Iraq Press Roundup

The elections are part of the plan to divide Iraq

Observers predict the January provincial elections will bring chaos to Iraq due to the sectarian affiliation of major political parties, while others see it as a chance to fix the fragile state.

The elections are part of the democratic experiment in Iraq, which allows voters to vet the educational, political and social qualifications of their candidates in a public forum, the independent news service Kitabat said Tuesday.

This does not mean the entire electoral process is without problems, as several candidates are using money to bring in more votes. These officials are already integrated in the Iraqi political system, leaving independent candidates at a financial disadvantage. The Iraqi government, however, should fund independent campaigns, since they are the ones advocating change without political pressure.

Many in Iraq think the January elections will be mired by corruption because those figures who are in office in Baghdad are obsessed with power and refuse to allow outside participation. As long as the elections rely on sectarian affiliation, they will only divide Iraq further, resulting in the disappearance of minority interests in society.

The people therefore should demand a national election that advocates the ability to govern, not affiliations or legacy, because Iraq needs qualified leaders who can earn the respect of the people and the broader world community.

What is forbidden in the elections campaigns

Iraqi law places certain restrictions on campaigning for provincial elections, such as banning the use of government institutions, which could bring a certain degree of chaos, the Shiite al-Adala said Tuesday.

The Iraqi government forbids candidates to use government offices to carry out campaigns to prevent exploitation of authority or public finances, not to mention administrative capacity to secure more votes.

There are also prohibitions on using mosques, shrines or religious statements to advocate certain positions. Candidates are also not allowed to use posters with their images during the campaign season.

Furthermore, candidates cannot even use Iraqi state symbols to portray a degree of nationality, and militias are banned from engaging the public in any fashion, regardless of intent.

These regulations exist despite the positive implications each may have on a specific candidate, the newspaper said.

Gangsters

Criminals and gangs roamed freely in Iraq without respect for the law following the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The period following the occupation laid the groundwork for these groups to consolidate their base in the ensuing legal vacuum.

Insurgent militias were able to take advantage of the political climate in Iraq in the wake of the oppressive Saddam Hussein regime by justifying their actions with religion and jihad, the daily al-Sabaah said Tuesday.

There is no legal framework to handle these militias as Iraqi law only considers individuals criminals, not organized crime. While those who took advantage of the situation immediately following the U.S. invasion had understandable, though not acceptable, motivations, Baghdad should focus its policing efforts on organized gangs and their sponsors in the government.

The failure to eliminate the threat posed by al-Qaida in Iraq was in part due to supporters of the movement. The Iraqi government was only able to claim success against al-Qaida when they lost that support.

The conclusion, the newspaper said, is that Iraq is uncivilized and subject to tribal rules, leaving society vulnerable to opposition groups supported by elders or controlled by government officials.

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(Edited by Daniel Graeber)