samedi 31 mai 2008

Too Little, Too Late... by Layla Anwar

Painting: Iraqi artist, Mohamed Ali Shaker.
http://arabwomanblues.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 30, 2008

Too Little, Too Late...

We have a popular saying in Iraq and it goes this way "Ba'ad Kharaab Al-Basra"??!!How to translate that? Literally it means "After the destruction of Basra" ?!


Kharaab comes from the verb kharraba, which means to destroy something that worked before, to irreparably damage it...Kharban-the adjective, means damaged, rotten, not functional, not working, failed...Simply put, kharraba means to screw up something so badly, rendering it useless...So this proverb is used when someone comes along with either an admission, an apology, or to rectify some wrong after colossal damage has been inflicted...



So you tell the person in Iraqi "What's the use, after the destruction of Basra?!"In the same vein, the latest admissions from Mc Lellan ex-press spokesman for the White House and from other media voices like this CNN reporter, who both finally admitted that their reporting on Iraq, was "less than candid". In other words they fucking lied...The CNN reporter added that they were "forced" to report in a particular fashion that was not detrimental to your government's image.

Excuse me, but am I supposed to feel better now or what ?



For 5 fucking years, no for 18 years, you've been buying the lies and suddenly you admit that it was "less than candid" and am supposed to feel OK with it ?



Like what do you expect me to do? Rush and embrace you for your "honesty"? Or maybe you expect me to forget our ruined lives and our filled to the brim graves ?



Or maybe being the fucking hypocrites that you are, you expect me to say "well after all, there are some good people left in America. It's not their fault really, they were forced..."



Oh, the bullshit! Oh, your bullshit that knows no limits.



Oh, you compulsive liars, bad faith, deceitful, dishonest lot !



You did the same thing in Vietnam.



After over 10 years of murder and mayhem, you took to the streets with your flowers and peace signs and cried about "poor" Vietnam.



It took you 10 fucking years. And you only moved your big fat asses after your brave boys came back in body bags and you could not stop the counting.



All throughout the 10 years, the pictures of the napalm burned kids did not move you, oh no they did not...you were too busy singing in Woodstock thinking you're so fucking cool...when you were and are nothing but a screwed up bunch of mental retards and morons...



And do you think you learned anything ? Nothing. You learned nothing and you will never learn. You only learn the hard way, when you get your asses kicked big time and people start talking your language. This is when you open those rotten ears of yours and listen.



The problem with you people and I've experienced over and over, you mistake the words and demeanor of basic human civility for weakness. You know nothing about civility or civilization, you understand only one language - violence. Because that is the only language you are proficient at.



And I being a "good Muslim", I follow the saying of our Prophet who said "talk to people in the language they understand".



So you come now and tell us that the whole thing was dishonest? "After Kharaab Al-Basra"? Ya awlad al Kalb - sons of dogs. But dogs are too noble to be compared to you. You are less than dogs. Less than animals. Less...much less. You are scum and vermin.



God, I fucking hate your hypocrisy ya awlad al sharmoota - you sons of whores.



You sons of a thousand whores, will your fucking Mc Lellan or your CNN marry the 3 million widows ? Or feed the 5 million orphans ? Or bring back the 5 million refugees home ? Or heal our cancer patients from your criminal weapons of mass destruction? Or grow a limb and an eye back to the 1000's lost, from your bombs ?



Or maybe your admission will revive the 1 million plus, dead ?



Or restore our 7'000 years old archaeological sites, homes, buildings, fields, infrastructure, electricity and water ?



Or maybe you short lived fake, phony meaculpa will disarm the sectarian pathological turbaned shits who are ruling us now-thanks to you ?



I am too angry to finish this post...and there is nothing left to finish...you bastards. I hate your fucking guts all of you.

Seven year anniversary for Parliament Square Peace Protestor Brian Haw



Dear supporters of Brian Haw and the right to protest,

Further to the email a few days ago about the 7th anniversary of the start of Brian's vigil for peace and justice in Parliament Square, Brian has confirmed that he will be fasting and praying from Sunday 1 June to Monday 2. He welcomes others to join him in the fast.

To mark this occasion there will be a gathering of supporters from 2pm on Sunday 1 June in the Square although it is requested that NO FOOD OR DRINK be brought. See the press release below for more information.

best wishes
Emma
Parliament Square Peace Campaign
http://www.blogger.com/www.parliament-square.org.uk



PRESS RELEASE
Friday 30 May 2008

Seven year anniversary for Parliament Square peace protestor

Monday 2nd June will be the 7th anniversary of the start of Brian Haw's continuous protest against the Government's foreign policy on Iraq - against the economic sanctions that caused huge suffering to the Iraqi people, and against the invasion and occupation of the country.

To mark the seven years, Mr Haw will be fasting and praying from Sunday 1 June to Monday 2nd and is inviting others to join him. There will be a gathering in Parliament Square at 2pm on Sunday 1st June for Mr Haw's supporters.

Brian Haw has continued his protest every day and night since 2nd June 2001, despite attempts to silence him including the introduction of a ban on unauthorised protest around Parliament under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act in 2005.

In his determination to stand up for peace and justice, Mr Haw has gained considerable recognition and continues his vigil while many of those who sought to stop his protest are no longer in power. And in March this year the Government announced that the restrictions on protest around Parliament would themselves be repealed. [A]

Contact and information:
Parliament Square Peace Campaign
info@parliament-square.org.uk
http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/

Notes:A. For details of the restrictions on protest under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act see http://www.repeal-socpa.info/

vendredi 30 mai 2008

Blogger has finally UNLOCKED my blog


Ten days ago Blogger had locked this blog 'European Turkmen Friendships' making it impossible for me to publish new posts because 'Robots' had signalled my blog as a 'spam blog'.

Today Blogger has finally unlocked it !
While this blog was suspended I have started two other blogs (one with WordPress and the other one with Blogger) I'll be posting on them regurlarly.
Please see:

mercredi 21 mai 2008

Depleted Uranium shells used by U.S. Military worse than Nuclear Weapons


David Gutierrez

May 21, 2008(NaturalNews)

The use of depleted uranium (DU) munitions by the U.S. military may lead to a death toll far higher than that from the nuclear bombs dropped at the end of World War II.
DU is a waste product of uranium enrichment, containing approximately one-third the radioactive isotopes of naturally occurring uranium. Because of its high density, it is used in armor- or tank-piercing ammunition. It has been fired by the U.S. and British militaries in the two Iraq wars and in Afghanistan, as well as by NATO forces in Kosovo and the Israeli military in Lebanon and Palestine.

Inhaled or ingested DU particles are highly toxic, and DU has been classified as an illegal weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations.The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority has estimated that 50 tons of DU dust from the first Gulf War could lead to 500,000 cancer deaths by the year 2000. To date, a total of 2,000 tons have been generated in the Middle East.


In contrast, approximately 250,000 lives were claimed by the explosions and radiation released by the nuclear weapons dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki."More than ten times the amount of radiation released during atmospheric testing [of nuclear bombs] has been released from DU weaponry since 1991," said Leuren Moret, a U.S. nuclear scientist. "The genetic future of the Iraqi people, for the most part, is destroyed. The environment now is completely radioactive."

Because DU has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, the Middle East will, for all practical purposes, be radioactive forever.
The two U.S. wars in Iraq "have been nuclear wars because they have scattered nuclear material across the land, and people, particularly children, are condemned to die of malignancy and congenital disease essentially for eternity," said anti-nuclear activist Helen Caldicott.


Since the first Gulf War, the rate of birth defects and childhood cancer in Iraq has increased by seven times. More than 35 percent (251,000) of U.S. Gulf War veterans are dead or on permanent medical disability, compared with only 400 who were killed during the conflict.

