Courtesy Photo | Husayn Mohammed Ali Al Tahan, the governor of Baghdad, addresses sheik's representing...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Jerry Saslav
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – Invitations were sent to 50 to 100 people officially; unofficially, word of mouth caused more than 300 people to show up at an office in the Adhamiyah Sports Complex at Antar Square Nov 1, 2008.
The crowd gathered for what was the largest tribal council meeting in the Adhamiyah district of Baghdad; it was also the first time since the summer of 2007 that Husayn Mohammed Ali Al Tahan, the governor of Baghdad, had been in Adhamiyah.
"About 75 percent of the sheiks in the room were guys in the past who had not supported coalition forces or the Iraqi government," said Lt. Col. Michael Pappal, a native of Indiana, Pa., commander of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
The sheiks pursued to find peaceful solutions for their differences.
"People used to be scared to come to large meetings in Adhamiyah. This is a big sign of security improving," said Iraqi police Brig. Gen. Hussein Mutlaq Saleh Al Dleme, the District commander.
Sheik's representing Adhamiyah's 15 tribes, as well as Sunni and Shia tribal sheiks from Kadhamiyah, Zafroniyah, Dora, Shaab, Basateen, Latifiyah, Mahmoudiyah, Muckdadiyah, Djal and Saladin crowded into the room, as well as a representative of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, the Imam of the Abu Hanifa Mosque, an Islamic Party parliament member, a representative of the Sadr Organization, the Adhamiyah Qa'im Makam and Iraqi army Brig. Gen. Tariq Abdul Kareem, commander, 42nd Brigade, 11th Iraqi Army Division.
The meeting was opened with a passage from the Koran which stressed unity.
"We should all get along with no racism, no sectarianism; one tribe, one family, all brothers," was the passage's message.
Messages supporting the overall progress in Adhamiyah from the prime minister's office and the Islamic Party were read to the audience.
The tribal council and a group representing middle class residents from Adhamiyah addressed the assembled audience with a list of requests.
They urged their fellow Iraqi's to; choose qualified people in the upcoming elections, continue reconciliation efforts in order to unify the citizens, request that the Iraqi government and coalition forces accelerate the releasing of detainees, help displaced residents returning to the area find a home, ask the GoI to help create jobs for the people and ask for solatia (financial restitution) for the 3,000 Adhamiyah families who lost family members to violence.
An indication of how the mood of the area has changed was when the representative of the Sadr Organization rose and addressed the crowd. The representative began by talking about the need for Sunni and Shia working together, he then began to blame the coalition forces for all the sectarian violence and indicated that if the GoI was not up to the task of keeping the peace then the Sadr Organization would handle the job. When the speaker noticed that his last statements were not well received, he went back to his previous comments about the need for Sunni and Shia to work together and that dialogue with coalition forces was needed.
"The AK is not the answer but meetings like this are," said Governor Husayn Mohammed Ali Al Tahan, addressing the group.
He praised the people for improving the area's "security against the terrorists and anyone against the GoI."
Tahan talked about how no one wanted the barriers, but that while the barriers (both physical and sectarian) had allowed security to develop, it is the time to remove the barriers. He pointed out that these meetings were once only held in the International Zone; now they can be held anywhere. He added that sheiks from Dubai have contacted him about investing in Baghdad and that he had asked them to build apartments for 100,000 people near Gaziliyah. It takes security for these kinds of investors Tahan said.
"We need to be one or we will fall," said Tahan.
Sheik Sabar Abu Firas, an SoI leader ended the ceremony with a message to Prime Minister Maliki, "Adhamiyah is with the prime minister and the GoI."
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2008 05:56 |
| Story ID: | 25885 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 248 |
| Downloads: | 239 |
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