Some See Hope,
Others Civil War
By Dahr Jamail
28 January, 2005
Inter Press Service
BAGHDAD, Jan
27 (IPS) - Some Iraqis are hoping for a new unity following elections
Jan. 30, but others seem convinced that existing divisions will increase,
leading possibly to civil war.
While hundreds of
thousands of Kurdish people are traveling from northern Iraq to Kirkuk
to vote, many families in Baghdad are leaving the city in fear of a
huge wave of violence.
Violence continues
to escalate throughout Iraq in the run-up to the elections. Clashes
flared Thursday again between occupation forces and the Iraqi resistance
in Baghdad, Tikrit and Samarra.
One U.S. soldier
was killed in an attack on a U.S. patrol in the Diyala province north-
east of Baghdad Thursday, and three soldiers were killed in Baquba town
in the area, about 60km north-east of Baghdad.
Iraqis are running
into difficult days. The gasoline shortage continues to worsen. Many
residents in Baghdad are struggling to pay the rising prices of heating
gas, cooking gas and petrol.
Whether they intend
to vote or not, many hope that elections will lead to better days, and
that they will lead to more stability and unity. Others are skeptical.
"We hope these
elections will bring unity between Shias, Sunnis and the Kurds,"
said Abdel Aziz who works at a money exchange booth in Baghdad.
He said he did not
know which list of political parties he will vote for because he found
them confusing, but said the elections will not divide Iraq. "Only
the radicals have brought this divisive thinking," he said.
Many Iraqis are
hopeful that despite the chaotic atmosphere around the electoral process,
stability and unity will follow.
"I pray the
elections will bring us unity," said Ahmed Aziz, 25-year-old owner
of a small grocery stall in central Baghdad. "If it is a legitimate
election, we hope they will bring peace." He paused before adding,
"I hope it will be legitimate, but don't know how we will be able
to tell for sure."
Hamoudi Abdulla,
35-year-old owner of a garments store out shopping for food with a friend
in Karrada district because he feared violence on polling day, sounded
optimistic. "The elections will unite us," he said. Asked
if he was Shia or Sunni, he replied, "I am Iraqi."
His friend Hussam
Hammad nodded in agreement. "There is no difference amongst us,"
he added. "We are all Iraqi and we are all Muslims. An election
cannot change this fact."
But other Iraqis
fear the elections will only bring division between them, by forcing
them to make choices based on ethnicity such as a Kurdish identity,
and on the basis of Sunni and Shia sects.
"No way these
elections will bring more unity between Iraqis," said 36-year-old
hotel owner Khassem Mohammed. "The differences between Sunnis and
Shia are over 1,400 years old. So how can this rushed election help
bring more unity?"
The hotel owner
from Jadriya district of Baghdad said Shia political parties will gain
power and Sunni parties will disappear after the elections.
"Saddam led
us into to all of our previous wars, but this time Iraqis are going
to battle themselves because they are now choosing sides," he added.
"I fear civil war now." That is a view several Iraqis seem
to hold.
Jassim Khalid who
operates a street-side tea stall on Arasat Street in Baghdad has decided
to boycott the elections because he feels, like Mohammed, that they
will bring division.
"I'm not voting
because I don't think the elections will bring unity to Iraq,"
he said "In fact, they already appear to be doing the opposite."
A hotel guard said
Iraqis have never been divided between Shia and Sunni. "But these
elections will cause a split because of the damned politicians and the
influence of the Americans."
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