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Iraq’s Insurgents Picking Up Attacks During Ramadan

Monday, July 22, 2013


Ramadan began at the start of July 2013, and so has a new wave of attacks by Iraq’s insurgency. June saw a decline in deaths, but that was apparently because militants were preparing for the holy month to begin. In the first half of July there has almost been twice as many killed as the same time period in June. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) knew that such an offensive was coming, but have proven hapless at stopping it, because of their institutional deficiencies. July is looking to be one of the deadliest of the year highlighting the rebirth of the insurgency, and the weakness of the government to prevent it.



Site of a car bomb in Nasiriyah July 15. This is part of Al Qaeda’s on going bombing campaign in the south (AFP)


Iraq Body Count has recorded a decided increase in violence in July. For the first seventeen days of the month it has reported 480 deaths, compared to 280 in June for that same number of days. As usual, Baghdad has seen the most carnage with 108 deaths, followed by 83 in Diyala, 70 in Salahaddin, 66 in Ninewa, and 48 in Tamim. There has also been a wave of bombings in the south. That led to 14 killed in Basra, 9 in Karbala, 5 in Dhi Qar, and 2 in Maysan. Car bombs and suicide bombers have accounted for the most fatalities, 176 and 123 respectively. After that have been Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 86, and small arms fire 72. A final sign of how bad July has been is the number of days where 30 or more people were killed. So far that has happened six times, with the deadliest day being July 14 when 66 people were killed. For all of June and April there were 7 such days, and July has already surpassed January, February, and March. Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was responsible for the vast majority of this violence. Car and suicide bombings are a trademark of their operations. They have also been carrying out attacks in southern Iraq since December 2012. IEDs and small arms are more likely the work of other groups such as the Baathist Naqshibandi, the Islamic Army, Ansar al-Sunna or tribes, all of which have become more active this year. That followed the government raid upon the Hawija protest site in April, which was exploited by militant organizations to try to turn people away from peaceful demonstrations and towards violence.


Deaths By Province, July 2013 – Iraq Body Count
Baghdad – 108 killed
Diyala – 83 killed
Salahaddin – 70 killed
Ninewa – 66 killed
Tamim – 48 killed
Anbar – 29 killed
Babil – 24 killed
Basra – 14 killed
Wasit – 12 killed
Karbala – 9 killed
Dhi Qar – 5 killed
Maysan – 2 killed
Unknown – 10 killed


Forms of Attack, July 2013 – Iraq Body Count
Car bomb – 176 killed
Suicide Bomber - 123 killed
IED - 86 killed
Small arms – 72 killed
Bodies found - 16 killed
Mortar – 7 killed


Deadliest Days, July 2013
7/1/13 43 killed
7/2/13 59 killed
7/11/13 59 killed
7/12/13 49 killed
7/13/13 37 killed
7/14/13 66 killed


For the last several years insurgents have picked up their activities during the summer, so the government knew what was coming, but it has not been able to stop it. On July 1, the Anbar Operations Command said it had a new security plan for Ramadan for example. Two intelligence officials warned the press that Al Qaeda was preparing for a “Battle of Baghdad,” the police in Salahaddin stated that there was going to be a“Battle of Ramadan,” while a member of the Human Rights Commission told the press that there was a plan to increase attacks during the holy month. The government has tried to portray itself as being successful in countering this threat with claims that it killed four top AQI leaders in Anbar at the beginning of July. The reality of the situation is much different. The tactics of the army and police are predictable such as setting up checkpoints or carrying out raids. When the ISF launches an operation it only lasts a few days, and then they leave, allowing militants to move right back in. The intelligence agencies don’t provide actionable reports, and have few sources along the border with Syria, where fighters are now travelling back and forth at will. Finally, the border guard and ISF do not have control of the border area either. Baghdad finds itself in a hopeless situation right now. Just as the insurgency is re-emerging, the government is incapable of countering them. The ISF has become a reactionary force, responding to threats rather than attempting to prevent them as it once did. The failure of these tactics is apparent in July as the police and army prepared for Ramadan, but has not been able to secure the country.


The Iraqi insurgency is making a comeback. It has been able to carry out operations far longer than it has for several years now. This was partly of the government’s own making as it used excessive force against demonstrators, which made many of them and their supporters to give up on peaceful means to influence Baghdad, and have now turned to the use of force. That along with the security forces no longer carrying out counterinsurgency tactics have all contributed to the current rising violence in the country. July is just one of many deadly months that are going to occur in the foreseeable future.

TÜRKALAN KÖYÜ

What Remains after 14th July 1959 of the Massacre of Turkmens? Bilgay Duman

What Remains after 14th July 1959 of the Massacre of Turkmens?
Bilgay Duman, ORSAM Middle-East Specialist

To read the original article in Turkish please click on:
http://www.orsam.org.tr/tr/yazigoster.aspx?ID=4591

Below is the English translation

Anaların gözyaşlarına hepimiz sebebiz.

Anaların gözyaşlarına hepimiz sebebiz.


Bir anne



Ey Türkmenler! Bir dahaki bombalı saldırıyı mı bekliyorsunuz saha kalkmak için? Bu ne suskunluk, bu ne soğukkanlılık bizdeki. Az sayıdaki Türkmen medyasına bakıyoruz, Tuzhurmatu faciası hakkında kısa kısa haberler, yorumlar 2-3 gün surdu, mevlitler okundu cenaze namazları kılındı görev tamamlandı. Kaldığımız yerden devam. Derken Kerkük teki patlama, ve muhtemelen yine ayni rutin, belki biraz daha sakin, malum mevki sahibi kişiler yoktu içlerinde, ayrıca birde ramazan. 