Irakiens morts à cause de l'invasion américaine: 1.213.716

Children in US Custody in Iraq Held Without Due Process

For Immediate Release

US: Respect Rights of Child Detainees in Iraq
Children in US Custody Held Without Due Process
(Geneva, May 21, 2008)


US forces in Iraq should ensure that children it takes into custody are treated according to their status as children, and given prompt judicial review and access to independent monitors, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 22, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will meet in Geneva to review US compliance with the international treaty banning the use of child soldiers, which requires states to help with the recovery and reintegration of such children under their control.

US military authorities, operating as the Multinational Forces in Iraq, were as of May 12, 2008 holding 513 Iraqi children as “imperative threats to security,” and have transferred an unknown number of other children to Iraqi custody. According to a recent report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), children in Iraqi custody are at risk of physical abuse.

“In conflicts where it was not directly involved, the US has been a leader in helping child soldiers re-enter society,” said Clarisa Bencomo, Middle East children’s researcher at Human Rights Watch. “That kind of leadership is unfortunately missing in Iraq.”

On May 22, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will meet in Geneva to review US compliance with the Optional Protocol on children in armed conflict, which the US ratified in 2002. The treaty bans the recruitment and use of persons under 18 in hostilities by any party to a conflict, and requires states to provide all appropriate assistance for the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of such children under their jurisdiction or control.

Since 2003, the US has detained some 2,400 children in Iraq, including children as young as 10. Detention rates rose drastically in 2007 to an average of 100 new children a month from 25 a month in 2006. The US holds most children at US Camp Cropper in Baghdad, but has also held children at the main US military detention facility, Camp Bucca near Basra. US officials earlier this year told Human Rights Watch that they separate children from adults at these facilities but do not separate very young or particularly vulnerable children from other child detainees.

In early 2007, a 17-year-old boy was reportedly strangled to death by a fellow child detainee at Camp Cropper.

Child detainees, no differently from adults, may be interrogated over the course of days or weeks by military units in the field before being sent to the main detention centers. They have no real opportunity to challenge their detention: earlier this year US officials told Human Rights Watch that children are not provided with lawyers and do not attend the one-week or one-month detention reviews after their transfer to Camp Cropper. In addition, children have very limited contact with their families. While the US does assign each child a military “advocate” at the mandatory six-month detention review, that advocate has no training in juvenile justice or child development.

As of February 2008, the reported average length of detention for children was more than 130 days, and some children have been detained for more than a year without charge or trial, in violation of the Coalition Provisional Authority memorandum on criminal procedures. That memorandum’s section on “security internee process” states, “Any person under the age of 18 interned at any time shall in all cases be released not later than 12 months after the initial date of internment.”

“The vast majority of children detained in Iraq languish for months in US military custody,” Bencomo said. “The US should provide these children with immediate access to lawyers and an independent judicial review of their detention.”

In August 2007, the United States opened Dar al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) at Camp Cropper with the stated intention to provide 600 detainees, ranging in age from 11 to 17, with educational services pending release or transfer to Iraqi custody. However, in May 2008, US military officials in Baghdad told Human Rights Watch that only “200 to 300” of the 513 child detainees were enrolled in classes at Dar al-Hikmah. Currently, children who are excluded from the program do not receive any other educational services.

Like adults, children transferred to Iraqi custody are at risk of abuse and poor conditions of confinement. A US military official in Baghdad told Human Rights Watch this month that the US was delaying the transfer of 130 child detainees to Iraq’s al-Tobchi juvenile detention facility because of conditions there.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) found that overcrowding at al-Tobchi was causing hygiene problems during visits in October and November 2007. At the time the facility was operating at close to double its normal capacity of 200 beds, and children were sharing beds or taking turns to sleep on the floor without mattresses.

To date, the United States has not released statistics on the number of children it has transferred to Iraqi custody for trial. According to UNAMI, 89 children transferred from US to Iraqi custody had been convicted of offenses by December 2007. Between December 2007 and March 2008, there was a drop of 450 children in US custody, but the United States has not made known whether they were released or transferred to Iraqi custody.

Human Rights Watch calls on US military forces in Iraq to:
· Ensure children in its custody receive prompt access to independent legal assistance and family visits;
· Provide children with prompt review of detention by an independent judicial body;
· Release children who have been detained for more than a year, in compliance with Section 6, Article 5 of Coalition Provisional Authority Memo 3 (revised) of June 27, 2004;
· Separate very young and other particularly vulnerable children from other detainees;
· Allow UNICEF, UNAMI, and other independent monitors confidential access to children in US custody;
· Refrain from transferring physical custody of children to Iraqi authorities pending trial when there is reason to believe they will be at risk of abuse; and,
· Ensure the right to education and recreation of all children in US custody.

Background
Since the declared end of the US occupation of Iraq in June 2004, detained persons should be provided due process under international human rights law. Security Council Resolution 1546 and its successors allow for internment of Iraqis “for imperative reasons of security.” However, the United States improperly uses this language to justify holding the detainees without judicial review and other basic rights, as if the operative law were the Fourth Geneva Convention on the treatment of civilians during international armed conflict.

Human rights law, as found in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, requires that all persons arrested be brought promptly before a judge, have access to legal counsel and family members, be charged with a cognizable criminal offense, and receive a prompt trial meeting international fair trial standards. It also requires states to provide every child “such measures of protection as are required by his status as a minor.”

Under international juvenile justice standards, children accused of criminal offenses must have access to specialized juvenile justice systems, with specially trained judges, prosecutors, and attorneys working in a framework of restorative justice and social rehabilitation. The arrest and detention of a child must be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Detained children should be separated from adults, and are entitled to prompt access to legal and other appropriate assistance in challenging detention.

To read the 2008 Child Soldiers Global Report, published yesterday by the Coalition to Stop Use of Child Soldiers, please visit:
http://www.childsoldiersglobalreport.org/

For additional Human Rights Watch reporting on US detention practices in Iraq, please visit:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/28/usint18659.htm

For more information, please contact:
In Cairo, Clarisa Bencomo (English, Arabic): +20-10-970-9911 (mobile)
In Washington, DC, Joe Stork (English): +1-202-612-4327; or +1-202-299-4925 (mobile)

mardi 20 mai 2008

UNPO Declaration: Opening the World Order to De facto States

Opening the World Order to De facto States
Limits and Potentialities of de facto states in the International Context
15 May 2008
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium


On 15 May 2008, UNPO hosted the conference "Opening the World Order to De facto States" in the European Parliament, Brussels.

Attendees at the conference included Graham Watson, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the ALDE Group, Marco Panella, Member of the European Parliament and Leader of the Nonviolent Radical Party, Michael Kau, Representative of Taiwan to the European Union and Belgium, Maxim Gunjia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Mohamoud Daar, Representative of the Republic of Somaliland to the European Union, Scott Pegg, Associate Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Marino Busdachin, Secretary General, UNPO.

Below is the text of the UNPO Declaration on De facto States, prepared in consultation with the de facto states representatives and speakers present at the conference:

Declaration

Recognising that beyond the confines of the world’s internationally recognised State borders exist entities without official recognition as States, yet who possess many or all of the traditional empirical criteria for statehood and sometimes even function as States in international fora.
Recognising that these de facto states may have their own democratically elected government, political system, laws, judiciary, police force, defence force, currency, foreign representation, or all of the above, independent of any officially recognised State in whose (claimed or sovereign) territory they may lie.

Recognising that many sovereign States are not in favour of opening up the World Order to de facto states.

UNPO has convened this conference, not to address whether or not these entities should be independent and sovereign, which is a very complex and controversial matter, but to deal with the reality that these pockets of the world do exist and function, to varying degrees, as states, and the practical implications of this fact.

This conference will show that, without full access to the World Order, both the peoples of these de facto states and the international community at large suffer. We suffer in terms of trade and investment, international security, health, safety and the prosecution of transnational, international and domestic crime. Negligence towards de facto states harms human rights and human dignity.

