Iraqi Communist
Party calls for Urgent National Conference
to Defeat Terrorism
The Iraqi Communist Party has called for
holding a national conference as soon as possible, and setting up a temporary
consultative body that enjoys effective popular support to defeat terrorism.
The editorial of “Tareeq Al-Shaab” (People’s
Path), the newspaper issued by the Iraqi Communist Party, (19th June
2014), said that the present government has now become a care-taker government,
and the parliament’s term has come to an end, while the new parliament (after
the elections on 30th April 2014) has not yet been formed and taken
up its role. “In order that all the challenges are confronted in an effective
manner, mobilising all efforts, ensuring the unity of patriotic forces, co-ordinating
their positions and working in a collective spirit of solidarity, there has to
be urgent action towards holding a National Conference with a clearly defined
agenda and timetable. Active political parties and forces that are keen to
achieve peace, security and stability, and strengthen democracy and build its
institutions, and ensure public and personal freedoms, should be invited to
attend this conference. The present conditions in our country necessitate
convening the National Conference as soon as possible, and for the conference
to set up a temporary consultative body that would work with the government to
consider the developments and tackle the situation, and would also enjoy effective
popular support backing the national effort to defeat terrorism and
terrorists.”
The editorial dealt extensively with the recent
developments in Iraq. The following are extensive excerpts of the article:
“Our country is witnessing grave developments
as a result of the treacherous offensive by the criminals of ISIS on Mosul, the
subsequent speedy and sudden military collapse, and the military-security,
political, social and psychological impact on citizens, on society as a whole
and on the prospects of resolving the deep crisis in the country.
All responsible forces, parties and citizens
are in agreement that our country has come to this catastrophic situation as a
result of a host of interacting factors and reasons that are closely connected
with the prevailing political, economic, social, cultural and psychological
conditions and the deep crisis in the country. This is manifested in the state
of deadlock, deep tensions, absence of confidence among political groups, the stale
relations between the Kurdistan region and the central government, and also
between the latter and several provinces. This is combined with the deepening
of the destructive consequences of the policy of sectarian-ethnic power
sharing, the increasing manifestations of autocratic rule, the monopolising of power,
political exclusion, marginalisation and accusations, fighting over government
posts, spoils and influence, rampant corruption, mismanagement, poor services,
high levels of unemployment and poverty, in addition to external interference
and the clash of interests of other states on our territory, against the
interests of our country and people.
“All this, along with other factors, have
impacted the military and security institution that has been built on the basis
of sectarian power-sharing, to serve specific political objectives and be
subservient to the policy of the ruling authority. This institution has thus
been used outside its constitutional tasks and as a tool to tackle internal
matters. As a result it lacked a well-established national doctrine, and its
internal cohesion was undermined, making it highly vulnerable to political
changes, and to contradictions and the environment of infighting. This has
affected the competence, effectiveness and discipline of the military and
security institution, and had a negative impact on the ability of the armed
forces to hold out in the face of big and sudden pressures. In addition, we
point to poor training, ineffective intelligence effort, and the cases of
corruption and bribes.
“What happened in Mosul, on the other hand, has
highlighted the importance of the existence of a positive relationship between
the military - security institution and the environment in which it is
operating, including the local authorities and citizens, and this is the
relationship that was lacking and was replaced by a negative relationship
characterised with distrust and exchanging accusations.
“While mentioning the reasons and consequences
of what happened, we must point out and draw attention to the lack of
coordination and cooperation between the forces of the federal government and
the forces of the Kurdistan region. A lot of unjustified suspicions, concerns
and fear prevented building a mutual friendly and close relationship; of
cooperation and support. The recent events have demonstrated the need for such
a relationship, especially given that the forces of Kurdistan region proved
their ability to confront terrorism effectively.
“On the other hand, insufficient attention was
paid to the ongoing developments in Syria and their negative impact on the
situation in our country. The borders were open and were exploited by ISIS to group
its supporters, at the expense of the ability of the armed forces to provide support
to those in Mosul at the right moment in order to avert the state of collapse.
The latter was compounded by the presence of “a fifth column” that works to spread
a spirit of defeatism and undermine morale.
“We must also not forget for a moment the
regional support for ISIS and other terrorist organisations, which includes
material, logistic and media support that it continues to enjoy.
“Our people recognise, on the other hand, what
the events have revealed; that ISIS was only the more pronounced title in the
offensive. What took place was, however, an organised action of a broad
alliance that had been coordinating to pounce on the democratic political
process, overthrow the existing situation and return Iraq to the eras of
oppression, tyranny and dictatorship, for which the people are still paying the
price. Attention was previously drawn to indications of this plan and warnings
were given, but the counter-measures were unfortunately not up to the level of the
big challenge.
“All this, however, does not change the fact
that there were in Mosul those who fought and martyred, among the military and
civilians, who were not few. Their sacrifices should be praised and their
families must be taken care of.
“Today, during these critical moments which our
country is going through, it must be emphasised that securing the unity of the
homeland and confronting terrorism and its forces require mobilising the forces
of the people and the armed forces, adopting a position that responds to the
higher interests of the homeland and people; the interests of all Iraqis. The
objective must be clear; defeating terrorism and ridding our country of its
evils, and opening up the prospects towards a better future that the Iraqis are
aspiring to, and which they undoubtedly totally deserve.
“The broad masses of people have emphatically declared
their position as demonstrated in the national rejection of ISIS and its
crimes, the increasing calls for confronting it on ideological and political
levels, large-scale volunteering to join the armed forces, as well as political
statements, positions and calls to unite the forces and overcome problems and
differences.
“This enthusiasm and surge to confront ISIS and
similar terrorist forces must be characterised with clarity, objectivity and
realism, and should lead to drawing up a strategy that surpasses mistakes,
shortcomings and all that has led to the current situation. This requires pursuing
a policy that has nothing to do with sectarian-ethnic power-sharing and forming
a government that is also free of it. In addition, an integrated plan should be
drawn up that includes practical arrangements that connect the security action,
which must be cleared from the factors of limpness, backwardness and
corruption, to flexible political actions that bring forces together, remove
the causes of tension in relations, resolve economic and social problems and
improve services. This plan should ensure getting rid of all manifestations of
discrimination and violations of rights and freedoms. Competence,
professionalism, integrity and fidelity to the homeland should be the principal
criteria in assigning administrative, military and security responsibilities.
“Now that the present government has become a
care-taker government, and the constitutional period for the parliament has
ended, while the new parliament has not yet been formed and taken up its role, and
in order to confront all the challenges effectively and with united efforts, as
well as securing the unity of patriotic forces, coordinating their positions
and ensuring their serous participation in a collective and solidarity spirit,
urgent action is needed to convene a National Conference with a clearly-defined
agenda and timetable. Active political parties and forces, that are keen to
achieve peace, security and stability, and strengthen democracy and build its
institutions, ensure public and personal freedoms, and fulfil the aspirations
of the Iraqi people for security, stability and dignified life, should be
invited to attend to this conference. The present conditions in our country
necessitate convening the National Conference as soon as possible, and for the
conference to set up a temporary consultative body that would work with the
government to consider the developments and tackle the situation, and also
enjoys effective popular support backing the national effort to defeat
terrorism and terrorists.”
19 June 2014
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