It will be a vote for unity in Iraq

Baghdad: Polls opened in Iraq's crucial provincial elections on Saturday, officials said as young voters were eager to see a return of a strong, central government.

Despite tight security in place, the elections were marred by a shooting in Baghdad that left one person killed and another one injured, the military said.

Military spokesman Major General Qassim Al Moussawi told Al Arabiya television that the shooting happened after some people tried to carry mobile phones through security cordons.

Shiite lawmaker Ghufran Al Saidi, however, said that a military officer opened fire on Saturday after voters chanted slogans at a polling station.

Thousands of police are guarding polling centres across the country and voters are being checked for explosives. Tight security also includes driving bans in major cities and the closing of borders and airports.

Dream for unity

At Baghdad University located on the banks of the Tigris River in the Jadiriyah district, young people dream of the possibility that Saturday's vote may lead towards achieving the dream of a unified government.

"Frankly, I will vote for candidates of Daawa party, led by Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. He is the only political leader who can restore the strong central rule. Such strong central rule is absolutely necessary to maintain the unity of Iraq and to prevent its division," Amer Moaiad, an engineering student, told Gulf News.

On the other side of the Tigris and opposite the University of Baghdad, lies the Dora district which is known for its bloody events. Its neighbourhood is home to Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Shiites and Christians and is known for violence. Even the writings on the walls call for attacking candidates of rival parties.

"I will not vote for any candidate who has encouraged sectarian tendencies. I know all the candidates and their backgrounds. I will vote for those who will strive for peace and unity," Umm Hussain, a housewife living in Al Mechanic neighbourhood in the Dora district, told Gulf News.

More than 20-30km from the Dora towards south of Baghdad, people living in Al Yousufiya, Al Mahmudiya and Al Latifiya, which were reffered to as the Triangle of Death, still suffer from a severe shortage of drinking water and power.

Health services are poor. Although security has improved, the areas are hit by deadly diseases including measles and cholera. Dozens of children fell victims to the diseases due to the lack of vaccines.

Nasser Al Janabi, a car mechanic of the Gurf Al Sakhar area near Al Latifiya district said: "I will give my vote to the candidates with integrity and honour, regardless of their sectarian or ethnic or party affiliations because the main problem in Al Latifiya and Al Mahmudiya and Al Yousufiya is administrative and financial corruption among the staff and managers of essential services sectors. Such corrupt candidates must lose in the elections."

And about 160km from Baghdad is the Shiite holy province of Najaf, which includes the tomb of Imam Ali, and the Office of the highest religious authority Ali Al Sistani, where candidates from lists of the most prominent Shiite parties are competing; They are the Supreme Islamic Council led by Saeed Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr, whose supporters take part in elections with separate lists and the national trend of reform of the former Prime Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari, in addition to the list of Al Maliki and Fadhila Party.

"Certainly, I will vote for candidates affiliated to the religious authority, and I think that many of the people of Najaf will do so. Nevertheless, I have a strong desire to vote for a change. This is very important for the people," Hamid Al Harris, an official at the agriculture institution in Najaf, told Gulf News.

In far south, which overlooks the Arabian Gulf waters, the province of Basra, where voters rejected two weeks ago to transform the city into a special region, most residents hope that the results will bring in new talent to improve the local government councils.

Abdul Salam Al Assadi, a taxi driver who lives in Al Haretha area in Basra, told Gulf News, "we want people who work more than they promise. Although our city of Basra, is the richest Iraqi city, the economic conditions are deplorable.

There is a desire among the people to vote out the old faces who have failed to achieve anything for Basra. We want to vote for young talent.

In large Sunni cities such as Mosul, Ramadi and Tikrit, the voters want those candidates who would work toards reconciliation of various sects and unity.

"Without a doubt, I will give my vote to those who want to fight corruption. I will also vote for those who promote moderation," Faris Al Dulaimi, a teacher Ramadi, the capital of Al Anbar province told Gulf News.

Iraq's provincial councils are responsible for nominating the governors who lead the administration, and oversee finance and reconstruction projects. They control a combined budget of $2.4 billion. Security forces remain under federal government control.

The United Nations and Iraq's Independent High Election Commission is organising the elections, with 800 international observers expected to oversee the balloting.

The vote will not include the three autonomous Kurdish provinces - Arbil, Dohuk and Sulaimaniyah, all in the north.

Elections have been postponed in the oil-rich Kirkuk province, which the Kurds want to incorporate despite fierce opposition by the central government.

Do you think the elections will make a difference? Will the provincial elections bring forth a government that is a better representation of Iraqi society? What are the most critical issues for the Iraqi population? Can the politicians address these isssues?

Of course today's elections will make a difference, as the previous elections did by bringing Al Maleki to power who already improved the security situation and reduced sectarian violence and frictions. It will also give a chance for those who boycotted the previous elections to re-enter the democratic process and choose their legitimate representatives. This will in turn widen the participation in the decision-making process.While the election will not bring about an immediate solution to the critical issues facing the Iraqi population which includes restoration of essential utilities such as water, electricity, fuel, sanitation, transport, medical service, economic development and employment; however it will certainly improve the situation gradually.It is a strategic step in the right direction.
W Shubbar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: January 31, 2009, 13:15

Thank you for your reports on Iraq, I always look forward to them, I think that the elections will make a big change in the Iraqi society because all the people would be represented in these elections and I hope that these elections will unite all the Iraqi people .
suha
Baghdad,Iraq
Posted: January 31, 2009, 12:59