Iraq loses its membership in the Human Rights Council for repressing protesters and October 25th ultimatum

[yota691]

President of the Kurdistan Region: Breach of security worsens the situation .. And the problems of Iraq is not new

2 hours ago Wrote: Susan Atef |

 

 

نێچيرڤان بارزاني - Archive imagePhotography: Others

 

 

The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, issued a statement Friday evening; regarding the situation in Iraq, calling for the maintenance of law, security and stability and taking into account the higher interest of the country.

 

 

`` We look with concern at the events and the atmosphere of violence that has prevailed in Baghdad and a number of other provinces in recent days, '' said Negervan. `` Civil and peaceful demonstrations are a right within the constitution, but they should not turn into violence, clashes, chaos, lawlessness, threats to public security, sabotage and dismantling of state institutions. ''

 

 

Barzani continued: «The accumulated problems of Iraq is not the result of the moment, but is the result of the wrong practices and policies of successive Iraqi governments over decades, and no government can solve them overnight, to achieve the wishes and demands of the people requires the cooperation and solidarity of all forces and parties, and to protect security and stability The present and the future of the country is the duty and responsibility of all, and requires caution and wisdom from all. ”

 

 

Barzani continued in his statement; «Iraq is going through sensitive circumstances with which it needs to calm and political stability and security, and the tense atmosphere and the breach of the security situation and out of control events;

 

 

“We call on all parties to exercise restraint, protect the law and preserve the supreme interest of the nation,” he concluded.

 

 

[yota691]

Abadi joins Sadr and demands the resignation of the government and early elections

Political | 02:45 - 05/10/2019

 

 

 

 

Abadi joins Sadr and demanding the resignation of the government and early elections 
Baghdad - balances News 
joined former Prime Minister , head of a coalition victory Haider Abadi , the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada in calling for the government 's resignation and early elections , while the number of people killed has risen to 60 people  ,
Ebadi said in a statement released by his office , "We demand to freeze Provincial councils and consider their governments to conduct business. "
Abadi also called for early elections with a fair election law and fair electoral mechanisms under wide supervision to avoid government failure and blocking the political horizon.
Witnesses in Baghdad and several Iraqi cities, especially in the south, anti-government demonstrations in which 43 people were killed and hundreds injured, according to the Office of Human Rights.
The United Nations urged the Iraqi authorities on Friday to investigate promptly and transparently the use of force by security forces against demonstrators, killing dozens.
Sadr had called on Friday the deputies of the bloc of Sauron affiliated to suspend their membership in parliament amid continuing demonstrations in the country.
Ended 
m h n

[yota691]

Iraqi government decides to lift curfew

The Seven Continents

 

02:34 Saturday, October 5, 2019

 

The Iraqi Prime Minister directed the commander of the armed forces Adel Abdul Mahdi on Friday evening, lifting the curfew from five o'clock in the morning on Saturday, according to the Iraqi News Agency (conscious).

The follow-up cell in the Prime Minister's Office said it was communicating with "influential parties" in the mass movement in six provinces, which it did not specify, and there was "an agreement to meet the legitimate demands," without further details.

[yota691]

Iraqi Prime Minister chairs a meeting of security leaders in the presence of the Ministers of Defense and Interior

© REUTERS / Annegret Hilse

ARAB WORLD

00:40 05.10.2019(Updated 03:17 05.10.2019)

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Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi chaired a meeting of security leaders at the Federal Police headquarters in the presence of the ministers of defense and interior, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

Earlier on Friday, the director of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights, Mustafa Saadoun, reported that the number of people killed in the demonstrations in Iraq had risen to 50 and the total number of injuries was 1,936. .

Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced that it had agreed with the Judicial Council to release the detainees who did not commit criminal crimes, stressing that some slogans raised revealed an attempt to kidnap the protests and waste their legitimate demands.

Witnessing the capital Baghdad and southern provinces in Iraq, mass demonstrations demanding to overthrow the government and improve services and fight corruption.

[yota691]

 

 

 

Iraqis rush to store goods ... and a black market for fuel

 

Baghdad - Baraa al-Shammari

October 4, 2019

 

The reporter of the "new Arab" a new rise in food and fuel prices  as the curfew in Baghdad entered its second day.

