Tishrin II 11, 6746 Volume II Issue 38 November 11, 1996
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A Weekly
Online Publication of the ZENDA Assyrian Newsagency
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T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A
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The Lighthouse.............. Assyrian National
Movements in Iraq
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain.... Turkey Enters Iraq,
Kurdish Rebels Killed
Surfs Up.................... "...to
integrate Assyrian history..."
Surfers Corner.............. Assyrian TV Interviews
with Local Candidates
News Digest................. Detroit Chaldean/Assyrians
in Support of Clinton
Calendar of Events.......... Nov 16: AUOC
Meeting in San Jose
Dec 7: The Nineveh Choral Concert in LA
Entracte.................... No New
Entries
Intelligentsia.............. Assyrian
History/Language Classes in the U.S.
Assyrian Surfing Posts...... Assyrian
Church of the East
Pump up the Volume.......... Camp,
Police Station, and Balcony
Back to the Future.......... Ashurbanipal and the
Elamites
Excavations at Tell Leilan
Literatus................... Atrahasis,
The Babylonian Noah
This Week in History........ Assyrian
Star in New York
Bravo....................... An Assyrian
Promoted to VP of Universal
Pictures
The Directory............... Directory
of ZENDA News Sources
Bshena...................... Detroit,
San Jose, & ATR
Salute...................... Pauline
& Nineveh Magazine
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THE L I G H
T H O U S E
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ASSYRIAN POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN IRAQ
In the early forties two small Assyrian national movements
emerged in
Iraq and Iran. In Habbaniya, the British military
base, "Khait Khait"
was started by Ousta Moshe, an Assyrian who had had personal
experience
with the Armenian National Movement in the Soviet Union.
The "Khait
Khait" movement modeled itself after the Armenian National
Movement.
Ousta Moshe managed to attract a number of patriotic
Assyrians; secretly
they attempted to develop a political organization.
The movement
sought a broad-based support intended to enable the exiled
Patriarch
(Mar Shimon Ishaya) to champion the cause of his people.
The concept
was conveyed to Assyrians in Iran. However, after
a few years, the
new movement failed due to petty disputes among the original
supporters.
It should be noted that the movement was not intended
to be anti-Iraq
or anti-anyone. It envisioned that post armistice
day the rights of
Assyrians would be recognized and an equitable solution
would be
found. The organizers' main objective was to have
the new movement
provide the catalyst for the creation of a national leadership
to
champion the Assyrian cause.
For many years, a number of Assyrians in Iraq have been
politically
active under the umbrella of other parties. the
objective of most
of these parties has been to change the existing government
and to
replace it with a more suitable one. the main motivation
of Assyrians
associated with these political parties ha been to achieve
a democratic
Iraq, an it has been assumed that Assyrians would benefit
from a
representative government. They had no specific
plans to achieve
special rights or privileges for Assyrians per se.
The Kurdish national movement has been another matter.
Ever since
the establishment of the government of Iraq (immediately
after the
First World War), the Kurds have sought either autonomy
or independence.
Kurdish demands have varied depending on the leader and
the specific
time. There are those who have demanded an autonomous
state within
the Iraqi structure, and others whose objective has been
an independent
Kurdistan.
Since the majority of Assyrian villages are situated in
northern Iraq
(where the Kurds make their claim), the Assyrians often
find them-
selves participating in this struggle not be choice but
due to
geographical reality.
When the monarchy was eliminated in Iraq by Abdul Karim
Kassim,
Assyrians experienced more freedom and some limited recognition.
Like
the majority of the population, Assyrians were hopeful
that the
new republic would institute democratic reforms, establish
equality
and bring economic improvements to all the citizens of
Iraq.
However, the Kassim regime was brutally terminated and
its promises
did not materialize.
The Baath regime that replaced kassim began on a positive
note for
the Assyrian minority. The Bakr government declaration
that granted
all Assyrian (Syriac) speaking people freedom to learn,
teach, and
use their language was an encouraging beginning.
Unfortunately, hopes
were quickly dashed when the Assyrians were subjected
to the policy
of Arabization. In the 1977 national census, Assyrians
were forced
to register as either Arabs or Kurds, and were not recognized
as a
viable minority in Iraq. Other governmental policies
were
specifically directed against Assyrians such as forced
demographic
changes, demolition of villages and churches and falsification
of
Assyrian history.
As a result of these actions and other facets of discrimination
displayed by the ruling authorities, a new political
party was
established to secure Assyrian rights within Iraq.
