Seven interviews about the "elections" to Iraq's Transitional National Assembly scheduled for January 30 2005. All interviews were recorded January 24-26.
CKLN News Department
The Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq(appointed by the US occupation forces) is hosting elections for Iraq's "Transitional National Assembly", a body of 275 people who will appoint a President and two Vice Presidents, and draft a constitution.
Large groups are boycotting the election, while the armed resistance is disrupting it. They expect that the election will only be used to "legitimize" the US occupation of Iraq.
These interviews explore different questions and perspectives. One theme of many of the talks is that while the Western media focuses on religious and ethnic divisions, most Iraqis see themselves as Iraqi first.
1. Dahr Jamail is one of the few US independent journalists in Iraq. He reports from central Baghdad on Wednesday January 26, interviewed by Jean Hodgkinson and co-host Jason. His blog can be viewed at www.dahrjamailiraq.com.
2. Nasreen Melek is an Iraqi-Canadian living in Toronto. As an expatriate Iraqi citizen (who left the country in 1978), she has the right to participate in the elections. Host Darashani Joachim asks her first, if she plans to vote.
3. Mazen Jaafar is an Iraqi-Canadian who is very active in the anti-war movement in Toronto. Semhar Woldeyesus spoke with him about his recent trip to Iraq and what he thinks the elections mean and WILL mean, for Iraqis.
4. The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions has drawn both support and criticism for its critical distance from the armed resistance to occupation, and its participation in the elections. Abdullah Muhsen is an international spokesperson based in London. For background see: http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=fb8395c4d2b0853d 7f8fe2c2017f8f16
and
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/article.asp?id=111004
5. Writer and organizer Tariq Ali is based in London. His most recent books are "BUSH IN BABYLON: The Recolonization of Iraq" and "THE CLASH OF FUNDAMENTALISMS: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity". Kristin Schwartz interviewed him about the armed resistance in Iraq.
6. Phyllis Bennis is fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C.. She joins host Elliot Anderson to speak about US pressure, domestic resistance & international response.
7. Masuda Sultan is director of Women for Afghan Women. Kristin Schwartz asked her about the impact of the October 2004 presidential election in Afghanistan, and what comparisons she can make with what is happening with Iraq now.
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