Burada amacımız eksiklikleri ve sorunları sıralayıp birilerinin bir şeyler yapmasını talep etmek değil. Biz sıradan bir birey olarak gözlemlerimiz doğrultusunda naçizane görüşlerimizi paylaşıp, mümkünse bir kaç kişiyi tekrar düşünmeye ve özeleştiri yapmaya teşvik etmek istiyoruz.

Son olaylar bir dönüm noktasıydı. Durumun vahametinin farkında mıyız gerçekten? Kaç kişinin daha ölmesi gerek, bir 59 katliamı daha mı gerek silkinip kendimize gelmek için? Ya şimdi bir şeyler yapmalıyız yada artık susmalıyız. 

Herkes iyi Türkmen, herkes milliyetçi, herkes dava adamı, herkes birlik beraberlikten dem vurur, Kerkük trüktür trük kalacak, şehitler ölmez vs. vs. vs. İcraat?

Çok basit bir soru: Şimdiye kadar hiç bir Türkmen yetkili gördünüz mü ki desin ben yanlış yaptım, ya da ben bu görevi tam yapamadın, yada milletin yararınaysa ben çekileyim? Burada herhangi birisinden bahsetmiyoruz, sadece zihniyetin bu olduğunu söylüyoruz. Zihniyet bu oldukça nasıl bir araya geleceğiz biz. Biz hala Türkmen’in iyiliği için çalışan insanlara falanın oğlu, filanın kardeşi, falan mahalleden, filan şehirden diye bakarsak ağam sen paşam sen, benim yoldaşım, benim akrabam ne derse ne yapsa doğrudur dersek olduğumuz yerden bir adim ileri gidemeyiz.

Türkmenlere iki parti bile çokken birde Türkmen olmayan partilere destek veriyoruz. Ey millet biz daha oraya gelmedik ki. Biz daha var olmadık ki. İçinde bulunduğumuz dönem Türkmen’in var olma savaşı vermesi gereken dönemdir. Biz sanki kimliğimizi garanti altına alıp "Türkmeneli" kavramını sağlama almışız da çok demokratik bir ülkede yaşıyormuş gibi bin bir parçaya bölünüp, her birimiz değişik partilere gruplara bölünmüşüz. ? Her secimde fiyasko oluyorsa kimse bizi ciddiye almamakta haklı. Sorarlar tabi sen kaç kişiyi temsil ediyorsun diye. Türkiye acaba hangi gruba destek verse? İktidar değişince hangi gruba destek verir acaba? Biz bir tek vücut olmadıkça bir tek ses olmadıkça hiç bir şey elde edemeyiz.
Bu kadar sorun, peki çözüm ne?

Çözümün bir parçası ya da çözüme giden yol, herkesin harekete geçmesi. Birilerinden bir şeyler beklemek değil. Düşünce tarzımızı değiştirmeliyiz, yeni fikirlere açılmalıyız. Irak in dışında yaşayan kaç bin Türkmen var? Bunlar bir kazanç olmalı kayıp değil. Yeni bir örgütlenme oluşturulmalı. Yıllardır ağır aksak kör topal isleyen tabela derneklerinden artık vazgeçilmeli. Siyasallaşmak için adim atılmalı. Mesela bütün Avrupa bir merkeze bağlanmalı, denetleme mekanizması oluşturulmalı. Ama önce cesaret edip yanlışa yanlış diyebilmeli.
Buradan Avrupa’daki bütün dernek veya kuruluş temsilcilerine sesleniyorum, her biriniz inisiyatif alıp diğerleriyle temasa geçin bir kurultay, bir panel, bir toplantı tertibi için acilen harekete geçin. Büyük bir miting veya kampanya veya toplu herhangi bir eylem planlayın. Bulunduğumuz ülke siyasetçilerine toplu olarak seslenin. Türkmenelinde yaşananları hafife almayın. Bu tarihi ve son fırsat. Ya şimdi sesini çıkar yada ben varım deme! Bu geçiş döneminde herkes Şia yada Sünni olduğunu, Kerkük’ten yada Erbil’den olduğunu, hasmını veya dostunu, hepsini bir kenara bıraksın, sadece Türkmen olarak duşunsun. Hepimiz önce kendimizi kendi şehrimizdeki Türkmenleri bir araya getirmek için adim atalım, diğerinden beklemeden önce, SEN adim at, hepimiz adim atalım.

Her fırsatta 3 milyonuz diye övünüyorsak Türkmen olduğumuzdan övünüyorsak ona yakışır davranmalıyız. O topraklarda kahramanca savaşmış devletler kurmuş, hüküm etmiş, hak etmiş ecdadımızın sonu bu mu? Katillerin kurduğu düzene boyun eğmek bize yakışırımı? Biz gerçek mücadeleyi, korkusuzca başkaldırmayı hakkimizi almayı ne zaman unuttuk. Biz en az diğer bütün etnik gruplar kadar Irak in sahibiyiz Türkmenelinin sahibiyiz biz. Ona göre davranalım. 

