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Killings Stoke Fear Among Assyrian Shopkeepers April 4, 06 By David E. Graham San Diego Union-Tribune A brazen slaying of a salesman inside T&M Liquor Store in City Heights eight months ago raised fears about safety in small stores, an anxiety amplified last month when robbers killed two employees at a liquor store in El Cajon. The owner of T&M Liquor, a neighborhood market where clerks know most of the customers, has responded with a dramatic gesture. The staff now works behind a wall of inch-thick, bulletproof, transparent plastic that covers the front counter and cash register stand from the countertop almost to the ceiling. The barrier has two windows that can be rolled aside for transactions and shut with a flick of the wrist. "It's really played on a lot on people's mind right now if you're a store owner," said Auday Arabo, president of the California Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores Association, which represents policy interests of such small stores. "A lot of people are doing whatever they can to feel safe." Merchants met with San Diego police in March, hoping for suggestions about safety, and they are trying to develop affordable private security arrangements. Arabo understands the desire of T&M's owner, Ramzi Salem, to increase safety, but he hopes others will not feel they have to do the same. "It's pretty much putting yourself inside a prison . . . and that's not for business people," Arabo said. T&M manager Wally Yakou said he asked for the bulletproof wall "for me and my kids." It makes him feel safer than the days after the July 13 shooting there, when he wore a flak jacket. He also carries a .357-caliber revolver at work. "We need some solution to the crime," Yakou said. He said his customers have understood the need for the wall. Worries increased after the killings at Granada Liquor in El Cajon. Heather Mattia, 22, and Firas Waahid Eiso, 23, were each shot once in the back of the head. The victims at T&M and Granada were Chaldean Christians of Iraqi descent, and the killings tore at that close-knit community. Yakou, for example, knew the families of the two killed at Granada. About three-quarters of all liquor, convenience and small grocery stores in the state are owned by Chaldeans, Arabo said. The T&M incident may have begun the night of July 12, when a robber holding a shotgun walked into the store on El Cajon Boulevard at Copeland Avenue. One of the clerks sneaked up behind him, wrestled away the gun and the robber ran off. The next afternoon, a man wearing a hooded sweat shirt came in and shot and killed Doraid Akram Toma, 35, a salesman standing in an aisle chatting with Yakou. Police suspect it was the robber from the night before, perhaps seeking revenge. He also fired several shots at Yakou as he moved helter-skelter behind the counter to avoid being hit. San Diego police have not arrested anyone in the slaying, said homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney, adding, "We still continue to work on it." Investigators also have been exploring whether the same man might have been involved in four store robberies two weeks before the T&M crime. Arabo, shaken by the deaths, said his association is taking new steps to curb the robberies and violence. "We're not going to sit back," he said. Last month, the association negotiated a plan with a security firm to provide more affordable services for stores, perhaps a guard or an occasional patrol. In hopes of hastening arrests, the grocers association will start posting rewards in any robbery, Arabo said, whereas previously it has done so only after a shooting. There is a $10,000 reward for information on Toma's killing, and $100,000 for the two victims at the El Cajon store. Arabo is urging shopkeepers to know their beat police officers and make the restrooms available to them and give them coffee during their breaks so the officers will have a greater presence on the properties. Arabo stops short of suggesting that shopkeepers arm themselves, fearing an accident, and he does not advocate fighting a robber. ----

