Monday, April 02, 2007
Al Hashimi calls on Iraqis to unite
Security, Politics
(AP) - Vice president Tariq Al Hashimi called Sunnis and Shias Sunday to abandon acts of revenge and live together in peace adding the armed forces should treat people fairly. In a televised speech marking Islam’s Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, Al Hashimi also called for reviewing the issue of detainees so that those who are innocent be released.’ Thousands of Iraqi suspected insurgents or militiamen are being held in detention centers, run by Iraqi and foreign forces, in different parts of the country.
Al Hashimi, a Sunni Muslim, then called for activating the general amnesty which is the basis for reconciliation and this also include detention centers of foreign forces so that there will be no thousands of young men held without justification.’ Sectarian killings between the country’s Shia majority and Sunni minority have left tens of thousands of Iraqis dead in the past few years. US and Iraqi forces launched a major security plan in February in an attempt to try to pacify Baghdad.
Hundreds of thousands of us have fallen martyrs or maimed. Millions of Iraqis immigrated and there are thousands of detainees. Hasn’t the time come for an objective review to know that all of us, Sunnis and Shias, only have one alternative which is coexistence and change the culture of revenge with the culture of forgiveness,’ said Al Hashimi, one of two vice presidents. Our moral responsibility tells us to stop blood shedding and activate reconciliation so that immigrants return and the problem of unemployment is solved,’ said Al Hashimi during his 20-minute speech aired live on state-run Iraqiya television.
Al Hashimi, a Sunni Muslim, then called for activating the general amnesty which is the basis for reconciliation and this also include detention centers of foreign forces so that there will be no thousands of young men held without justification.’ Sectarian killings between the country’s Shia majority and Sunni minority have left tens of thousands of Iraqis dead in the past few years. US and Iraqi forces launched a major security plan in February in an attempt to try to pacify Baghdad.
Hundreds of thousands of us have fallen martyrs or maimed. Millions of Iraqis immigrated and there are thousands of detainees. Hasn’t the time come for an objective review to know that all of us, Sunnis and Shias, only have one alternative which is coexistence and change the culture of revenge with the culture of forgiveness,’ said Al Hashimi, one of two vice presidents. Our moral responsibility tells us to stop blood shedding and activate reconciliation so that immigrants return and the problem of unemployment is solved,’ said Al Hashimi during his 20-minute speech aired live on state-run Iraqiya television.
In an apparent reference to complaints by some Sunnis that Iraqi security forces are infiltrated by Shia militias, Al Hashimi said relations between the armed forces and the people are not as we wish and this should be treated in order to restore confidence. I call upon the armed forces to help the people and we expect a lot from them.’ I call Iraqis, Sunnis and Shias, not to give the enemies a chance and beware of their bad intentions,’ Al Hashimi said without naming the enemies.
Labels: Tariq al-Hashimi