The Iraqi markets have witnessed an unprecedented turnout on Thursday by  citizens who rushed heavily to markets and shops to buy food for storage in addition to increasing demand for gas stations to supply their cars and purchase heating gas.

This coincided with the imposition of curfew by the Iraqi authorities in the capital Baghdad and a number of cities in the south of the country caused the interruption of roads and the absence of any goods to the capital, whether food or consumer, especially vegetables and fuel. 

 

As the security situation escalated and their previous experiences, they were keen to buy anything that could benefit them, causing a significant rise in prices for many commodities in the market to double or more, and the markets were free of some goods, such as fruits and vegetables due to the inability to enter Baghdad.

 

Local sources in Baghdad told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that the security forces cut off the roads leading to the gas stations, prompting citizens to reach them through sub-alleyways, pointing out that these stations witnessed great congestion, while some announced that the quantities of fuel that were stored there It ran out because of the great demand for it. 

The sources, who declined to be named, said that some black market traders raised the prices of gas fuel, as the price per bottle 20 thousand Iraqi dinars (18 dollars), after the price was not more than 6 thousand dinars in normal conditions.

Iraqi security forces imposed a comprehensive curfew on the capital at dawn on Thursday, following Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's decision in a bid to contain a wave of protests that began on Tuesday.

Saad Fayyad, a resident of Baghdad's Karrada district, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that the prices of foodstuffs had risen madly in the past few hours. He assured Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that he had to buy large quantities of some necessary items such as flour, rice and sugar. Vegetables and legumes, fearing the protests crisis will last longer.

Talal al-Hasnawi, one of the wholesalers in Aden Square in Baghdad, told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that all his stores were empty of foodstuffs that were sold completely last night and Thursday morning to shop owners in residential areas after booking them via mobile.

Hasnawi pointed out that the imposition of a curfew in Baghdad and southern provinces was preventing the arrival of new goods, and that these goods from the Kurdistan region or arrived through Basra, which is also witnessing mass demonstrations.

An Iraqi Interior Ministry officer said in a telephone interview with Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that security forces did not intend to cause a living crisis through a curfew, but rather were applying orders from the higher authorities.

The officer, who declined to be named, said that the application of the ban does not distinguish between a car carrying civilians and another transporting goods, indicating that the temporary checkpoints imposed because of the curfew will be lifted after the stability of the security situation.

A member of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce explained that trucks loaded with goods stand at checkpoints on the Baghdad border, and are not allowed to enter. 

He continued, a member of the Chamber, who declined to be named: "The demand for markets to raise prices, and unfortunately there are those who took advantage of the crisis certainly," saying it is temporary and will not last.

Iraqis are suffering from a sharp rise in prices of various goods and services amid the decline of indicators of the Iraqi economy. Recent government reports have revealed high inflation rates in recent times.

Khalil al-Salhi, an economics professor at Baghdad University, says the continued curfew threatens to worsen the economic situation in the country and sends bad messages to investors or those who are considering pumping capital into Iraq in the future.

Salhi added that the current tightening has hit the citizens and companies, and the issue of cutting off the Internet to banks and financial institutions certainly incurred unforeseen losses now, noting that the government is required to put urgent solutions and abandon the idea of cutting and blocking in every crisis, it is only counterproductive to the debilitating Iraqi economy originally.

Because of tensions, Iran closed the Khosravi crossings in the province of "Kermanshah," and attractive in the "Khuzestan" border, because of the development of security in Iraq. The two crossings are used to transport goods as well as passengers.

In a statement issued yesterday, Iran's border guard commander, Qasem Rezaei, said that the "Khosravi" and "Attractive" border with Iraq had been closed from Wednesday night due to events in Baghdad and other cities.

Rezai explained that the two crossings will be reopened after the cessation of events in Iraq and provide security for border crossings.

