‘… murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other
inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war; or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated.’ – Article 6 (c) of international agreement on Crimes against Humanity. [The semi-colon in line 3 was later changed to a comma, thus altering the meaning, suggesting a connection to war was necessary for the charge to stand up in the international court at Nuremburg].
Inequality has no street. It can be in Bogota, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Santiago, Caracas, La Paz or Baghdad. In Australia people voting for a government that promises tax cuts were casting a vote for inequality. Capitalism is not on trial in this country. On 24 Nov 2019 I attended a forum at the Albion Peace Centre about Iraq about recent events in that country where reports say over 600 people have been killed while demonstrating for basic human rights.
In my life I have experienced Keynesian-ism, followed by neoliberalism … both have now passed and proven unable to solve the problems of the world. Now we are in a period of confusion, and who knows what follows?
I spoke with a member of the Brisbane Iraqi community about the dire situation in her country. While mainstream media have covered similar demonstrations in Hong Kong, Chile, Bolivia, Beirut, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, we hear nothing from the Baghdad Street.
Dr Rawaa Abdul Jabbar spoke about the young people of Iraq peacefully demonstrating, and the changes they want to see. Dr Abdul Jabbar speaks of the criminal behaviour of government officials who also have foreign passports and are engaged in stealing the resources and assets of Iraq.
Her main message is that the young people want the corruption and destruction of the country stopped, and world governments should ensure that the harsh treatment of firing upon demonstrators cease.
Those governments who were involved in occupying Iraq in the name of democracy need to ask what happened to the promises that the Iraqi people would be better off!
Meanwhile UN special envoy, Jeanine Antoinette Plasschaert, visited Baghdad challenging the government of Iraq to plant trees for peace.
Fourth week: 14–21 November
14 November: Four people were killed and 62 injured in Baghdad in clashes between security forces and protesters.[82]
16 November:
At least four protesters were killed and nearly 20 were injured as a car bomb attack took place at the Tahrir Square in
Baghdad. No group claimed responsibility of the first explosion in the ongoing anti-government
protests.
[http://www.anews.com.tr/middle-east/2019/11/16/4-killed-in-bomb-attack-in-iraqs-tahrir-square?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twitter]
17 November:
Documents leaked by The Intercept revealed details of Iranian influence inside
Iran.
[https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/11/iraq-protests-sistani-us-iran.html]
19 November:
Protesters blocked the entrance to country’s second largest commercial port, Khor al-Zubair port, halting the trade
activity for oil and other tankers. Prior to that, the access to Umm Qasr Port was also cut
off.
[https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/nation-world/article237529569.html]
21 November: Al-Jazeera reported that at least seven protesters were killed and 78 wounded by security forces in
Baghdad.
[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/killed-iraq-seeks-quell-renewed-violence-191121172906703.html]
Fifth week: 22–28 November
24 November: At least two protesters were shot dead in the southern city of Nasiriyah, as they shut down schools and blocked bridges.
Nearly 47 people were also wounded during the clashes with security forces.
[https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/199912]
https://bushtelegraph.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/threat-to-sue.jpg
Iraq’s government has threatened to sue over allegations that the defence minister holds dual nationality and has been fraudulently claiming benefits as a resident of Sweden while living and working in Baghdad. See https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iraqi-defence-minister-accused-of-swedish-benefit-fraud-whvxd0qpq
Iraqi Defence Minister Najah al-Shammari outed as Swedish citizen with criminal record yet appointed as Defence Minister of Iraq in June 2019, after years in Sweden on social service benefits as he was unable to work.
Please read:
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201911201077355499-iraqi-defence-minister-outed-as-swedish-citizen-with-criminal-record-by-news-outlet/
Elijah Magnier has posted an analysis of the unrest in Iraq following a meeting between IRGC-Quds brigade commander Qassem Soleimani and Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, wrting that Soleimani returned to Baghdad the same evening with clear answers: reforms are inevitable within a specific time-table, and the US and Iran should stop intervening because protestors are for the most part sincere and have justified demands.