On a domestic level, examples of this suffering can be seen in the obvious consequences to the commercial sector of the de facto state lacking an internationally recognised central bank, the health of the peoples of the de facto state suffering because, for example, the de facto state entity is denied access to the World Health Organisation, or their safety being jeopardised by the de facto state airline having to conduct its air traffic controlling from a neighbouring State.

On an international level, the practical implications of the restricted access of de facto states to the World Order are more profound still. Obviously, whilst the very same domestic concerns mentioned can have wide-ranging international consequences, in a globalised world, the dangers created by the legal voids that these areas represent in international security and crime should be of grave concern to all State governments.

This conference, then, brings together officials from unrecognised governments with the main aim of creating and sustaining permanent mechanisms of involvement and consultation of unrecognised state entities in the international community, for the benefit not only of the peoples of these de facto states, but for the international community at large.

It is the sincere hope of UNPO that following on from this conference, a series of consultations between de facto states and between de facto and sovereign States can begin.

Office of the General Secretary
P. O. Box 85878 - 2508 CN The Hague - The Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)70 3646 504 - Fax: +31 (0)70 3646 608 - E-mail:
unpo@unpo.org
'

Pétition: Le Comité International pour la Solidarité avec les détenus dans les prisons de l'armée américaine en Irak

Signer cette pétition Réagir à cette pétition

Date de création : 19/05/2008 Date de cloture : 19/06/2008
Auteur : info@almanar.be
Bouda Ahmed, Militant au comité national belge pour la paix.

A l'attention de : L'organisation des Nations Unies et Le candidat démocrate aux prochaines élections présidentielles américaines

Le comité international pour la solidarité avec les détenus dans les prisons de l’armée américaine en IrakAppelLorsque des millions des citoyens de la planète criaient dans les rues des grandes villes du monde leur opposition à la logique de guerre contre l’Irak, ils avaient réalisé que la paix ne pouvait se faire par la destruction, les guerres et le choc des civilisations.

Les faits qui ont suivi ont démontré combien cette vision était juste. Les USA et les forces qui les ont soutenus, ont envahi et occupé l’Irak. Ils ont promis la démocratie, la liberté et la prospérité pour l’ensemble du peuple irakien. Toutefois, cinq ans après l’occupation, les Irakiens sont dans l’impossibilité de trouver le moindre petit refuge sûr susceptible de les protéger des exactions quotidiennes des soldats américains mais aussi des mercenaires engagés par les sociétés privées et les milices terroristes en accord ou en désaccord avec l’occupant.

Les Irakiens n’ont plus d’espoir dans l’avenir tant que les conditions de l’occupation sont maintenues. Aujourd’hui, plus de deux millions d’Irakiens se sont vus transformer en réfugiés à travers le monde, fuyant ainsi la mort et la torture dans les prisons. Quant à ceux qui sont restés, ils continuent à endurer les souffrances de l’occupation, certains sont détenus dans les pires prisons de la terre.

A ce jour, l’armée américaine garde en détention plus de 150 000 Irakiens répartis sur plus de 28 centres de détention. Des milliers d’entre eux y ont passé plus de cinq ans dans des conditions inhumaines et en dépit de la convention de Genève relative aux prisonniers de guerre. Il faut noter aussi qu’une grande partie de ces détenus sont des personnes âgées ayant des problèmes de santé qui risquent leur vie.

Des milliers d’autres sont des jeunes, des épouses et des enfants qui sont pris en otage à la place des maris ou parents qui résistent.Il ne faut pas oublier non plus, que tous les détenus font l’objet des pires tortures accompagnées de toutes sortes d’humiliations et d’actes dégradants contre la dignité de l’être humain. Alors qu’ils sont tous privés de tout contact avec le monde extérieur, la majorité d’entre eux sont privés, même, des visites familiales.

Comme nous ne pouvons demander au peuple américain d’assumer la responsabilité des guerres, ainsi que toutes les atteintes aux droits de l’Homme perpétrées par l’administration américaine actuelle, et comme nous sommes tous responsables devant l’Humanité d’abord et face au peuple irakien ensuite, nous devons annoncer notre position avant qu’il ne soit trop tard, nous devons refuser tous les agissements qui portent atteinte aux droits de l’Homme.

Il s’agit d’une position de toute personne éprise de paix et d’Humanisme contre la barbarie et la sauvagerie d’où qu’elles viennent. Ce positionnement ne vise pas à défendre la personne humaine en Irak exclusivement, mais plutôt à défendre le genre humain, les valeurs de la civilisation universelle, le système du droit et de justice qui concerne toute personne humaine y compris la personne irakienne.

Nous déclarons et nous confirmons, par la présente, notre solidarité avec ceux qui ne font que défendre leurs droits légitimes dans leurs pays, ainsi qu’avec les détenus et les prisonniers irakiens. Nous tenons à dénoncer avec force le maintien en détention de toutes ces personnes et nous nous engageons à organiser toutes les activités légales dans le but d’obtenir leur libération.

Nous croyons aussi que la justice et la liberté sont étroitement liées et que rien ne peut pousser sur la taule des chars de l’occupant américain, par contre la bonne herbe pousse dans les cœurs de ceux qui croient en l’Homme et qui défendent ses droits et sa dignité.

Tout en revendiquant la libération des détenus et des prisonniers en Irak, nous insistons sur le devoir d’obliger les forces d’occupation américaines à respecter la convention de Genève relative aux prisonniers de guerres et d’arrêter ainsi toutes sortes de torture dont les détenus sont l’objet. Les USA doivent permettre aux institutions internationales ainsi qu’à la Croix rouge d’opérer des visites dans tous les centres américains de détention en Irak et de rendre compte des conditions de vie des prisonniers et des détenus.

Lien vers le texte : http://www.almanar.be/

Pour faire un lien vers cette pétition, cliquez-ici

Communiqué du Comité pour la défense de Tarek Aziz et des prisonniers politiques irakiens

Communiqué n° 3 :


20 mai 2008 : seconde audience du procès de Tarek Aziz

Les autorités irakiennes et américaines
n’autorisent pas Jacques Vergès
à se rendre à Bagdad pour rencontrer Tarek Aziz
et assurer sa défense


The Iraqi and American authorities do not authorize
Jacques Vergès, international lawyer of Tarek Aziz,
to go to Baghdad in order to ensure his defence


Déclaration de Jacques Vergès,
avocat international de Tarek Aziz


« J’ai demandé aux autorités irakiennes un visa pour me rendre à Bagdad et assurer la défense de Tarek Aziz qui m’a désigné comme défenseur.

J’ai également sollicité des autorités américaines responsables de sa détention, l’autorisation de le rencontrer.

A ce jour, je n’ai de réponse ni des uns ni des autres.

Mais de toute manière, assuré de sa confiance, j’assurerai sa défense soit sur place, soit de Paris. »

Paris, le 19 mai 2008


Contact - Gilles Munier : 06 19 74 45 99
Courriel : libertarek@yahoo.fr – Blog : http://www.libertarek.blogspot.com/

Comité pour la défense de Tarek Aziz
et des prisonniers politiques irakiens


Communiqué
:

Le régime de Bagdad veut confessionnaliser le procès de Tarek Aziz


A la veille de la seconde audience du Procès de Tarek Aziz, prévue pour le 20 mai, le juge kurde Raouf Abdel Rahmane a inhumé une nouvelle charge contre le vice-Premier ministre irakien :

il l’accuse d’avoir participé à une réunion au cours de laquelle a été décidé d’introduire un hommage au Président Saddam Hussein dans le sermon des mosquées, lors de la prière du Vendredi.

Tarek Aziz a précisé qu’étant chrétien, il ne s’est jamais autorisé à décider quoi que ce soit dans les affaires religieuses musulmanes.