[yota691]

Sadr calls for the resignation of the Iraqi government and early elections

Political | 02:44 - 05/10/2019

 

 

 

 

Sadr calls for the resignation of the Iraqi government and early elections
Baghdad - balances News
called the leader of Sadr Muqtedar al- Sadr Friday to the resignation of the Iraqi government and early elections in the country, after the escalation of the protests and the fall of Baghdad , dozens in several Iraqi cities.
The leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr in a brief statement in his handwritten on Friday night (Mawazine News) a copy of the copy of the copy that the disregard for Iraqi blood can not be tolerated and the government to resign.
The following is the text of the statement published by the blogger Saleh Mohammed al-Iraqi, who expresses on more than one occasion the positions of Sadr:
Witnesses in Baghdad and several Iraqi cities, especially in the south, anti-government demonstrations in which 43 people were killed and hundreds injured, according to the Office of Human Rights.
The United Nations urged the Iraqi authorities on Friday to investigate promptly and transparently the use of force by security forces against demonstrators, killing dozens.
Sadr had called on Friday the deputies of the bloc of Sauron affiliated to suspend their membership in parliament amid continuing demonstrations in the country.
Ended 

[yota691]

Halbousi: We need a revolution to fight corruption

Political | 03:14 - 05/10/2019

 

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - Mawazine News

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said on Friday that his country needs a revolution to fight corruption and support the demands of demonstrators and peaceful.

Al-Halbousi confirmed today "his rejection of the armed clash that occurred in the demonstrations."

In a speech, Halbousi called on the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to "immediately investigate the casualties."

He also called on the demonstrators to "support the security forces that fought and fought the terrorist Daesh, and to preserve the state property of the terrorists."

He continued: "We need a real revolution to fight corruption," stressing that corruption is a scourge must be eliminated.

[yota691]

Sadr calls on others to suspend their membership in parliament until a government program is accepted by the people

Political | 02:55 - 04/10/2019

 

 

 

 

 

BAGHDAD - Mawazine News 

Called the cleric Moqtada al - Sadr, are moving deputies to suspend their membership in parliament until the government program acceptable to the people
, he said al- Sadr said in a statement, said that the deputies are moving suspension of membership in the House of Representatives without delay. "
He added that" it will continue until the issuance of a ministerial program satisfies the people and reference Religious. "

[yota691]

Adel Abdul Mahdi at stake: no magic solutions

- One Hour Has Passed

BAGHDAD - The religious authority in Najaf increased pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi when he blamed his government for the worsening social and economic situation that led to widespread protests threatening the survival of the post-2003 political system, which could encourage him to be held accountable. Scapegoat to save the political process as a whole.

While acknowledging the legitimacy of the demands on the street and urging them to deal with them positively and swiftly, Shia religious parties and the pro-Iranian media continue to accuse Israel and the United States of triggering these protests, and that the demonstrators are carrying out an “external plot” under the title of legitimate demands.

The religious authority called on the government and parliament on Friday to assume responsibilities and respond to the demands of the demonstrators, and warned of the expansion of the protest movement, which will be the first exam of the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi, who took power a year ago and demanded more time on Wednesday evening.

A later statement issued by the Prime Minister expressed commitment to the demands of the Marjaiya within a clear timetable to achieve the required reforms.

The protest movement, which began Tuesday in Baghdad before expanding to several cities in the south of the country, demanding jobs for young people and the departure of "corrupt" officials.

"The government has to change its approach to dealing with the problems of the country," Ahmad al-Safi said in his Friday sermon in Karbala.

Al-Safi added that the government should "improve public services, provide jobs, stay away from patronage in public jobs and complete the files of those accused of manipulating public funds and bring them to justice."

For the first time embarrassed the judiciary clearly in her sermon, and said that he did not take enough steps to fight corruption, in light of talk about the complicity of judicial parties in the protection of corrupt political actors.

The representative of the Marjai denounced "unacceptable and condemned attacks on peaceful demonstrators and security forces", where the number of victims of the protests to 50 dead according to the latest statistics of the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights.

Protesters say that the government, which spoke of "mendes" distorting the course of the protest, to clean up the ranks of riot police from the engineers, stressing that the real engineers are inside the security services, and that they are trying to drag the demonstrators to violence, through abuse and the use of excessive violence and bullets The neighborhood against them.

Marjeh's position, which declares his understanding of the demands of the protesters, puts the ruling Shiite parties in Iraq and Iran's stances on the uprising, in a clash with the street, especially after it was described as a conspiracy behind Israel and the United States, a method that is no longer useful after the Iraqi news of this Logos are long.

With indirect blurring of responsibility between the government and parliament, the protests could lead to a violent shake-up: either topple a government that, within a year of taking office, has failed to go beyond the stage of showing good intentions, or to topple the parliament as a whole.

