mentioning that "over 1,500 armed
Assyrians participated in providing security and spreading stability in
those villages."
Furthermore, the Yazidi Movement for Reform and Development organized a
protest in front of the Palestine Hotel in the Iraqi capital, demanding that
a seat be attributed to it in the ruling council. The movement's
representative, Imad Izzeddine Sari, said in a speech that "they have come
from the town of their own confession in Sinjar, in Ninua, Northern Iraq, to
express their stance as a political and national independent movement, as to
voice their opinion after their sufferings from persecution and injustice
for the past decades."
Sari said that they will be submitting a communiqué to Bremer, "and they
hope that their demands will be answered, so they can contribute with the
rest of the confessions and national movements in serving the Iraqi people
and achieving democracy."
_______________________________________________
Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss
To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk
All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk