Pearls of Iraq: Protests for Aid in Halabja Region (Blue Pearl Region)

Protests for Aid in Halabja Region (Blue Pearl Region)

It is with much sadness, in the news today, there was a violent demonstration which resulted in the Halabja monument being totally destroyed (the pictures above are the ones I took in the region). The people are crying, crying out for help. This is the region of “Blue Pearl.” I will quote from the article….

“AFP stated, "A 14-year-old boy was killed in the clashes as some 7,000 protesters, including relatives of the 5,000 victims of the March 17, 1988 aerial attack, set up road blocks, attacked government offices and set fire to a memorial built to honour the dead."

Rahman, who was not taking part in the demonstration in Halabja, told KurdisMedia.com that whenever there is a protest against their corrupt [Kurdish] authorities, foreign hands are blamed. The Kurdish administration can only see more protests like these, he added. The Kurdish administration use Halabja as business to get more cash, Rahman believes. It was reported by residents of Halabja that 40 students have been arrested and 4 are shot dead by the authorities. However, a local doctor told Radio Nawa that 10 people have been injured, six of them with minor wounds and four are still in the hospital. One body was brought to the hospital; he was shot dead, the doctor told Nawa. He was named by other sources to be Kurda Ahmed.”

This is the region of Blue Pearl, which has been discussed extensively in past posts. It is said the PUK stated this was caused by outside forces, but I doubt this. The region desperately needs additional schools, medical care (resulting from normal medical issues and addressing the left over effects from the chemical weapons, disease such as cholera, eye problems, disabilities from land mines, chemical weapons and a hard life), industry and vocation training and a special focus for aid and redevelopment, including agricultural advances, electric, etc.

This breaks my heart that there has been no progress in Jaf territory. It is a region of many respected Peshmerga and wonderful people. The region includes “Blue Pearl,” Biyara (which was overrun with Taliban style terrorists only a few years ago), Halabja to name a few. On the surface, it is a beautiful region, the figs are the best in the world, the people are beautiful, but underneath, the people need assistance, as much as any of the areas in Iraq. The youth do know they are being neglected and ignored, and this eruption is only the tip of the iceberg.

Back in January, Abdul-Aziz Al-Hakim from SCIRI offered to donate money to build a park. They do not need a park; they need schools, medical care and industry. I ask the officials once again, President Barzani, President Talabani, uncle, on the behalf of the people in this region, please, please let us sit down, make some concrete plans to build schools, improve medical and other basic services, design a regional plan wish would include economic and industrial development.

When I studied under the fellowship, yes, thank you, I am grateful….and went to Kurdistan, I was promised support from the KRG, the KDP and the PUK they would support any work I choose to conduct there. I pointed out this region, as many people have...the needs to top officials and on my blog, which I know is being read. This region has been my heart and focus; I consider the people my family and breathe. The region is crying out for help and continues to be high risk for terrorist activity. There are many organizations including commerce and industry, investors, private citizens and others willing to work with the government in this process. Let us work as a team, devise a strategic plan to help these dear Kurdish people back up on their feet. In turn, Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan would benefit for this investment. It is a guarantee.

Pearls of Iraq

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Protests for Aid in Halabja Region (Blue Pearl Region)