Bugün herkes sorumludur, bugün susan herkes gelecekte suçludur...
Susma! Sustukça sıra sana gelecek.
Saygılar

Tapu Senedi 90.yilinda LOZAN

KAZANCI EXPLAINED THE RECENT SITUATION IN IRAQ TO TRT TÜRK

KAZANCI EXPLAINED THE RECENT SITUATION IN IRAQ TO TRT TÜRK

Iraqi Turkmen Front Representative Dr. Hicran Kazancı participated in Detay Haber program which is broadcast on TRT Türk and explained how the situation in Iraq became what it is.

Kazancı indicated that after occupying Iraq, the United States was unable to resolve the problems particularly regarding Kirkuk and other controversial areas and said, “The army and security forces were established on ethnic sect separation”. Kazancı emphasized that the Iraqi Constitutional Law used vague phrases regarding Kirkuk and controversial areas, other important issues as well as those dealing with returning lands seized from Turkmen and Kurds in the previous era and said:

“The problems continued. The US deferred them, postponed them but did not resolve or could not resolve them. In 2006-2007 the ethnic sect conflict peaked. But at that time it did not make great waves because 180 US troops were there. They tried to prevent it and did so.”

THE POLITICIANS ARE FAR REMOVED FROM A CULTURE OF COMPROMISE

Kazancı reminded that after the US troops withdrew the problems started to emerge once again and that the problems in Iraq were political and could only be resolved by politicians who were familiar with a culture of compromise. Kazancı underlined that the Iraqi politicians were far from the culture of compromise, that instead of culture of compromise a culture of dissolution had emerged in Iraq, that immediately after the US withdrew first a warrant for arrest was issued for the Vice President who represented the Sunni after which he was given a death sentence and that mosques were attacked during the protests organized on Fridays.

Kazancı also indicated that failure to implement the Arbil agreement was one of the reasons which started the crisis and said, “The crisis blew up when this failure was followed by the budget and energy issue between the central Government and Arbil”.

POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE SHARED IN KIRKUK

Kazanci indicated that Kirkuk was not only significant in terms of economy but also possessed a very important strategic position and because it was not indicated in the constitutional law the status of Kirkuk is a matter for debate. Kazancı said that the Kirkuk issue was not an issue between Baghdad and Arbil, it was also an international issue and as such the resolution was also political and underlined that political and administrative sharing should be carried out.

OUR DEMANDS FOR AN ARMED FORCE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REJECTED

Kazancı said that after 2003 all the political groups in Iraq acquired an armed forces and commented that, “However, our requests to establish such a security after 2003 have been continuously rejected. If you not possess special forces to protect you in a region where terror is rampant then you become the number one target of terror. That is the case in Turkmen regions”. Kazancı continued to say that: “Our lack of armed forces put us face to face with terror. Time after time we have requested from the Iraqi central government that we ensure our security. These requests were always rejected. For this reason the negligence of the central government has a significant contribution in the targeting of Turkmen.

WE REJECT A REVIVAL COUNCIL BASED ON SECT

Regarding the establishment of a 750 person unit for the Turkmen for security Kazancı commented that, “It is very offensive that political issues get involved with security issues in Iraq”. Kazancı continued by saying: “Any kind of armed formation based on sect is a disaster both for the region as well as for Turkmen. If a Turkmen force is established under the title Revival Council it must be established for all regions. It must be commanded by the Iraqi Turkmen Front. The establishment of an armed unit based on sect will endeavor to deepen the rift between sects even further. That is the intention of those behind this.”

Kazancı drew attention to the fact that so far there had been no ethnic-sect conflict between the Turkmen in Iraq, however as a result of the recent attacks there had been efforts to create discrimination. Kazancı said, “The establishment of such a security force will serve the targets of those trying to create discrimination”. 

THE COMMISSIONS DO NOTHING

Kazancı commented on commissions saying, “The same investigation commission was established after previously committed attacks. However, none of their investigations presented any results”. Kazancı indicated that the commission established after the Tuzhurmatu attack had done nothing and said, “We saw that the full picture displayed a commercial targeting the press”. Kazancı pointed out that those who had incurred damage from terror would be indemnified from the investment budget put aside for Turkmen regions and that the expectations of the Turkmen people were most definitely far from fulfilled.

THE SUPPORT OF TURKEY IS ALWAYS RIGHT BEHIND US

Kazancı indicated that as always the moral support of Turkey for the Turkmen continued and said, “Turkey did what had to be done up to now”. Kazancı said that it was the support of Turkey which enabled the Turkmen to have 3 ministers and 6 members of parliament represent them in the central government and continued to say, “If the  referendum in Kirkuk has been delayed from 2005 to date that is on account of Turkey.  For this reason whatever positive things have happened to the Iraqi Turkmen have incurred with the significant moral support of Turkey”.

Kazancı repeated what Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu had said at the reception of martyr Ali Haşim Muhtaroğlu, “Turkey is always behind you. This is your second home. 76 million are behind you” and emphasized that this was a clear indication of the support Turkey gave to the Turkmen.

The Breakdown Of The Iraqi Army’s Logistics

Posted by Joel Wing


Given the dire security situation that Iraq faced from 2003-2008 it was no surprise that the United States gave little attention to the Iraqi Army’s logistics. It wasn’t until several years after the U.S. invasion that the Americans finally began planning and contracting to develop Iraq’s support network, so that it could maintain its forces and equipment. This went through huge problems including the complete un-interest amongst the Iraqi military leadership for this task. By the time the U.S. withdrew its forces in 2011, several supply depots had been established and a computerized management system was in place. The problem was that the Americans oversaw this network, and when they left the Iraqis weren’t capable of keeping it up and running. The result is that most of the logistics for the Iraqi army has broken down since then.



