The Lighthouse		Hang Together or Hang Separately	Wilfred Wong
Good Morning Assyria		Assyrian Police Officer Killed in Kirkuk First Year Students at Mosul University Celebrate in Baghdede
News Digest		Great Interest Displayed at Seyfo Conference in Vienna 740 Election Campaign Event in Toronto MI Subdivision Tells Chaldean Family to Remove Baby Jesus M+ Going Strong Despite Defeat Assyrian Poetry Festival in Sweden Assyrian Women Celebrate 25 Year Jubilee	Zinda Magazine is published every Wednesday & Saturday. To register for your free Zinda notifications enter your email address in the field above and click 'Sign Up'.
Surfs Up!		Focus on the Elections, Not the Synod Sound Policies of Zowaa Iraqi Elections Are Irrelevant to Assyrian Rights Our National Goal is Our Priority	Click to Learn More ZINDA CALENDAR ZINDA ARCHIVES
Surfer's Corner		Lost on Location: Turkey and the Netherlands
Literatus		Assyrians and the Iraqi National Elections of December 15	Fred Aprim
Bravo		The Secret of the Apricot Tree	Arpine Harutiunyan

Assyrian Police Officer Killed in Kirkuk (ZNDA: Kirkuk)  Sarmad Behnam Ibrahim, 31, a member of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and an officer in the Kirkuk Police Department, was murdered while on duty on 2 December.  No further reports were received at press time. First Year Students at Mosul University Celebrate in Baghdede (ZNDA: Mosul)  Ankawa.com and AshurTV reported this week that a Students Orientation Party Party to honor "the first year ChaldoAssyrian students attending Mosul University" was organized at al-Mahabba Hall in Qaraqosh (Baghdede) on Friday, 2 December. Hundreds of ChaldoAssyrian students from Baghdede, Karamlesh, Bartelle, Alqosh, and Mosul attended the party and participated in the many games and folkore dances. First-Year ChaldoAssyrian university students gather to celebrate in Beghdede, north Iraq.

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News Digest News From Around the World

