Where
Iraqis Live In Virtual Self-Exile
By Ali Shaker Ali
25 September 2006
Aljazeera
As US and Iraqi security forces
hint at a series of trenches, moats and berms to cordon off the capital
Baghdad in hopes of stemming the daily violence, many Iraqis are shrugging
the measures off.
Security measures come and
go, they say, but the daily death rates continue to increase.
And if there is one word
to describe the most enduring constant in addition to nearly daily car
bombs, curfew would be it, most Iraqis agree.
Curfew hours in Baghdad last
from 9pm till 5am every day and are extended on Fridays, the Muslim
holy day.
But in addition to the government
curfews and motor vehicular bans, Iraqi civilians are imposing a self-styled
exile of sorts avoiding busy streets, market places, bus stops, stations
and most restaurants.
Whenever the level of violence
spikes, Baghdad looks as if it is under permanent curfew – a city
deserted and parched under the summer sun.
"One would not go out
except for very necessary reasons," said 40-year-old Jaafar Ibrahim
of the Baghdad Municipality Administration department.
"The dangers are extremely
high nowadays and you can see the streets almost abandoned because of
the threats of car bombs and sectarian militias." he added.
Fleeing the violence
Wandering about the streets
of the capital city, one is reminded of the last days of March 2003
when US forces were approaching the outskirts and its residents were
fleeing to other parts of the country. Those that stayed hunkered down
in their homes with whatever provisions they had hoarded.
Now they find themselves
fleeing again.
"One has to think of
women and the little ones," said 43 year old Raghib Omar who fled
the city for Mosul, 380km to the north.
"My name is an additional
reason that puts me through highest risk of being assassinated by sectarian
militias and my family will not be safe anyway,” he said referring
to the rumoured targeting of males traditionally using Sunni names.
Other Iraqis say their self-imposed
exile within their own homes is biting in their pockets. With unemployment
rampant, finding a job is a rarity. Keeping it is a miracle.
"There is no income
what so ever except for government officials and the rest of us can
not get a bite for our children," complained 35 year old car trader
Yassir Fadhil who had to stay in his house because he could not afford
to cross the border to Jordan or Syria like many other Iraqis did.
"I guess we will stay
here and face our destiny with honour rather than go beg others for
a low job abroad." He added bitterly.
Blame the Zarqawis
While Shia and Sunni residents
of the city agree that terrorism is tearing the social fabric apart,
they disagree along sectarian lines as to who is behind the violence.
"It is the Zarqawis
and the Saddamis who are ruining the country," said 30-year-old
Daawa party member Riza Ali.
"People are afraid of going out because of the car bombs and foreign
suicide bombers who are killing any one that moves in the street."
But 25-year-old computer
engineer Salim Hakki of Karrada district says he is targeted by Shia
militias just for being Sunni.
"And Americans are covering
up for the militias by allowing them to move freely during curfew hours
while arresting any Sunni who has a simple pistol at home for self defence.
That is the reason why most Sunnis fled Baghdad for safer cities and
towns or to neighbouring countries"
Sectarian militia
Both US and Iraqi government
officials are now blaming sectarian militias for the collapsing security
situation in Baghdad, Basra and Diyala where a mixture of Shia and Sunni
families once lived in mixed neighbourhoods.
Most Iraqis believe the Mehdi
militia lead by young Shia cleric Muqtada Sadr to be behind much of
the violence.
In 2004, Sadr gained notoriety
for having stood up against US forces in both Sadr City - named after
his father, a revered Shia cleric - and the holy city of Najaf.
Since then, he has consolidated
his power by allying with the Daawa party, lead by former Prime Minister
Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
Reluctant forces
With nearly 30 seats in the
new Iraqi parliament, Iraqi forces are reluctant to move against al-Sadr
or his militia.
"Regardless of who and
what is causing this, Baghdad remains paralysed and no one can disagree
with that assessment," admitted Ali al-Yassiri of the ministry
of national Security.
He told Aljazeera.net: "Mistakes are too many to count and every
one is responsible. Citizens are not fully co-operating with us and
most of us have agendas that sometimes conflict with the high national
interests.
"The only hope we have
now is for the reconciliation plan to succeed and for all Iraqis to
give loyalty to the country rather than sect or party."
After a few moments of reflection,
he corrected himself.
"Baghdad is dead, my
friend, not paralysed."
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