Iraqis are finding it harder to maintain their equipment like this Humvee because their logistic network is falling apart (U.S. Department of Defense)


In early 2013 General Robert Caslen, the head of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq told the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) that Iraq’s logistic system had collapsed after the U.S. withdrawal. General Caslen told SIGIR that when the U.S. military pulled out of Iraq it took the structures with it that made sure the Iraqi military could supply and maintain itself. Around December 2012, General Caslen travelled to the spare parts warehouse at the Taji facility, which is the top maintenance base for the Iraqi army. There the general saw shelves packed with parts and the computers for the country’s automated inventory management system. The problem was that the parts were covered with dust, because they were never sent to any Iraqi units to repair anything. As a result, the Taji base had not ordered a single spare part during 2012. The computers Caslen found were not turned on, and had not worked for months. That was because the generators that ran the computers were out of commission. When the U.S. left the base had no contract or budget to provide fuel. That forced Iraqi soldiers to buy it themselves, which turned out to be of low quality, which eventually broke the generators. This was symbolic of the entire supply system for the Iraqi army. After the Americans departed, the Iraqis lacked the care, concern, know how, and interest to keep up the facility, and the entire network running. In turn, it fell apart leaving Iraqi units to fend for themselves. These problems were repeatedly brought up in audits and investigations in the lead-up to the withdrawal.


The Special Inspector General and the Inspector General of the Department of Defense from 2009-2010 issued several reports warning that the Iraqis were incapable of maintaining their supply system for the Iraqi forces. The problems actually started with the Americans. For the first several years after the invasion, the U.S. was only concerned with pumping out as many soldiers as possible. The Americans would do all the training, equipping, and supplying, so nothing was really done about the Iraqis doing that work themselves. Eventually, the U.S. decided to tackle the issue, and the Taji maintenance facility was to be at the forefront of that effort. The company that was contracted to develop the base was originally given a deal for $350 million, but that ballooned to $628.2 million by the time it was done. That was because the job was badly designed, and the orders for it were changed 161 times. The Iraqi Defense Ministry showed no interest in the facility, and the supply network overall, which meant the U.S. had to work on the base longer than expected adding more costs. When Taji was completed there were no Iraqi soldiers trained to use its equipment. The U.S. military stepped in, but the Iraqi army and Defense Ministry again showed little concern, and never sent enough soldiers to fully man the base or go for training. Not only that, but those that were detailed for the task were often pulled out. A July 2009 report by SIGIR for example, found that around 50% of students at Taji were absent at any given time. Of those permanently stationed at the base, 75% had finished their required courses, but they were ranked as marginally skilled. On top of that, only 33% of required troops were ever at the facility. Taji was only one example of how the entire system was flawed. Other issues included the fact that the Iraqi generals valued parts on the shelvesover them being sent to units. That meant the leadership did not want bases like Taji to actually do their job, but simply store parts. Second, the system set up required Iraqi units to go to Taji to get parts rather than having them shipped to them. That would require huge trips, often ones that commanders would not allow. Requests for parts had to go all the way to the division’s general staff, and officers felt if they constantly asked for repairs they would lose standing, so most of them did not make the effort. There was also no guarantee that equipment sent to be fixed would be sent back to their units. Instead, Iraqi soldiers were forced to buy spare parts on the open market, sometimes of spotty quality or scavenge them from other vehicles to maintain their forces. Another factor was that Iraqi divisions were only given fuel for the number of vehicles they had on hand whether they worked or not. That created an incentive for officers to keep as many vehicles on hand as possible, even broke ones, so that they would get their fuel quota. At the top, because the Defense Ministry did not value logistics, and didn’t understand how it worked, it didn’t adequately budget, plan, or maintain it. The only thing that kept the system working was American oversight and advisers. Now that they are gone, the whole thing is collapsing. That has left each Iraqi division to take care of itself, while millions of dollars of parts sit idle in places like Taji.


Rebuilding the Iraqi security forces is considered the only success of the U.S. effort to reconstruct Iraq. A number of divisions were put together. After some huge setbacks, those units eventually took the lead in fighting militants, and performed admirably. Behind the scenes however, American and Iraqi neglect meant that the Iraqi army was only able to field a force, because of the U.S. military was there to ensure that adequate supplies and parts were made available. Once they withdrew the logistics system immediately began deteriorating. Taji Maintenance Depot is a perfect example with parts collecting dust that could be used to keep Humvees and other vehicles running. The Iraqi military leadership is making the situation worse, because they value how many resources are on hand rather than whether they are being used or operating properly. It has never understood the need for maintenance, and until it does the general staff will maintain incentives that will eventually lead to the breakdown of most of its heavy equipment.

Protests against lack of security in Kirkuk

15 TEMMUZ 2013

The protesters marched today at 9:30 am today, July 14, in front of the governor’s office and are to hand officials a memorandum comprised of six points regarding the security breaches.

Hunar Ahmad, one of the protesters told Kirkuk Now “The security issues in Kirkuk worsen day by day, and the security plans are futile. We have written down a memo for the officials regarding the security issues in the city.”

The arrest of the perpetrators, changing the security officials of the city as well as relocating the political parties headquarters out of the city are among the demands of the protesters.