A founding
conference was held on April 12, 1979, from which a new
national
movement emerged under the name of the Assyrian Democratic
Movement
(ZOWAA). The movement has been recognized by other
Iraqi opposition
groups. When the U.S. State Department invited
the Iraqi Kurdistan
Front to Washington in September 1991, ZOWAA was one
of the political
parties included in that Front.
ZOWAA has been accepted and supported by other Iraqi opposition
parties an d by European governments. Assyrian
political parties
in the United States need to accept ZOWAA as the official
party of
Assyrians in Iraq and to provide it the financial assistance,
and
the political and moral support it deserves. ZOWAA
is ready to
work with all Assyrian political parties genuinely supporting
the
struggle of Assyrians in Iraq to gain their human and
national rights.
Recognizing the urgency of needed help for our brothers
and sisters
first to survive the present tragedy and eventually to
return and
rebuilt their homes and lives, the supporters of ZOWAA
in the United
States have joined together to establish the Assyrian
Aid Society
of America. The primary objective of this society
is and will
continue to be the raising of funds and channeling them
to assist
needy Assyrians in the Middle East. This is an organization
for all
Assyrians who wish to support their compatriots on a
regular and
organized basis.
Youel A Baaba
[Excerpted from an article entitled Assyrian Democratic
Movement
Nineveh Magazine, Vol 15, #1 & 2]
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G O O D M
O R N I N G B E
T - N A H R A I N
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TURKISH FORCES ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ,
KURDISH CASUALTY REPORTED
(ZNRU: ANKARA) An Iraqi Kurdish group Wednesday accused
Turkey of
entering Iraq and pounding Iraqi Kurdish settlements
with artillery
and air strikes in the hunt for Kurdish separatist guerrillas.
Turkish forces, backed by planes and helicopters, attacked
the bases
of Turkish Kurd separatists, the Kurdistan Workers Party,
or PKK, in
Iraq for one day Monday, the Turkish military said.
37 PKK
guerrillas have been killed in such attacks. Turkey
frequently
strikes across the mountainous Hakkari region, where
there remain
several Assyrian settlements, against guerrillas who
use bases there
in their fight for self-rule in northern Bet-Nahrain.
The Kurdistan
Democratic Party said it was ``calling on all sides interested
in human
rights, peace and security in the area to join us in
demanding that the
Turkish government immediately stop its assault on our
civilians.''
The PKK has been fighting a guerrilla war since 1984
to carve an
independent Kurdish state out of northern Bet-Nahrain.
About 21,000
people have been killed in the insurrection, in which
neither Iraqi
Kurdish group, PUK or KDP, is formally involved.
Last week, the KDP and its rival, the Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan or
PUK, agreed in Ankara talks to a U.S.-brokered peace
declaration that
committed them to working ``to prevent terrorist elements,
the PKK in
particular, from having a presence or activity'' in Bet-Nahrain.
``In an operation in northern Iraq today a cave was attacked.
(Troops)
captured 35 PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) members dead
and 45 alive,''
said Turkish minister, Tansu Ciller. She gave no further
details.
There was no independent confirmation of the deaths.
Meanwhile, Kurdish
rebels killed 12 people, including a child and a woman,
in an attack on
a minibus in Hakkari. The rebels fired rockets at the
minibus, causing
it to veer over a cliff near Cukurca, a town in Hakkari
province. To
date there has been no official report of any Assyrian
casualties.
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S U R F S
U P !
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"Please add the following name to receive ZENDA in the
future...Thank
you - especially for the very excellent work being done
on behalf of
all our Assyrian people."
H.B. Quoyoon
***************
"Bossley Park High School, located in the western suburbs
of Sydney,
Australia has a large Assyrian student population. The
history
department would like to integrate Assyrian history into
the Syllabus,
however we have few resources on Assyrian history. We
would appreciate
it if you could forward a list of resources available
on Assyrian history,
that you are aware of. Thanking you in advance."
Pablo Rossi
pmr6@ozemail.com.au
History Teacher
History Department BPHS
***************
"I need the bylaws of the following organizations in electronic
form.
If anyone has converted the documents in electronic form
, in any
format, I would appreciate a copy and would thank the
person in advance:
Assyrian American National Federation,
Assyrian American Associations (All cities),
Assyrian Foundation of America,
Assyrian Aid Society,
Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation OR any other organization's...!
Thank You."
