Cinquante députés irakiens fustigent la Constitution kurde
Lundi 29 juin 2009
AFP — Cinquante députés irakiens ont dénoncé lundi dans une pétition la Constitution adoptée la semaine dernière par le Parlement autonome kurde et qui doit être ratifiée lors d'un référendum fin juillet.
"Elle est non seulement incompatible avec la Constitution fédérale mais la viole et donne plus de pouvoir à la région qu'à Bagdad", a affirmé lors d'une conférence de presse au Parlement Oussama al-Noujaifi de la Liste nationale irakienne (laïc, 20 sièges).
"Cette constitution attise la haine entres les composantes du peuple irakien (...) et constitue une provocation envers les voisins de l'Irak en tentant de construire le Grand Kurdistan", a-t-il ajouté.
La future Constitution de cette région annexe au Kurdistan la province pétrolière de Kirkouk et des localités situées dans les gouvernorats de Ninive et de Diyala.
Outre M. Noujaifi, cette pétition est signée par Omar al-Joubouri du Front de la Concorde irakienne (sunnite 39 sièges) et Hanine al-Qaddu, représentant de la secte des Chabak au sein de l'Alliance Unifiée irakienne (chiite, 85 sièges).
Pour Fawzi Akram (Turkmène) du groupe sadriste (30 députés), "cette Constitution dessert le processus politique et mènera à une crise dans les relations entre les différentes composantes du pays".
Le député kurde Mahmoud Othman a demandé "aux hommes politiques de Bagdad et du Kurdistan d'ouvrir un dialogue sérieux et serein" et a critiqué l'empressement avec lequel a été décidé le référendum. "Ce n'était pas la bonne manière", a-t-il dit à l'AFP.
jeudi 9 juillet 2009
Controversy over Kurdish constitution
Controversy over kurdish constitution
niqash Ardalan Aziz mon 06 jul 09
The Kurdistan Constitution, passed by the Regional Parliament on June 24 and set to be put before Kurdish voters for approval in a July 25 referendum, has sparked controversy from both across the country and within Kurdish circles. Critics say the Constitution, which was overwhelming passed by a parliament dominated by the region’s two major parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is unconstitutional.
Most controversially, the document unilaterally asserts Kurdish sovereignty over disputed territories including oil-rich Kirkuk province and areas of Nineveh and Diyala provinces, which have long been a source of tension between central and Kurdish authorities.
Additionally, the Constitution requires that the Central Government obtain the prior consent of the Regional Government before concluding any international treaties that will also apply to the region. These articles have immediately provoked a strong backlash from Iraqi politicians who say that the document usurps the powers of the Central Government.
Fifty Arab members of the Iraqi Parliament have signed a statement strongly rejecting the Constitution and calling on the Central Government to intervene. "Not only is it not compatible with the federal Constitution but it violates it and gives the [Kurdish] Region more power than Baghdad," said Ossama al-Nujaifi of the Iraqi National List.
According to the document’s critics the Constitution plainly contains secessionist tendencies that are unjustifiable and will provoke new conflict between the Kurdish Region and the Central Government.
Meanwhile, the Constitution has also provoked internal Kurdish criticism with opponents saying the document was illegally passed by Parliament without public oversight and that it grants the Regional President too much power.
The Change List, which will compete in the July 25 parliamentary elections on a platform of reform and which is led by a PUK dissident, said that Parliament unconstitutionally passed the document in order to ensure the continuing domination of the two ruling parties, the PUK and KDP. “The current Parliament does not have the legitimacy to approve the Constitution because its term ended June 4.
It cannot pass an important document such as the Constitution, the source of all laws,” said Kwestan Muhammad, a leading member of the Change List and former head of the PUK parliamentary bloc. Parliament extended its own term pending the election of a new Parliament, citing exceptional circumstances, but critics say this does not give it the power to pass fundamental decrees such as a Constitution governing Kurdish political life.
Asos Hardi, a local journalist, described the way the Constitution was adopted as a "disgrace" to Parliament. He criticized the extension of parliamentary powers and said that while the step was justifiable in periods of instability or civil war, there was no reason for the step in the current stability. Additionally, Hardi criticized the fact that the public was not able to debate or even read the Constitution before it was passed by Parliament.
While the first draft Constitution, which was presented to Parliament three years ago, was open to public debate, this version was completed behind closed doors. Opponents of the new Constitution say that one of the reasons the document was passed so quickly was that it grants sweeping powers to the Regional President, a move which is intended to ensure the continuing domination of incumbent powers in the face of new parliamentary challenges.