Great Interest Displayed at Seyfo Conference in Vienna Mr. Sabri Atman (holding a book) and Mr. Yusuf Haddadoglu present at the Vienna conference on the Assyrian Seyfo (sword) Genocide of 1915. (ZNDA: Vienna)  Almost weekly, conferences and public discussions on the Seyfo Genocide of 1915 perpetrated by the Ottoman (Turkish) government, have been held in cities across the world, mainly in Europe.   Different magazines and media outlets have also been keeping the public informed of the protests around the world.  The messages given at these conferences and news outlets have been inciting reaction from many Turkish politicians. The Turkish Minister of Foreign affairs Abdullah Gül, has showed his dissatisfaction by a protest letter to the French Government about a monument that was erected in France to commemorate the Assyrian–Chaldean victims. Shortly after this Prof. Yusuf Halacoglu, Chairman of the Society for Turkish History, broke his silence after a long time and said in an interview with ANKA – press agency. “ We know the activities of the Assyrian people and are well prepared for their attacks”. Sabri Atman, a well-known genocide scholar, holds almost weekly lectures about the Assyrian Genocide in 1915 throughout Europe. He also writes articles for many newspapers about the Genocide (Seyfo/Holocaust/Genocide) of the Assyrians . He was invited by the Mor Ephrem Church of Vienna for a planned conference on the Genocide, on 27 November.   For unknown reasons the conference was however called off. Thereupon the Assyrian Association (Mesopotamian culture und sportverein in Vienna) prepared a conference instead on 26 November.  An unexpectedly large number of people attended this conference. Sabri Atman explained the historical, political, and the psychological aspects and effects of the “Seyfo”. Turkish Media Turkish journalists meet with Mr. Atman prior to his lecture in Vienna. Mr. Sabri Atman's lecture lasted approximately 2 Hours. Many participants were reminded of the hardships experienced during the Genocide and were moved to tears. The conference also received the interest of the Turkish Media.   Mr. Atman held a press conference before his lecture, to which many Turkish journalists were invited.  Mr. Atman responded to their questions by providing facts and historic data. In the name of the Mesopotamien Kultur- und Sportvereins Vienna Mr. Yusuf Haddadoglu gave the inaugural address and Dr. Yusuf Güney ended the conference with a closing speech, in which again he thanked for the interest and participants' show of interest. 740 Election Campaign Event in Toronto Diklat Georgees, reporting for Zinda Magazine from Canada (ZNDA: Toronto)  On Sunday 27 November, the Canadian Chapter of the Assyrian Democratic Movement organized a campaign event outlining the political position of ADM in preparation for the upcoming Iraqi elections set for 15 December 2005. With an audience of approximately 220 individuals, the informative event took place at the Edessa Banquet Hall in Toronto and included the following speakers: Ramsin Benjamin: ADM Canada Yousip Shikwana: ADM North America Sheba Mando: Assyrian National Council of Illinois Yonadam Youkhana: Slate 740 Campaign Manager of North America David Enwiya: ChaldoAssyrian Syriac National Council of Detroit From left to right: Ramsin Benjamin, Yousip Shikwana, Sheba Mando, Yonadam Youkhana and David Enwiya. Ramsin Benjamin presented general information regarding the campaign strategies used for the Assyrians Chaldeans Syriacs residing in Canada, this included the importance of voting, campaign funding and advertising. Yousip Shikwana, provided detailed examples of ADM’s "proven ability to lead our nation towards a hopeful future." He emphasized ADM’s "major role and dedication in building a strong foundation through significant processes and achievements, such as the progressing educational institutions instilled to preserve our mother tongue and the strive for unity among our nation." Yonadam Youkhana, the Campaign Manager informed the audience of the overall North American voting process. Sheba Mando illustrated his support for the 740 campaign through his own personal experience after visiting the homeland and witnessing the accomplishments and continuous work of ADM. David Enwiya, encouraged the audience to vote for 740 by addressing the need in placing the name issue aside and "utilizing unity as the key formula for strength, stability and security of our nation." The speakers presented an informative session which was later followed by responses to questions posed by the audience. The event can be seen this week on AshurTV satellite television broadcast. Michigan Subdivision Tells Chaldean Family to get Baby Jesus off Lawn Courtesy of the Detroit News 29 November 2005 By Jennifer Chambers and Brad Heath The multicolored nativity scene on the Samona family's front yard was under attack. (ZNDA: Detroit)  The multicolored nativity scene on the Samona family's front yard was under attack. The Samonas' neighborhood association ordered the Novi, Michigan family to remove its seven-piece plastic display or face upto $100 per week fines. The family did not budge and neither did their three wise men. The Samonas vowed not only to keep the display, but also threatened to enhance it."If you take this out, it's not Christmas anymore," said Joe Samona, 16, as he reached down and scooped baby Jesus from the creche on his parents' front lawn. A letter sent by the association to the Samonas brought to their front yard the nation's latest skirmish over just how and where the Christianity of Christmas should be on display. The homeowners association that ordered the removal of the nativity scene display last week sent a letter of retraction and apology. Already this year, religious groups have taken aim at retail giants such as Wal-Mart and Target for replacing Christmas with fuzzier "holiday" greetings, to say nothing of the annual battles over local governments building nativity scenes in the public square. DAVID YOUKHANA ARIZONA Real Estate-Relocation-Investment Associate Broker Certified Commercial Sales Specialist Realty USA southwest Glendale, Arizona 85310 Click Photo For More Information 602-410-9555 The dispute also reinvigorates the issue of what rights homeowners have to wear their beliefs on their front yards. When homeowners join neighborhood or condominium associations, Michigan courts have said they must abide by the rules the group sets. Early this year, for example, a judge said a Macomb Township veteran could not fly a Marine Corps flag from the front of his condominium because having it there violated association rules. Last week, Joe's parents, Betty and Frank Samona, received a notice from the community association that sets regulations in their upscale Tollgate Woods subdivision. It said the family may be violating rules that prohibit lawn ornaments, statues or outdoor art from being placed on the lot without prior approval of the board of directors.  