They have also demanded that the security officials of Kirkuk who are living outside of the city should be sacked and that the security trench around the city be finished as soon as possible alomg with demands for uniting the two distinct security forces that each are differently affiliated with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party.

The protests were held following Friday’s deadly blasts in one of the popular cafes of Kirkuk which has killed at least 41 persons and left another 31 injured.
Karwan Salhi – Kirkuk Now

http://www.kerkuk.net/eng/?p=11317

UNPO: Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre

On the 54th Anniversary of the Kirkuk Massacre, UNPO extends support to Iraqi Turkmens who continue to face human rights violations in Iraq.

Today, 14 July 2013, marks the 54th anniversary of the Kirkuk massacre of the Iraqi Turkmens. On this day in 1959 animosity towards the Iraqi Turkmens came to a head in Kirkuk, and erupted in a spectacle of violence, leaving approximately 20 Turkmens dead. On that day in Kirkuk, a parade was taking place, celebrating the first anniversary of the new Republic of Iraq. As the parade was meandering through the streets of Kirkuk, it was set upon by assailants with automatic weapons. In the ensuing chaos there were reports of prolific incidences of torture and barbarism, including automotive keelhauling.

Following the massacre, supporters of the old regime within the Iraqi Army began mortaring Turkmen homes, razing over 120 dwellings. The total death toll of Turkmens ranged from 40 to 80, with an additional 130 becoming injured in the fray. These tallies do not consider the infrastructural damage, psychological effects, or looting which accompanied the mayhem. A military detachment was sent from Baghdad to restore a tenuous order.

Recently, the Turkmens have been subject to land grabbing, assimilation campaigns, and religiously- ethnically-motived violence. Furthermore, as Iraq has no minority rights or anti-discrimination laws, incidents of Turkmen mistreatment in prisons, unregulated enforcement of capital punishment, disappearances of Turkmen intellectuals, and economic neglect are all too common.

On the anniversary of the massacre UNPO would like to extend its support to the Iraqi Turkmens and their continued struggle against human rights violations in Iraq.

http://www.unpo.org/article/16177

Commemorating the 14th July 1959 Massacre of Turkmens in Kirkuk

Davutoğlu Şehit MUHTAROĞLU'nun Ailesiyle Görüştü

ETHNIC CLEANSING OF TURKMENS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

The UNARMED Turkmens are caught between hammer and anvil in northern Iraq, caught between the heavily armed Kurdish Peshmerga and Arab militias.

As long as the Arabs and Kurds compete to grab Turkmen lands the Turkmens will continue to be targeted.

Not one day passes without an attack on Turkmens in Iraq and the culprits are never found.


THIS IS ETHNIC CLEANSING!

انفجار سيارة مفخخة في حي اقصو وسط قضاء طوزخورماتو

Iraq’s new borders: cause for conflict or righting past wrongs?

 | عربي | کوردی
niqash | Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | 11.07.2013





Iraqi politicians have agreed that the country’s provinces should look as they did before Saddam Hussein changed them for his own political purposes. But whether the redrawn map of Iraq is going to make everything fair, or whether it will only add to the current security and political crisis is still up for debate.

This past week the MPs on the Iraqi Parliament’s Regions and Provinces Committee did an unusual thing for national politics: they came to a consensus. Their agreement was over a draft law named the Provincial Borders Demarcation, which was originally submitted to Iraq’s parliament by now-ailing Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in 2011. And most of the Committee apparently voted for it.


While the President of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, was visiting Baghdad recently the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced work would begin again on various laws, whose progress into legislation had been suspended. This includes the Provincial Borders Demarcation law.

Although the Kurdish politicians and the country’s leaders in Baghdad have had their differences, lately both groups seem to have been on a charm offensive. How the country is divided up is a major cause of conflict between them.

The law has yet to be passed. But if it does make it into law, it will see borders of the country’s various provinces re-drawn and the map of Iraq will look more like it did in the 1960s before Saddam Hussein and his nationalist Baath party came to power. During Hussein’s time in power, the map of Iraq was redrawn, not according to natural geography but rather, according to Hussein’s plans to dominate power in Iraq. It also favoured Hussein’s own Sunni Muslim sect.

This was among the justifications given by the committee for their decision to amend the country’s provincial borders: “The former regime had made unfair changes to the administrative borders of provinces, districts and neighbourhoods in different parts of the Iraqi Republic, manipulating them according to its desires.”

“These changes were made through the issuance of decrees, presidential resolutions and other legislation. They have were introduced not to serve the interests of the Iraqi people but rather to achieve the political aims of the regime, so it could tighten its control over all spectrums of the society. In order to annul these changes and restore the situation to what it was before the Baath regime rule, this law should be enacted.”

The draft law states that: “all decrees, resolutions and any other legislation issued by the former regime, in order to achieve its political aims … shall be cancelled.”

According to a statement issued by parliament’s Regions and Provinces Committee, the law will come up for debate and vote during the next few sittings.

However, while the parliamentary committee has agreed on this, there are still plenty of political forces that will stand against the law, with many considering it a threat to peace.

MP Omar al-Jibouri from the opposition Iraqiya bloc, who represents Kirkuk, told NIQASH that it was “illogical” to try and cancel over 40 years worth of legislation with one law.