Rappel :
Tarek Aziz n’a jamais mis en avant son appartenance communautaire ou confessionnelle, se considérant comme nationaliste arabe avant tout. Son prénom Tarek lui a été donné en mémoire de Tarek Ibn Ziad, conquérant de l’Andalousie.

Les milices chiites pro-iraniennes ont effectué le nettoyage ethnique et confessionnel de la rive gauche du Tigre sans que les troupes d’occupation américaines s’y opposent, tuant, violant et expulsant de leur domicile les habitants sunnites ou chrétiens qui y résidaient.

Le tombeau de Michel Aflak – fondateur du parti Baas - , pourtant converti à l’islam, a été profané en 2003 avec l’accord des autorités américaines – il est situé dans la Zone verte - par un commando dirigé, selon des témoignages, par Abou Deraa surnommé le « Zarqaoui chiite ».

Derrière la nouvelle charge retenue contre Tarek Aziz se profile la volonté des pro-iraniens et de leurs alliés de faire des chrétiens orientaux les acteurs d’un complot occidental contre l’islam, vieille accusation conspirationniste remontant à l’époque de l’empire perse safawide.

Rennes, le 17 mai 2008

Contact - Gilles Munier : 06 19 74 45 99
Courriel : libertarek@yahoo.fr – Blog : http://www.libertarek.blogspot.com/
--------
Bakchich.info
mardi 20 mai


« Tarek Aziz… connais pas ! »
par Gilles Munier

A Bagdad, Tarek Aziz risque la peine de mort, accusé d’avoir fait pendre 42 grossistes qui spéculaient sur les prix en plein embargo et proposé qu’un hommage soit rendu à Saddam Hussein dans la prière de vendredi. Le Tout-Paris politique, qui l’a courtisé pendant 20 ans, se tait, ou presque. Consigne : « Tarek Aziz… connais pas ! ».

Jacques Vergès, qui le défend, en fait l’amer constat. Certains « amis de l’Irak », nous a dit un expert du milieu, « n’ont même pas la reconnaissance du ventre » ! On comprend que Kouchner se taise. Il a un souvenir cuisant des moukhabarat quand il jouait au french docteur au Kurdistan dans les années 70 ; mais Roselyne Bachelot, ministre de la Santé et ancienne présidente du Groupe France-Irak à l’Assemblée… Elle logeait une fois l’an, tous frais payés, à l’hôtel Rashid et faisait le siège du bureau de Tarek Aziz ou de Taha Yassin Ramadan, le vice-Président et grand argentier pendu il y a un an sans qu’elle réagisse non plus. Patrick Ollier qui soutenait avec elle l’Afice - association de coopération économique franco-irakienne de Serge Boidevaix - a lui aussi la mémoire qui flanche et il n’est pas le seul.

Où sont les Chirac, Jospin, Pasqua, Juppé qui ont reçu Tarek Aziz à Paris en 1995, lui promettant monts et merveilles pourvu qu’il renvoie l’ascenseur ? Et Sarkozy, qui ne trouvait rien à redire à ce séjour controversé : muet comme une carpe. Nous n’aurons pas, cette fois, la méchanceté de remonter le temps. La liste des pro-irakiens honteux serait longue. Il faudrait alors parler valises de billets et commissions versées aux bureaux d’études du RPR et du PS mitterrandien, pour des contrats payés rubis sur l’ongle… par la Coface.

Gilles Munier est secrétaire général de l’association Amitiés franco-irakiennes

http://www.bakchich.info/article3835.html

Iraqi Turkmen Front EU Representative at the ALDE-UNPO Conference at the EU Parliament in Brussels on 16 May 2008

الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقية لدى الاتحاد الأوربي يشترك في المؤتمر العام التاسع لمنظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير الممثلة ( يو. ان. بي . او) الذي انعقد في بروكسل من 15 إلى 18 مايس 2008

تلبيه لدعوه تلقاها من منظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير الممثله ( يو. ان. بي . او) اشترك الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقية لدى الاتحاد الأوربي في أشغال المؤتمر العام التاسع لهذه المنظمه الذي انعقد في بروكسل من 15 إلى 18 مايس 2008 ضمن وفد تركماني ضم أيضا كل من الساده محمد قوجا رئيس تحرير صحيفة تركمن تايمز ، شيت جرجيس رئيس منظمه حقوق الإنسان لتركمان العراق و السيد أتيلا قلندار

وفي الجلسه الثانيه للمؤتمر التي انعقدت يوم الجمعه 16 مايس 2008 في قاعه البرلمان الاوربي في بروكسل ألقى الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقيه لدى الاتحاد الاوربي كلمه باسم تركمان العراق تطرق فيها الى معانات الشعب التركماني في العراق منذ تاسيس الدوله العراقيه في 1921 الى هذا اليوم وشجب جميع السياسات القمعيه
و العنصريه وكذلك التهميشيه التي طبقت من قبل مختلف السلطات العراقيه في كلا العهدين الملكي و الجمهوري ضد تركمان العراق الذين يشكلون القوميه الاساسيه الثالثه المكونه لشعب العراق و الذين لهم تاريخ طويل وحضاره عريقه قي هذا البلد مركزا بالاخص على المعانات و المظالم التي يعاني منها تركمان العراق منذ ثورة 14 تموز 1958 نتيجة الاظطهاد و التمييز العنصري ضدهم و كنتيجة لسياسة التعريب التي طبقتها النظام السابق في المناطق التركمانية
في محافظات كركوك و ديالى و صلاح الدين و نينوى و كذلك المعانات و المظالم التي يعاني منها تركمان محافظة اربيل منذ اعلان قرار الحكم الذاتي لاكراد العراق في 1970 الناتجه من سياسة التهميش و التكريد التي تطبقتها السلطات الكرديه في هذه المحافظه منذ ذلك الوقت

و أضاف قائلا
ربما لازال البعض يضن خطأ بان الامور قد تحسنت في العراق بعد الغزو الانكلو – الامريكي في مارس 2003 الذي أطاح بالنظام واحتل البلاد ثم مهد الطريق الى اجراء انتخابات برلمانبه أدعي انها كانت ديمقراطيه نزيهه و سلم السلطه الى الفائزين في هذه الانتخابات و الذين حدث ان جلهم كانوا من المتعاونين مع سلطات الاحتلال و المؤيدين لقوات الغزو ثم باشر في كتابة دستور جديد للبلاد أدعي انه عادل و عصري ، وبان السلطه في العراق قد باشر في تطبيق الديمقراطيه و ان الشعب العراقي بجميع مركباته و بينهم تركمان العراق بدؤا العيش هنيئا في جو ديمقراطي حر

للاسف الشديد لا شيئ من هذا القبيل قد تحقق لنا في العراق لان الاحتلال الاجنبي مستمر لبلادنا وإن تبدل اسمها من قوات الاحتلال الى قوات متعدد الجنسيات ولان الانتخابات تخللتها التجاوزات و عمها الغش لصالح الاحزاب التي كانت لها مليشيات مسلحه تدعمها و ان الدستورالجديد لم يكن عادلا و لا عصريا حيث فرق بين العراقيين و قسمهم الى قسمين او الى نوعيين من المواطنيين معتبرا عرب و اكراد العراق وحدهما كمواطنين من الدرجه الاولى وعنصريين اساسيين في تشكيل الشعب العراقي اما التركمان فقد اهملهم الدستور الجديد واعتبرهم مجرد اقليه في العراق ومع حقوق اقل من الحقوق المعترفه الى العرب و الاكراد . أي جعلهم مواطنين من الدرجه الثانيه قي العراق

كما ان الدستور الجديد تضمن فقرات او مواد خلافيه كالماده 140 في شأن مستقبل كركوك ومصطلحات غريبه كمصطلح الاراضي المتنازع عليها الذي يستعمل عادة لتحديد اماكن النزاع بين الدول المتنازعه و لا يليق ان يدخل ضمن فقرات دستور البلد الواحد

