Lobby for the minorities of Iraq and Turkey
KurdishMedia.com
January 24, 09
C.H.A.K. (Centre of Halabja)
This week, Assyrians, Armenians, Syriacs, other Iraqi Christians, Mandaeans and Fylee Kurds took part in two days of intense lobbying of Members of the UK Parliament, coinciding with Hrant Dink Day in London.
We asked Ms Clwyd and Mr Lidington to investigate Assyrian claims of land in many villages confiscated by neighbouring Kurdish tribes, hindering the return of many Christians to northern Iraq. Ms Clwyd was not aware of this problem (despite ADM (Zowaa) claims that they were lobbying on this issue), and we supplied information on these villages written by Majed Esho to both these senior figures.
Adnan Kochar of CHAK explained his organisation's position that freedom to criticise the government and the two major parties and the development of lively opposition groups were essential requirements for a healthy democracy in the KRG area, which in turn is the only authority in Iraq which is capable of protecting Christian, Yezidi and Shabak minorities in northern Iraq.
The following appeal from the Assyrian Democratic Organization in Europe (ADO) was presented to the U.K. government.
ADO's APPEAL:
"We are writing this appeal to express our deepest concern and growing alarm at the deteriorating situation of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people living in the Middle–East and particularly in Iraq.
It is essential to underline that Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians are an indigenous people of Iraq, which constitute not only a religious community but also an ethnic and a linguistic minority, known under various denominational names (Assyrian, Chaldeans, Syriacs), covering different historical, cultural and ecclesiastical aspects of one nation and united, de-facto and for many centuries, in a common cause.
It is evident that the dramatic situation touches all Iraqi citizens. However, since the invasion in March 2003, the escalation of violence specifically targeted against the Christians in Iraq is spreading terror and despair within this already ravaged, persecuted, and defenceless community.
The barbaric attacks on the vulnerable Christian civilian population are perpetrated daily, targeted explicitly against community because of their ethnic and religious identity. Attacks on these defenceless people are forcing them to leave their historical homeland and drive them into the Diaspora.
It is highly urgent that the International Community to take all necessary measures and concrete actions to:
- Protect and guarantee the safety of the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac and to improve their security situation; and secure the protection and welcoming for displaced persons until the atrocities halt;
- Provide needed and sufficient assistance to all Assyrians Chaldeans Syriacs and other minority refugees, mainly in neighbouring countries and to facilitate their return and resettlement safely in their homeland;
- Guarantee the national rights of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in the Iraqi constitution, including their legitimate right for autonomy in their historical territories where they still reside. The autonomy will ensure the security and future of Assyrian Chaldean Syriac people.
The ultimate test for the Iraqi Government, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Multinational Force-Iraq (MNF-I), the countries bordering Iraq, the European Union, and the United Nations lies in the extent to which they can collectively implement a true effort for establishing pluralism and human rights in Iraq. The intended autonomous region in the Nineveh plain entirely fits into the ideals of pluralism advocated by the international community.
The ongoing ethnic and religious cleansing in all of Iraq’s major cities, and forced exodus from major population centres, possibly could precipitate a full-blown genocide and put forward the question of whether it is still humane to wait any longer before taking action?
We respectfully appeal to you hoping for your support and begging that you use your political and moral responsibility to help the suffering Assyrians Chaldeans Syriacs Christians."
20th January 2009
Assyrian Democratic Organisation in Europe (ADO)
www.ado-world.org
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