Then it simply says: "Please remove the nativity scene display from your front yard." Joe, an outspoken high school student, said the family takes great pride in the holiday decorations it pulls out of the basement every year, which also include a Santa and Mrs. Claus and Minnie Mouse and Winnie the Pooh outfitted in red for the holidays. The family, which includes three other sons, lived in Southfield for 23 years prior to moving to Novi. The mother, Batoul (Betty), agreed with her son Joseph. Every year for the last three years, Betty Samona set up the display the week before Thanksgiving outside her home near Meadowbrook and 12 Mile roads. She said the display is important to her because it symbolizes what Christmas is about and it's a tradition for her Christian-Iraqi family. "I cried when I heard what they wanted me to do," Betty said. "How I am going to take out Jesus, Joseph and Mary?" she said, near tears. "I feel like putting out more things." Family members said they have received nothing but praise and support from neighbors they know and from strangers who pass by and encourage them to keep the display. Reports from Sweden by Afram Barryakoub M+ Going Strong Despite Defeat A report from Afram Barryakoub in Sweden (ZNDA: Norrköping)  On 26 November, during the third round of Junior Eurovision Song Contest, Sweden was represented by two Assyrians, Maria Chabo and Maria Josefson. Both girls are 15 years old and won Lilla Melodifestivalen as M+ (click here). Maria Chabo and Maria Josefson of M+ Maria Chabo and Maria Josefson live in Norrköping, Sweden. They became close friends in the 7th grade and started singing and writing music together. They regularly perform at school and sing their own songs as well as cover versions. Maria Chabo is the leader of a youth church choir. Maria Josefson likes dancing.  The Third Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in Hasselt, Belgium, before a live audience of 8,500 at the brand new Ethias Arena.   M+, to the dismay of their thousands of fans, did not win.  They performed their winning song, "Gränslös kärlek” (Endless Love) in English (click here).  The winner were Kseniya Sitnik from Belarus taking the title with the song ‘We Are Together’, ahead of second-placed Antonio José from Spain and Norway’s Malin in third. Kseniya was presented with a trophy designed by local student Liesbeth Pieters. A total of 71 artists from 16 countries took part in the contest this year. The two and a quarter hour show, hosted by Maureen Louys and Marcel Vanthilt, included performances from Cirque du Soleil and María Isabel from Spain, the winner of last year’s contest who already has released her second album, ‘Número 2’. The show’s grand opening featured drummers, bungee jumpers and pyrotechnics and was developed by Dirk Decloedt, the man behind shows of superstars like Céline Dion. The stage was the largest ever used for the Junior contest and was lit by 100,000 LEDs to create the look and feel of a huge rock concert. Once again, the artists’ Green Room was situated amid the audience. Junior Eurovision 2006 will take place in Bucharest, Romania and will be organised by Romanian broadcaster TVR. M+ and their fans were shocked by the results of the contest as the two Marias were very confident they would reach the top three spots. The defeat, however, has made the girls more determined in pursuing their goals:  "We know we're good' it’s Europe that has a bad taste", M+ reportedly commented to a Swedish magazine. M+ has already been contacted by a music studio to produce their first CD in English. Assyrian Poetry Festival in Sweden (ZNDA: Södertälje)  On 3 December the Cultural Committee of the Assyrian Federation of Sweden (ARS) organized a poetry festival at the Assyrian club in Södertälje.   Fourteen Assyrian poets recited their poems in both eastern (Surith) and western (Suryoyo) Assyrian dialects. The festival, named the “Fraydoun Atoraya Poetry Festival”, attracted some one hundred interested individuals.   Dr. Atouraya was an Assyrian nationalist credited, along with a few other compatriots, for the Assyrian national movement at the turn of the last century.   He was later arrested by the Russian government and killed in prison. Nearly every poem recited dealt with Assyrian identity and the struggle for Assyria. The other subject of interest by a few poets was love. The participating poets were: Michael David, Pauls Dinkha, Phinkhis Shamoun, Aziz Hawsho, Jalal Yaldiko, Dr. Gabriel Ousi, Michael Mammoo, Gabriel Afram, Hammurabi Bahe, Yacoub Chanko Ashour Odisho, Sleman Galle, Najwa Kanon, and Sabri Isho. Aziz Poli, one of the persons behind this initiative commented afterwards: “We have learned things on this day and we hope to arrange an even better poetry festival next year”. Each of the poets received a book on the Assyrian culture and a little medallion. The crowd expressed appreciation for the festival, but also remarked that it was somewhat too long. Later in the evening the attendees enjoyed a party featuring musical performances by Babylonia and Ninsun Poli. Assyrian Women Celebrate 25 Year Jubilee (ZNDA: Södertälje)  On 4 December the 25-year jubilee of the Assyrian Women's Association was celebrated at the Assyrian Cultural Club in the Assyrian stronghold, Södertälje, Sweden. Chamiram Khouri Twenty five years ago a few Assyrian women established an association by and for Assyrian women in Sweden. Today, the Assyrian Women's Association of Sweden (AKF) is the largest women's association for the Assyrian women in Europe with some four thousand members. The Assyrian woman of the year was also announced at this event, an honor given this year to Ms Norma Bahe–Saadi.  The current chairwoman of AKF, Ms Chamiram Khouri explained why Ms Norma recieved the prize: “Norma Bahe–Saadi is one of our best known ladies who has worked secretly in Assyria. Birgitta Olsson When her husband, Mr. Bashir Saadi, was arrested and tortured by the Syrian police I asked her how she was holding on and she replied “I feel fine; we have to be arrested and tortured.  If we are not arrested and tortured it will not be known that we are working for our people, we have to give sacrifices”. And when I called her recently and told her about the prize she was overwhelmed but at the same time she said “ I don’t know if I am worthy of this prize”. Birgitta Olsson, a well known Swedish feminist gave a well received speech and demonstrated her impressive knowledge of the Assyrians .Birgitta, who is currently working on a study on gender issues among Assyrians said: "It was very nice to be here and see how many well-educated and intellectual Assyrian women there are.  Clearly, there has been a tremendous transformation for assyrian women during those twenty five years." Izla and Ninive Many attendees including, Izla and Ninive, two young Assyrian women at this jubilee event, said they appreciated Birgitta Olsson's speech.  They commented:  "We think there are Assyrian women who are oppressed by their men, but we hope this will change with the new generation." The celebration included song performances and the recitation of a few poems.

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Focus on the Elections, Not the Synod

Professor S. Osipov, MD, PhD, DSc.
Russia

The discords in the Church of the East are normal, since they were imminent for a quite a while. As soon as the Assyrian world starts seeing some progress in the national political movement, our Church falls into a state of shock. This is due to the fact that for 2000 years the prelates of our Church controlled the spiritual as well as temporal power. Now they are afraid of losing control over the temporal domain, as above all this means revenue. That is why the apologist of the Holy Synod in fight against Mar Bawai Soro is Mar Meelis Zaia who, as we all know now, is a prominent businessman and an expert in financial machinations.

Our people: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs have to understand that nowadays we can only preserve our national identity through politics. We all have been, are and will always be Christian and we should not care how our hierarchs will divide their positions. The only important thing for us is to follow God. Leave the conflict in the Holy Synod to those who only think of their own well-being and not of the well-being of their people.

This is not the time for this! It is a question of life and death for our people at our historical motherland. All our attention should be concentrated on that. I am asking, first of all, the editorial board of Zinda Magazine to pay maximum attention to the upcoming elections on December 15, 2005 and to ask all our fellow Assyrians to participate in the elections and vote for 740. ADM is a real force, trying to protect the interests of our people in Iraq.

As for His Grace Mar Bawai Soro, I am asking him to agree with the decision of the Holy Synod to be transferred to Russia. He is such a great intellectual and very intelligent person; it will be wonderful to have him in Russia, in a country with such intellectual power.

Finally, I would like to say that for many years I have been collaborating with Mr. Sargon Dadesho. Believe me his days are over. Today all he dreams of is the crown of Sargon III. Give him this toy and let him be happy. May be then he will stop pouring out dirt on ADM.

Translated from Russian by Nina Georgizova.

Sound Policies of Zowaa

Bailis Yamlikha Shamun
North Carolina

I enjoyed reading Dr. Edward Odisho’s in-depth analysis of the political realities of the region and the Assyrian Democratic Movement’s ideology and its implications - Issue 63, November 30, 2005. To have a political party that is recognized not only by the Iraqi government and institutions, but also by those of the neighboring countries (indeed even by the US authorities) is a new phenomenon among our people, and reflects well on ADM and its strategy and manner of operation.

ZOWA’A has managed to successfully stress our rights while maneuvering to maintain balance by developing and promoting relationships with others on the scene. These are signs of political maturity and should be rewarded by people of goodwill. To me, two of ADM’s most important achievements have been its attempts at uniting the many segments of our people, and the establishment of some thirty or so schools to preserve our language. The benefits of this very sound policy will positively affect future generations for a long time to come.

The Assyrian Democratic Movement (ZOWA’A) has earned and deserves the moral and material support of our AssyrianChaldeanSyriac people. It is the only one of our groups that has the material and manpower resources, the organizational requirements, and the political recognition and sophistication needed to produce the desired results.

Iraqi Elections Are Irrelevant When it Comes
to Assyrian Rights

Jonathan S. Davidson, M.D.
California

We are currently being bombarded by political propaganda regarding various slates supported by Assyrian political groups. The fact is hat the largest Assyrian population in Iraq , ‘The Chaldeans’ under direction of their religious leaders have exhibited no interest in securing any national or self governance rights . The remaining Assyrian population cannot secure enough votes to elect representation of any significance in the future Iraqi parliament. Despite these fundamentals the war of words between the competing factions rages on.

It is not expected that any Assyrian elected member of the Iraqi parliament will formally demand Assyrian national rights in the current security environment in Iraq. Such a demand will surely mean a death sentence which most likely will be carried out by the current occupier of Northern Assyria. Those of us who reside in the safety and security of the ‘civilized west’ cannot in good faith demand that the residents of occupied Assyria publicly and aggressively pursue Assyrian national rights with no risk to ourselves.

Securing a seat in the Iraqi parliament , while not attainable by most Assyrian political factions, is a prerequisite for continued survival of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM). The ADM infrastructure benefits from the icon of a visible leader, who as a member of parliament creates photo opportunities which translate into influence in the Assyrian community. The leader of ADM, as a member of parliament, can also maintain a loyal following by granting favors and providing employment.

It appears that the neither ADM nor any other Assyrian political party is capable of securing any sort of meaningful national rights for Assyrians in Iraq. The sole beneficiary of the parliament seat will be the ADM and not necessarily the Assyrian nation. The current fight amongst Assyrian political groups in reality is not about securing a homeland or a province for Assyrians as we are lead to believe by all parties, but it is about the ADM attempting to maintain it’s infrastructure and about it’s opposition which is trying to destroy it.

Our National Goal is Our Priority

William Aprim
United States

Please receive our best wishes at this important time of the year, upcoming Christmas and the new year.

LINDA BADALOF RE/MAX Santa Clarita Buyer Specialist for Monica Barkley www.scvproperties.com Fluent in Assyrian COMPLIMENTARY 1-Year Home Warranty Plan Home Buyer's Pro Inspection Fall-Time Cleaning Service Call for details - Gifts not to exceed $1,000.00 - Provided at the close of escrow. 25101 The Old Road Santa Clarita, CA Direct: 661.284.5097 Cell:    661.645.4290 Yahoo ID: LindawithREMAX lbadalof@sbcglobal.net

As Assyrians and Christians we go back some times to a lot of thorough thinking about our roots, trying very hard to reconstruct what is being destroyed and long neglected. As history has dictated to us, such outlook is very thoughtful, resourcefully and healthy to the eyes and ears of our young generation, especially at times like today. Unfortunately, our religious leaders choose not to enlighten and make progress in this direction, but rather got tangled into meaningless selfish issues and confrontation about old in-updated standards that serve no purpose other than creating what we have today. Tens of thousand dollars have been spent for the recent Assyrian Church Synod, the time of which was carefully chosen and its deliberations pre-cooked. Despite the tireless efforts and pleas by certain intellectuals, historians, social and religious groups, who tried to convince the His Holiness Mar Dinkha, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the east, to maintain good wisdom, and preserve the wish of his Lord Jesus,, the Church decision came roaring anger and frustration against the wish of the real people, the faithful, who fall numb with misapprehension.

