Time For The Truth!
Who Speaks for Assyrians?

Washington D.C.,
Sept.15, 07

After sitting through a grueling nearly 21 hours of congressional Testimony with General David Petraeus and Ambassasor DRyan Crocker I was exhasusted as was everybody else in the hot, crowded rooms.

Suddenly I began to realize that while my friends at the Kuwaiti Embassy, the Iraqi Embassy, the Tunisian Embassy and just about everybody connected with Iraq was there, once again I was the only Assyrian in the room.

I realized that the truth finally needs to be told.

I had to fly all the way from Tokyo, Japan to be there, arriving the night before.

Simply put, the Assyrian Community worldwide is increasingly frustrated that nobody seems to be helping the poor Assyrians in Iraq and neighboring countries.

As I did for many years, we all assume our various leaders are doing their best to fight for the rights of our brothers and sisters suffering so terribly and that the reason we are ignored is that nobody cares for the Assyrians.

Having been forced out of simple necessity for the past five years to be on the front lines of the battle in Baghdad, Mosul, Samawah, Dohuk, Washington DC, New York, the Hague, London, Amman, Tokyo and just about everywhere in between to my astonishment I discovered something extraordinary that I have kept to myself until now.

First, in meetings after meetings in major international capitols with world leaders at events concerning the future of Iraq, sadly with a couple of noted exceptions I have never, and I repeat never found another Assyrian attending such important meetings.

I, at first found it hard to believe. I kept saying to myself `there must be someone here - after all everybody concerned with Iraq is here.`.

Sadly from Congressional hearings to meetings with each successive Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and nearly all members of the Iraqi Cabinet, Congressmen and women, heads of international organizations there have never been any Assyrians.

Second, though, and even more shocking is that in the rare event that I meet with a leader who has met with an Assyrian, when I bring up the simple fact that we have only one request - that of a Province in our historical Assyrian area, without exception they will say `I met with an Assyrian recently but he did not say a thing about that.`

I was shocked beyond words to hear the exact same words from a Senator from Illinois who has had dealings with Assyrians for years. I could not believe it so I asked again. He said `I meet with them regularly but none have ever told me that the Assyrians want an area in Iraq.`.

Just this week during the hearings I was speaking with the US Ambassador to Iraq and he said `I just met with an Assyrian and he never mentioned anything about wanting an area in Northern Iraq.`

He went on further to say in answer to a public question in the hearin, concerning the fact that nearly 800,000 Assyrian Christians are refugees `I was not aware of that.`

What does that mean? It means that no Assyrian has told him so.`

Each of the Iraqi Prime Ministers whom I have had the privilege of knowing well has said the same regarding never having heard that the Assyrians want a Province and area in Northern Iraq as have Congressmen, various Government officials and others.`

To be perfectly honest I have never met with any Government or other official for the first time and had them say `Oh, yes, I know the Assyrians want an area.`

Just days ago, I met with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who I have mentioned the need for our Province so any times that when he sees me, Senator Biden smiles and says `Province for the Assyrians - leave me alone!!`,

He said `I was just in Iraq. I brought up your suggestion for an Assyrian Province. I was surprise to find out that every Iraqi Official I spoke to agreed.`

So, to make what I am saying absolutely clear, the reason we are having such a difficult time and accomplishing so little is not because nobody cares for the Assyrians, nor because we are being ignored.

The reason is very simple and very stark.

We are not being heard because there is never anybody doing the speaking for us.

Yes, there are many who complain, many who love to say `woe is us` and cry out that the Assyrians are ignored, but unfortunately none are there at the critical events, times and places where policy is being made.

I will never forget in a meeting in Saddams Palace in Baghdad when a top US Official told me simply and starkly `We cannot care more than you do. If you want to see things happen for your people you must push things through yourselves, you must be there, you must speak up. We cannot do it for you..`

So what can be done?

The first step to solving a problem is to recognize it. The next step is to change it.

First, please do not take my word for it. Ask your leaders when was the last time they met with the Iraqi Prime Minister or Foreign Minister or Senator or Congressmen or other Government official?

If they say they have, that is great. Then ask them simply, `When you met them did you tell them that our demand is for a Province and area in Assyria? `

I think you will be shocked to hear that with a few rare exceptions the answer to both will be `no`.

This is not to condemn useful and hard working organizations and the people working in them.

I honestly think they are doing the best they can. Unfortunately negotiating for the lives of people is not something that can be done on an amateur level.

Next, recognize that we are fast running out of time and the only solution is to demand what is needed.

Demand that your leaders are there at critical meetings and conferences and events that concern Iraq. Demand that they present clearly the simple demand - for a province.

Finally, do your part.

Regularly call, fax and write your congressman, your local TV Station, newspaper.

Emails are not read.

Tell them that you have only one demand - an Assyrian Province - and tell them if they do not fight for it for you and your friends will not vote for them or subscribe to their newspaper or watch their TV channel.

You would be surprised at how much a call or letter or fax will accomplish.

Is all lost? No!

Just this week I met with General David Petraeus, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, Senator Joseph Biden, the Inspector General of Iraq and met recently with Prime Minister Maliki and will be meeting with him again in a few days.

The `good news`?

To a man they are supportive of an Assyrian Province in Northern Iraq in our historic area.

Further, the Iraqi Government has pledged three things:

1. An Assyrian Security Zone to begin the process for the Province

2. Payments to Assyrian refugees living outside Iraq

3. Payment for resettlement of Assyrians outside Iraq

They will not happen automatially just because the Prime Minister says so. They have to each be carefully negotiated, fought for and defended.

Nobody hands you what you want on a platter - we must fight for them inch by inch and prayer by prayer.

The world is on our side.

I have been shocked to meet with leader after leader and find out how much they love the Assyrians. I have personally watched as nearly every Iraqi Minister said these words, usually on live Iraqi TV - `The Assyrians are the original people of Iraq. This is their country. Whatever they need to remain we will do.`

So let us first recognize the problem - a lack of effort. Then let us move to solving it by urging our leaders to be there and speak for us. Then, do what we can ourselves.

The Assyrian Security Zone followed by the Assyrian Province ultimately followed by an Independent Assyrian Nation is going to happen.

The only question is when?

It will be our prayers and hard work that will hasten it one day sooner. For the sake of our brothers and sisters who are suffering so terrible as we speak let us all do what we can . . . today!

Let me hear from you today! Let us together be part of the solution and not the problem.

God is with us!

Ken Joseph Jr.

www.assyrianchristians.com