See his article at https://ejmagnier.com/2019/11/17/__trashed/
I liked some of the ideas that were raised at the forum: about looking to a solution that gives hope to the future, encouraging dialogue for improving the system of both national and world governance, redeeming that missing justice for a brighter future for the young people of today, whose challenges are different than those faced by generations before.
In particular, to focus on how to spread knowledge about what is happening on the ground, calling for the salvation of the people of Iraq from the current oppression, and calling for pressure from governments around the world to force the Iraqi government to cease the violent tactics being used to suppress the demonstrations.
Letter to the Australian government from the Iraqi community in Brisbane on 23rd November 2019
To the Australian government,
We, the Iraqi community in Brisbane, gathered in King George Square on 23rd November 2019 to support our people in Iraq, who are severely suffering from the Iraqi government’s corruption, incompetence and unprofessionalism in running the country.
Millions of Iraqis, united against the sectarianism fostered by the government, started peaceful protests on 1st October 2019 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and in most of the southern cities of Iraq. The demonstrators were demanding that the government must abandon political and administrative corruption in order to begin to provide the needed public services and employment opportunities Iraqis have suffered without, and to end the political and economic interventions of Iran in the internal affairs of Iraq.
The government responded to the peaceful protests with brutal force, using live ammunition and shooting tear gas canisters directly at the heads of unarmed demonstrators. The government disconnected the internet to isolate the country and hide the crimes of the government and the militias.
Consequently there are more than 350 people dead and more than 15,000 people injured, with many seriously injured victims and a severe lack of medical facilities and services to assist the wounded. The security forces and the militia targeted doctors and paramedics. Up to now more than three doctors were killed and two female medical services volunteers were kidnapped. All of the victims were no more than 30 years of age. In addition, activist protesters were either kidnapped or killed in their homes.
Students from all the Iraqi institutes participated in the civil disobedience, calling for the dismissal of the Iraqi government and the parliamentarians who are looking after their own benefits and interests instead of their duty to serve the needs of the people.
Because of its corruption, incompetence and unprofessionalism in running the country, the Iraqi government lost its legitimacy to represent the will of the Iraqi nation.
Therefore we respectfully request the Australian government to consider the following actions in defence of the protesters in Iraq:
1- To appeal to the United Nations to take actual steps towards stopping the Iraqi government from using lethal violence against unarmed peaceful protests. The Iraqi people want the opportunity to deliver their voice for a fair and independent country. It was reported in the news that the representative of the United Nations Security General for Iraq Ms Jeanis Hennis Plasschaert took the government’s side in her official report, even though the protestors are clearky against this government and their associates.
2- To cease any diplomatic interactions with the Iraqi Embassy in Australia. The Iraqi Embassy is representing a criminal government that is not recognised as a legitimate government by the Iraqi people. Frnace , Netherlands and Germany already initiated this process.
3- To withdraw Australian citizenship from all Iraqi officials accused of corruption in Iraq, such as the former governor of Basra, Majid Al-Masrawi, whose corruption charges include the theft of the entire budget of the Basra governorate, and who has been living in Australia since 2010. Officials who amassed huge amounts of money and assets after holding high positions in the Iraqi government must have their assets frozen for examination of how they got these vast assets. Other countries have already started legal actions against such corrupt officials who are hiding stolen property and other assets by putting them in the names of their close relatives.
We believe that Australia is a country of justice, freedom and democracy. Therefore we seek your assistance in pressuring the Iraqi government to stop using lethal force against unarmed demonstrators and to administer justice instead of corruption at all levels of government in Iraq.
Yours sincerely,
The Iraqi community in Brisbane, gathered in King George Square on 23rd November 2019
Point 3 of the letter states “To withdraw Australian citizenship from all Iraqi officials accused of corruption in Iraq, such as the former governor of Basra, Majid Al-Masrawi, whose corruption charges include the theft of the entire budget of the Basra governorate, and who has been living in Australia since 2010.”
The full name of the accused is : Majid Mahdi Al Abbass Al Nasrawi
Counter reports say this person now resides in Iraq, not Sydney or Melbourne as claimed in the video . These reports say he is affiliated with a group called al-Hikmah (National Wisdom Movement); it’s current leader is Ammar Al Hakeem.