What worries most is the center of this whole issue, the National goal, which is today receiving no support and blessing from our prelates, in general. What is more glory and holy to us this time other than our concern about our legitimate human rights in Iraq? Is it a sin to preach about unity and helping the struggling sons and daughters of this nation who are working tirelessly, day and night, to find solutions and means to gain our national rights? Is it unholy to speak about the destruction of our land, homes, properties, and unlawful takeover of our land by the kurdish invaders? Is it unholy, or satanic, to reject being called Arab or Kurdish christian? Is it unholy to speak about the welfare of our poor AssyrianChaldeanSyriac people who were driven out away from their lands, homes, in the north of Iraq, as a result of the old regime’s atrocities, and the fear from political unrest in the area?

Thousands of families are now living in the neighboring Arab countries like Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Fierce winter conditions are approaching, as most of these people are living under conditions that are unacceptable to any conscientious person whether in politic or religious arena. This particular concern must be called holy and must be heard loudly in our daily prayers, and not smearing with dirt the dignity of those who are calling for unity, preserving peace and dignity of our people in Iraq.

In closing, we call upon the faithful, sons and daughters of this great nation, to be patient, alert and watchful for the preachers of evil who are working hard and trying vainly to destroy our well structured comprehension of this new beginning that is holding us together. We must be stronger that satan for we know that our Lord is among us because we honor and advocate his wish and teaching to remain faithful to his love for peace and unity among all people regardless of their religious inclinations. We must believe and work for one people, united, one nation, Assyria.

Lost on Location: Questioning Culture, Religion and Identities across Turkey and the Netherlands

Graduate Student Workshop
December 14-19th, 2005
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Over the last decades the term culture has achieved an unprecedented popularity in terms of organizing daily lives, providing ground for political mobilization, and becoming a significant analytical concept in a number of academic disciplines. The accelerating pace of the globalization process and problematization of the meta narratives of modernity have created a space in which the discourses on “authentic cultures of people” could emerge all over the world. Part and parcel of the “return to the roots” movements has been religious revivalism in both Turkey and the Netherlands. The attempts of diverse Muslim groups to achieve recognition and representation through cultural politics of difference have paved the way for challenging and negotiating ‘secular’ norms and values. These developments point to a crisis of Turkish and Dutch secular national identities in terms of representing the totality of Turkish and Dutch citizens.

Multiculturalism’s recent fall from grace in the Netherlands and ensuing debate over the compatibility of ‘Muslim identity’ with ‘Dutch norms and values’ take place concurrently with EU’s pressures on the Turkish government for introducing legal reforms that expand political rights of the minority groups. In both countries the unsettling of former certainties is influenced by transnational processes such as migration from Turkey to the Netherlands, EU integration, and traveling of signs and concepts through globalized media. These processes have been conducive to the destabilization of former identities and boundaries, together with the generation of new ones based on imaginaries that extend beyond national boundaries.

“Lost on Location” is an attempt to come to terms with recent processes in Turkey and in the Netherlands, inducing the destabilization of former boundaries between social groups and the repositioning of centers and margins that have engendered the formation and codification of new identities –secular, religious, national, subcultural, or transnational.

Among the speakers at this workshop is the Assyrian student, Mr. Nicholas al-Jeloo from Leiden University.  Mr. al-Jeloo will be discussing "The Dilemma of Turkey’s Assyrians: A minority Caught Between Homeland and Diaspora."  His presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 December, during a workshop between 10 am and 12:30 pm.

Assyrians and the Iraqi National Elections of December 15

Fred Aprim
California

Introduction

People sometimes ask me, why do you bother wasting so much time writing articles when people do not even care?

First, I tell them, the time I put into these articles is an investment and never a wasted time. Second, our people do care; but they show it when they see something that they could relate to, believe in, or issues that touches them profoundly. This is why sometimes I spend as much as two whole days writing some of those articles in Zinda; because I know that people do read them, they do care about what is happening to our people, and in some instances learn a thing or two.   Some might not agree with what I present in my articles, and that is okay.

Today, I want to come to you and talk about one of the most important issues facing our people at this stage of our modern history and that is the elections in Iraq.

On December 15, 2005, Iraqi voters will elect a new Iraqi Parliament. There are 307 political entities and 19 coalitions registered to contest for the 275 seats in the future parliament (Council of Representatives). This will be the third time this year that Iraqis will have gone to the polls. On January 30, 2005, Iraqis elected a Transitional National Assembly (transitional parliament). One of the responsibilities for that parliament was to write a draft constitution of Iraq. Iraqis approved the resulting document in a referendum held on October 15, despite the clear objection of Sunni Arabs and many Assyrians because of certain articles that were unfair to our people.

This new elected parliament will run the Iraqi affairs for the next 4 years, while the January 30 parliament was temporary. Therefore, the importance of these elections goes beyond saying.

Slates Represented by Our People

Here are the slates (lists) that include individuals who will represent our people:

A)  Slate 740 – al-Rafidayn

The list includes almost 80 candidates from the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), ChaldoAssyrian Syriac National Council, various civic societies, and independents. The list is headed by Mr. Younadam Kanna and includes many notables such as Louis Qlemis, Sarmad Ishaq BiDawid, Dr. Ricardos Yousif, Prof. Hanaa' Emmanuel al-Qas, and attorney Majdi Nabil Khadurri.

The 740 slate will compete throughout the 18 Iraqi provinces:

1. In Nineveh, led by former Minister of Migration and Displacement, Pascale Eshao Warda, and including Behnam 'Aboosh Abd al-Masih, Duraid Hikmat Tobiya, and Sliwo Masious Sliwo.
2. In Arbil, led by the current Minister of Science and Technology, Basima Yousif Potrus, and including Nadir Moshe Murad.
3. In Kirkuk, led by former Deputy Governor, Sargon Lazar, and including Lu'ai Mikha Elias, Mrs. Dolphin Aprim Gorial, and attorney Ashur Yalda Benyamin.
4. In Dohuk, led by Nisan Mirza, the head of the Assyrian Cultural Center, and including Riyad Girgis Baddi, and Mrs. Fadiya Karim.
5. In Basra, led by George Ishaq, Chief Editor of Bahra.
6. In al-Anbar, led by Mrs. Janet Rasho.

B)  Slate 752 – al-Nahrain Watani

Includes these groups and individuals:

1. Bet Nahrain National Union (led by Gewargis Khoshaba Michael).
2. Chaldean National Congress (led by Fo'ad Rahim Bodagh).
3. Assyrian Patriotic Party (APP) (led by Nimrod Baito Youkhana).
4. Suryan Independent Gathering Movement (led by Yashoo'a Majid Hadaya).
5. Chaldean Democratic Forum (led by Sa'eed Shamaya).
6. Hikmat Hakim, as Independent.

Certain of the above people were previously members of the Iraqi Communist Party. Of course, Communism rejects exclusive ethnic nationalism. I am puzzled here. How could people who believed in Communism switch from denying ethnic nationalism to cherishing it over night and defending Chaldean nationalism, for example? Many of these groups did not exist before the fall of Saddam in 2003.

C) Slate 800 – the General Assyrian Congress of Eshaya Eshoo.

Eshaya Eshoo was a member of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA). He later split and formed the AUA-Political Arm, a group which dissolved with time. He represents himself and few members of his tribe and relatives. One of the supporters of this group is Sargon Dadesho and his AssyriaSat television. Eshaya runs the Social Club in Chicago. The list includes these as its candidates:

1. In Baghdad -- Wilson Gabriel, Liza Nisan, Bahram Zaya
2. In Kirkuk -- Bassam Matti, Benyamin Nisan, Alice Nisan
3. In Mosul -- Edwar Hanna, Najib Hanna, Basima Zarko
4. In Dohuk -- Hani Endrawis, Habib Sa'eed.

D) Slate 620 – Mithal al-Aloosi List for Iraqi Nation

This includes the following groups: The Iraqi Federalist Gathering and the Iraqi National Party

While I respect Mithal al-Aloosi as an individual for his liberal views on Iraq as expressed on many media outlets, the fact remains that he will succeed to win a position for his slate in parliament from the many of the good and moderate Iraqi voters. His views are healthy, but Assyrians with their small numbers compared to the rest of the Arab and Kurdish Iraqis cannot afford to cast their vote to his group. Mr. al-Aloosi is guaranteed a position in parliament from the moderate Arab voters. We must vote for slates devoted for and by our own people first, since the Arab Shi'aa will support Shi'aa slate, the Arab Sunni will support Sunni slate, the Kurds will support Kurdish slate, and the Turkoman will support Turkoman slate. After Mr. al-Aloosi wins his seats, he and the Assyrians could cooperate in the parliament.

Two Assyrians are running on this slate:

1. Dr. Shimon Khamo. Earlier Dr. Khamo was a member of the Bet Nahrain Democratic Party (BNDP). He then formed his own group after his legal problems and the lawsuit by the BNDP of Sargon Dadesho. He joined other groups and became the Vice President for External Affairs with the Hizb al-Ahrar wa al-Ta'akhi al-'Araqi (Iraqi Liberals and Fraternity Party). However, Dr. Khamo and ten others in the party had their disagreements with the president of the party, Mr. Hussein al-Mosawi, and the 11 members resigned on October 28, 2005. After deliberations with Mr. Mithal al-Aloosi, the 11 individuals joined al-Aloosi and his list # 620.
2. Jacklin Zomaya (ran on the Kurdistani slate in the last election).

E) Slate 798 – Jabhat al-Khalas al-Watani (National Salvation Front).

It includes the Democratic Reconstruction and Justice Party and the Nasiri Forefront Socialist Party. The latter is a Pan-Arabist movement.

I understand that there is a member of the Bet Nahrain Democratic Party on this list. The name of that individual is unconfirmed. However, AssyriaSat did ask the viewers to vote for either 800 or 798.

F) Slate 730 – Kurdistani slate.

The only person that counts on our people and who is part of this slate is Abd al-Ahad Afram Sawa. Abd al-Ahad is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and has been for years. He has commitment to the KDP and continues to work for Kurdish goals in parliament. He secured his seat in the current parliament, which will dissolve after the new elections.

G) Slate 667 – al-Jabha al-Iraqiya li al-Hiwar al-Watani (Iraqi Front for National Dialogue).

This slate is joined by the Iraqi Christian Democratic Party of Minas al-Yousifi. Minas, who lived in Sweden, stated in an interview on al-Jazeera Arabic International Satellite TV station on July 1, 2003 that there was no difference between Christians and Moslem, or between Kurds, Chaldeans or Assyrians, etc. He rejected the leadership of the ADM in Iraq and claims that he is an umbrella for all Christians of Iraq. Some claim that he had allegiances to the Iraqi Communist Party and more recently to the Kurds and Masoud Barazani.

Why Should We Vote?

After the conclusion of World War I in 1918, the surrender and defeat of the Ottoman Empire, and the decision of the partition of that empire, the Assyrians (AssyroChaldeans or ChaldoAssyrians) and their case was on the agenda of the League of Nations in 1919. The Treaty of Sevres of 1920 instituted specifically the Assyrians (under the AssyroChaldeans title) and their rights in the post World War I political Middle East scene. Of course, in 1920 in Sevres, the defeated Ottoman Sultan was doing the negotiations with the victorious Allies. Sadly, the treaty was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923, which was negotiated by Kamal Attaturk's powerful new government in Ankara who refused to comply with the Treaty of Sevres signed by the weak then Sultan in Istanbul.

During the preparations to end the British mandate on Iraq in 1932 and the admittance of Iraq into the League of Nations, the Assyrian question was again addressed by the League. Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun tried hard to convince the League to bring the Assyrian claims to a mutual satisfaction of all parties involved. The League commission recommended specifically that the Assyrians must be settled homogenously in northern Iraq, i.e., some sort of an enclave and administrative area for the Assyrians; however, the British had other plans for Iraq. Since then, the Assyrian issue has been put of the shelves until the fall of Saddam's regime. Today, the Assyrian case and their rights for an administrative region similar to the Kurds is open again and is being discussed by the powerful nations. Many of us might not be aware of such thing. Many of our real leaders in Iraq might not be talking about it publicly because the time is not right to do so. However, the Assyrian case is alive. We must keep it that way. How, one might ask? I say through voting.

We must vote. This is the only way that we could tell the world that we exist. We cannot afford letting the world assume that we are only 50,000 around the world since that is the total number of votes our people cast in the January 2005 elections. We cannot demand greater things with a population of 50,000. We must show the world our true numbers and the only way we can do that at this time and with the lack of reliable census in Iraq is by voting.

If we do not vote, we do not exist politically. It is that simple.

Whom for Should I Cast my Vote?

That is a good question. To me, there is nothing simpler than this to answer. All that a person needs to do is to be objective and truthful with him/herself. Lets look at the slates above and the names of the candidates and ask ourselves after considering all that is around us, the complexity of the situation, and our real abilities: who, besides talking, has been there for our people in Iraq in the last 25 years? Who, besides talking, has accomplished anything for our people in Iraq in the last 25 years? Who was the first to put in motion the unity process, emphasized on its importance, and organized a conference in October 22-24, 2003 to bring our people together? Today, everybody wants to use that same concept of unity and that the Syriac-speaking Christians are ONE people as a powerful tool in their election campaign. The ADM envisioned the urgency of unity and sought it genuinely because it realized that we could not prosper in future Iraq if Chaldeans, Nestorians, and Jacobites did not come together again and forgot their sectarian divisions. Most importantly, whom do our people in Iraq really support, which was reflected in the past elections? The answer is clear, the ADM.

The Credentials of the ADM

The ADM has been struggling for Assyrians on the ground in Iraq since 1979. The ADM was part of the Iraqi opposition groups meetings in Beirut, London, New York, etc. Most importantly, and under the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, President Bush and the United States government recognized the ADM as a legitimate and democratic opposition group through Presidential Determination No. 2003-05. Why didn't President Bush recognize BNDP or APP for example? Because the Americans know very well who is behind the real Assyrian force in Iraq. The ADM participated in the 15-Member Iraqi Governing Council, in the first Iraqi transitional government of Ayad 'Alawi, and later in the transitional elected government of Ibrahim al-Ja'afari. More recently, the Arab League and its Secretary General Mr. 'Amro Mousa invited many Iraqi delegates, representing notables, parties, movements, and organizations to attend the Iraqi Dialogue Conference in Cairo and the ADM was there as it received a direct invitation.

You see the world is making it clear who has the experience, legitimacy, and is in the leadership position to lead the Assyrians in this critical transitional period.