Iraqi observers believe that the fall of parliament will open the door to significant repercussions, but the fall of the government can be addressed by another new government through quotas.

The government considers parliament to be in limbo, embroiled in political conflicts, stalled the completion of the cabinet and imposed incompetent party ministers, while the parliament believes the government is slow to move and that Mahdi cannot keep up with events.

Abd al-Mahdi complains that the blocs that formed the government hinder their work, indicating the demand of the Prime Minister publicly grant him powers from the parliament, but did not get it and remained under the dominance of the blocs that control the decision of the government and the performance of its ministers.

If protests widen, it is unclear what options the government has. Nothing has been reported so far about cabinet reshuffles or resignations.

Iraqi sources point to the possibility of sacrificing the prime minister by forcing him to resign, to absorb the anger of the demonstrators and save the system of the political process.

The President of the Republic Barham Saleh and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Halbousi held a special meeting, to speed up the procedures, amid predictions of the lack of a quorum that allows the holding of the House of Representatives scheduled for Saturday, after the suspension of deputies "Sairon" affiliated to Moqtada al-Sadr and the "National Axis" led by Khamis al-Khanjar, Their membership, in addition to the Vice-President of the Council Hassan Kaabi.

Iraqi political circles say that if the deputies of Haider al-Abadi and Ammar al-Hakim joined Sadr's call to boycott the sessions, the legitimacy of parliament could be undermined, and that the demonstrators should continue peaceful protest to pressure these forces to listen to the reference.

The suspension of some members of parliament and the boycott of today's meeting gives the impression to Iraqis that we are with you, in an effort to restore confidence that has shaken them completely. But the protesters' outrage is sweeping against the government, members of parliament and political parties, as evidenced by the burning of Dawa headquarters and the stream of wisdom.

The curfew, imposed since Thursday, remains in force in Baghdad and several southern provinces, but protesters defied the resolution and refused to comply.

The demonstrations renewed Friday afternoon in Baghdad and a number of provinces, while the police repeated their harsh measures against them, to the extent of being targeted by live bullets.

The demonstrators tried to reach Tahrir Square, in the center of the capital, but the very heavy security deployment around it prevented them from doing so.

The Arabs

[markb57]

2 things would help.

1. under UN moderation, freeze all bank accts of all govt workers, PM down, and find who has all the money and make them prove where they got it. Immediately arrest those that can't.

2. go to work. No more holidays. No more days off till everything is fixed. No exceptions. Don't come to work, you're fired.

 

I know....pipe dream. The young people in Iraq at least know what is needed to run a govt and taking every other week off ain't it. Also they know that enough money has poured into Iraq since 2003 to make everyone comfortable but that too hasn't happened for the populace.

 

 

[yota691]

 

Political groups on Whatsapp: Abdul Mahdi decided to resign after a meeting at the headquarters of the Federal Police

2019-10-05

Yes Iraq:

Political groups on Whatsapp: Abdul Mahdi decided to resign after a meeting at the headquarters of the Federal Police

The resignation announcement will be Saturday morning

News that Barham Saleh assumed the functions of the executive

Two options are being considered: Barham Saleh takes over until early elections

The second assignment of an agreed figure to form the current government

[yota691]

The latest developments until 3 dawn on Saturday: Abdul Mahdi escapes to resign!

2019-10-05

 

- Reports of a resignation to be submitted by Abdul-Mahdi before Saturday noon

- Parliament is determined to re-consider the demonstrators after a speech by President Mohammed Halbousi and news of a number of important decisions during Saturday's session

- Associated Press: An Iraqi policeman fired a bullet at the leg of a demonstrator talking to Iraqi journalists near Tahrir Square. The number of demonstrators near the area was about 1000 people and security forces opened fire in the surrounding streets to prevent the arrival of more demonstrators.

- Lifting curfew in Iraq starting from five dawn Saturday and the Washington Post quoted a spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Ali al-Bayati:
(Arrest of 35 people from hospitals in Baghdad And Nasiriyah).

Source: Ministry of Health: Victims of demonstrations in Iraq exceeded 100 Said and 1100 wounded

- Statement of Abadi:

* Abadi rejects the method of treason demonstrators and demands a national declaration of the right to peaceful protest, and have mercy on the martyrs.

