Sectarian gossip behind the scenes Dhafer al-Ani In the negotiations that took place during the last days with the State of Law coalition for the formation of the local governments, particularly in the provinces of Baghdad and Diyala, we have heard one voice of the negotiators saying: giving the position of the governor in Diyala and the head of Baghdad Provincial Council for Sunni is a red line, no political Shiite will allow it. Who put this red line? Sometimes we have been told explicitly, and by implication in other times: It comes out of the religious authority in Najaf. Does that make any sense? We asked a number of our brothers who have a close relationship with the religious authority and they confirmed to us that Najaf authority ultimately has no relation with this stuff because it does not interfere in the details of the political process. Moreover Najaf authority’s relationship with the State of Law is unfriendly since more than three years, and therefore, to speak on its behalf is out of truth. We asked the negotiators: What about the national project you are proclaiming to, the respect for the election results, and the partnership in the management of home? They kept silence. It seemed obviously that these principles melt quickly and fade with the temptations of the power and privileges. Is there any justification for such hostility and red lines toward the others? Then for whose sake they plant the seeds of discord in the mixed provinces that may burn rapidly with the flames of such convulsive positions. I want here to write down my appreciation and gratitude to our brothers’ stand in Al-Ahrar bloc who did not undergo to all the pressure they have faced, in addition to the campaign of misinformation to distort their stand. The last message of Seiner Muqtada al-Sadr proved Al-Ahrar’s stand when he expressed his protest against these opinions, and even went farther when he has translated his views into decisions and practical process without neither red lines nor veto against any band. It was a reassuring message to our society which is ill-fated with extremist views. I also do not miss to mention, proudly, Seiner Ammar al-Hakim stand, who told us in early meetings: it was unfair to treat an important Iraqi band when it had been deliberately excluded from the presidency of one of the three key positions in Baghdad and that he believes in the need to correct this equation, and so he did. Our understanding with our brothers in Al-Ahrar and Al-Muwatin blocks has taken strategic dimensions which are built on the basis of a balanced view of national partnership among all that aimed at sustainable development and the establishment of civil peace, and above all to correct the Power’s way of the full acquisitions towards a true partnership that we are keen to deepen. In accordance with, we even refused in Babylon many opportunities were available ahead as a respect for a moral obligation but not a political one with Al-Ahrar and Al-Muwatin blocks. What I want to say is: talking about a national project needs above all to national leaders, and to talk about a state of law is supposed to be a believer in the modern state and the civilian traditions that respect law. Believing in democracy is not a mere chatter, but requires firstly the presence of Democrats who believe in the peaceful rotation of power based on election data, and the popular will, but not those who believe in the philosophy of: we will not give it up.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:37 +0000