Amid violence, Iraq Freedom Congress calls for a sovereign, secular, transitional government

Is it possible to have a free election under occupation? President Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki at Camp Victory, Iraq, April 7, 2009. Photo: Spc. Kimberly Millett

Iraq has never witnessed a real democracy since it was formed as a state in 1920, says Amjad Ali of the Iraq Freedom Congress. The Iraqi constitution requires an election on January 31, 2010, and President Obama has pledged to have all troops out of Iraq by May 20, 2010. But the suicide bombings in Baghdad last Sunday that killed at least 155 people raise the issue of renewed violence and new disagreements in both Iraq and the U.S. on how to proceed with the elections. Elections under occupation are never free, according to the IFC, which released the following statement calling for a sovereign transitional government and elections monitored and supervised by international organizations.

As a result of war and the occupation of Iraq, and the destruction of the state and its institutions which followed, the U.S. administration tried to impose a political agenda in Iraq through formulation of a  “political process.” This process was based on sectarian and ethnic division that brought to power forces that supported the war and occupation of Iraq.

"The ongoing violence, which is another form of political conflict, will not end through a political process that was brought by the occupation. And the experience of nearly seven years of conflict between the political forces taught us that the violence would not be terminated. In fact, it would only reproduce more violence and terror."

Over nearly seven years the “political process” did not result in anything but ferocious fighting between the forces and the parties that were part of this process in order to gain as much privilege, influence, power and wealth as possible. This conflict resulted in prolongation of the political chaos, an insecurity in Iraq, exacerbated poverty and  destitution, and curtailed social and health services.

The elections, one of the mechanisms of imposing the “political process,” have never solved the issue of the power struggle because none of the elections held changed the sectarian and ethnic quotas. And that means the elections merely reproduced the same forces that are currently in power.

All of the elections have been characterized by farces such as fraud, political assassinations, and the delayed announcement of voting results until agreements among the influential forces had been reached. However, after every election, we witnessed an increase of violence and terrorist activities as part of political arm twisting among these forces.

National reconciliation was one of the themes to bring together the political movements that did not participate in power sharing with the forces that supported the war and occupation. The reconciliation was projected by the occupation administration to involve the pan-Arab nationalist forces who were excluded from the formation of a new Iraq  to impose security and political stability. However, fears of the parties in power (political Islam, Shiite in particular, and Kurdish nationalists) has undermined national reconciliation.

In the midst of the current political situation, neither the occupation nor the successive governments have been able to establish a state in Iraq. The conflict among the parties and the forces has always been a key factor in that lack of progress. Moreover, the conflict over what would be the identity of the state -- whether an Islamist Shiite, a Islamist Sunni, Arab nationalist, or federal moderate Islamist --is another obstacle to the establishment of an Iraqi state.

The ongoing violence, which is another form of political conflict, will not end through a political process that was brought by the occupation. And the experience of nearly seven years of conflict between the political forces taught us that the violence would not be terminated. In fact, it would only reproduce more violence and terror. What is happening today, such as restructuring old alliances and forming new ones and the escalation of the conflicts within the one party, is an explanation of how deep the crisis is. As a result we could hear the prime minister and a number of political parties calling for an end to the rule of consensus or democracy through consensus.

We call for a transitional government: a free, secular, non-ethnic government with safety, bread and freedom at the top of its agenda.

Forces of secularism, the liberal trends, the labor movement, the leftist, feminist, and student and youth groups, those who rejected the occupation and the entire political process, and the disaffected masses (destroyed by the sectarian and ethnic conflict, and suffering extreme poverty, disease and lack of social services and corruption) are the other party in this society. They are the vast majority of Iraqi people who are looking for salvation from the tragic situation that has been going on for nearly seven years of war and occupation.

We cannot find salvation in a “political process” that has not and will not produce anything other than sectarian and ethnic governments.

Salvation can be achieved by the formation of a free, secular and non-ethnic transitional government that works for safety, bread, and freedom by immediate implementation of the following:

At the political level:

• People should be given the responsibility of protecting themselves by forming volunteer forces for each center and region and under a direct supervision of the Transitional Government, and these forces shall be paid salaries until the establishment of the state and its institutions.

• Release all political prisoners and detainees.

• Return the displaced to their home towns.

• Allow all forms of civil liberties without limitations or conditions.

• Prevent resorting to arms to resolve political differences.

At the economic level:

• Unemployment insurance to those who are of age 16 and above, male and female, that commensurate with the standard of living until the bill of unemployment insurance and social security is enacted.

• The rapid return of those who have lost their jobs, for political, sectarian and ethnic reasons.

• Enhance and add new material to the ration card.

The transitional government will work on holding a free and fair election after six months of its establishment. The mechanisms of organizing and preparing for the elections are to be as follows:  

• Guaranteed freedom of all parties and political forces to participate in the elections.

• All parties, political forces and figures to take advantage of resources and material allocated by the interim government in campaigning equally without any discrimination.

• Elections must be monitored by international organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and under their direct supervision.

• Allow wide media coverage.

The solution above, which Iraq Freedom Congress puts in the hands of the people, is the only way to save them from the cycle of violence, terrorism and security and political chaos. It will improve their living conditions and open new prospects for their generations. Iraq Freedom Congress directed its appeal to all people of Iraq to revolve around this document for the eternal salvation.

Executive Bureau

Iraq Freedom Congress

The Iraq Freedom Congress (IFC) was formed in 2005 and has, since its inception, enjoyed unwavering support from U.S. Labor Against the War, the social democratic movement in Japan, and other labor and anti-war groups around the world. IFC is a grassroots organization committed to establishing a free, secular and non-ethnic government in Iraq.