Arbil Bet-Shliemoun
San Jose, California
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S U R F E R S
C O R N E R
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ASSYRIAN TELEVISION INTERVIEWS LOCAL POLITICIANS
"I would like to write about a historical day in KBSV-TV23's
life. In
less than 6 months this Assyrian Television Station has
come a long
way. We still have a long road ahead of us. On Sunday
Nov. 3, 1996,
between 5:00PM and 10:00PM AssyriaVision broadcasted
LIVE speeches of
the different candidates running for different government
offices.
This included a Congressman, A Mayor, members of the
City Council,
Judges, School Board candidates, etc. This is an
example of "Power of
Meadia" which Assyrians have not effectively explored
in the past.
Why KBSV took this step? By giving each candidate 15 minutes
to
bring his/her message to the voters of that region, it
gives the
voters, including Assyrians living in California's Central
Valley,
a chance to informatively elect candidates of their choice.
Among
the Candidates present was John Lazar, the incumbent
Assyrian City
Councilman. The program intended to encourage our qualified
Assyrians
to consider a Political life where they can serve their
community
as well as Assyrians in general.
Why not have more Assyrians in the Political arena? One
reason could
be Assyrians in general have not been educated nor encouraged
to pursue
this line. There is a notion among us that Political
life is a life of
lies and deception. There are many benefits that an elected
official
that can bring to his or her district.
Another benefit is to meet and educate the elected officials
in any
office about Assyrians. Also, for example, a Congressman/woman
can be
asked in the future to help us in many different areas.
Possibilities
are endless, But we need to take the first steps and
work to achive
the recognition in the United States and around the world.
Ninous Bebla
San Jose, California
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N E W S
D I G E S T
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(ZNAP: Washington) Democratic officials said last week
that the
Detroit fund-raiser held by the Assyrian-Chaldeans to
influence
President Clinton's policy toward Iraq did not violate
federal campaign
laws. The event, attended by Clinton on Oct. 21,
netted about eight
hundred thousand dollars ($800,000)and was organized
to persuade the
president to lift an economic embargo against Iraq.
The money went to
the Democratic National Committee and those who attended
paid $10,000
per couple for a private dinner with Clinton. Some
attendees told the
Detroit Free Press the event gave them an opportunity
to make their case
against the embargo, imposed after Saddam Hussein invaded
Kuwait in 1990.
"It was to help Iraq, to help the people there, to open
sanctions", Julie
Danou said, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday. She
said the president
seemed responsive and promised to work towards "lifting
the embargo and
help send food and medicine to the kids and the Iraqi
people". There has
yet been no change in U.S. policy.
Danou's uncle, Iraqi native, Samir Danou, organized the
event and invited
other members of the Danou family. "The gentleman
is an American citizen.
The contributions are legal" Clinton campaign spokesman
Joe Lockhart said
today in Little Rock, Ark. Julie Danou estimated
her family gave $400,000
to $500,000 to the DNC. The Detroit area is home
to the largest
Assyrian-Chaldean community outside of Bet-Nahrain.
Samir Danou, who is a US
citizen, has also donated money to the Republicans, the
Detroit Free
Press said. He contributed about $75,000 to Michigan
Republican
candidates in the past three years, and made $1000 donations
to the
campaigns of both Bob Dole and Bill Clinton.
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C A L E
N D A R OF
E V E N T S
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Thru April 6 The Ain Ghazal Exhibit
Smithsonian Institute
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Washington D.C.
Nov 13
Babylon & Syria in the time of XENOPHON
Lecturer: M. Stolper
Oriental Institute
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Nov 16
Assyrian United Organizations of California
Quarterly Meeting
Hosted by the Assyrian American Association
BETA: 20000 Alamaden Road
San Jose, California
Nov 23
The Nineveh Choral Concert
Piano Recital by two Assyrian Concert Pianists
Nineveh Issabey (Simons) & Nineveh Bet-Shleimoun
Conducted by Nebu Issabey
San Jose State University Music Hall
San Jose, California
8:00 PM
Tickets: $20.00
Contact: Robert Badalian (408) 268-8545
Joseph Betjoseph (209) 668-6805
Dec 7
The Nineveh Choral Concert
Conducted by Nebu Issabey
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Jan 15
Ashur & Marduk: The State Gods of Assyria & Babylonia
Lecturer: G. Frame
Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
St. George campus
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
Mar 12
Guardians of the Gate: The Assyrian Winged Colossi
Lecturer: A. Harrak
Near and Middle Eastern Civilization
University of Toronto
St. George campus
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
April 9
Recent Excavations at Gordion, Turkey:
An Achaemenid Persian Imperial Town in Central
Anatolia
Lecturer: T.C. Young, Jr.