The new Constitution allows the President to dissolve Parliament; it grants the President supreme executive power and command over Peshmerga armed forces; it gives him the power to ratify and strike down parliamentary decisions; it also gives him the right to remove ministers and issue decrees that carry the force of law.
While the KDP and PUK currently hold two thirds of parliamentary seats, they are expected to lose ground in the face of challenges from new parties including the Change List. However, with the election of the Regional President also happening on July 25 and with KDP head Massoud Barzani expected to win a new term in office, power will thereby be maintained in his hands.
According to Adnan Othman, editor of the Roznama newspaper owned by Nawshirwan Mustafa, head of the Change List, the Constitution "is not consistent with the parliamentary system of government because it establishes a presidential system of government.” Observers also say that the new Constitution is an election ploy by the two main parties.
By approving the Constitution so close to parliamentary elections they hope to gain popular and electoral support on the back of the document’s national rhetoric and claim over disputed territories. Additionally, by timing the publication of the document to coincide with the withdrawal of U.S troops from Iraqi cities on June 30, some observers believe that the Kurdish Regional government is hoping to draw concessions out of the Central Government at a time of vulnerability.
While the Constitution’s articles might have normally roused the hostility of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, especially in light of his new ‘national’ rhetoric, the need to avoid confrontation with the Kurds as U.S troops pull-back may have softened the Central Government’s reaction.
http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=227&id=2479&lang=0
niqash Ardalan Aziz mon 06 jul 09
The Kurdistan Constitution, passed by the Regional Parliament on June 24 and set to be put before Kurdish voters for approval in a July 25 referendum, has sparked controversy from both across the country and within Kurdish circles. Critics say the Constitution, which was overwhelming passed by a parliament dominated by the region’s two major parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), is unconstitutional.
Most controversially, the document unilaterally asserts Kurdish sovereignty over disputed territories including oil-rich Kirkuk province and areas of Nineveh and Diyala provinces, which have long been a source of tension between central and Kurdish authorities.
Additionally, the Constitution requires that the Central Government obtain the prior consent of the Regional Government before concluding any international treaties that will also apply to the region. These articles have immediately provoked a strong backlash from Iraqi politicians who say that the document usurps the powers of the Central Government.
Fifty Arab members of the Iraqi Parliament have signed a statement strongly rejecting the Constitution and calling on the Central Government to intervene. "Not only is it not compatible with the federal Constitution but it violates it and gives the [Kurdish] Region more power than Baghdad," said Ossama al-Nujaifi of the Iraqi National List.
According to the document’s critics the Constitution plainly contains secessionist tendencies that are unjustifiable and will provoke new conflict between the Kurdish Region and the Central Government.
Meanwhile, the Constitution has also provoked internal Kurdish criticism with opponents saying the document was illegally passed by Parliament without public oversight and that it grants the Regional President too much power.
The Change List, which will compete in the July 25 parliamentary elections on a platform of reform and which is led by a PUK dissident, said that Parliament unconstitutionally passed the document in order to ensure the continuing domination of the two ruling parties, the PUK and KDP. “The current Parliament does not have the legitimacy to approve the Constitution because its term ended June 4.
It cannot pass an important document such as the Constitution, the source of all laws,” said Kwestan Muhammad, a leading member of the Change List and former head of the PUK parliamentary bloc. Parliament extended its own term pending the election of a new Parliament, citing exceptional circumstances, but critics say this does not give it the power to pass fundamental decrees such as a Constitution governing Kurdish political life.
Asos Hardi, a local journalist, described the way the Constitution was adopted as a "disgrace" to Parliament. He criticized the extension of parliamentary powers and said that while the step was justifiable in periods of instability or civil war, there was no reason for the step in the current stability. Additionally, Hardi criticized the fact that the public was not able to debate or even read the Constitution before it was passed by Parliament.
While the first draft Constitution, which was presented to Parliament three years ago, was open to public debate, this version was completed behind closed doors. Opponents of the new Constitution say that one of the reasons the document was passed so quickly was that it grants sweeping powers to the Regional President, a move which is intended to ensure the continuing domination of incumbent powers in the face of new parliamentary challenges.
The new Constitution allows the President to dissolve Parliament; it grants the President supreme executive power and command over Peshmerga armed forces; it gives him the power to ratify and strike down parliamentary decisions; it also gives him the right to remove ministers and issue decrees that carry the force of law.
While the KDP and PUK currently hold two thirds of parliamentary seats, they are expected to lose ground in the face of challenges from new parties including the Change List. However, with the election of the Regional President also happening on July 25 and with KDP head Massoud Barzani expected to win a new term in office, power will thereby be maintained in his hands.