“The Baath Party regime’s resolutions, regardless of their legality, have created a new, more even distribution of population,” al-Jibouri says. “Additionally the new law will lead to the loss of several provinces, including Najaf and Salahaddin, and that just isn’t acceptable.”

Indeed Salahaddin province, the birthplace of Saddam Hussein, will no longer be an independent province. Along with a handful of others, it will be annexed to other provinces or cities. That includes Najaf, which will become a district of Karbala province, and Tikrit, which will become part of Baghdad. Meanwhile Nakheeb and Ain al-Tamr, currently in Anbar, will be annexed to become part of Karbala.

“Passing this law might just complicate an already complicated situation,” says Raad al-Dahlaki, an MP for the opposition Iraqiya party from Diyala. “It could trigger a new political crisis, especially under the current conditions.”

Also unsure are Iraqi MPs who represent the country’s minorities. 

The Turkmen MPs are sceptical as to whether the law gives minorities any advantages. One of the most senior Turkmen MPs, Arshad al-Salihi, suggested that another law be passed at the same time that allowed the creation of new, independent provinces in minority-heavy places like Nakheeb, Zubair and Tuz Khurmatu.

European Parliament urged to hold Hearing On The Situation Of The Iraqi Turkmen in Northern Iraq

Please click on text to enlarge

TARGETED ATTACKS ON TURKMENS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

According to the last report of the Iraqi Turkmen Front Human Rights Office in Kirkuk, there have been 68 targeted attacks against Turkmen individuals/assemblies during the last 6 months in the North of Iraq.

These attacks resulted in the death of 91 and the injuring of 609 Turkmens.

The attacks included : car bombings, explosive devices, suicide bombers, armed attacks, kidnappings followed by killings.

Beside the human cost of these attacks the car bombs have caused the destruction and damaging of 120 houses and 63 shops and businesses belonging to Turkmens.

All the above attacks have been investigated by the Police but unfortunately not a single culprit has been arrested.

ارشد الصالحي في مجلس النواب المقطع الاول

UNPO Urges Action To Protect Iraqi Turkmen (Reposting)

REPOSTING: 

  

UNPO General Secretary Calls for Urgent Action

Regarding the Iraqi Turkmen

*    *    *

European Parliament Must Urge Iraqi Government

To Provide Safe Haven For Iraqi Turkmen

Brussels, 4 February 2013 - The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) are calling for the European Parliament to exercise pressure on the government of Iraq, to put security measures into place to protect the Turkmen minority as a matter of urgency. This appeal follows a series of attacks against ethnic Turkmen in Iraq, including an attack on 23 January 2013 in Tuz Khurmato at the funeral of a civil servant, in which at least 42 people were killed and a further 117 wounded.

Unfortunately, this is far from a unique occurrence. Attacks on the Turkmen have been increasing at an alarming rate in recent months – including the burning alive of two teachers – as tensions between the Arab and Kurdish populations in the disputed territories rise. All too often, the Turkmen community has been caught up in the collateral damage of this conflict and many Turkmen feel both marginalised and victimised by their fellow Iraqis.

The UNPO welcomes the statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in which she condemned the funeral attack in Tuz Khurmato. However, more needs to be done to specifically protect the Turkmen community, which has suffered disproportionately from violence in Iraq in recent times.

The Iraqi government has repeatedly pledged greater protection for the Turkmen community, but any action on the issue has not been forthcoming. The UNPO and the ITF therefore urge the European Parliament, moreover in light of the visit of members of the EU Delegation for Relations with Iraq, to put pressure on the Iraqi government to fulfill its obligations to the Turkmen community, guaranteeing them a safe and secure environment in which to live.

Marino Busdachin

UNPO Secretary General

For media queries please contact:

Maud Vanwalleghem | +32 251 314 59 | mv@unpo.org 

- See more at: http://www.unpo.org/article/15452#sthash.FRWcRSqA.dpuf

SRSG Martin Kobler was one of the speakers at TEDx Baghdad last year; he addressed the Iraqi youth and asked: "What are your dreams for Iraq?"

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

"التسامح هو قبول الآخر على رغم عدم الاتفاق معه."

كان ممثل الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة في العراق السيد مارتن كوبلر أحد المتحدثين في تيداكس بغداد 2012، حيث توجه الى الشباب العراقيين بالسؤال "ما هي أحلامك للعراق؟"

شاهد العرض في هذه الوصلة (الرابط):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcK70-FhQ8Q
***

"Tolerance is accepting despite disagreements."

SRSG Martin Kobler was one of the speakers at TEDx Baghdad last year; he addressed the Iraqi youth and asked: "What are your dreams for Iraq?"

Watch his presentation here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcK70-FhQ8Q

Political Balances Changing in Favour of Kurds, Shiites in Iraq, Hasan Kanbolat, ORSAM Director

Political Balances Changing in Favour of Kurds, Shiites in Iraq

Hasan Kanbolat, ORSAM Director

Things are not going well in Iraq; the deal between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Iraqi Kurdistan continues to change the political balances in the country.

We have seen the outcomes of the new political balances in favor of Kurds and Shiites in the provincial assembly elections in Mosul and Anbar and the bombing incident in Tuz Khurmatu on June 25.

