UK Arabic paper reports breakup of major Iraqi political blocs
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02 February 2007 (BBC Monitoring)
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[Report by Khulud Al-Amiri: "'Independent' Blocs Within Shi'i Unified Coalition and Sunni Al-Tawafuq Front"]
In an important indication that political blocs formed following the US occupation of Iraq are beginning to disintegrate, a number of Iraqi members of parliament have broken established alliances and formed smaller political groupings within the major blocs that had been formed on the basis of sectarian representation.
Taha Al-Luhaybi, secretary general of the Independent Iraqis Grouping, which stems from the Sunni Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front [Jabhat al-Tawafuq al-Iraqi], told Al-Hayat that "this grouping was formed as a result of the feelings of marginalization among independent deputies, and their desire to express their political vision more freely, especially since there are major differences in the country over some basic issues, such as holding dialogue with the groups that still carry arms and refuse to engage in the political process, and listening to their demands." He added: "This is in addition to other reasons that have led to the formation of this grouping, foremost among which is the sectarian stamp of Al-Tawafuq Front, and the desire of independent deputies to stay away from the rising sectarian tide, which has brought affliction on this country."
Al-Luhaybi said that "the grouping includes 11 independent members of parliament from the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front, including Sa'dun Al-Juburi, Adnan Dhiyab Ghanim, and Abd Mutlak Al-Juburi, as well as deputies from the National Reconciliation and Liberation Bloc [Kutlat al-Musalahah al-Wataniyah Wa al-Tahrir], who joined the Al-Tawafuq Front after the former leader of their bloc Mish'an al-Juburi was stripped of his immunity." He added that "three other members of parliament representing the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front, including Shaykh Ahmad Rakan, a prominent Al-Tawafuq Front deputy, have agreed to join the new grouping."
The secretary general of the Independent Iraqis Grouping also said that "the grouping has submitted a request for recognition as an independent political party under the same name." He added that "the grouping will organize its political affairs in order to take part in the upcoming elections, now that the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front has recognized it."
Moreover, Al-Luhaybi said that "the Independent Iraqis Grouping has its own spokesperson, who voices the groupings' views on the important political issues inside and outside the Parliament." He pointed out that "the grouping will not allow the Al-Tawafuq Front to make any major decisions without consulting the grouping, and it will not allow any party other than its spokesperson to speak on its behalf."
In the meantime, Qasim Dawud, the head of the Solidarity Bloc formed by a number of independent members of parliament belonging to the Unified Iraqi Coalition, said that "the bloc will be announced within the upcoming week and will present a comprehensive national plan that offers solutions to the country's political crisis, including building the state's security and services institutions, reinforcing the rule of law, and imposing the authority of the government in the street." He added that "the new bloc comprises a large number of independent members of the Unified Iraqi Coalition, including Aydah Al-Ta'y, Hanin Qaddu, Muhammad Al-Haydari, Shatha Al-Musawi, and others."
Dawud also said that "the bloc's doors are open to all members of parliament from the Unified Iraqi Coalition who may wish to join." He added: "The narrow and odious sectarian atmosphere and the fact that sectarianism is a major crisis that has exceeded all bounds, has made many parliamentary figures leave the path of sectarian rallying, shift to the broad path of the national plan, and stand firm in the face of congestion, which has been a major cause of the domestic migration of 1.7 million Iraqis, and the immigration of one million others to other countries."
Member of Parliament Harith Al-Ubaydi, who belongs to the Iraqi Al-Tawafuq Front, said that "the emergence of these blocs is a healthy experience provided the maintenance of unity and coherence within the major blocs from which these blocs have emerged." He added that "national awareness exists inside the Parliament" and that "these personalities are seeking to avoid sectarian and ethnic rallying, now that they have realized that sectarian rallying has caused the country to slide into this serious situation."
Source: Al-Hayat website, London
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