According to Adnan Othman, editor of the Roznama newspaper owned by Nawshirwan Mustafa, head of the Change List, the Constitution "is not consistent with the parliamentary system of government because it establishes a presidential system of government.” Observers also say that the new Constitution is an election ploy by the two main parties.
By approving the Constitution so close to parliamentary elections they hope to gain popular and electoral support on the back of the document’s national rhetoric and claim over disputed territories. Additionally, by timing the publication of the document to coincide with the withdrawal of U.S troops from Iraqi cities on June 30, some observers believe that the Kurdish Regional government is hoping to draw concessions out of the Central Government at a time of vulnerability.
While the Constitution’s articles might have normally roused the hostility of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, especially in light of his new ‘national’ rhetoric, the need to avoid confrontation with the Kurds as U.S troops pull-back may have softened the Central Government’s reaction.
http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=227&id=2479&lang=0
Photojournal: Arrival in Cairo – Viva Palestina!
Photojournal: Arrival in Cairo – Viva Palestina!
http://verbage.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/photojournal-arrival-in-cairo-viva-palestina/
http://verbage.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/photojournal-arrival-in-cairo-viva-palestina/
mercredi 8 juillet 2009
Ban Ki-moon chooses Dutch politician Ad Melkert to head UNAMI
New head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)
Ban Ki-moon has chosen the Dutch politician Ad Melkert to be his top envoy in Iraq, ... Melkert will head the UN mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI.
Ban Ki-moon has chosen the Dutch politician Ad Melkert to be his top envoy in Iraq, ... Melkert will head the UN mission in Iraq, known as UNAMI.
Ankara deflects criticism from Iraq over water usage
07 July 2009, Tuesday.
Against the backdrop of increasingly vocal complaints by Iraq against Turkey regarding the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkish officials have said they are doing the best they can for their neighbor but that Iraq has to use water efficiently, adding that the same goes for Syria as well.
Against the backdrop of increasingly vocal complaints by Iraq against Turkey regarding the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Turkish officials have said they are doing the best they can for their neighbor but that Iraq has to use water efficiently, adding that the same goes for Syria as well.
Turkish experts also claim that due to upcoming elections, Iraqi officials are trying to use the country's water shortage as a political tool.
Iraq's parliament voted in this May to compel the government to demand a greater share of water resources from neighbors upstream of its vital rivers, such as Turkey, Iran and Syria, in any bilateral deals with them. Iraq, whose agricultural harvest this year is under threat due to a chronic shortage of water for irrigation, last week appealed to the German, Swiss and Austrian backers of Turkey's Ilısu Hydroelectric Dam project on the Tigris River to withdraw their support for the project.
Turkey announced last week that it would resume work on the 1.2 billion euro dam even if the European underwriters withdraw their support for the project, which is currently suspended since it fails to meet the environmental, cultural and social criteria set by the backers.
"I want to underline that we are not insensitive toward the concerns of our neighbors. We are doing the best we can," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Burak Özügergin told to Today's Zaman.
Turkey increases water flow
"Recently, Turkey increased the water flow to Iraq, and this move pleased Iraq," he said.
Ankara had already increased water flow to Iraq from 360 cubic meters per second to 515 cubic meters per second and will ramp that figure up to 715 during July, August and September in response to the request of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi. Hürmüzlü underlined that the Tigris River, flowing directly to Iraq from Turkey, is actually fed by rivers from Iran that are dry this year, too. "Turkey does not have any major dam on the Tigris, plus its pollution is not because of Turkey," he said.
The problem is not only shortage of water
An official in Ankara who spoke on condition of anonymity said water shortage is also a problem for Turkey, but its neighbors are not able to use water efficiently. "The infrastructure of Iraq was devastated. They are not using modern agricultural methods. The problem is more than allocating the water; it's the efficient usage of it. After the situation in Iraq improves, we have to talk about all these problems," he said.
The same source added that in order to refrain from the giving the impression that Turkey is dragging its feet over the water dispute, Ankara did not bring up the technical shortcomings of Iraq and decided to answer its needs. "Such complaints are not fair. They know very well that even at the most tense times, Turkey did not use the water issue as political leverage," said the same source while recalling the situation in the 1990s.
When Turkey started to its Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, Syria and Iraq claimed that the project was a vital threat to their interests. In those years, Turkey accused Syria and Iraq of harboring outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists. The three countries discussed water and security problems many times in those years but were not able to reach an agreement.