Mosul and Anbar are two predominantly Sunni-Arab provinces of Iraq. Maliki made a deal with Iraqi Kurdistan which cleared the way for the increased influence of Kurds in Mosul. A Kurdish list won the elections in Mosul, a stronghold of Sunni Arabs. The Kurds won 11 seats in the 39-seat provincial assembly. The Muttahidun, a list of Sunni Arabs which won 19 seats in the 2009 provincial assembly elections, won only eight seats this time. In addition, five of these eight are Turkmen. Maliki attracted Sunni Arab allies in Mosul and Anbar, causing the Sunni Arabs in these two provinces to be divided.

Thirteen people died in the suicide bombing in Tuz Khurmatu in the province of Salahuddin on June 25 while 71 were wounded. Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITF) Vice President Ali Hashem Mukhtar Oglou and former Salahuddin Deputy Governor Ahmed Abdel-Wahed died. Over the last two years, frequent attacks have been held in the Turkmen areas in Tuz Khurmatu. These attacks intensified in 2013. Why Tuz Khurmatu? Why Turkmens?

Tuz Khurmatu was part of Kirkuk but it was transferred to the province of Salahuddin in 1976. Its population is around 150,000. It is a Turkmen residential area in terms of its historic, cultural, social and political features. The population is predominantly Shiite Turkmen. However, the Turkmen identity is stronger than the Shiite identity. The Sunni Turkmen tend to adopt the Arabs' culture whereas the Shiite Turkmen preserve their cultures. Tuz Khurmatu is one of the most important centers for Turkmen. It is a place where Turkmen politicians, writers and poets are born and raised. For this reason, Tuz Khurmatu has always been important in Turkmen politics since 2003. The most influential provincial organization of the ITF, the most important political institution of the Turkmen people in Iraq, is in Salahuddin; its headquarters are also in Tuz Khurmatu.

Tuz Khurmatu, located along the Baghdad-Kirkuk road, is not included in Iraqi Kurdistan. However, it is shown in the enlarged Iraqi Kurdistan. Even in the official maps of Arbil, Tuz Khurmatu is shown within the borders of Iraqi Kurdistan. To this end, a policy to increase the Kurdish population in the enlarged Iraqi Kurdistan and to reduce the impact and presence of non-Kurdish ethnicities is being systematically implemented. For this reason, Tuz Khurmatu was one of the places where Kurds preferred to settle in the aftermath of 2003.

Today, Kurdish identity is dominant in Kirkuk. However, in Tuz Khurmatu, Turkmen identity is dominant. Even though al-Qaeda has been blamed for the attacks in Tuz Khurmatu, this organization has no interest in this region. Its name is used for manipulation. Al-Qaeda has become an organization whose name is most frequently used in the Middle East, but in reality, this organization does not exist. The main goal in Tuz Khurmatu is to destroy the Turkmen identity. In addition to bombings, threatening letters are sent to Turkmen people. The policy of harassing the Turkmen people in Tuz Khurmatu has been successful so far. Nearly 400 families have migrated to the south, predominantly Shiite areas, over the last two years. This has cleared the way for an increased presence of Kurds in the city.

The change in the political balances in Iraq is affecting Turkey because it shares the same physical, political, ethnic, religious, sectarian and cultural geography.

Iraqi Turkmen: Tuz Khormato Weeps For Recent Killings

Iraqi Turkmen: Tuz Khormato Weeps For Recent Killings

Frequent bombings and deadly attacks have reduced the Iraqi Turkmen region of Tuz Khormato to ruins. Residents long for peace and tranquillity, but their cries fall on deaf ears.



Below is an article published by WorldBulletin:



With continuous bombs, the Iraqi Turkmen region of Tuz Khormato has recently turned into ruins due to the recent deadly attacks targeting Turkmens.

As residents tell, Tuz Khormato was once known for its salt (tuz in Turkish) and dates (hurma in Turkish), which it was named after. However, people recently know Tuz Khormato, not for its salt or dates, but for the ongoing bombings.

The Iraqi Turkmen region of Tuz Khormato has been high on the Iraqi agenda again due to the recent suicide attack killing the Iraqi Turkmen Front's Vice President Ali Hashim Muhtaroglu and Salah ad Din Province Deputy Governor Ahmed Hodja.

Suicide bombers or other assailants with explosive-laden vehicles ended up in Tuz Khormato, causing a slaughter.

Since the attacks, residents of Tuz Khormato live on their nerves, unable to estimate when and from where another possible bombing will come upon them. Insisting that the Iraqi government set up a security force to protect them, the demands of Tuz Khormato Turkmens fall on deaf ears.

Turkmens strive to protect themselves counting on their own means, but hardly could.

Enholding 180,000 residents, Tuz Khormato now resembles a wreckage. Having its Turkmen, Kurdish and Arab neighborhoods split by clear cut lines, Tuz Khormato streets are full of iron or concrete barriers at the entrance and people keep watch of the streets.

The streets are also full of harrowing stories of slayings and of the violent attacks on Turkmens.

“We have several martyrs because of the attacks” told the Head of Iraqi Turkmen Front's Salah ad Din Province Haydar Kasapoglu, asking "Why are the Turkmen regions always the target of the bombings?"

A Turkmen resident Hani Mehdi noted “We are being slaughtered. You can see what our city has turned into. This is a deliberate policy against us. We are the target of bilateral attacks. For being Turkmen and Shiite, we are exposed to both sectarian and ethnic violence."

OICC'nin 3 yılda bir verdiği Mimarlık Ödülü Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi’nin

OICC'nin 3 yılda bir verdiği Mimarlık Ödülü Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi’nin

Kısa adı OICC (Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities) olan İslam Başkentleri ve Kentleri Teşkilatı tarafından 3 yılda bir verilen Mimarlık Ödülüne Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi’nin kitabı layık görüldü.

