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Chronicles from Iraq, 25 February, 2011
Asma al-Haidari*
IraqSolidaridad (www.iraqsolidaridad.org), 25 February, 2011
“The
Iraqi People are demonstrating against corruption, absolute and abysmal
poverty, unemployment, total lack of services, and occupation, and very
importantly corruption, administrative and fiscal corruption; they are
also demonstrating demanding freedom and human dignity and the
immediate expulsion of the Occupation. They are demonstrating for Iraq
and have come together as Iraqis.”
“Bagdad 25 February, 2011. Al Jazeera"
It
is late at night or rather it is early Friday 25th February, 2011 —the
day that all Iraqis chose to call The Great Day of Anger— it is the
result of the slow rumblings of the Iraqi People's anger about the past
8 years of destruction, pillage and plunder, rape, and total
catastrophe. The demonstrations will continue and will get larger.
The Iraqi People are demonstrating against corruption, absolute and
abysmal poverty, unemployment, total lack of services, and occupation,
and very importantly corruption, administrative and fiscal corruption;
they are also demonstrating demanding freedom and human dignity and the
immediate expulsion of the Occupation. They are demonstrating for Iraq
and have come together as Iraqis.
Yesterday's events started off with a speech by Maliki asking people
not to demonstrate on Friday! He described the demonstrators as "the
enemies of freedom" Any other day… but Friday… he looked really
frightened. They have banned the press and closed streets in Baghdad.
It has been leaked that the General from Heet, General Nassir
Alghanim, who has terrorized the people of Mosul, has run away
with 450 soldiers —we do not know their ranks—. This news will be
confirmed later.
In the meantime, Colonel Hameed Kadhim— Director of Training of Police
in the Ministry of Interior— has resigned because he has refused
to obey orders to beat up the demonstrators. In the meantime, 6
anti riot units have been stationed throughout Abu Nawwas and
Tahrir Square and have been ordered to beat up the demonstrators. Also,
the Meesan anti riot battalion, which is made up of the
Da'awa Party Militia, has been brought in to Tahrir Square.
The authorities are going round house to house making people sign
undertakings that they will not go out and demonstrate —regrettably
some members of parliament in the Iraqiya block have also done this in
the Anbar province as well as in A'adhamiya—
ID Cards are being confiscated so that these young people are stopped
at check points and barred from joining the demonstrations.
The Muthanna regiment has surrounded Abu Ghraib and raided houses as
well as taken ID Cards from demonstration leaders in that area. It has
also imposed a curfew there.
All vehicles have been banned from coming into central Baghdad as well
as all TV vans which relay live! Firdaws Square has been closed up
for reasons of repairs!
Muntathar Al-Zaidy has been arrested in A'adhamiya. Also the Baghdadiya
reporter, Meenas, was arrested by police dressed in civilian
clothes in Tahrir Square, where he without his cameraman, among the
demonstrators.
Government officials were caught in Baghdad airport before catching a plane with USD1.2 million and the money impounded.
A friend of mine, journalist in Baghdad, told me that there is a
chilling atmosphere in Baghdad and I quote: "The mood here is chilling.
There is an obvious intimidation tactic applied here. I saw riot police
practicing today; Maliki's speeches, Sadr and Sistani's statements.
It's insane."
It is also reported that a great number of senior officials, ministers and members of parliament, have left the country.
The Chairman of Baghdad Provincial Council has issued a ban on all
slogans stating that the government and/or the Provincial Council
Chairman and Members of Baghdad should go!
As for the Basra Chairman of the Provincial Council, Shiltagh, he
actually stated publicly at The Prophet's Birthday celebrations, to an
audience of senior tribal leaders as well as religious persons, that
“Tunisian prostitutes are more honorable than the demonstrators whence
a fight broke out” This was recorded by all the media including
satellite stations.
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* Asma al-Haidari is an Iraqi Human Rights activist
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