* Abadi calls for early elections to avoid the pains of government failure and blocking the horizon of the political process.

* Abadi calls for freezing the provincial councils and consider their governments caretaker governments.

* Abadi calls for a fair election law and fair election mechanisms under wide supervision to ensure its integrity and not to repeat the violations of 2018 that distorted political life.

* Abadi calls on the government and political forces official pledges to ensure freedom from quotas, weapons, corruption and swallow the state.

* Abadi provides a vision for the current and next stage puts the government and political forces in front of options to test the seriousness and credibility to get out of the current impasse.

[blueskyline]

Thank You Yota . GE DV's . Looks like the departure of Mahdi and the return of Abadi . Very interesting turn of events for sure !

[1lucdog]

Indeed!

 

[nannab]

You said it blueskyline and the Kurds better watch out now.

Thanks Yota and good evening.  

 

[yota691]

Demonstrations in Iraq .. 93 dead so far and Haidar al-Abadi sends a message with 17 proposals

Middle east

Spread Saturday , October 05 , 2019

 

 

DUBAI - At least 93 people have been killed and 3,216 injured, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights , in violent demonstrations in several cities across the country against government corruption, high unemployment and lack of basic services.

 

The former Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, sent an open letter with 17 proposals, in a post on his official Facebook page, as follows:

 

1- Issuing a national declaration (popular, governmental and partisan) to abide by the constitutionally guaranteed peaceful demonstration, not to betray the demonstrators, to preserve their blood, dignity and political and civil rights, while maintaining order, security, stability and public and private property, and preventing the use of demonstrations by the party and political interests for narrow or suspicious interests, Demonstrators and security forces are martyrs.

 

2- In order to avoid the failure of running the country and to ensure that the horizon is not obstructed by the reforms demanded by the people, early elections shall be called for the formation of a legitimate constitutional government capable of carrying out its national tasks with a time limit not exceeding 2020. . (Ie, the principle of separation between the legislative and executive tracks is adopted).

3 - Form a criminal court for corruption , independent of judges known for their impartiality and impartiality and to remove suspicions of corruption from the judiciary, and draws on international expertise, and the Court is committed to open all files and bring the spoilers to the courts by 2020.

4. Freeze the work of the current provincial councils , and consider local governments as caretaker governments until new provincial councils are elected by 2020.

5. The commitment of the government and political forces to hold general and local elections within the ceiling of 2020 , to be reviewed by the recent election law to ensure fair representation, and the substantive involvement of the Iraqi judiciary and the United Nations Mission in Iraq and Iraqi civil organizations in the structure of the elections, including monitoring and certification of results, and to ensure that the violations do not recur I scratched the credibility and results of the 2018 elections and created the turbulent structure of the political process and government formation.

 

6. The Government is committed to preserving the State entity, sovereignty, stability and neutrality towards regional and international imperatives, ensuring that Iraq does not engage in any regional or international axis, and isolating and criminalizing any entity that violates Iraq's neutrality and preserving its national interests.

7. The government is committed to neutralize political parties and entities from interfering with the work of the state in all its institutions, and to directly restrict arms to the state and its legitimate institutions, and not to allow armed manifestations and militarization of cities.

8. The Government is committed to establishing clear, equitable and decisive mechanisms to unify the manifestations and obligations of the sovereign state with all regions and governorates, including issues of wealth, border outlets and fee revenues.

9. The Government is obliged to establish binding paths and time-bound ceilings for a general census , to make the required constitutional amendments, and to set timetables for the return of displaced persons, the reconstruction of liberated cities and the completion and compensation of missing and absentee files.

10. The Government is committed to taking swift and effective action to secure services, alleviate the need and assist young energies and crushed classes.

 

11. The government and all political parties and forces are committed to contesting fair, free and fair elections , to form a national government based on the largest parliamentary bloc in accordance with the principle of dual government-opposition, and to provide an integrated government program with specific time limits to ensure the fulfillment of government responsibilities and functions. Three months for parliamentary evaluation, and the adoption of the principle of solidarity responsibility in performance, audit, control, accounting and government evaluation by the forces opposed to the government.

