Turkish interference A peaceful Ashura - Soma Digest

4 Issue no.19 Feb 8 - 23, 2007
in brief
Antiquities department
calls for force to protect
archaeological sites
Scores of important archaeological
sites all over the province of Wassit, 172
km south of the capital Baghdad, are
stolen or vandalized continuously, said an
archaeologist in Wassit, calling for devoting
a force to protect these sites.
“These valuable sites are subject to
tampering, vandalism and random excavations
by outlaws on a daily basis,”
Ahmed Hassan Qader, the director of the
archaeological department in Wassit, told
the independent news agency Voices of
Iraq (VOI) on 2 February.
“There are about 400 archaeological
sites in Wassit, where some people steal
antiquities they find and sell them at
cheap prices or smuggle them outside
Iraq,” said Qader.
He said these sites are pricelessly
important because they contain manuscripts,
artifacts and other valuable treasures
that date back to different eras in
Iraq's ancient history.
(Voices of Iraq)
Society brands Baghdad
‘most dangerous city for
journalists’ and records
retreat in freedom of
expression
The Iraqi Society for Defending
Journalists' Rights branded Baghdad as
the most dangerous city for journalists
and recorded a retreat in freedom of
expression in Iraqi media.
The society cited in a detailed report
published on January 31 one journalist
who survived death with a miracle in the
Iraqi capital as saying, “Baghdad is the
city of death for journalists”.
The report also noted “the free media
recorded a retreat in Iraq during January
2007 as many journalists and writers suffered
attempts to their lives and killings
that were monitored by observatories
throughout Iraq.”
January saw an increase in the killing
of journalists killing particularly in
Baghdad that topped the journalists death
toll with five followed by Mosul with two
and another journalist was killed in the
restive Anbar province, the society said
The report added: “No true efforts
were made to uncover the real cause of
the journalists killing and all the investigations
on the incidents were shelved.”
The society, which criticized the security
forces for not acting well vis-à-vis
these repeated incidents against Iraqi
journalists, said: “Unfortunately, once
again the murderers escaped punishment
for the Iraqi police failed to chase such
murderers contrary to the powers given to
them according to the law.”
The report also cited examples of the
mistreatment against Iraqi journalists in
the hand of the armed group, US army
and Iraqi security forces.
On 31 December 2006, Reporters
without Borders said in its annual report
that Iraq is the most dangerous country
for journalists with 67 media men were
killed over 2006 in that war-torn country.
(Voices of Iraq)
KRG Minister of Peshmarga Affairs insists
the Kurdistan Region is safer than ever.
‘Ready for any emergency’
Darya Ibrahim
SLEMANI
Speculation is rife over how the execution
of former Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein, and an increase in the number
of US troops in Iraq will affect the current
state of affairs. In the north, the main
concern is whether Kurdistan will remain
the relatively safe and prosperous region it
has been in spite of the deteriorating security
situation in the rest of Iraq. In an exclusive
interview with SOMA Digest on
January 21st 2007, Mr Ja’far Mustafa, the
Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG)
Minister for Peshmarga Affairs, insists that
the Kurdistan Region is safer than ever.
What effect could Saddam Hussein’s
execution have on the Kurds’ political
situation in Iraq?
I think Saddam Hussein’s execution will
not have any effect on any issue. He was
gone. He was out of power, and his government
overthrown, so his death will not have
any effect on the Kurds.
In fact, his death affects the Baathists
more than anyone else, since he was their
only hope to regain power.
Will Saddam’s death affect the security
situation in the Kurdistan Region?
I don’t think that Saddam Hussein’s
death will have any effect on the security
situation in the Kurdistan Region, because
Saddam’s men are not the only terrorists in
Iraq. There are others; Islamic fundamentalists,
Al Qaida, and foreign fighters.
Have you received any threats after
the execution?
We haven’t received any threat from any
terrorist group or individual. However, we
consider those who carry out terrorist acts,
and the militias who try hand to ignite a
civil war in Iraq, our enemy.
Is there any preparation to face a possible
threat to the security situation in the
region?