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto, Canada
8:00 p.m
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I N T E L L I G E N T S I A
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Mondays
Assyrian History Class
Fall 1996 Session
"Assyrian Biographies"
Instructor: Wilfred Alkhas
BETA: Assyrian American Association of San Jose
20000 Almaden Road
San Jose, California
7:30-9:00 pm
Info: Wilfred_Alkhas@3mail.3com.com
Fridays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 108
Modesto, U.S.A.
Saturdays Nisibis
School
10:30-1:30
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
Nisibin School
10:00-12:00 pm
BETA: Assyrian American Association of San Jose
San Jose, California
SUNDAYS
Assyrian Boy Scouts
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
9:30am to 12:30pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
Assyrian Student Union
California State University, Northridge
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
6:00pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 pm
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A S S Y R I
A N S U R F I
N G P O S T S
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What is the Holy Apostolic and Catholic Assyrian Church
of the East?
When did it begin? Where did it begin? How
is it organized?
http://www.allover.com/org/assyrian.ch.east/aceov.html
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P U M P UP THE V O L U
M E
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ENGLISH
ASSYRIAN
Camp
mash/ree/ya [F]
Police Station maan/taa/raa
[F]
Balcony
bin/qa [F]
_____________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine
P = Plural
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B A C K TO THE
F U T U R E
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B.C. (668-626) King Ashurbanipal writes: "When there
was famine in
Elam and a food shortage developed, I had corn sent to
him to keep his people alive... People of his who had
fled before the famine and taken up residence within
Assyria until the rains came to his land and a harvest
followed, these people, who had been able to stay alive
in my land, I sent back to him.
<< Civilization Before Greece and Rome, Saggs >>
A.D. (1979) Excavations at Tell Leilan show that a settlement
of no
more than 15 hectares on the Khabur Plains (Syria)existed
around 2500 B.C.
<< The Origins of Cities in Dry-Farming Syria &
Mesopotamia, Weiss>>
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L I T E
R A T U
S
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ATRAHASIS
The Babylonian Noah
Call the elders, the senior man
Start an uprising in your house,
Let heralds proclaim...
Let them make a loud noise in the land:
Do not revere your gods!
Do not pray to your goddess!
Search out the door of Adad,
Bring a baked loaf into his presence.
May the flour offering reach him,
May he be shamed by the presents.
<< >>
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T H I S
W E E K I N
H I S T O R Y
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November 13, 1956: Assyrian Star Magazine, the
official voice of the
Assyrian American National Federation is registered
in New York.
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B R A
V O
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UNIVERSAL PICTURES PROMOTES AN
ASSYRIAN TO VP OF PRODUCTION
Universal Pictures has promoted Paul Neesan to Vice President
of
Production. Neesan will acquire and develop film
projects for
theatrical release. "Paul has proven himself to
be an astute and
extremely valuable member of our production team, and
I'm delighted
to be able to acknowledge his many contributions," said
Hal Lieberman,
president of Universal Pictures Productions. Neesan,
27, joined
Universal in 1995 as Director of Development. He
began his career in
1994 working with producer Joe Singer at John Davis Entertainment,
serving as co-producer on "Courage Under Fire" and co-executive
producer on Universal's forthcoming action drama "Daylight."
Among
the projects he is developing are "New Jersey Turnpikes"
and "Confucius
Brown", to star Jackie Chan and Wesley Snipes, and "Ohio",
a film
about the 1970 Kent State tragedy.
[Paul Neesan is the son of Sami and Lily Neesan of Hercules,
California,
and the nephew of Julius Shabbas, Editor of Nineveh Magazine,
published
in Berkeley, California.]
The Hollywood Reporter
July 18, 1996
Vol CCCXLIII #12
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the D I R E C T O R
Y
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ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrian Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
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W E
L C O M E
T O Z E N D
A
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Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
Advanced Technical Resources
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Detroit, Michigan
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S A L U T E
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Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals &
organizations
whose contributions appear in this issue:
Pauline Jasim
Chicago, Illinois
Nineveh Magazine Berkeley, California
[Paul Neesan's Story]
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Our Next Issue will appear on Monday, November 18, 1996.
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