12. The Government and all parties shall abide by the Constitution, law and national sovereignty by exercising them, and undertake to reject, combat and criminalize terrorism, violence, takfir, sectarianism, corruption and organized crime , to prevent any weapon or military presence outside the rule of law, to restrict the powers of security and protection of citizens to State authorities, and to abide by civil and political rights and duties and the values of coexistence. Peaceful expression and the right to peaceful expression, confronting the manifestations of lawlessness, promoting and supporting legal, institutional and social security to protect the country and its people, rejecting violence and resorting to arms in solving social and political problems.

13. All political forces shall abide by official commitments to liberate the State and its institutions from the system of quotas, adopt the criteria of competence and professionalism, integrity, career progression, specialization and equal opportunities in the selection of candidates for positions, activate the law of the Federal Service Council, and the obligation of accountability and accountability and professional and legal evaluation of the performance of officials away from any kind of political protection. .

14.The next government is committed according to comprehensive plans to modernize the administrative and financial systems, move towards automation, move to e-government, adopt international standards to evaluate the performance of institutions, complete the advancement of the integrated market economy, and proceed with the establishment of the Al Ajyal Fund, the Sovereign Fund, and the National Development Plan 2018. 2022, Iraq Vision 2030, Poverty Reduction Strategy 2018-2022, reducing unemployment, activating social safety nets, and accelerating the economic, agricultural, industrial, commercial and banking advancement, including the improvement of the services, energy, transport and technology sectors Logia information and communication, the development of centers and administrative and professional skills of employees of state institutions.

15.The incoming Government is committed, in accordance with comprehensive plans, to the empowerment of youth and women in the political, economic, educational and development sectors, to guarantee the rights of women and the rights of children, juveniles and the elderly and to legislative protection for them, and to emphasize the implementation of the objectives of the Special Needs Care Law No. 38 of 2013.

 

16.The next government is committed to adopt the policies and programs contained in the strategy of education , and commitment to reformulate educational curricula in accordance with educational development and to ensure the consolidation of the culture of coexistence and civic values and national identity, and pay attention to culture, media, arts, sports and civil work to build the state and the development of society and facilities.

17. All political forces and governments are obliged to provide legislative and societal protection to all Iraqi minorities of their religious, national and sectarian diversity, not to exclude, marginalize or aggression against them, to ensure their compensation and return to their areas of residence, and to respect their religious and civil specificities.

[6ly410]

 

Edited October 5, 2019 by 6ly410

[yota691]

"Reuters" Iraqi dollar bonds fall 1.2 cents after the demonstrations in Baghdad

Friday, October 04, 2019 04:00 PM

Demonstrations in Iraq

Iraq's dollar-denominated sovereign bonds fell 1.2 cents to a four-month low on Friday after the death toll in violent demonstrations across the country rose to 46 amid a rapid escalation of unrest since Tuesday.

The 2028 issue fell to 95.14 cents, a 4-month low, according to data from Refinitiv, and bonds have fallen more than two years since the start of the week.

[yota691]

Al Rasheed Bank announces the continuation of the work of MasterCard (Palm) without Internet

17 minutes ago

 

 

 

Al Rasheed Bank announces the continuation of the work of MasterCard (Palm) without Internet

[yota691]

The demonstrations in Iraq are angry at Iran

- 4 Hours Have Passed

Popular demonstrations continue in Iraq and continue to rise with the death toll every day and unexpectedly. Despite the usual scene of popular demonstrations that have been occurring sporadically for nearly two years, the Iraqi government's response has been more violent, indicating that all the controls and hegemony used in the past years have been exhausted, leaving only excessive violence to quell the wave of protests.

On the one hand, the war on ISIS ended, uniting Iraqis and hiding them from their internal pain caused by the corruption and disruption of the economic and political system run by the ruling elite. The pretext of confronting ISIS fell from the hands of the Iraqi government, which used it as a sword on the heads of Iraqis, which always prevented them from protesting until the end of the threat of ISIS.

Moreover, the Government of Iraq cannot resolve the grievances that Iraqis complain about: the absence of economic and social development, the absence of employment opportunities and the minimum government services. This does not require a different policy from the one currently pursued by the political elite, but a new elite.

This explains the excessive violence that the Iraqi government employs to defend its existence and to prevent the security situation from spiraling out of control. The second reason that the Iraqi authorities are pushing for violence is the targeting of demonstrations for Iranian influence in the country. The focus on Iran seems to have solved a problem as long as Iraqi protests have faced in the past - the absence of a certain symbolism to which popular resentment and demonstrations are directed.

