Turkish interference A peaceful Ashura - Soma Digest

Issue no.19 Feb 8 - 23, 2007
Akram Qaradaghi is unapologetic about his success as the editor of a
periodical, which helps Kurds ‘keep in touch with the rest of the world’.
A man of letters
Galawizh H. Rashid
SLEMANI
Sitting outside of his offices in the new
building, which is situated approximately
20 minutes from downtown, a
glorious sunny day and enjoying spectacular
views of the surrounding mountains
through the windows, Akram Qaradaghi
starts by talking about his general periodic
scientific magazine, which is issued by
Sardam Publishing House.
“This book is about sharing information
or knowledge, what people think of answers
and how it works, and it is a quick introduction
to science. It is about different aspects
of life and well being. For example, health
and diet, illness prevention, facts about disease,
cholesterol, food, sex-related subjects
or functions of all body parts and much
more,” he said.
“Exciting times lie ahead for us. We are
on the brink of major changes, but we need
help to get there,” he added.
Qaradaghi, a supervisor on the Board of
Education is arguably Sardam’s most successful
editor. His work includes a team
who run his project.
“I am unapologetic about my success.
Nothing frightens me; perhaps it is this
unwavering confidence that has given me a
reputation of being hard, resilient. I am in
fact a writer editor, but the minute I walk
away from it, I am just me,” he said.
According to Qaradaghi, his book “services
our community and culture a great deal
especially as it is in the Kurdish language. It
helps keep our community in touch with the
rest of the world as far as science is concerned.
We started our first publication of
the book in July 1999 and we were very
pleased with the result.”
Qaradaghi stated that their main source of
information came from the university professors,
doctors and scientists. Advantages
were also taken of the ideas and findings of
some university students who specialized in
a certain area of science.
One of the major reasons for the success
of the book is due to the fact it is written in
the Kurdish language, “which is the only
way to reach our readers’ level of understanding
and to communicate with them”.
Zana Muhammad Salih. (photo by Aram Eissa)
The mounting queues at Slemani’s bus stops. (photo by Aram Eissa)
“Today science and technology continues
to advance and develop, therefore, to be able
to keep up with the rest of the world as far
as scientific information is concerned, we
need to utilize the internet more for our
resources,” he said.
“But this has not been easy for us it takes
time and energy to translate from different
languages into our own, but I think it is
worth the effort.”
The subjects the book deals with are
physics, chemistry, biology, child care, psychology,
physiology, veterinary, environment
and more.
As far as the level of interest in the book,
Qaradaghi says it has generated a lot of
attention: “I think it’s a real opportunity for
us to publish a book as successful as ones
made anywhere else in the world.”
“We know that people eagerly await for
the issue to come out, but just like any other
publishing house, we experience some difficulty
as far as publishing the book, especially
in color and at the moment in time we
couldn’t afford to pay what was asked for
the publication,” he explained.
“However, we now have our own publishing
house and all the equipment was
brought from outside. We are aiming for the
best work without any delays like which we
SLEMANI
In the early morning of 11 January, the bus
drivers' syndicate along with the Slemani
bakers collaborated and went on strike. It
undoubtedly had an adversarial effect on
many, who struggled getting into work and
university, with the journey back home
being just as challenging.
The consensus among the bakers seems
to be that the provisions supplied by the
government are inadequate and thus the
bakers become obligated to seek these provisions
elsewhere, mainly in the black market.
“Our needs are simple, like wheat powder,
yeast and fuel, but the government
doesn't provide us with enough. The wheat
powder from the UN Oil for Food Program
costs 18,000 Iraqi Dinars for one 50kg bag,
but it’s a bad quality brand and cannot be
used for furnace baking so we don't use it,”
laments Zanko Ali Salih, a baker in the
Sabunkaran square. “We now use another
type of wheat powder, which is of a much
better quality but it is from the black market
and costs 30,000 Iraqi Dinars per 50kg
bag.”