هذه بعض الادله على استمرار تهميش التركمان في العراق من قبل العرب و الاكراد المشاركين في الحكم و هناك
مصادر قلق اخرى للتركمان في العراق منذ الاحتلال حيث سمحت قوات الاحتلال المليشيات الكرديه الى الدخول في المناطق التركمانيه و السيطره على المدن التركمانيه ابتداء من مدينه كركوك و التحكم في مقدراتها و التلاعب في تركيباتها السكانيه باستيراد مئات الالاف من الكرد اليها لتكريدها تمهيدا لفرض الامر الواقع وضمها الى منطقة الحكم الذاتي

تركمان العراق شعب مسالم ، أحزابهم السياسيه تؤمن في مبادئ الديمقراطيه و تطبقها، تنبذ العنف و ليست لديها اية تنظيمات او ميليشيات مسلحه على خلاف الاحزاب العربيه و الكرديه المهيمنه على الساحه السياسيه قي العراق الان و التي حولت العراق الى يلد يعمه الفوضى بمساعدة قوات الاحتلال وبتوجيه منها حيث اصبح الشعار لدى هذه القوى البقاء للاقوى و القوي هو ذلك الذي يملك السلاح وله ميليشيات و الاقوى هو ذلك الذي يملك اكثر عدد من هذه الاسلحه و الميليشيات

لذا وقي هذه الظروف المعاشه في العراق اليوم أصبح صعبا جدا على التركمان الاحتفاظ على حقوقهم او المطالبه بحقوق إضافية إسوة الى العرب و الاكراد

نحن ندعوا الى تعديل الدستور العراقي الجديد كي يعترف الدستور المعدل على جميع حقوقنا المشروعه و يساوي التركمان مع العرب و الاكراد في الحقوق وكذلك لازالة جميع المواد و الفقرات أو المصطلحات الخلافيه منه

نحن نطالب السلطات العراقيه التحرك السريع لارجاع املاك و اراضي التركمان التي استوليت عليها في العهدين السابق و الحالي الى أصحابها الشرعيين وتعويضيهم تعويضيا عادلا لما خسروا جراء الاستيلاء على هذه الاملاك


نحن نسعى الى قيام جمهوريه عراقيه مستقله، ديمقراطيه و تعدديه و نتوجه بنداء عاجل الى منظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير

الممثله ( يو. ان. بي . او) و الى الاتحاد الاوربي و كذلك الى الامم المتحده و كل الخييرين في العالم كي يساعدونا في تحقيق مسعانا هذاأشكركم جدا





أشكركم جدا



Prof Dr Sabir Rüstemhanlı ' DAK'ın Kurultayı muhteşem olacak..'

http://www.belturk.be/go.php?go=3381861&do=details&return=last_news&pg=1


Prof Dr Sabir Rüstemhanlı ' DAK'ın Kurultayı muhteşem olacak..'Dünyanın 35 ülkesinden temsilciler Köln´de biraraya gelecek... Milletvekili Sabir Rüstemhanlı´nın başkanlığını yaptığı Dünya Azerbaycanlılar kongresi X. kurultayına hazırlanıyor. 23-25 Mayıs 2008 tarihinde Almanya´nın Köln şehrinde bulunan Ramada otelde yapılması planlanan kurultay daha sonra yapılan bir değişiklikle 6-7-8 Haziran tarihlerine ertelendi.

DAK başkanı, milletvekili ve VHP başkanı Prof Dr Sabir Rüstemhanlı yaptığı açıklamada kurultay hazırlıklarının çok iyi gittiğini bildirdi. Prof Dr Rüstemhanlı açıklamasında ´DAK idare heyetinin birlikte aldığı karar sonucu kurultay vaktinin değiştirilmesinin ardından yapılacak işler yakınlaşmak üzeredir. Dünyanın 35 ülkesinde ki diaspora teşkilatlarına davetler gönderildi. Onlarda kurultaya iştirak edecekler. Avrupa medyası da kurultaya büyük ilgi gösterdi. Kurultayımız ShowTürk kanalı tarafından canlı olarak verilecek.´ dedi Sabir Rüstemhanlı kurultayın daha önce düzenlenenlerden çok daha iyi olacağını da belirtti.

Fransızcası...

Sabir RÜSTEMHANLI : "Le Congrès du CAM sera grandiose…"

Les représentants de 35 pays du monde se retrouveront à Cologne… Le Congrès des Azerbaijanais du Monde, présidé par Sabir Rüstemhanlı, se prépare à sa 10ème Assemblée Générale. Initialement prévue pour les 23-25 mai 2008 à l´hôtel Ramada à Cologne, en Allemagne, l´Assemblée Générale a ensuite été remise aux dates de 6-7 et 8 juin.

Monsieur Sabir Rüstemhanlı, président du CAM, député et président du VHP, a annoncé que les travaux préparatoires de l´AG avancent très bien. Dans son communiqué, Monsieur Rüstemhanlı a déclaré ce qui suit :"A la suite de la décision de modification de calendrier, prise à l´unanimité des membres du CA du CAM, les travaux à réaliser s´approchent à grands pas. Les convocations ont été envoyées aux organisations de la diaspora, dispersées dans 35 pays différents du monde. Elles participeront également à l´Assemblée Générale.

La presse européenne y marque un grand intérêt aussi. Notre Assemblée Générale sera diffusée en direct par la chaîne de télévision ShowTürk." Il a également ajouté que l´Assemblée Générale sera une plus grande réussité que les précédentes.

vendredi 16 mai 2008

IX UNPO General Assembly in Brussels 16-17 May 2008 (Part VIII)

ITF Europe Representative with the AHWAZI Representatives



With Mr. Mariqueo REYNALDO, UNPO Presidency and Representative of the Mapuche People


With Burmese Representatives

Venerable U. UTTARA, Sec. Gen. of Sasana Moli-Intl Burmese Monks Org.





With Mrs. Maysing YANG, Vice President of UNPO and former Minister in Taiwanese Government




With Mr. and Mrs. Hubert C. YANG, President of the World HMONG People's Congress



IX UNPO General Assembly in Brussels on 16 - 17 May 2008 (Part VII)



Representatives of the TURKIC WORLD attending the Conference


Iraqi Turkmens, Southern Azerbaidjanis, Uyghurs and Crimean Tatars

Mrs. Rebiya Kadeer (East Turkestan) with Inner Mongolia Representatives

Inner Mongolian Human Rights website:

http://www.smhric.org/index.htm


IX UNPO General Assembly in Brussels 16-17 May 2008 - more photos (Part VI)

Mr. Mario Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary and Dr. Hassan Aydinli




Dr. Hassan Aydinli and Mr. Ledum Mitee, President UNPO General Assembly





Mr. Marco Panella, Member of the European Parliament
Dr. Hassan Aydinli, ITF Europe Representative


Mr. Marco Perduca, Senator of the Italian Parliament







Iraqi Turkmen delegation at IX UNPO General Assembly in Brussels 17 May 2008 (Part V)


17th May 2008, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel - Brussels

From left to right:

Dr. Hassan Tawfiq Aydinli, ITF Europe Represenative
Mr. Attila Kalandar
Mr. Mohammed Khodja, Editor of Turkmen Times
Dr. Sheth Jerjis, President of SOITM

Further reading:

Iraqi Turkmen Statement At the UN WGIP 2005

Wednesday, 17 August 2005

United Nations Economics and Social DevelopmentCommission on Human Rights 23rd Session of Working Group on Indigenous People, July 18 – 22, UN, Switzerland - Geneva

Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

Statement written by:

Dr. Sheth Jerjis, Chairman of SOITM, Iraqi Turkmen Human Rights Research Foundation (the Netherlands) and
Dr. Hassan Tawfiq Aydenly, Chairman of CDITR, Committee for the Defence of Iraqi Turkmen Rights (Belgium).

