IRAQI PRESS MONITOR, 03 Dec 04

IRAQI PRESS MONITOR, 03 Dec 04

POSTPONING ELECTIONS MEANS POSTPONING THE FUTURE

(Al-Adala, 29 Nov 04) – Calls for postponement of the elections have made clear the parties that want to prioritise their own interests and deter progress towards stability. The calls also made clear that 80% of Iraqis are determined to hold elections on time including the religious authority, the government, and more than 200 political entities. The question is why those calling for postponement didn’t propose this idea before the Legation of Elections and government declared the date of the elections? We shall not go through answers to this question. Iraqis know what elections are, and they know their votes are the future.
(Al-Adala is issued daily by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.)

ELECTIONS CAN BE KIDNAPPED

By Muhammed Abdul Jabbar

(Al-Sabah, 29 Nov 04) – Elections can be kidnapped when voters are deprived of a real chance to choose. It can be done in many ways: First, when voters have just one choice, as in the referendums under the former regime. Second, when the authorities or others pracise terrorism to prevent voters from voting or make them vote for a certain candidate. Some Iraqis are receiving threats telling them not to participate in the elections. Third, when voters are bought. Needy voters are compelled to sell their votes for a “handful of dollars or dinars”. This phenomenon has made its appearance in some areas of Iraq.
(Al-Sabah is a daily independent publicly owned newspaper.)

DELAYING THE ELECTIONS WOULD SERVE EXTREMIST GROUPS

(Al-Bayan, 29 Nov 04) – The arguments regarding the postponement of the elections do not change the fact that most Iraqis agree on the necessity of holding elections on time. The transitional administrative law determined the election date, which should be respected by the government and the Supreme Legation of Elections. Besides, there is the Security Council resolution which stated the timeframe for elections. We believe that holding the elections on time will enhance security. Extremist groups would regard postponement, if it happens, as a victory for them.
(Al-Bayan is issued four times weekly by the Islamic Dawa Party, chaired by Vice-President Ibrahim al-Jafari.)

MANY STEPS TO CONSIDER BEFORE POSTPONEMENT

By Ismail Zayer

(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed, 28 Nov 04) – The date of elections was stated in a law on the basis of which sovereignty was transferred. According to this law, the Security Council resolution related to these processes was issued. The Iraqi side has to provide legal requirements similar to those which determined the date. First, there must be a national agreement or unanimity. Then comes agreement by the government and the president. Before talking to the UN, the National Assembly must issue a resolution in this regard. Only after all of this, can we think of postponement.
(Al-Sabah al-Jadeed is an independent daily paper.)

HOLD ELECTIONS IN THE AUTUMN

(Al-Taakhi, 30 Nov 04) – We support holding elections on time, but at the same time we suggest considering the calls for postponement. The Kurdish region is already prepared for elections despite our reservations regarding the situation in Kirkuk. But the problem has to do with the whole of Iraq. The head of the Kurdistan government, Nejervan Barazani, suggested postponing elections because of the bad weather in January. Summer, on the other hand, is too hot. Spring (and winter) is the climax of school year. Hence, autumn is the best time for elections.
(Al-Taakhi is issued daily by the Kurdistan Democratic Party.)

THERE’S NO GOOD REASON TO DELAY

By Basim al-Sheikh

(Addustour, 28 Nov 04) – The call for postponing elections due to the security situation was surprising, especially since most of the parties that signed the demand had been enthusiastic to hold the elections on time – above all, the prime minister’s party. Apparently, preparations for the elections are incomplete. But this is the responsibility of the Supreme Legation of Elections, which has not complained anything. As to security, it is not something new. In spite of violence, the prime minister insisted on holding elections on time. Only the undeclared reasons remain, such as disagreement over electoral lists or some parties’ need for more time to ally with others. Another reason is the situation in Kirkuk, which the Kurds want to be totally loyal to them. At the same time, the Arabs and Turkomen call for holding elections on time.
(Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh.)

ELECTIONS WILL LEGITIMISE THE AUTHORITIES

(Tareek al-Shaab, 30 Nov 04) – We have emphasised the importance of holding elections as stated in the transitional administrative law. Elections will legitimise the Iraqi authorities. Resorting to pretexts (such as saying elections will not be honest) is futile and will justify the foreign presence under the excuse of insecurity. We have been working on making elections succeed. Our party understands the call to postpone elections as based on caring for their success. If a comprehensive agreement occurs, there must be a programme of procedures to provide the necessary prerequisites for elections.
(Tareek al-Shaab is issued by the Iraqi Communist Party.)

CARTOON: (Tareek al-Shaab) – Two men are talking to one another after killing a man shown in the background. One says, "How funny! After 30 years of excellent service in the Baath Party, they want me to accept elections..." The cartoon suggests that supporters of the former regime are used to having things their own way without the need for elections. The cartoon also implies that murders are being committed by Baathists who cannot take the fact that the regime was toppled.

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Iraqi Press Monitor is published by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, an independent non-profit organisation supporting regional media and democratic change.

IWPR cannot vouch for the accuracy of the reports. The views represented by the stories are not necessarily those of IWPR.