The Peshmarga forces are well equipped
and trained .They are in constant readiness.
Our brave and talented commanders are
ready for any emergency.
Besides, most of them are graduates
from the military colleges in Iraq and
Kurdistan.
How many brigades do you have in
Kurdistan in case of any confrontation?
We have three brigades in Kurdistan, stationed
in Duhok, Slemani and Erbil. All
these brigades are part of the Iraqi Ministry
of Defense.
These brigades are not part of the
Kurds take part in Baghdad security plan.
Point of no return
Jamal Penjweny
BAGHDAD
Kurdish soldiers were in for a shock
when they heard of plans for a sudden
journey. Most of them knew that
journey meant they would not return.
However, some view it as a national duty,
which must be fulfilled; Kurdistan is a part
of Iraq after all.
“The Iraqi president is Kurdish,” says
45-year-old Col. Sherzad Muhammad
Salih. “Kurds have a share in the government,
so we must take part in the security of
Baghdad. Iraqi Kurds are a part of Iraq and
there is no doubt that being in Iraqi
Kurdistan means being Iraqi, so we must go
to Baghdad.”
Following Nuri Al Maliki's decision to
include the participation of two Kurdish
Brigades in Baghdad's security plan, the
first convoy of the Third Brigade of the
Iraqi Army moved from Slemani to
Baghdad's Muthana Airport on 16 January.
This convoy included the First Battalion
which comprised 160 soldiers. The second
convoy involved 400 soldiers from the First
Battalion and the Brigade Head Quarters.
When asked about sending the Kurdish
Army to Baghdad, Commander of the
Slemani Third Brigade, Anwar Dollany,
said: “The Kurds are prepared to defend
Iraq anywhere they are needed and at any
time.”
Some officers and soldiers believe that
the security situation in some regions of
Kurdistan should be attended to before they
seek to fight battles in other places. Faris
Fatah is one such officer. He asks: “Why
should Kurds take the responsibility of
defending Baghdad, while Kirkuk and
Mosul are in a very bad security situation?”
One chief concern among Kurds is that
they will be drawn into the ongoing sectarian
war. This fear derives from Al Maliki's
announcement in front parliament that all
ethnic groups in Iraq will have to participate
in the security process in Baghdad.
Disheartened Lieutenant Fatah says: “I'm
afraid of our taking part; Kurds will get
infected with the sectarian war. We have
enough problems of our own without having
to deal with more.”
A bleak cloud has descended upon the
Kurdish soldiers.
“I'm not going to be returning to
Kurdistan, the security situation in Baghdad
is very bad and getting worst,” says 18year-old
soldier Zedan Khalefa. “I didn't
sleep last night, and when I left my house in
the morning I bid farewell to my friends
and family, asking them for their forgiveness
if I had ever wronged them.” (A
Kurdish tradition when someone believes
they will not return.)
One soldier gave a different opinion: “I
came as a volunteer. because it’s the first
time the Iraqi government has become
dependent on the Kurdish Army to help
them with the security situation. I think it's
a great duty for Kurds.”
Additional reporting by Darya Ibrahim
Ja’far Mustafa, the KRG Minister for Peshmarga affairs. (photo by Aram Eissa)
Peshmarga forces. However, we are always
ready to help them in certain circumstances.
Has the Iraqi Ministry of Defense
made any commitment to equip your
forces, as it has to the Iraqi army?
So far, the Iraqi army hasn’t equipped us,
but from now on, we demand our share of
the budget of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense,
which is 17 percent.
The region’s guard force will be part of
the Iraqi armed forces, so we ask for our
share of weapons, equipment and training.
As it stands, the Peshmarga forces are
an infantry force. Have you any intention
to have your own air force in the
future?
According to the constitution, the
Peshmarga forces are the region’s guard
force; it is neither army, nor police. But
something between them. We will follow
the other countries that have been through a
similar situation. If our forces need an air
force, we will send our young peshmarga
abroad for training.
Kurdish soldiers in the Iraqi Army leaving for Baghdad. (photos by Jamal Penjweny)