UN Iraq envoy says bloodshed must stop, time for dialogue

“Violence only begets violence; peaceful demonstrators must be protected. It is high time for national dialogue.”

Kurdistan 24 2019/11/05 09:34

middle east Iraq Iraq Protests UNAMI United Nations UN

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s United Nations representative has called for an end to the bloodshed as violent, nationwide protests continue to engulf the country.

In a tweet on Monday, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, said she was “appalled” with the ongoing violence in Iraq.

“Appalled by continued bloodshed in Iraq,” she wrote on Twitter. “People’s high frustration not to be underestimated or misread.”

“Violence only begets violence; peaceful demonstrators must be protected. It is high time for national dialogue.”

Appalled by continued bloodshed in Iraq. People’s high frustration not to be underestimated or misread. Violence only begets violence, peaceful demonstrators must be protected. It is high time for national dialogue.
— Jeanine Hennis (@JeanineHennis) November 4, 2019

Hennis-Plasschaert’s comments come amid widespread demonstrations in Iraq’s central and southern provinces that have left over 250 people dead and thousands injured.

The UN representative notably visited the Tahrir Square in Baghdad last week “to engage” with demonstrators, a statement the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) published said.

The demonstrators are calling for radical change in Iraq’s political system, which they say fails to address their needs, but, rather, serves the interests of a small governing elite.

The protests over the past month reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, including high levels of unemployment, the dismal state of public services, and widespread government corruption.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi called for an end to the nationwide protests, which he complained are affecting the country’s economy.

Demonstrators have used tires, stones, and metals to block the main entrance to Iraq’s main Gulf port, Umm Qasr, which receives imports of grain, vegetable oils, and sugar shipments and is one of the most significant ports in Iraq.