Who are the Christians of Iraq?   An ancient prayer in apreciation of the months in a year "Through your mercies, Lord, may the months be for us the source of joy, the years, of delight; let them bequeath to us in peace, O Lord: Nisan has its flowers, Iyyar its lilies too, Haziran its sheaves, Tammuz its heaps of grain; let Ab and Illul bring along grape-clusters on poles, let the two Teshris give response to each other in the grape pressing; let the two Kanuns bring rest, Shebat and Adar, the Fast. To you, Lord, be the praise." April = Neesan Killings Stoke Fear Among Assyrian Shopkeepers April 4, 06 Assyrian New Year Celebrations in Iraq April 2, 06 The Ghost in the Baghdad Museum April 2, 06 Conversations with the Assyrians of Mardin April 1, 06 Turlock's Assyrian community rings in year 6756 with dinner, dance April 1, 06 Italians find ancient Ur tablets April 1, 06 March = Addar (a's as in Art)  Mortar Shell Kills Three Women in Baghdad Assyrian Market March 31, 06 Creulty of Nations and the Hollier than thou preaching  Mrch 31, 06 Violence Spreads in Turkey's Kurdish Region March 30, 06 Iraqi Commander Says, 'We Didn't Find a Mosque' March 30, 06 Brussels Prosecutes Immigrant Priest for Islamophobia March 30, 06 Iraqi Chaldean Prelate Says Christians Feel Desperate March 28, 06 Press Release about ASSYRISKA: the Movie  March 29, 06 Who will save Iraq's Christians? March 28, 06 Leader of the Assyrian Democratic Organization summoned to apear in Court March 27, 06 Therefore Jews call their script 'ketuv Ashuri'; Assyrian script March 27, 06 The Future of the Assyrians of Iraq: A Safe Haven vs. Self-Administrative Region Mach 27, 06 A Child in need of help March 26, 06 3 Years of War Wither a Family's Seed of Hope March 26, 06 Kurd's - Persian New Year and its Assyrian - Babylonian origin March 26, 06 US government report on Syria's human rights March 25, 06 Turkey to Renovate Churches and Synagogue  March 25, 06  When Islamic Laws Contradict the Universal Declaration of Human Rights March 23, 06 The Foolishness of imposing Oppressive Arab Nationalism on None Arabs March 23, 06  Afghan Man Faces Death for Being a Christian March 21, 06  THE QUR'AN: MISINTERPRETED, MISTRANSLATED, AND MISREAD March 21, 06 Human tragedy of the Syrian citizen Yacoub Hanna Shamoun March 21, 06 The Treasure Hunter March 19, 06  Kha b'Nissan Assryian New Year Celebrations in Los Angeles The American Premiere of ASSYRISKA: A National Team Without A Nation March 18, 06 Sectarian divides and violence distress Many Bay Area Iraqis March 18, 06 Trouble in Kurdistan March 17, 06  'TALAT PASHA RALLY' GATHERS 15 CHAUVINISTIC TURKS March 17, 06 Investigating Assyrian canals across time, from space March 17, 06 Turkey Should not Deny the Truth if it wants to be believed March 16, 06 Assyrian Genocide on The Liberal Party's Agenda in Sweden March 15, 06 Turkish Large-Scale campaign Project 2006 - so called "The Lie of the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide." March 15, 06 Announcing the American Premiere of ASSYRISKA: A National Team Without A Nation March 14, 06 Turks' planned demonstration in Berlin stopped March 14, 06 US government report on Iraq's human rights