Read and submitted by Dr. Sheth Jerjis.

Mr. Chairman
Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Turkmen of Iraq, I thank you for this opportunity to present the Turkmen cause.

The Turkmen represent the third most important ethnic group in Iraq after the Arabs and Kurds. Unfortunately, they are marginalized and their true representation has always been underestimated for economical and political reasons since the creation of the Iraqi State in 1921. In reality, the Turkmen represent at least 13% of the Iraqi population. Their number is around 3 millions.

Iraqi Turkmen have been exposed to intensive assimilation policies, forced emigration and cultural erosion; this policy reached its peak during the Ba’ath regime;
• Under the 1925 Constitution, the Kurds and the Turkmen had the right to use their own languages in schools, government offices and to have their own language press. But in 1933, the Iraqi authorities began closing Turkmen schools and sent activists into exile.
• In the 1965 census, the proportion of Turkmen was further reduced.
• In the 1973 Interim Constitution no reference was made to the Turkmen population in Iraq.
• In the 1977 census the Ba’athist regime denied the presence of Turkmen in Iraq allowing only Arabs and Kurds to register their nationality, while prohibiting registration as Turkmen. In the 1997 census when the Turkmen were forced to register as a ‘New Arabs’, their number was announced to be negligible.
• In the 1980s dozens of Turkmen villages in Kerkuk, Mosul and Diyala provinces have been destroyed, their inhabitants were forcefully displaced and their agricultural lands and properties were confiscated• In the 1990s the Turkmen were forced to change their nationality.
• In 1990, the existence of the Turkmen as a community was denied and the new Constitution stated that “Iraqi people are Arabs and Kurds only.”
• Turkmen were exposed to torture, imprisonment, displacement and deportation
• The interim constitution, which was written by the Americans in 2004 ‘to democratize Iraq’, included many undemocratic decisions, such as:
o Giving to the Kurdish minority which represents 17% of the Iraqi population, rights equal to those of the Arab majority while ignoring the rights of the Turkmen who represent 13% of the Iraqi population and also ignoring the rights of the Cheldo-Assyrian community, which represents about 5% of the Iraqi population.
o Giving the 3 Kurdish provinces the right to reject any decision made by the Iraqi parliament.

With the help of the Americans the Kurdish political parties and militants managed to change the demography of the Turkmen regions, what Saddam’s regime had not been able to achieve in 35 years.

The American military authorities constituted the city councils in Turkmen regions, which were predominated by the Kurds. The predominantly Kurdish Kerkuk council, elected a Kurdish governor, a Kurdish Mayor and a Kurdish Chief of the Police. Almost all the high official posts were handed to the Kurds. The USA-made Kerkuk administration brought about 500.000 Kurds to settle in Kerkuk city.

The Kurdish threat to the Turkmen of Erbil continues systematically since 1991 as follows:

• The Barazani Kurds, in order to limit the Turkmen presence and restrict their activities in Erbil, have forced the landlords in Erbil who rented their properties to Turkmen political parties and Turkmen organizations to either terminate their contracts or to abusively increase their rents.
• Turkmen political, social and cultural activities have been severely restricted. Conferences and congresses of Turkmen organizations have been prevented to take place out of the organizations’ buildings.
• During campaigns Turkmen are not allowed to hang their boards and flags, except on their buildings and even then they disappear during the night. Almost the same inspection and security methods which were used by the Ba’ath regime are now used Barazani offices. The Turkmen of Erbil feel threatened, they avoid exposure fearing persecution and losing their jobs.. As a result; the Turkmen of Erbil are hesitating to register their children in Turkmen schools, the Turkmen staffs are afraid to talk Turkmen in their offices. Many employees have been dismissed for such reasons.
• In the Turkmen schools and in the education sector, Kurds imposed their will and hegemony by appointing Kurds to the Turkmen education office; these deliberately downgraded the Turkmen education system by ignoring the requirements of the Turkmen students.
• By appointing Kurds who cannot even speak the Turkmen language as directors or head masters to most Turkmen Schools in the regions under their control and by deliberately understaffing the Turkmen schools, they targeted the Turkmen education system in preparation of their Kurdification policies of the Turkmen regions.
• They have imposed the Kurdish language in the Turkmen shools from the first class in primary schools. Turkmen students are forced to sing the Kurdish national anthem, although they have their own Turkmen national anthem which is forbidden and their history teaching books only contain Kurdish History.
• Turkmen newspapers are prevented to be distributed to the bookshops and libraries. Since the late 1990s, the cafés and other public places were prevented by the Barazani security elements to open the Turkmen TV and radio.
• In addition to the economical support from the Western powers and Israel for decades and the huge gains made from customs duties they imposed since 1991 on all imported goods to Iraq via the north of the country, the Kurdish political parties also received a considerable amount of money from the infamous U.N. ‘oil for food program’. Meanwhile, the Turkmen political parties and organizations have received nothing and they were even deprived from their fair share from the ‘oil for food program’.
• The Turkmen are being discriminated, they are seldom appointed in governmental offices or in the university in Erbil, those who want to be appointed must show allegiance to Barazani and support his party’s ideology. For these reasons very few Turkmen have been appointed in governmental offices in the Kurdish region.

The last political attack on the Turkmen of Erbil by the Barazani authorities was carried out on 22 April 2005 and it continues until now. After the agreement between the Barazani security authorities and the head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front office in Erbil, the following Turkmen organizations were occupied by armed militants and the flags of so-called Kurdistan and Kurdish parties were raised on the buildings for several hours:

• Head office of the ITF in Erbil city
• Turkmeneli Television station – almost all the instruments and archives were stolen.
• Turkmeneli radio station
• Turkmeneli Printing House – most of its contents were robbed • All types of publications of Turkmeneli printing house were stopped, such as the bi- weekly Turkmeneli Newspaper.
• Turkmen House
• The building of Turkmen education and culture and the al-Shifa dispensary House were evacuated and their contents were stolen.

Support of the American troops and non presence of the observers and power to resist made the Kurdish politicians and militants to violate freely the rights of the other sections of the Iraqi community. The Kurdish militants in national guards, security services and other armed forces started to arrest arbitrarily, the innocent Turkmen and Arabs and bring them to Kurdish prisons.

Demands

In view of the above stated facts and problems faced by us as a Turkmen in Iraq, I address this assembly on behalf of the Turkmen, requesting your support and asking the UN to intervene in our favor to defend our just cause with the Iraqi authorities. So that finally the 3 million Turkmen obtain full rights equal to those obtained by the Arabs and Kurds and that these rights be clearly stated in the new Iraqi Constitution.

To stop further deterioration of the political, social, and security situation in Iraq and to avoid more bloodshed, more killing of innocent Iraqis and further destruction of the infrastructure of our country we demand the immediate departure of the occupation powers from our country. If needed, we demand the United Nations to send to Iraq peace keeping forces for a limited period of time and from neutral countries who did not participate in any of the wars against Iraq since 17th January 1991.

The Turkmen believe in a true democracy and demand the establishment of a TRUE DEMOCRACY in a FREE and UNITED Iraq. They want to be a part of this FREE and UNITED Iraq, and refuse to be ‘a part of a part’ of divided “federal” Iraq’.

But if a federal system is accepted by the majority of the Iraqi people, then the Turkmen should be given the right to govern their own federal region where they constitute a majority.

Since all the Iraqi census was designed to serve state policy and the last election was mainly to serve the occupation authorities and the Kurds, we demand that the upcoming census and/or upcoming election be achieved totally by the United Nations and the international community.
We demand that the Kurdish administration be prevented from interfering in the election and census processes in the Turkmen region and security should no longer be exclusively in the hands of the Kurdish militants but should be provided by neutral police force from Central and Southern Iraq.

