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Tiglath
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- Monday, June 6 2005, 16:34:49 (CEST) from 203.166.244.78 - 203-166-244-78.dyn.iinet.net.au  Australia -  Windows XP -  Internet ExplorerWebsite: Website title: |
Group Seeks Protection Courtesy of the Star Newspaper 31 May 2005 By Brigid Harkin (ZNDA: Sydney) The plight of Chaldo-Assyrians in Iraq was highlighted in Federal Parliament last week, but community groups fear little can be done to help their oppressed relatives. Prospect MP Chris Bowen introduced a petition to Parliament from the Chaldo-Assyrian community requesting the Australian Government establish a policy to protect the Iraqi minority group. The motion was seconded by Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou and passed on Monday 23 May. Victorian Chaldo-Assyrian Council treasurer and Campbellfield resident David Chibo believes the Australian, United States and British governments were responsible for the deaths of more than 1000 innocent Christian Assyrians in Iraq since the start of the war. Fears for family...Members of the Chaldo-Assyrian community (from left) Charib Kunda, Walid Bidweed, Yousif Fransis, Mikhael Hozi and David Chibo are concerned about the plight of the community in Iraq. Photo by Damjan Janevski. "They were also responsible for a further 50,000 Chaldo-Assyrian fleeing their homelands," Mr Chibo said. He said Federal Government had recognised the community's problems, but it was a far cry from addressing the problems. The Hume based Assyrian-Chaldean Women Association (ACWA) said it was glad the issue on the agenda, but questioned how it would stop the massacres in Iraq. ACWA treasurer Lyda Dankha questioned the government's commitment. "It's just a motion. Who is going to enforce it?" she said. She said since last August about 100,000 Chaldo-Assyrian people had fled Iraq and were stranded in surrounding countries such as Jordan or Turkey. "A solution would be if the issue was put on the Department of Immigration's agenda to look at the thousands of people stranded," Ms Dankha said. "Some of those people have been stranded for 11 years with no health or education rights, just hiding within communities. "But we are not really getting our hopes up." Mr Chibo suggested the [Australian] government needed to remove its troops from Iraq and provide economic assistance to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. He also suggested that Chaldo-Assyrian refugees who had fled Iraq as a result of the [Australian] Government's actions should be granted special status. "We pray for peace in our homeland," Mr Chibo said. Calwell MP Ms Vamvakinou said in recent months and years, churches and monasteries had been attacked and people had been killed. "We are talking about terrible atrocities which would undermine any community," she said. "It is important that the practice of ancient [Iraqi] customs, language and traditions be maintained and that all minority groups in Iraq be allowed freedom of expression and freedom of religion." http://www.zindamagazine.com/ThisWeek/6.4.05/pix/au_star.jpg Fears for family...Members of the Chaldo-Assyrian community (from left) Charib Kunda, Walid Bidweed, Yousif Fransis, Mikhael Hozi and David Chibo are concerned about the plight of the community in Iraq. Photo by Damjan Janevski. --------------------- |
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