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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
IRAQ: Insecurity affects participation in political process
BAGHDAD, 12 Oct 2006 (IRIN) - The eighth in a series of IRIN stories examining the obstacles Iraq faces in implementing its government’s plan to reconcile different sections of Iraqi society.
Although more candidates ran for parliament in Iraq’s 2005 elections than its 2004 elections, and a higher number of ordinary Iraqis went to the polls, the political mix in parliament has not led to peace in the country.
The national reconciliation plan proposed by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and approved by parliament on 25 June aims to increase the political participation of all levels of Iraqi society and guarantee full involvement of all ethnic groups in the country politics.
However, the exclusion of some groups – particularly those involved in past violence – has been a stumbling block.
“The proposed reconciliation plan will only work if all insurgent groups get the proposed amnesty and have the chance to participate with their opinions on the politics of the country,” said Adnan al-Dulaimi, a Sunni politician and head of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the major Sunni political party.
The plan is also attempting to introduce honest and open debate among all political participants, be they for or against the government.
Sectarian violence has deterred the plan’s implementation, according to analysts. Sectarian violence took a dramatic upturn after 22 February, when a revered Shi’ite shrine was bombed in Samarra, north of the capital.
“The plan has all the characteristics to be a success, but sectarian violence is causing a delay in its results,” said Barek Dirar, an analyst for the Iraqi parliament.
“It is true that there is an increase in the political participation in the country since the US-led invasion in 2003, but violence has been the most common feature in Iraq. And the targeting of politicians has caused panic and difficulties in Iraq’s political development,” he added.
Iraqi politicians in particular have suffered from the lack of security. At least five Sunni, three Shi’ite and two Kurdish politicians have been killed since January alone, according to the government.
This problem has deeply affected their participation in the political process in the country and has caused fear among the rest of society, as ordinary citizens prefer to keep their distance from political decisions.
Groundbreaking 2005 elections
The parliamentary elections on 15 December 2005 were seen by international observers as a step forward for Iraq, as voter and candidate participation increased from the previous year and parliament became more diversified.
Nearly 7,000 candidates stood for 275 seats in these elections and Sunni parties participated fully, in contrast to 2004, when they boycotted the elections.
The vote resulted in the two main Sunni parties together winning 55 of the national assembly’s 275 seats, while the Shi'ite United Iraqi Alliance took 128 seats, down from the 146 it won the previous year.
The Kurdish Alliance won only 53 seats, down from 75, while the non-sectarian party of the former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi took 25 seats, down from a previous 40 in the outgoing assembly. The remaining 14 seats were divided among other minority groups such as Christians, Turkomans and Assyrians.
“The last elections showed an incredible participation of all political groups,” Dirar said. “Sixty percent of an eligible 14 million [registered] voters cast ballots and were hoping that a democratic process was going to start in Iraq.”
The reconciliation plan has raised expectations of political groups and the general population that it might be a good start for peace in the country.
Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman, who participated in talks between the Kurds and the former government’s officials, said that the Kurdish community is trying to participate in the political process and that Kurds are very optimistic that the new reconciliation plan could bring prosperity to Iraq.
“Kurds want development in Iraq. And even with the fear caused by militias and insurgent groups, they [Kurds] are offering their hands to support their political representatives,” Othman said.
“But this does not take away the serious concern about our security, and politicians [six Kurdish representatives] decided not to participate in the last election because they were afraid of being targeted,” he added.
Amnesty is major obstacle
The major obstacle now is that the reconciliation plan does not extend amnesty and allow participation for groups that have been responsible for attacks against civilians. The issue is stuck in the reconciliation committee’s debates.
“Hopefully, negotiations will start. There is not going to be amnesty without simultaneous movement on several other fronts,” said Joost Hiltermann, Middle East Project Director for the International Crisis Group (ICG).
“Once that happens, inclusions and exclusions can be discussed. But I think inclusion of al-Qaeda and the former regime’s stalwarts, rather than Ba’ath party members, would be a red line for many Iraqis [to cross],” he added.
Al-Maliki has said most Ba’ath party members will eventually be included in all elements of public life, except for those who were prominent and highly active. However, religious Shi’ites oppose involvement of Ba’ath party members because of their previous oppression of their sect.
As long as some groups remain outside the process, the violence will prevent others from fully participating, the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front’s al-Dulaimi said.
Sectarian violence has worsened the political transition because politicians are being targeted not only because they are participating in politics but because of their beliefs.
“Unfortunately in Iraq today each political group is being targeted by another because of his local relations and political desires,” al-Dulaimi said.
“You are not safe whatever [sect or political group] you are. [You are] dependent on the protection of bodyguards, and sometimes you are even afraid to speak your ideas because it might cause revolt in other political groups that will lead to your killing,” he added.
Shi’ite politicians and representatives said that as long as terrorist groups are present in Iraq, politicians are going to be targeted because no ideas or plans will satisfy them.
While Sunni political parties are embracing the democratic process in Iraq, there are still Sunni insurgent or resistance groups who will fight against all politicians as long as US-led forces are present inside Iraq.
“The political process is hard and many of our colleagues have been killed by insurgents, but it will not stop us bringing democracy and development to Iraq,” said Hadi al-Amiri, a Shi’ite politician and supporter of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.
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This material comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006
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