To safeguard the unity of Iraq, the sole official language should be Arabic since Arabs constitute the majority of the Iraqi people. However, as the Temporary Administrative Law has given the Kurdish language the status of second official language in Iraq while the Kurds represent a minority of no more than 17% of the Iraqi population, we Turkmen who are the third ethnic community in Iraq representing 13% of the total Iraqi population, demand that the Turkish language be considered as the third official language in Iraq along with Arabic and Kurdish.

We also demand a fair representation of the Turkmen in the Commission charged with the writing of the new constitution in order to safeguard our constitutional rights.

We demand with insistence that the Kurdification processes be stopped and that the hundreds of thousands of Kurdish immigrants who were brought to Kerkuk, Tuz Khurmatu, Daquq and other Turkmen cities be returned to Erbil, Duhok and Sulaymaniyya where they came from.

We also demand that the thousands of Kurds who were brought by the two Kurdish parties KDP and PUK, after April 2003, to take positions and jobs in Kerkuk and other Turkmen regions, with the objective of imposing their policy of ‘fait accompli’ to Kurdify the Turkmen region, be returned to where they came from.
We demand that the Kerkuk Council be dissolved and that the Kurdish governor, Kurdish mayor, Kurdish police chief be dismissed and that these high positions be fairly shared between the three main communities in Kerkuk: Turkmen, Kurds and Arabs.

We demand that the international community be engaged directly to stop oppression, marginalization and assimilation of the Turkmen of Erbil.

We demand that the Kurdish militias be disbanded and disarmed and that they leave the Turkmen region.

I thank you for your interest and attention.

Turkic Peoples' representatives at the ALDE-UNPO Conference on 16 May 2008 at the EU Parliament in Brussels (Part IV)

Iraqi Turkmens, Southern Azerbaijan, East Turkestan and Crimean Tatars Representatives



From left to right:


Dr. Hassan Aydinli, ITF Europe Representative

Mrs Rebiya Kadeer, President of the World Uyghur Congress

Mr. Eltkin Alptekin (Uyghur) UNPO Honorary President



Southern Azerbaijan and Iraqi Turkmens Representatives




Southern Azerbaidjan, Uighur (East Turkestan) and Iraqi Turkmen Representatives






ALDE - UNPO Conference at the EU Parliament in Brussels on 16 May 2008 (Part III)


Photo: Starting from the left:
The Representative of the Hmong people in her beautiful traditional costume
Rebiya Kadeer, 'Spiritual Mother of the Uyghur people'
Merry Fitzgerald, Europe-Iraqi Turkmens Friendships
Dr. Hassan Tawiq Aydinli, Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) Europe Representative



REBIYA KADEER

President of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC)

Uyghur Human Rights Activist and former Prisoner of Conscience


Please also see post on East Turkestan:






Rebiya Kadeer was born on 15th November 1947, she is married and has eleven children, she is:



President of the World Uyghur Congress, Munich, Germany


President of the Uyghur American Association, Washington DC, USA


She has been nominated twice, in 2006 and 2007, for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her advocacy efforts on behalf of the Uyghur people


She was awarded the prestigious Rafto Award while in prison, on September 23rd 2004, by the Norwegion human rights group the Rafto Foundation.


She was awarded the Human Rights Watch 'Human Rights Award' in 2000.


For more on the Uyghur people (East Turkestan) please click on the link below:


www.uyghurcongress.org





Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, ITF Europe Representative attended the ALDE-UNPO Conference at the EU Parliament on 16 May 2008 (Part II)


الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقية لدى الاتحاد الأوربي يشترك في المؤتمر العام التاسع لمنظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير الممثلة ( يو. ان. بي . او) الذي انعقد في بروكسل من 15 إلى 18 مايس 2008

تلبيه لدعوه تلقاها من منظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير الممثله ( يو. ان. بي . او) اشترك الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقية لدى الاتحاد الأوربي في أشغال المؤتمر العام التاسع لهذه المنظمه الذي انعقد في بروكسل من 15 إلى 18 مايس 2008 ضمن وفد تركماني ضم أيضا كل من الساده محمد قوجا رئيس تحرير صحيفة تركمن تايمز ، شيت جرجيس رئيس منظمه حقوق الإنسان لتركمان العراق و السيد أتيلا قلمدار

وفي الجلسه الثانيه للمؤتمر التي انعقدت يوم الجمعه 16 مايس 2008 في قاعه البرلمان الاوربي في بروكسل ألقى الدكتور حسن آيدنلي ممثل الجبهة التركمانية العراقيه لدى الاتحاد الاوربي كلمه باسم تركمان العراق تطرق فيها الى معانات الشعب التركماني في العراق منذ تاسيس الدوله العراقيه في 1921 الى هذا اليوم وشجب جميع السياسات القمعيه
و العنصريه وكذلك التهميشيه التي طبقت من قبل مختلف السلطات العراقيه في كلا العهدين الملكي و الجمهوري ضد تركمان العراق الذين يشكلون القوميه الاساسيه الثالثه المكونه لشعب العراق و الذين لهم تاريخ طويل وحضاره عريقه قي هذا البلد مركزا بالاخص على المعانات و المظالم التي يعاني منها تركمان العراق منذ ثورة 14 تموز 1958 نتيجة الاظطهاد و التمييز العنصري ضدهم و كنتيجة لسياسة التعريب التي طبقتها النظام السابق في المناطق التركمانية
في محافظات كركوك و ديالى و صلاح الدين و نينوى و كذلك المعانات و المظالم التي يعاني منها تركمان محافظة اربيل منذ اعلان قرار الحكم الذاتي لاكراد العراق في 1970 الناتجه من سياسة التهميش و التكريد التي تطبقتها السلطات الكرديه في هذه المحافظه منذ ذلك الوقت

و أضاف قائلا
ربما لازال البعض يضن خطأ بان الامور قد تحسنت في العراق بعد الغزو الانكلو – الامريكي في مارس 2003 الذي أطاح بالنظام واحتل البلاد ثم مهد الطريق الى اجراء انتخابات برلمانبه أدعي انها كانت ديمقراطيه نزيهه و سلم السلطه الى الفائزين في هذه الانتخابات و الذين حدث ان جلهم كانوا من المتعاونين مع سلطات الاحتلال و المؤيدين لقوات الغزو ثم باشر في كتابة دستور جديد للبلاد أدعي انه عادل و عصري ، وبان السلطه في العراق قد باشر في تطبيق الديمقراطيه و ان الشعب العراقي بجميع مركباته و بينهم تركمان العراق بدؤا العيش هنيئا في جو ديمقراطي حر

للاسف الشديد لا شيئ من هذا القبيل قد تحقق لنا في العراق لان الاحتلال الاجنبي مستمر لبلادنا وإن تبدل اسمها من قوات الاحتلال الى قوات متعدد الجنسيات ولان الانتخابات تخللتها التجاوزات و عمها الغش لصالح الاحزاب التي كانت لها مليشيات مسلحه تدعمها و ان الدستورالجديد لم يكن عادلا و لا عصريا حيث فرق بين العراقيين و قسمهم الى قسمين او الى نوعيين من المواطنيين معتبرا عرب و اكراد العراق وحدهما كمواطنين من الدرجه الاولى وعنصريين اساسيين في تشكيل الشعب العراقي اما التركمان فقد اهملهم الدستور الجديد واعتبرهم مجرد اقليه في العراق ومع حقوق اقل من الحقوق المعترفه الى العرب و الاكراد . أي جعلهم مواطنين من الدرجه الثانيه قي العراق