When the bakers have to resort to the
black market in order to obtain their provisions,
they have to pay more than usual
which consequently raises the price of
bread. Ultimately it is the customers who
suffer as bread is a staple for many Kurds.
The government does not agree with prices
of bread being increased but it is not the bakers’
fault either.
Salih says: “The government limits the
price of each 135g of bread to 100 Iraqi
Dinars, but with all the other problems and
Akram Qaradaghi (photo by Aram Eissa)
have experienced in the past.”
Qaradaghi continued to say that they
receive a lot of email and messages about
their book
“We are very open minded and we welcome
all areas of concern that our readers
may have so we can improve our work,” he
said.
Workers of Slemani unite!
high costs of gas and oil, we don’t think this
will be a suitable price. We think that 125
Iraqi Dinars is much more suitable figure
considering the current market situation, but
the government doesn’t agree with our solution
and we are now in talks to resolve this
impasse.”
The common shortage in both situations
that unites both the bus drivers and the bakers
is the lack of fuel. The quantities are
decreasing but prices are escalating.
“The government provides only 30 liters
for three days. In the government stations a
liter cost 175 Iraqi Dinars before, but now
the market prices have become too expensive.
A liter is now at 300 Iraqi Dinars but
with that, the price of car tires, essential oil,
technical works have all being raised too,"
said Bakir Mohammed, a Rizgary line bus
driver.
The amount of money that a bus driver
earns in a day does not just go into one
pocket; at least two families must live on
that income.
“If a bus was in work for a full day, it can
produce 60,000 Iraqi Dinars, one third of
that will go straight to the bus driver as his
daily payment, one third would be spent on
essential repairs and supplies and the last
batch will go to the bus owner,” said
Mohammed.
“As a driver my daily payment isn't
enough for me to supply my family's needs.
But we can't give up this job; we only know
this kind of work.”
The protesters point out that they do not
desire to raise prices, but they assert that it is
the government’s job to maintain all the
market prices together. “My children go and
come home by bus, so I am not in favor of
raising the bus price. At times it appears that
7
“As we were reaching the concluding
segment of the interview, he thanked the
premium service and facility of KRG that
help them to accomplish their dream and
assisting them on their road to success.”
Adding to the excitement Qaradaghi
said: “We are very lucky.”
The bus drivers and bakers of Slemani joined forces last month to stage a
strike in protest against the rising prices of fuel and wheat.
Aram Eissa
the government in allowing the market
prices to rise put the blame on the shop owners
and those employers that increase prices,
telling the citizens to complain to those individuals
rather than seek redress from the
government,” Mohammed said.
“Fuel is one of the main daily necessities
for everyone, when there is an increase in its
price; it acts as a driving force for raises in
other sectors, such as everyday goods and
services,” said Zana Muhammad Salih 'The
Qaimqam' of Central Slemani province, (a
position similar to the Governor but with
less powerful).
He also pointed out that raising the price
of fuel from 175 Iraqi Dinars to 300 Iraqi
Dinars for one liter “wasn't in our hands; it
was a decision of central government without
our consultation.”
The Qaimqam assured the public that
negotiations had taken place and a compromise
had been reached.
“We had a meeting with the drivers’ syndicate
and we reached an agreement; they
would bring the protests to a halt until the
end of the current month, keeping the bus
price as it is currently, at 250 Iraqi Dinars.,”
he said.
“In this time the government will strive to
find a solution because it is not the first time
fuel prices have been raised.”
As for the issue with the bakers, Salih the
Qaimqam said: “We have distributed
kerosene to the bakers now. They received a
barrel costing them almost US$15, but the
same barrel costs the government US$100.”
He was also anxious to draw attention to
his disapproval of the sudden protests
undertaken by both the bakers and the bus
drivers.
“They should have warned the
Government and the Interior Ministry
before they protested, it wasn't good judgment
to strike suddenly,” he said.