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The division bell is ringing in Iraq?
2.10.2007
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October
2, 2007
Erbil-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq',-- "Why
not? It seems a nice solution," suggested a bookshop
owner in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Iraqi
Kurdistan region, with bright eyes and a smile from
ear to ear.
"Since 1991, we became accustomed to having Iraqi
Kurdistan as a special entity. We can never live
under a central government again after the years we
tasted a semi-independent status," said Farouq
Jamil.
Iraqis from different areas in the war-troubled
nation mirrored the acute splits among the political
parties over a recent U.S. Congressional proposal to
"divide Iraq into federal entities on ethnic and
sectarian basis."
Some thought that the proposal might lead to a
"solution" for the country's security predicament,
while others warned that it could be "a gateway to
more chaos and fiercer conflicts." |
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Aram Ali, a student, said the U.S. resolution is an
"optimal solution to the Iraqi problem. Kurdistan,
with its security and stability, is a case in point
because it is ethnically harmonious and the Kurds
are a majority there."
"The same thing applies to southern Iraq areas of
predominantly Shiite inhabitants, while unrest is
focused in the areas where Shiites and Sunnis mix,"
Ali said.
The U.S. Senate, during a late hour on Wednesday,
had
approved with a majority of 75
votes to 23 a draft resolution on the
division of Iraq as a bid to "end the acts of
violence sweeping the nation."
The plan provides for dividing Iraq into three
Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni entities with a federal
government in Baghdad undertaking matters pertaining
to border security and oil revenues.
The resolution drew outcries and reactions at local
and international levels. While it was
welcomed by the Iraqi
Kurdistan region's presidency, it was
met with strong objection on the part of the Iraqi
government, the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC)
and the Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS).
Since 1991, the Kurds of Iraq achieved self-rule in
part of the country. Today's teenagers are the first
generation to grow up under Kurdish rule. Most Kurds
don’t speak Arabic, especially the younger
generation. Kurdistan region has all the trappings
of an independent state -- its own constitution, its
own parliament, its own flag, its own army, its own
border, its own border patrol, its own national
anthem, its own education system, its own
International airports, even its own stamp inked
into the passports of visitors.
France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other countries also
warned against the consequences of such a
resolution.In Baghdad, Basem Hamza, a journalist,
said some Iraqi political powers have heralded a
federacy of ethnicities and sects before the U.S.
Senate even thought about it.
"The parties rejecting the proposal should have
criticized the Iraqi parties before they denounced
the U.S. plan to divide Iraq," said Hamza.
Bahaa Haddad, a political analyst, said the Congress
resolution was just "sheer support for an old
demands by Shiite and Kurdish leaders. "The
resolution was just a confirmation of earlier
agreements signed in London in 2002 before the
ouster of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,"
said Haddad.
Haddad said he found it rather strange that some
Kurdish and Shiite politicians objected the
Congress' resolution. "They have always demanded
independent Kurdish and Shiite entities," he said.
Inaam, a civil servant in the predominantly-Shiite
oil-rich port city of Basra, had some fears the
resolution could be a prelude to the disintegration
of her country. "If federal division is going to
bring about security, then it is ok. But, if it is
meant to disintegrate Iraq, we'll never accept it,"
she said.
In Karbala, a human rights activist, Samir Hadi, was
wondering why Iraqis – with all this violence and
killing – would not accept something that preserves
their lives in the first place.
"They (Iraqis) can think of the nation's unity and
wealth later," stressed Hadi.
A civil society activist who described himself as
secular said he was concerned the resolution might
open the door wide before the interference of Iran
and other regional powers.
"The circumstances now are not favorable for such a
proposal. The country is weak and suffers from
interferences by Iran and other regional powers. In
a nutshell, the establishment of a federal entity in
the south would mean the extension of the
vilayat-e-faqih (Guardianship of an Islamic Jurist
in neighboring Shiite Iran) there. The same thing
could apply to other entities," he said.
Raed al-Azzawi, a writer, called on the Americans to
bear in mind that Sunnis in Syria, Kurds in Turkey
and Arabs in Iran might demand their own federal
ethnic or sectarian entities if this federacy model
was applied in Iraq.
"The division in this state of affairs might flare
up the situation in the area, a matter that prompted
America's friends in the Middle East to object the
resolution," said Azzawi.
Dr. Abdul-Amir al-Faysal, a university professor
from Baghdad, said America started carrying out
previously-made plans to break Iraq into small
entities. Amer Hassan Fayyad, the dean of the
political sciences college in the University of
Baghdad, described the resolution as "one
entrenching an already-existing sectarianism,"
adding "the resolution is a conspiracy to federacy."
Fayyad pointed out that the Iraqi constitution has
already left a space for forging a federal model in
accordance with developed criteria. "Why then should
we speak about the sectarian bases of federacy?" he
wondered. Haydar, a student in the University of
Basra, said sectarian violence might end if the
Shiites were separated from the Sunnis.
"But who would separate between the parties in
inter-Shiite and inter-Sunni conflicts whose signals
began to appear in Basra, Karbala, al-Anbar and
other provinces," wondered Haydar.
He said these conflicts over wealth have begun to
take a sectarian dimension but they would soon
develop to become inter -sect disputes.
"As long as the state is frail, there are no
guarantees that a sectarian federacy could bring an
end to violence in Iraq," said Haydar.
Hadi of Karbala challenged Iraqi officials to
indicate one single mixed area that enjoys security.
"Baghdad is already divided on a sectarian basis at
this moment. What comment should we make then on the
U.S. Congress' resolution," Hadi asked, knitting his
brows in despair.
VOI
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