Points of View
Massacre in Iraq
Attacks.
A quadruple attack against the Yezidi community in the north of the country has left 200 people dead and 375 wounded. Meanwhile the government is going through a profound crisis.
A real massacre has occurred in the north west of Iraq. A quadruple attack using truck bombs killed more then 200 people and left 375 wounded at Al-Khataniyah and Al-Adnaniyah, villages mostly populated by the Yezidi, a Kurdish pre-Islamic minority, which counts around 500'000 members. It is one of the deadliest attacks since the beginning of hostilities in 2003. At a political level, the « National Union » government of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is in full crisis. Ahmed Al-Shikaki, Researcher at the Study and Research Centre for the Arab and Mediterranean World in Geneva, sums up the situation.
This region in Iraq had seemed relatively spared by the attacks. Is the war spreading to zones that have hither to been less exposed?
Currently, attacks are being perpetrated everywhere in Iraq. The strong American armed presence in certain zones of Baghdad incites the insurgents to commit attacks in less controlled regions. Which does not stop nearly daily attacks in the capital; the insurgents frequently change their tactics.
But these last attacks were clearly aimed at the Yezidi. Some months ago, a few members of this community killed a young girl who wanted to convert to Islam in order to marry a Muslim. This brought on calls of revenge by Jihad groups.
How do minorities stand in Iraq?
It all depends on the regions. In Kurdistan, the situation is still relatively calm; Christians live there without many problems. Yet in Basra, the context is more difficult. Many Christians and Turkmens have had to flee the country, following threats and attacks on them.
Where does the reconciliation process stand now that the Sunni Ministers have left the government?
The process is completely blocked. The fact is, despite pressures, the government has never really advanced on this subject. And each puts the responsibility on the other. For the Prime Minister, reconciliation can only happen with the participation of everyone. But Sunnites accuse him of not taking them into consideration and being sectarian. Nouri Al Maliki now tries to save his coalition before the publication, in a month time at Washington, of the report by David Petraeus, Chief Commander of the American Armed Forces in Iraq. But to no avail.
As to the parliament currently on holidays, it is also blocked. The paralysis especially affects the law on petrol, which defines how revenues are to be shared.
Is the reconstruction of the country advancing?
The money is there, but nothing is moving. With security related problems as an excuse. Thus ministers only use 25% of their budget! As to infrastructures and services, they are in a lamentable state. Transports do not work, and the citizens of Baghdad have to do without electricity and running water for most of the day. As to prices, they are extremely high, starting with the price of fuel and gas.
Gustavo Kuhn
Tribune de Genève
August 16th 2007
Translated by Ines Ward - research assistant trainee at CERMAM
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- Origin CERMAM
- http://www.cermam.org/en/logs/vue/massacre_in_iraq/
- Publié le 4 September 2007