كما ان الدستور الجديد تضمن فقرات او مواد خلافيه كالماده 140 في شأن مستقبل كركوك ومصطلحات غريبه كمصطلح الاراضي المتنازع عليها الذي يستعمل عادة لتحديد اماكن النزاع بين الدول المتنازعه و لا يليق ان يدخل ضمن فقرات دستور البلد الواحد

هذه بعض الادله على استمرار تهميش التركمان في العراق من قبل العرب و الاكراد المشاركين في الحكم و هناك
مصادر قلق اخرى للتركمان في العراق منذ الاحتلال حيث سمحت قوات الاحتلال المليشيات الكرديه الى الدخول في المناطق التركمانيه و السيطره على المدن التركمانيه ابتداء من مدينه كركوك و التحكم في مقدراتها و التلاعب في تركيباتها السكانيه باستيراد مئات الالاف من الكرد اليها لتكريدها تمهيدا لفرض الامر الواقع وضمها الى منطقة الحكم الذاتي

تركمان العراق شعب مسالم ، أحزابهم السياسيه تؤمن في مبادئ الديمقراطيه و تطبقها، تنبذ العنف و ليست لديها اية تنظيمات او ميليشيات مسلحه على خلاف الاحزاب العربيه و الكرديه المهيمنه على الساحه السياسيه قي العراق الان و التي حولت العراق الى يلد يعمه الفوضى بمساعدة قوات الاحتلال وبتوجيه منها حيث اصبح الشعار لدى هذه القوى البقاء للاقوى و القوي هو ذلك الذي يملك السلاح وله ميليشيات و الاقوى هو ذلك الذي يملك اكثر عدد من هذه الاسلحه و الميليشيات

لذا وقي هذه الظروف المعاشه في العراق اليوم أصبح صعبا جدا على التركمان الاحتفاظ على حقوقهم او المطالبه بحقوق إضافية إسوة الى العرب و الاكراد

نحن ندعوا الى تعديل الدستور العراقي الجديد كي يعترف الدستور المعدل على جميع حقوقنا المشروعه و يساوي التركمان مع العرب و الاكراد في الحقوق وكذلك لازالة جميع المواد و الفقرات أو المصطلحات الخلافيه منه

نحن نطالب السلطات العراقيه التحرك السريع لارجاع املاك و اراضي التركمان التي استوليت عليها في العهدين السابق و الحالي الى أصحابها الشرعيين وتعويضيهم تعويضيا عادلا لما خسروا جراء الاستيلاء على هذه الاملاك

نحن نسعى الى قيام جمهوريه عراقيه مستقله، ديمقراطيه و تعدديه و نتوجه بنداء عاجل الى منظمه الأمم و الشعوب الغير
الممثله ( يو. ان. بي . او) و الى الاتحاد الاوربي و كذلك الى الامم المتحده و كل الخييرين في العالم كي يساعدونا في تحقيق مسعانا هذا
أشكركم جدا











Iraqi Turkmens attended the ALDE- UNPO Conference in Brussels on 16-17 May 2008 (Part I)

From left to right:
Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, Iraqi Turkmen Front Europe Representative
Mr. Attila KALANDAR
Mr. Mohammed KHOJA, Editor of Turkmen Times
Dr. Sheth JERJIS, President of SOITM

ALDE Conference in partnership with Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and Nonviolent Radical Party


IX UNPO General Assembly

16-17 May 2008

Brussels, Belgium


16 May 2008 Session at the European Parliament


Chair: Ledum Mitee Esq. , President, UNPO General Assembly


Mr. Marino Busdachin, UNPO General Secretary

Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, President, World Uyghur Congress (WUC)

Mr. Marco Cappato, Member of European Parliament, ALDE Group

Venerable U. Uttara, Secretary General of Sasan Moli-International Burmese Monks Org.

Mr. Marco Perduca, Senator of the Italian Parliament

Mr. Michael van Walt van Praag, Executive President, Kreddha


About the UNPO:

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international, nonviolent, and democratic membership organization. Its members are indigenous peoples, minorities, and unrecognized or occupied territories who have joined together to protect and promote their human and cultural rights, to preserve their environments, and to find nonviolent solutions to conflicts which affect them.

Although the aspirations of UNPO Members differ greatly, they are all united by one shared condition - they are not adequately represented at major international fora, such as the United Nations.


As a consequence, their opportunity to participate on the international stage is significantly limited, as is their ability to access and draw upon the support of the global bodies mandated to defend their rights, protect their environments, and mitigate the effects of conflict.



In today's world where over 90 percent of conflicts are intra-state, UNPO has been established to fill this gap, proficing an internaitonal forum through which its Members can become effective participants and contributors to the international community.


The UNPO was founded in 1991 at the Peace Palace in The Hague (the Netherlands).


The Iraqi Turkmens are Members of the UNPO (*)


Dr. Hassan AYDINLI, ITF Europe Representative
Mrs. Merry FITZGERALD, Europe-Iraqi Turkmens Friendships


Please see article published in TURKMEN TIMES

by Mr. Mohammed KHOJA (in Arabic):


and



UNPO Declaration: Opening the World Order to De facto States

Limits and Potentialities of de facto states in the International Context

15 May 2008
European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium

On 15 May 2008, UNPO hosted the conference "Opening the World Order to De facto States" in the European Parliament, Brussels.

Attendees at the conference included Graham Watson, Member of the European Parliament and Chairman of the ALDE Group, Marco Panella, Member of the European Parliament and Leader of the Nonviolent Radical Party, Michael Kau, Representative of Taiwan to the European Union and Belgium, Maxim Gunjia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia, Mohamoud Daar, Representative of the Republic of Somaliland to the European Union, Scott Pegg, Associate Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Marino Busdachin, Secretary General, UNPO.

Below is the text of the UNPO Declaration on De facto States, prepared in consultation with the de facto states representatives and speakers present at the conference:

Declaration
Recognising that beyond the confines of the world’s internationally recognised State borders exist entities without official recognition as States, yet who possess many or all of the traditional empirical criteria for statehood and sometimes even function as States in international fora.

Recognising that these de facto states may have their own democratically elected government, political system, laws, judiciary, police force, defence force, currency, foreign representation, or all of the above, independent of any officially recognised State in whose (claimed or sovereign) territory they may lie.

Recognising that many sovereign States are not in favour of opening up the World Order to de facto states.

UNPO has convened this conference, not to address whether or not these entities should be independent and sovereign, which is a very complex and controversial matter, but to deal with the reality that these pockets of the world do exist and function, to varying degrees, as states, and the practical implications of this fact.

This conference will show that, without full access to the World Order, both the peoples of these de facto states and the international community at large suffer. We suffer in terms of trade and investment, international security, health, safety and the prosecution of transnational, international and domestic crime. Negligence towards de facto states harms human rights and human dignity.

On a domestic level, examples of this suffering can be seen in the obvious consequences to the commercial sector of the de facto state lacking an internationally recognised central bank, the health of the peoples of the de facto state suffering because, for example, the de facto state entity is denied access to the World Health Organisation, or their safety being jeopardised by the de facto state airline having to conduct its air traffic controlling from a neighbouring State.

On an international level, the practical implications of the restricted access of de facto states to the World Order are more profound still. Obviously, whilst the very same domestic concerns mentioned can have wide-ranging international consequences, in a globalised world, the dangers created by the legal voids that these areas represent in international security and crime should be of grave concern to all State governments.

This conference, then, brings together officials from unrecognised governments with the main aim of creating and sustaining permanent mechanisms of involvement and consultation of unrecognised state entities in the international community, for the benefit not only of the peoples of these de facto states, but for the international community at large.

It is the sincere hope of UNPO that following on from this conference, a series of consultations between de facto states and between de facto and sovereign States can begin.

Office of the General Secretary
P. O. Box 85878 - 2508 CN The Hague - The Netherlands
Tel: +31(0)70 3646 504 - Fax: +31 (0)70 3646 608 - unpo@unpo.org