Iraqis risk their lives to vote, but the occupation continues
Caroline Sinclair | 31.01.2005 02:04 | Anti-militarism | Social Struggles
Voices in the Wilderness draw attention to the inability of the Iraqi election to change the fact of occupation.
Sunday 30th January saw the first elections in Iraq for 50 years. At least 44 people were killed at by a string of suicide bombings at or near polling stations, but threats of indiscriminate slaughter could not deter the Iraqi populace in their desire to express their need for self-determination.
Voices in the Wilderness (
voices@voicesuk.org or voicesuk.org) held a photocall opportunity outside the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London, to draw attention to the powerlessness of the Iraqi populace to change the single most important political fact in their lives: the continuing military occupation of their country by foreign powers.
Preliminary reports suggest that at least eight million Iraqis showed extraordinary courage and determination, taking their lives in their hands in order to vote. This implies an overall turnout of at least 60%, although unconfirmed reports from Baghdad – where 25 people were killed at or near polling stations – suggest voter participation approaching 80% in some areas, rising to over 90% in Kirkuk.
These high turnouts were unfortunately not mirrored in the Sunni Triangle, where many polling stations were either closed or deserted, and the threats of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (who has claimed responsibility for many of the suicide bombings) to kill every voter appear to have carried more weight.
The Iraqi people have given a clear signal of their desire for autonomy against extraordinary odds. Let us hope that control of their country, free of invading forces, is returned to them as soon as possible.
Voices in the Wilderness (
voices@voicesuk.org or voicesuk.org) held a photocall opportunity outside the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London, to draw attention to the powerlessness of the Iraqi populace to change the single most important political fact in their lives: the continuing military occupation of their country by foreign powers. Preliminary reports suggest that at least eight million Iraqis showed extraordinary courage and determination, taking their lives in their hands in order to vote. This implies an overall turnout of at least 60%, although unconfirmed reports from Baghdad – where 25 people were killed at or near polling stations – suggest voter participation approaching 80% in some areas, rising to over 90% in Kirkuk.
These high turnouts were unfortunately not mirrored in the Sunni Triangle, where many polling stations were either closed or deserted, and the threats of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (who has claimed responsibility for many of the suicide bombings) to kill every voter appear to have carried more weight.
The Iraqi people have given a clear signal of their desire for autonomy against extraordinary odds. Let us hope that control of their country, free of invading forces, is returned to them as soon as possible.
Caroline Sinclair
e-mail:
carosinclair@yahoo.co.uk
Comments
Hide the following 18 comments
More from Abu Burkan
31.01.2005 08:48
Abu Burkan
Possible how ?
31.01.2005 09:17
Who proposed the election ?
Who provided the infrastructure ?
Who made the vote possible ?
God Bless America
Freedom
Just wonderful
31.01.2005 09:28
Pictures on al-jazeera (a far from pro US source) show Iraqi women thanking US troops and passing gifts into their vehicles
The attemps of some to portray these criminals as representitive of the wider Iraqi people was shown yesterday as an utter lie.
Not Angry Manc
Blunkett look-alike!
31.01.2005 11:16
I wonder if he had a similar one when Soddomite held one of his infamous 'elections'?
Abu Burkan
the price of freedom:
31.01.2005 17:17
anarchkit
Well said
31.01.2005 18:51
O hang on a minute . . . .
Les
Out of the frying pan and into the fire
31.01.2005 21:31
Clare
A question about the lancet
01.02.2005 12:52
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Letter
01.02.2005 13:18
Luke
I'd like to read it
01.02.2005 15:03
-
Unless "later" is a deliberate spelling...
01.02.2005 15:15
-
Lancet Report
01.02.2005 15:41
"the upper estimate for deaths made in the only serious scientific study to date is 194,000. Professor Richard Garfield - one of the authors of a report conducted by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health on Iraqi casualties published in the Lancet science journal - has said: "The true death toll is far more likely to be on the high-side of our point estimate [98,000] than on the low side."
BBC coverage:
statto
Here's a pdf of the report from the Lancet site . . .
01.02.2005 16:57
accounted for most violent deaths"
"The major causes of death before the invasion were myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, and other chronic disorders whereas after the invasion violence was the primary cause of death ... The risk of death from violence in
the period after the invasion was 58 times higher (95% CI 8·1–419) than in the period before the war."
Saddam was bad, occupation is worse.
Statto
Most deaths have been caused by the insurgents!
01.02.2005 17:39
Micheal
thanks mate :)
01.02.2005 19:59
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Fashion
04.02.2005 08:57
Somehow this does not stop thenm from idolising the terrorists beheading everyone in their way, who are intent on bringing back Saddam and his rotten gang to power.
Although we only hear about the western hostages murdered by these 'resistance' fighters, and the number of Iraqis beheaded by them is far higher, they don't blush at making them out to be heroes. Why would they blush, when they have no problems associating with the wife-beating MAB?
Abu Burkan
why do you pretend?
04.02.2005 12:54
Your posts are full to the brim with typical zionist rhetoric.
Are you scared?
Or are you just stirring it?
karen eliot
my identity
18.02.2005 19:07
How do you know this isn't me real name?
Anyway how will I convince people what my real name is?
You want to meet me or what? You want my telephone number?
By the way you seem to think that hate is a unique characteristic of jews.
By naming just one person I can discredit your childish assumption-p Noam Chomsky.
Anyway the hate I have is a characteristic all the worlsd shares- the hatred of terroristic governemnt like Saddam's .
Abu Burkan