UN urges Iraqi government to meet demands in Basra as protests flare
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The United Nations on Wednesday urged calm as renewed protests turned violent in the oil-rich province of Basra over poor public services and corruption. The international organization also called for a speedy formation of the new Iraqi government to tackle the nation's persistent problems.
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq Ján Kubiš on Wednesday expressed “grave concern over the casualties during violent protests over the lack of critical public services in Basra.”
At least five protesters died the previous day and 30 others injured as crowds in Basra took to the streets. The protests initially began in early July and spread to several southern and central provinces, including the capital. Recently, reports of mass poisonings by poor quality drinking water in Basra resparked demonstrations there.
Kubiš said the UN was calling for “calm and urges the authorities to avoid using disproportionate, lethal force against the demonstrators, provide the necessary protection for the people of Basra, ensure human rights while protecting law and order, and investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the outbreak of the violence.”
In his statement, he urged the federal government of Iraq to do its utmost to respond to the people’s rightful demands for clean water and electricity as a matter of urgency.
The message comes as Iraqi parties compete in negotiations over the formation of the new government following the contested May 12 national election, leaving Iraqi governance in limbo.
“Kubiš urges political leaders and the newly elected Council of Representatives to assume their duties and act responsibly and without delay, including taking all the necessary steps to expeditiously agree on a new national, patriotic and pro-reform government that will quickly and effectively respond to the people’s longstanding needs and deliver on their basic demands of water and electricity and the longer-term goal of job creation and life in dignity,” the statement read.
“Long-term stability and improved economic performance go hand-in-hand, and tackling these challenges rests with the political leaders uniting and working together in the national interest.”
On Tuesday, after convening for the second day in the row, the Iraqi Parliament failed to elect a speaker and deputies, a necessary early step in the process of forming the government. As a result of intense competition between the various blocs, no vote was held on the appointments. The temporary leader of the body Mohammed Ali Zaini, suspended once more the first session, noting that it would reconvene on Sep. 15 to elect a speaker.
On Friday, the UN announced that it had appointed former Dutch defense minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert to replace Kubiš in the coming weeks as its main envoy to Iraq.
Editing by John J. Catherine