İslam Başkentleri ve Kentleri Teşkilatı, İslam kentlerine katkı sağlayan, tarihi çevre korumacılığında başarılı araştırma ve projelere ve mimarlık alanında yazılan telif eserlere 3 yılda bir ödül veren Teşkilatın, bu dönemdeki ödülünü Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi’nden Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi’nin The Urban Fabric and Traditional Houses of Kirkuk (Kent Dokusu ve Geleneksel Evleriyle Kerkük) başlıklı kitabı aldı. Gelen yazıya göre Saatçi’ye ödülü, İslam Başkentleri ve Kentleri Teşkilatı’nın 1-3 Eylül 2013 tarihinde Mekke’de yapılacak olan 9. Dönem Genel Kurulu toplantısındaki törende verilecektir.

Suphi Saatçi Kimdir?
Ödül töreni için Suudi Arabistan’a davet Prof. Dr. Suphi Saatçi, 1946 yılında Kerkük’te doğdu. Liseyi Kerkük’te tamamladıktan sonra Türkiye’ye geldi. Girdiği İstanbul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi’nin Yüksek Mimarlık Bölümünü bitirdi. Doktorasını tamamladı ve ardından Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi’nde doçent oldu. Aynı üniversitede profesörlüğe yükselen Saatçi, en son Rektör Yardımcılığı görevine atandı ve buradan 1 Temmuz 2013 tarihinde yaş haddinden emekli oldu. Evli ve bir kız çocuğu babası olan Saatçi’nin 20’nin üzerinde basılmış kitabı vardır.

OICC Nedir?
Kısa adı OICC (Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities) olan İslam Başkentleri ve Kentleri Teşkilatı, İslam Konferansı Teşkilatı’na bağlı bir kuruluştur.

1980 yılında bir sivil toplum örgütü olarak kurulan İslam Başkentleri ve Kentleri Teşkilatı, İslam Ülkelerinin başkentleri ve kentlerini üye kabul eden Teşkilatın merkezi Suudi Arabistan’ın kutsal başkenti Mekke’dedir. Ülkelerin siyasî konularından uzak olan Teşkilatın geliri, üyelerin ve kişilerin, kuruluş ve belediyelerin, hükümetlerin katılım payları ile Teşkilat yatırımlarından gelen aidatlardan oluşuyor.

Dört kıtada (Asya, Afrika, Avrupa ve Güney Amerika) yayılmış 54 devletten 141 başkentin ve kentin üye olduğu teşkilatta 6 devletten 8 adet gözlemci kent yer almaktadır. İslam ülkelerinden Teşkilatın amacına uygun etkinlikler yapan çeşitli bakanlıklardan, kuruluş ve üniversitelerden, ayrıca beşerî yerleşmelerin sürekli gelişimi üzerinde çalışan araştırma merkezlerinden 14 katılımcı üye bulunmaktadır. Teşkilat çalışmalarında Arapça, İngilizce ve Fransızca iletişim dilleri kullanılmaktadır.
By: Turkmen Medyasi

DÜNYA TÜRKLERİ AVRUPA PLATFORMU - BRÜKSEL meeting

Members of DÜNYA TÜRKLERİ AVRUPA PLATFORMU met in Brussels on 28th June to discuss future activities.

Turkmens should protect themselves if Iraqi government can't, President Gul's chief advisor says

Turkish President Gul's chief advisor Hurmuzlu said if Iraq's central government was incapable of protecting Iraqi Turkmens, they had the right to find a way of self-defense

ANKARA - Turkish President Abdullah Gul's chief Middle East advisor Ersat Hurmuzlu stated Thursday if Iraq's central government was incapable of protecting Iraqi Turkmens, then they had the right to find a way of self-defense.

Iraq is a place, where various militia forces patrol the area, making Turkmens to find solutions to protect themselves, Hurmuzlu, an Iraqi Turkmen, told AA in an exclusive interview.

Saying they had shared their demands and expectations about "establishing an armed union" with Turkey, Hurmuzlu stated, "We inspire Iraqi Turkmens to continue these events through juristic ways, however it got out of hand. There is no more life safety in Turkmen regions." He added there was a planned project to demolish the Turkmen identity and existence in the region and said they were doing it by "scaring people, forcing them to immigrate both inside & outside and working the sectarian tensions up."

Hurmuzlu stressed deputy head of Iraq-Turkmen front Ali Hasim Muhtaroglu passed away as a martyr who had died in Thursday's bomb attack in Iraq's Tuz Khurmatu, saying he was a "flag martyr".

"Muhtaroglu was recently in Baghdad. While he was there, he got an information that the Turkmen flag was to be lowered in the meeting. He attended the meeting saying 'Whatever happens, I will protect the Turkmen flag at the risk of my life' and gets attacked there," Hurmuzlu said.

Calling on the international area to act sensitively on Turkmen's problems in that region, Hurmuzlu underlined his will to have the Turkish parliament handle this issue.

He added, the statements of Gul and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu were "boosted their morale", adding they were glad to see the issue also in the agenda of Turkish National Security Council.

Hurmuzlu listed the prior demands of Turkmens from Turkey as "securing Turkmens in Turkey, protecting their citizenship and calling out the constitutional rights as soon as possible."

Thursday, June 27, 2013