Iraq, Politics March 13, 06 Another Priest attacked in Turkey March 13, 06 Assyrian Elected President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences March 13, 06 In Syria's prison without cause for More than 20 Years  March 12, 06 Muslim's Blunt Criticism of Islam Draws Threats March 11, 06 An Interview with Rosie Malek-Yonan by akitu.de.vu March 11, 06 IRAQI CHRISTIANS: CAUGHT IN A REFUGEE WEB  March 9, 06 Will You be an Assyrian Actor? March 8, 06 In Turkey Assyrians/Syriacs are being robbed of property they owned for thousands of years March 8, 06 Iraqi Women Attacked for Removing Headscarves, NGO Says March 7, 06 Car bomb in Turkey injures Assyrian March 6, 06 ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS KEEP THE FAITH  March 5, 06 "Christians do not wants to leave Iraq for good" March 4, 06 Iraqi Catholics Donate to Rebuild Samarra Mosque March, 3, 06 Relatives and friends gather at store where 2 were slain March 3, 06 A Preliminary Investigation into Assyrian Identity March 3, 06 Firodil Institute Meets The Christian Fair Trade Group March 2, 06  UNESCO funding reconstruction of destroyed mosques but not Churches March 2, 06 Christian Churches in Iraq Subjected to Synchronized Terrorism March 1, 06 February = Eshvadt  A better System of Government for Iraq Feb 28, 06 Exiled in a Museum, the Dream of Peace  Feb. 26, 06 Kurdish Minister Has No Objection to Assyrian Christian Administrative Area Feb. 25, 06 Vatican to Muslims - practise what you preach Feb. 24, 06 The tombs of Ur reveal treasures Feb. 23, 06 Rosie Malek-Yonan To speak at Berkely University Feb. 23, 06 IRAQI CHURCHES BOMBED: LINK WITH DANISH CARTOONS  Feb. 22, 06 Assyrian movie at the multimedia theater in Ankawa  Feb. 21, 06 Policies and Politics Iraq Three years on Feb. 21, 06 The Roman Catholic Church Role in Promoting Chaldean identity for the Catholic Assyrians Feb. 18, 06 Assyrians of Netherlands Concerned About Refugees Being Sent Back  Feb. 17, 06 Terrorism against Christianity in Pakistan Feb. 17, 06 Brought Up To Hate Feb. 17, 06 Christian and Muslim Victims of Violence  Feb. 17, 06 Assyrian-Americans Reach Out to Relatives Displaced By Iraq War Feb. 17, 06 Talabani: Autonomy for Turkmens in Kurdistan Feb. 16, 06 Ending the Exodus of Iraq's Most Vulnerable Feb. 15, 06 Christians targeted in cartoons row Feb. 14, 06 Muhammad Cartoon Protests Move Into Turkish Christian Town Feb. 14, 06 Press Release by the Assyrian Society of United Kingdom Feb. 13, 06 Iraqi Parliament Member Once Sentenced by Death of Hussein Feb. 12, 06 Iraq dignitary's visit marred by bomb threat Feb. 10, 06 SUA condemns the violence and terror against the Christians of Iraq  Feb. 10, 06 We Are Not Arab-Americans Feb. 10, 06 An Interview with Yonadam Kanna Feb. 9, 06 Lebanon bishops express solidarity with Iraqi Christians Feb. 9. 06 Ba-oota d' Ninevayee or the Fast of the Ninevites Feb. 8, 06 Chaldo-Assyrian Iraqi lawmaker speaks to backers in El Cajon Feb. 8, 06 For Iraq's Persecuted Assyrians, a Safe Haven is the Only Solution Feb. 8, 06 The Christian Role on Iraq's Fragmented Streets Feb. 6, 07 Brotherhood of cabbies joins ranks to mourn murdered driver Feb. 6, 6 Iraq Islamic Group Asks Christians to Stop Prayers in Churches Feb. 6, 06 How do Mohammad's caricatures affect the Assyrians? Feb, 6, 06 Protesters Torch Danish Mission in Beirut and ransacked the Christian neighborhood Feb. 6.06 Ongoing Hidden Persecution of Christians In Iraq  Feb 5, 06 Protests Over Muhammad Drawings Intensify Feb. 3, 06  PRESENTATION OF AN ACADEMIC TEXTBOOK "CLASSICAL ASSYRIAN LANGUAGE" IN YEREVAN Feb. 3, 06 Iraq Christians on Edge As Cartoon Row Escalates Feb. 3, 06 Enough Is Enough - Six Assyrian Christian Churches Bombed in Iraq! Feb. 2, 06 Proposal for an Assyrian Regional Government Basic Law Feb. 2, 06 Ghetto-blaster: Cantons for Assyrians and Yazidis along with the Turkomans Feb. 2, 06  Christian Watchdog Groups Say Iraqi Christians 'Endangered,' Fear Mass Exodus Feb. 2. 