 |
| (Reuters) |
The Iraqi security forces (ISF) closed the protest sites in Basra. With that being done the government has now moved onto Baghdad in what increasingly looks like a crackdown to put an end to the demonstrations.
After a week the government successfully broke up the
protests in Basra. Starting November
5 the ISF attacked the sit in site at Um Qasr which had shut down the port.
People came back the next day however, which prompted a two pronged assault on November
7 at both Um Qasr and Basra city where a sit-in was also organized. That
operation lasted two days and led to the deaths of up to 17-18 people. By
November 9, there were no
longer demonstrations
at either site. The blockade of Um Qasr was having an economic impact upon the
country, but the one within the city was like others across the country meaning
largely peaceful with some spurts of violence burning government buildings.
When the protests originally started in October the ISF were pre-emptive
breaking up gatherings before they could even start. This turn towards violence
seems like it originated from outside the province and comes as there are more reports
that the ruling parties have made a deal to keep Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi in
office so they might retain their positions and power, and in turn force will
be used against the protesters.
With Basra cleared the focus now appears to be on Baghdad.
On November 9 the ISF swept people off
of three bridges that cross the Tigris River in the middle of the city, Al-Shuhada,
Al-Ahrar and Al-Senak,
as well as out of Al-Khalani
Square. 6
more people were killed in the process by tear gas canisters and live
ammunition. The Baghdad
Operations Command denied that it used either in the latest example of how
the ISF is being politicized to repeat the government’s line. If the security
forces can keep people off the bridges the next move would be to clear them from
Tahrir Square which has been the main protest site in the country.
The authorities are working covertly as well. Agence France
Presse talked with people in Baghdad who said that they were being followed,
that undercover police were working in the crowds collecting information on
those involved, and people have disappeared. Sabi al-Mahdawi
was abducted going home from Tahrir. An activist Ali Hashim was killed on November
8, and a professional bodybuilder Mushtaq
al-Azzawi escaped an attempt on his life November 9. These are only the
cases that got into the media. There are likely many more. These tactics were
used against the protests last year and continued for months after they were
done. If this year’s unrest is put down, demonstrators will likely face the same
repercussions as well.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “Threats, killings: Iraqi protesters
face ‘psychological’ war,” 11/9/19
Al Hurra, “Iraq .. Resumption of operations at the port of
Umm Qasr,” 11/9/19
Karim, Ammar, “Seven dead in Iraq as security forces clear
protest sites,” Agence France Presse, 11/9/19
Al Mirbad, “After two hot nights .. Basra Square sit-in
without demonstrators in the morning,” 11/9/19
- “Baghdad Operations: There were no victims among the
demonstrators in al-Khalani Square and no live ammunition or liquefied gas were
used,” 11/9/19
- “Basra bids farewell to another martyr who was injured in
a demonstration in Umm Qasr,” 11/9/19
- “Human Rights in Basra: 12 killed and 313 injured between
demonstrators and security members in two days,” 11/9/19
NINA, “Clashes between protesters and security forces take
place on Al-Senak bridge in Baghdad,” 11/9/19
- “Security forces disperse demonstrators in al-Khalani, in
Baghdad,” 11/9/19
- “Security forces use tear gas to disperse demonstrators in
al-Rasheed Street and al-Shuhada and al-Ahrar bridges in Baghdad,” 11/9/19
Shafaaq News, “An Iraqi sports hero who participated in the
protests escapes being assassinated in Baghdad,” 11/9/19
Sotaliraq, “Sources: Six protesters killed in Baghdad,”
11/9/19
No comments:
Post a Comment