Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Campaign to liquidate 3,000 Baathists in southern Iraq
Security, Politics, Employment
(Azzaman) - Militias belonging to Shiite religious factions in southern Iraq have embarked on a murderous campaign to liquidate 3,000 members of the Baath party of former leader Saddam Hussein. The campaign is reported to have terrorized residential quarters in several cities in the south since scores of former Baathists have been killed recently in the area.
Informed sources refusing to be named said the militias have 3,000 more names on their ‘liquidation lists’ and many former Baathists are reported to have gone into hiding. The so-called policy of debaathification, started by the first U.S. Iraq consul Paul Bremer, is believed to be one of the reasons behind current violence and instability in the country.
Former Baathists were banned from assuming posts in the government or employment in the public sector. Many had their property and belongings expropriated. As a result hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs and means of living, fueling resentment and anger at U.S. occupation troops and the government.
Analysts say the militias are keen to liquidate as many former Baathists as possible before the parliament, under pressure from the U.S., reverses measures that have led to their dismissal from government jobs.
Informed sources refusing to be named said the militias have 3,000 more names on their ‘liquidation lists’ and many former Baathists are reported to have gone into hiding. The so-called policy of debaathification, started by the first U.S. Iraq consul Paul Bremer, is believed to be one of the reasons behind current violence and instability in the country.
Former Baathists were banned from assuming posts in the government or employment in the public sector. Many had their property and belongings expropriated. As a result hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs and means of living, fueling resentment and anger at U.S. occupation troops and the government.
Analysts say the militias are keen to liquidate as many former Baathists as possible before the parliament, under pressure from the U.S., reverses measures that have led to their dismissal from government jobs.
Labels: Baathists, Shia militias, southern Iraq
