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As
constitutional talks continue, some in southern Iraq
are pressing hard for autonomy.
Shia lawmakers are pushing for a regional government
in southern Iraq modelled on Iraqi Kurdistan, saying
after years of oppression under Saddam Hussein the
region needs more independence.
In an attempt to preempt a strong central
government, some in the National Assembly are
proposing that the southeastern governorates of
Basra, Missan and Thi Qar form their own
administrative region, with its own parliament.
Basra is home to Iraq’s southern oil fields.
“We are demanding federalism for the south and to
have fair distribution for the oil revenues,” said
Qasim Dawood from the Iraqi List.
Those who want autonomy like Ridha al-Khafajee, a
senior member of the Supreme Council for Islamic
Revolution in Iraq, one of the main Shia parties
that make up the United Iraqi Alliance list, says
the southern regions are comprised mainly of Shias,
and argues that if federalism is an option for Kurds
then it should be available to all Iraqis.
The three northern governorates that make up Iraqi
Kurdistan became a semi-autonomous region after the
first Gulf War in 1991. Kurdistan has its own
parliament and regional ministries.
But Sunnis want a more centralised government. Their
opposition to federalism threatens to delay the
constitution, which faces an August 15 deadline.
“I see no justification for federalism in the
south,” said Abdul Majeed Muheeb, a Sunni member of
the parliamentary committee charged with drafting
the constitution. “On the contrary, federalism will
increase ethnic tensions and corruption.”
As a result, there has been no agreement reached yet
regarding federalism, a major obstacle in finishing
the draft constitution.
“What has been agreed upon is a decentralised system
that gives wider authority to the governorate
councils,” said Bahaa al-Aarajee, a member of the
constitution committee and a representative of the
United Iraqi Alliance list.
But residents of the south say they deserve more
autonomy after the sufferings they faced under the
former regime.
“We are eagerly waiting this decision and we always
dreamt of this during the 1990s when Saddam and his
followers oppressed us,” said engineer Majid al-Hilali,
a resident of Nasiriyah in Thi Qar province. “We
support federalism for the south and to give the
region wide authority.”
Yaarub Abbas, a Missan governorate resident, said
federalism would level the playing field for all the
regions.
“Giving more authority and freedom to the regional
governments will have a democratic dimension that
follows the principle of sharing the wealth of the
country, especially with the oil revenues in the
south,” he said.
But some southerners are cautious about the prospect
of a decentralised system.
During a recent Friday prayers sermon, Imam Hussein
al-Musawee of the Husseiniya mosque in Basra urged
patience on the issue of more autonomy for southern
Iraq.
Ali Lebee of Basra University, meanwhile, believes
the country has other priorities.
“What is important now is the writing of the
constitution so that it can be approved by the Iraqi
people,” he said.
Daud Salman and Zaineb Naji are IWPR trainees.
www.iwpr.net
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