Where popular demonstrations are taking place in countries around the world, popular discontent is directed at who represents the status quo and symbolizes it. This may be the head of state, which is ruled by an iron fist or the ruling party. This clarity is a unifying factor for the demonstrators and provides a simplified vision of the problem and solution to a spontaneous audience unable to produce that vision in the absence of effective political organizations.

In many Arab countries, such as Algeria and Sudan, popular resentment has been directed towards a centralized authority and a demand for an end to the domination of power and political participation in order to initiate a process of development. The problem in Iraq is that the political system is not centralized, in which power is distributed among a number of parties that criticize each other and come to power through relatively free elections under international supervision.

This prompted demonstrators to choose Iran as a symbol of the desperate situation and attack it in the demonstrations. Iran's political and economic influence over Iraq has increased since the US occupation. Tehran reinforced its dominance under the pretext of war on ISIS, creating the Popular Mobilization militias, which many today accuse of being responsible for excessive violence against demonstrators.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who came to power a year ago, has promised major reforms, fighting corruption and employing Iraq's oil resources in favor of the affected populace.

But to this day, the Mahdi does not seem to be able to carry out the promised reforms and is unable to control the militias of the Popular Mobilization. The situation for Iraqis seems structural, in the sense that improvements are local and minor, including new parliamentary elections, that will not solve the problem.

But continuing popular mobilization and pushing for real change requires going beyond mere Iranian hegemony and resentment of the status quo. Enforceable demands are required to be pushed one by one under popular pressure. An alternative to the existing political system must be put to an end to the sectarian quota that Iran is devoting to its economic and security dominance.

The current political system does not allow for real opposition. In the absence of real political opposition, the principles of transparency, accountability, and corruption were absent.

What is required, then, is to restructure the political system to prevent the division of the spoils on all sides as it is taking place today and contribute to the emergence of a strong and clear opposition stream based on the exercise of politics as a conflict between socio-economic programs. This could be through a transition to a presidential system or fundamental changes to the parliamentary system and the constitution.

The question remains whether spontaneous, disorganized and irregular masses can put forward a specific agenda for political change. Although it is not possible to be optimistic at the moment, ongoing demonstrations will pose this question to Iraqis interested in political change.

The Arabs

[Theseus]

7 hours ago, markb57 said:

2 things would help.

1. under UN moderation, freeze all bank accts of all govt workers, PM down, and find who has all the money and make them prove where they got it. Immediately arrest those that can't.

2. go to work. No more holidays. No more days off till everything is fixed. No exceptions. Don't come to work, you're fired.

 

I know....pipe dream. The young people in Iraq at least know what is needed to run a govt and taking every other week off ain't it. Also they know that enough money has poured into Iraq since 2003 to make everyone comfortable but that too hasn't happened for the populace.

 

 

Considering most of Iraq works for the government and the government is the biggest job producer, freezing the accounts of all government workers would lead to even more intensified violent protests. If any accounts are frozen it needs to be management level and up through PM. And if money is still leaking like a sieve it will be much easier to find. You don't freeze accounts of those who can't afford to miss a paycheck and living off the basics. Since most management level employees/workers make more than a basic income in Iraq, they can live off the basics for a predetermined period of time. 

[Floridian]

57 minutes ago, 6ly410 said:

 

 

Thank you, 6ly, for posting this.  I recommend everyone watch this video.

 

[Butifldrm]

 

2019-10-05 12:34

• The number of readings 65
• Section: Iraq
•  

The Anti-Corruption Council issues decisions on public demands and nullifies charges against the Minister of Health

BAGHDAD / Obelisk: The Office of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, on Saturday, the Anti-Corruption Council issued decisions on public demands and invalidated charges against the Minister of Health.

"The Supreme Council for Combating Corruption held its session today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi," the office said in a statement.
 
He added that "the Council issued important decisions on the mass demands and oil files and state real estate and the dismissal of 1,000 employees and foreign workers and invalidated the charges against the Minister of Health."
 
On October 3, the Anti-Corruption Council announced the dismissal of 1,000 employees on charges of embezzlement and waste of public funds.

The Obelisk

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4:10 AM · Oct 5, 2019·TweetDeck