Temel İskit, a retired ambassador who was active in those years, recalled that Turkey thought the demands of Syria and Iraq were too much and they refrained from discussing Turkey's three-stage plan for the efficient allocation of water, which envisaged a comprehensive technical study about the needs of the three countries and efficient usage of water.
"But for the time being, it seems that Turkey feels more comfortable on the grounds that there is a warm atmosphere between Ankara and Damascus. Also Iraq has to deal with many problems, so those countries will not bring the water issue on the agenda as they used to," İskit said. İskit added that Turkey was reluctant to participate in international platforms if trans-boundary waters were involved.
Turkey refused to sign international agreements such as the 1997 UN Convention on the Law on Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses.
The same anonymous source recalled that many other countries did not ratify the convention either. "It means that those kinds of issues cannot be solved by forcing it. The efficient usage of water and fair allocation of it stands there as a concept that has to be discussed," the source said.
But İskit warned that despite the impression that Turkey is planning to postpone finding a permanent solution to the water problem and will simply manage it for the time being, international law regarding the subject is improving in favor of lower basin countries. "The pressure on Turkey can be increased. It is possible that Turkey might find itself in the position of being unfair since the claims against it can be based on international law even if the motive of these pressures is political. So it will be better for Turkey to finish its projects on the Tigris and Euphrates as soon possible, but meanwhile, it should benefit from its good relations with Syria and Iraq to sign an agreement with them," İskit suggested.
mardi 7 juillet 2009
Uighur women grieve for their men who they claim were taken away by the Chinese authorities after Sunday's protest in Urumqi.
Uighur women grieve for their men who they claim were taken away by the Chinese authorities after Sunday's protest in Urumqi.
Photo AP -->
Photo AP -->
Uighur women take to the streets in search of their men
Published: 7 July 2009 17:06
Chinese authorities allow western journalists to cover the riots in Urumqi - under strict supervision.
By Bettine Vriesekoop in Urumqi
Nalida, dressed in a black-and-white burqa, brought her hands to her face as she cried: "The police killed my husband. Hundreds of policemen entered our houses. They hit us with sticks and pipes and took our husbands and sons."
She clenched her fists and screamed as she and hundreds of wailing Uighur women on Tuesday marched through the capital of the western Chinese province Xinjiang, which was the scene of violent clashes between Uighurs and police on Sunday afternoon.
"This is war now. We have been silent too long. The Chinese do not respect our way of life and our religion," said Guli, a woman clad in a green burqa. "Our men, we don't know where they are. They even loaded naked children into trucks."
To continue reading the article please click on the link below
lundi 6 juillet 2009
JORDAN-SYRIA: UNHCR funding shortfall for Iraqi refugees
DAMASCUS, 6 July 2009 (IRIN) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is being forced to cut back its services to Iraqi refugees, primarily in Syria and Jordan, from August, despite a US$5 million donation from Saudi Arabia on 28 June.
UNHCR financial and health care assistance to the refugees will be affected. “We have only 38 percent of our requested budget for our Iraqi operation [assistance to Iraqis both inside and beyond Iraq] in 2009,” said Carole Laleve, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria.
“The donation from Saudi Arabia is generous but we need many more donor countries to come forward if we are to reach the 397 million dollars needed to run all our programmes for refugees and internally displaced Iraqis.
As it is, we will be making cuts to all our services, affecting the most vulnerable refugees.” The UN’s World Refugee Survey 2009, published in May, estimated that 1.2 million Iraqi refugees are currently in Syria; 209,200 of them were registered with the UNHCR as of last month. Iraqi refugees are not legally allowed to work in Syria. As their savings diminish, more and more of them are relying on the UNHCR for financial assistance, health care, education and food.
Jordan hosts the second largest number of Iraqi refugees. The World Refugee Survey puts their number at 450,000, of whom 65,000 were registered with the UNHCR in January 2009. “The Saudi donation will be split two-to-one between Syria and Jordan and has been designated by Saudi Arabia for provision of food and health assistance,” said Laleve. “But in those and other areas the lack of funding will have real ramifications for the refugees [from Iraq, including some Palestinians] in Syria and Jordan.”
Who will be affected?
From August financial assistance will “not be sustainable”, according to UNHCR. A large chunk of the monthly cash handouts go to the most vulnerable families - female-headed households - and these look likely to be cut back sharply, perhaps even completely, depending on funding.
UNHCR will no longer distribute certain non-food items such as nappies and sanitary towels. UNHCR said it would cut its health funding; and plans to expand programmes of psycho-social care for traumatized Iraqis would be shelved.
Funding for vocational training programmes would be reduced. Outreach programmes, which have been especially successful in reaching vulnerable women, would also be negatively affected. Refugees outside Damascus could be adversely affected because UNHCR staff trips will be curtailed.