06 Iraq Christians Urge Westerners to Refrain from Inflaming the Situation. Feb. 2, 06 Legislation seeks to limit NGOs in Iraq  Feb. 2, 06 January = Canoon Kharaya  Iraq's Simultaneous bomb attacks killed 3 Christians Jan. 31, 06 British House of Commons Holds Hearing on Assyrian Genocide Jan. 31, 06 IRAQ: Sectarian tensions on the rise Jan. 31, 06 The World's Silence over Terrorizing Christians in Iraq Jan. 30, 06 Explosions target Christian churches in Iraq Jan. 30, 06 US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Comments about Iraq Jan. 28, 06 Insurgents Driven From Tal Afar in Northern Iraq: US Commander Jan. 27, 06 Saga of Assyrians in Iran comes to life in works by Turlock artist Jan.27, 06 Azerbaijani Soldiers Desecrate Armenian Christian Cemetery Jan. 25, 06 Iraq's WMD Secreted in Syria, Says Former Iraqi General Jan. 25. 06 The Armenians appreciate the Assyrian efforts for Seyfo's recognition. Jan. 25, 06  Cash meant for Iraqis 'misused' Jan. 25, 06 Explosion Rocks Baghdad's Assyrian District Jan. 25, 06 UC Berkeley Course "Assyrians, the Forgotten Ones" Jan. 25, 06 Moslem Protesters set Fire to a Christian House of Worship in Egypt Jan. 24, 06 Seyfo: Report of Conference at the House of Commons about the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide Jan. 24, 06 BRITISH FILM PREMIERE. DOCUMENTARY ON ARMENIAN AND ASSYRIANS GENOCIDES, 1915 Jan. 23, 06 Kidnapping of the Assyrians in Iraq continues Jan. 23, 05 Praying in Jesus' Own Language Jan. 23, 06 Renowned Assyrian Scholar Erica Reiner Jan. 22, 06 How does Iran effect Assyrians in Turlock California? Jan. 21, 06 The Seyfo Seminar at the House of Commons Jan. 21, 06 ADO: An Apolitical Petty Bourgeois Organisation or a Mature Political Leadership? Jan. 21, 06 Ammo Baba: tied, eye-folded, beaten, and then robbed Jan. 20, 06 The Final Iraq's Election's Results! Jan. 20, 06 Tomb raiders Jan. 18, 06 The Assyrian Republican mayor , Man on the move  Jan. 18, 06 Donations For Allan Enwiyah Jan. 18, 06 Exhibition by the Assyrian artist Hannibal Alkhas Jan. 17, 06 Politics & Policies: Deconstructing Iraq Jan. 16, 06 Poly Sci Course on Assyrians Offered at UC, Berkeley Jan. 15, 06 Kurds focus on corruption in Kurdistan administration  Jan. 13, 06 Ecumenism and the Eucharist Jan. 13, 06 An Assyrian Coach of the Canadian Beaver Bruins hockey team Jan.12, 06 Turkey's massacre of the Assyrians and the Armenians Jan. 11, 06 New Iraqi Constitution May Limit Women's Freedoms Jan. 10, 06 The Boomerang Effect in Iraq: If 'Kurdistan', Why Not Assyria? Jan. 10, 06 Bishop's Report From the Assyrians of Iraq Jan. 9, 06 woman journalist abducted in Iraq, interpreter, killed jan. 9, 06 PanGlobal TV adds AssyriaSat to channel lineup Jan. 9, 06 Bishop Worrys About the future of the Christians in Iraq Jan. 7, 06 Major Terror Plot Against US Ignored By US Media Jan. 6, 06 Jan. 6, 06 U.S. troops deliver gifts to Iraq - school supplies Jan. 5, 06 Iraq Election Despair Spreads To Expatriates Jan. 5, 06 Assyriologist, Erica Reiner Dead at 81- 1924-2005 Jan. 4, 06 The Last Assyrians Jan. 3, 06 Egypt Appoints First Christian Governor in Three Decades Jan, 3, 06 If Only Rocks Could Talk!  Jan . 2, 06 Car bombs, fuel riots usher in New Year in Iraq Jan. 1, 06 Errors in Biblical Dating According to Ancient Assyrian records January 1, 06     December  Archives