Mgr Sako: people in Kirkuk have not read the constitution
but will vote
10, 13, 05
irkuk (AsiaNews) Kirkuk residents will overcome fears
and go and vote next Saturday, but they will do so knowing very
little about the constitution, said Mgr Louis Sako, Kirkuk's
Chaldean Bishop who spoke to AsiaNews o?n the eve of the referendum
from a city whose people are still gripped by doubts but hopeful.
Oil-rich, contended by Kurds and Arabs, Kirkuk is still prey
to insurgents who "threaten anyone who wants to vote".
In the city "everyone is scared, but I am certain that turnout
will be pretty good," Bishop Sako said.
Since the beginning of the week, US troops have arrived in
great numbers, he noted. "Before you wouldn't see any in
the streets; now they move around the city in great numbers.
They'll guarantee security o?n Saturday and people seem reassured.
They will overcome fears and go out and vote. I am certainly
going to vote and so are the faithful in my diocese."
For the prelate, the recent deal with the Sunnis has brought
some hope. "The Islamic Party (main Sunni party that has
recently called for a Yes vote) has many supporters here. Its
decision is a positive sign and will encourage the population
to stay united and express itself through the ballot box next
Saturday," he said, adding that the deal with the Sunnis
"will weaken terrorism. It will delegitimise it. It will
lead Iraq towards something better even if many Sunnis are still
opposed [to the constitution] and are calling for a boycott of
the referendum."
Just yesterday the National Assembly endorsed the changes
to the constitution without voting, improving its chances among
Sunnis in the October 15 referendum.
"Unfortunately, Kirkuk did not get copies of the proposed
constitution and so people had to rely o?n newspapers to form
an opinion about the charter," Bishop Sako said. Copies
might be given out today or tomorrow, he added, "but it
would be too late anyway". Therefore, voting will take place
"but with people not knowing much. Still the fact itself
is very important. It will be a sign that people can start dreaming
the Iraq of the future again".
Despite all the difficulties, Bishop Sako believes that "there
is hope for everyone in the country". "This situation,"
he said, "cannot last forever. It will come to an end sometime.
What is positive is the fact that in the political process that
started with the fall of Saddam Hussein, people got used to talking
and comparing ideas. What is more, we are really fed up with
terrorism".
The prelate ended the interview by urging Iraqi Christians
to "remain united so that in the future they can be useful
partners with the government and be a bridge for dialogue and
peace."
Source: AsiaNews
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Who are
the Christians of Iraq?
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