No new agreements will be concluded with partner NGOs - something that will affect Palestinians from Iraq living as refugees in Al Tanf camp in no-man’s land between Syria and Iraq, and Al Hol (also for Palestinians from Iraq) in the Hassakeh region of Syria.
The USA has reduced its donation to UNHCR's Iraq operation for 2009 to $90 million, whilst the European Union has cut its contribution to just under $5 million. Australia is the second largest donor with just over $7 million. The UK has given just over $3 million.
sb/at/cb
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=85144
UNHCR financial and health care assistance to the refugees will be affected. “We have only 38 percent of our requested budget for our Iraqi operation [assistance to Iraqis both inside and beyond Iraq] in 2009,” said Carole Laleve, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria.
“The donation from Saudi Arabia is generous but we need many more donor countries to come forward if we are to reach the 397 million dollars needed to run all our programmes for refugees and internally displaced Iraqis.
As it is, we will be making cuts to all our services, affecting the most vulnerable refugees.” The UN’s World Refugee Survey 2009, published in May, estimated that 1.2 million Iraqi refugees are currently in Syria; 209,200 of them were registered with the UNHCR as of last month. Iraqi refugees are not legally allowed to work in Syria. As their savings diminish, more and more of them are relying on the UNHCR for financial assistance, health care, education and food.
Jordan hosts the second largest number of Iraqi refugees. The World Refugee Survey puts their number at 450,000, of whom 65,000 were registered with the UNHCR in January 2009. “The Saudi donation will be split two-to-one between Syria and Jordan and has been designated by Saudi Arabia for provision of food and health assistance,” said Laleve. “But in those and other areas the lack of funding will have real ramifications for the refugees [from Iraq, including some Palestinians] in Syria and Jordan.”
Who will be affected?
From August financial assistance will “not be sustainable”, according to UNHCR. A large chunk of the monthly cash handouts go to the most vulnerable families - female-headed households - and these look likely to be cut back sharply, perhaps even completely, depending on funding.
UNHCR will no longer distribute certain non-food items such as nappies and sanitary towels. UNHCR said it would cut its health funding; and plans to expand programmes of psycho-social care for traumatized Iraqis would be shelved.
Funding for vocational training programmes would be reduced. Outreach programmes, which have been especially successful in reaching vulnerable women, would also be negatively affected. Refugees outside Damascus could be adversely affected because UNHCR staff trips will be curtailed.
No new agreements will be concluded with partner NGOs - something that will affect Palestinians from Iraq living as refugees in Al Tanf camp in no-man’s land between Syria and Iraq, and Al Hol (also for Palestinians from Iraq) in the Hassakeh region of Syria.
The USA has reduced its donation to UNHCR's Iraq operation for 2009 to $90 million, whilst the European Union has cut its contribution to just under $5 million. Australia is the second largest donor with just over $7 million. The UK has given just over $3 million.
sb/at/cb
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=85144
dimanche 5 juillet 2009
The Iraqi Turkmen Front calls for restraint and unity
(GENEL MERKEZ)THE IRAQI TURKMEN FRONT
(Head Quarter)
(Head Quarter)
Information office No. 125
Date 1/7/2009
The Iraqi Turkmen Front calls for restraint and unity
The Iraqi Turkmen Front condemns the terrorist crime that targeted innocent people in the Shorja market in Kerkuk yesterday which led to the martyrdom and wounding of dozens, including women and children.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front demands that the responsible authorities begin an investigation that would reveal who was behind this heinous crime and the cause of security breaches which have become very clear in Kerkuk.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front demands that the responsible authorities begin an investigation that would reveal who was behind this heinous crime and the cause of security breaches which have become very clear in Kerkuk.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front recalls its latest demands to the government authorities to publish the results of the investigation in the crime that targeted Taza Khurmatu, which claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people and severely wounded many women and children.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front appeals to the people of Kerkuk to stand together and to show restraint to maintain the security and lives of the innocents and to block the road in front those who are trying to take advantage of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iraqi cities.
The Iraqi Turkmen Front appeals to the people of Kerkuk to stand together and to show restraint to maintain the security and lives of the innocents and to block the road in front those who are trying to take advantage of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Iraqi cities.
May Almighty ALLAH bless the martyrs and comfort their families and inspire them patience and fortitude and bring a speedy recovery to the injured.
Iraqi Turkmen Front
1/07/2009
Addres:
Kerkuk-Baghdad St., near the Governorate building
Kerkuk-Baghdad St., near the Governorate building
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