Why is the ADM on a Separate Slate of 740?

Efforts were made to have all of our people in one slate; however many reasons prevented such efforts to materialize. Certain Christian personalities tried to link that proposed united slate to Christianity and to our church leaders. That was a dangerous path for the Assyrians to follow. In addition, there were disagreements on the principles by which this proposed cooperation was to be achieved, how they perceived our history, and the path this new united slate was to take in the future Iraq. Furthermore, certain of our people from abroad demanded high position in the proposed united slate even when they have no support in Iraq. As far as not being part of any Arab or Kurdish slate then the ADM made it clear that its slate takes pride in representing the Assyrian Chaldean Suryani people as a distinctive ethnic group and part of the Iraqi mosaic and not just as a Christian group. This stand has gained the ADM the admiration of many Iraqi secular and liberal groups.

Why Vote for the ADM and Slate 740?

How does one prove himself? Cheating the Assyrian people through empty talk will not work. When a group wants to prove itself and its legitimacy, it must persistently prove it through its deeds over the years. For example, if Bet Nahrain Democratic Party (BNDP) and Sargon Dadesho do not approve of the ADM, its policies, and its activities, then Dadesho must show what he and his group have achieved in the past and what is their national agenda. More importantly, he must show what steps he and his group have taken to achieve whatever it is that they are set to accomplish. However, what we have seen, and for two long years, are continuous attacks, smearing campaign, swearing, and bad mouthing of the ADM and its leadership through AssyriaSat, the mouthpiece of Mr. Dadesho. Is this how one proves that he is working for the Assyrian people? I say, show us what have you done. Prove that your achievements, if any, are better than those of the ADM. We must not just attack while doing nothing because we cannot win the support of the people that way. Putting others down and belittling them does not mean that one is better.

One cannot deceive the Assyrian people any more, not in this day of the Internet. This is not Biblical times. Genesis 27 describes how the near death and blind Isaac asked in privacy his first born son Esho for savory meat, which he loved, and promised him his blessings and how Esho went out to hunt for venison. It described as well how Rebekah overheard that talk and told her favorite son Jacob to bring back two good kids of the goats meat, then made Jacob feel like a hairy person like his brother Esho, took goodly raiment of Esho and put them on Jacob, and then sent him off to meet his father pretending to be Esho. Issac was deceived and he gave his best blessings to Jacob. The Assyrian people will not be deceived because they are not blind and they can see who is accomplishing what, who is really on the ground and giving one martyr after another for the Assyrian cause.

AssyriaSat and Sargon Dadesho on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 questioned that the two Assyrian members of the ADM who were pasting election campaign posters on a wall in Mosul were murdered. Dadesho stated that the photo showing the attacked white car the Assyrians were using was fake.
Do we not fear God any more?  Have we lost all decency and honor?

What is wrong with the Assyrian groups? Why are they so against the ADM? Why don't they just do their thing and prove themselves to the people?

Before I proceed, allow me to use the Bible again. Genesis 37 explains that Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age and that he made a richly ornamented robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Then Joseph told his brothers how he saw in his dream that he would reign over them and they hated him more. Finally, when Joseph was in the field with his brothers, they stripped him of his beautiful coat and later sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver who took Joseph to Egypt. We then read how Joseph became powerful in Egypt and how his brothers did indeed bow for him later in Egypt.

In Dora, Baghdad, and according to a report posted on www.ankawa.com a supporter of slate 800 hired three Arabs and paid them 15,000 Dinars each to paste the posters of slate 800 over the posters of slate 740, when there was enough space on the same wall to have the posters pasted somewhere else.

Why are the Assyrian political groups putting the ADM down and conspiring against it? Is it because the ADM is the only group that is truly accomplishing something and whom the Assyrian people in Iraq support more than the rest of them combined and more?

My fellow Assyrians,

The people are very much aware of who is really struggling on the ground in Iraq. They have spoken in the previous elections when the slate of the ADM won far more votes from all other Christian groups combined. The people will bless those who are doing the real work and they will translate that blessing through their vote for the slate that represents true unity in its ranks and file and to the slate that truly struggled for our progress and better future. While many other candidates joined non-Assyrian slates to guarantee a free ride to parliament through the large Arab or Kurdish voters, slate 740 is depending on the vote of our own people. This is were the ADM gets its strength. Those on the non-Assyrian slates have obligations to the programs of their corresponding slates. This is logical. Meanwhile, slate 800 whose supporters won some 7,000 seats in the last elections are destined to repeat that result according to all analysts. Even if they gained 10,000 votes, it will not be enough to secure a seat in parliament. My question to those truly patriotic Assyrians who are supporting slate 800, why waste your vote if you know that you cannot win? Why not empower the slate that proved to be a winner in the previous elections? Would you just waste your vote rather than giving it to another Assyrian winner? What kind of an Assyrian patriot are you?

• Vote on December 15, 2005
• Vote for the sake of the blood that our martyrs gave to our cause
• Be patriotic and vote for our united nation
• Vote for 740 because it is the right thing to do and because we should not waste our votes on losing slates.