SAMAWA PROTESTS ESCALATING

Although the Japanese media has been paying less attention to this matter than might be expected, events on the ground in Samawa are getting rougher. Indeed, even the SDF Joint Staff Council Chairman, General Hajime Massaki, expressed concern yesterday about the situation in Samawa, and admitted that protests “are escalating.”

The current issue seems to revolve around a local power struggle between the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and their smaller and more radical rivals, the loyalists of Muqtada al-Sadr. On August 7th, large protests erupted in the streets of Samawa regarding poor living conditions. On the following day, al-Muthanna provincial councilors voted to sack the SCIRI-backed governor of the province, Muhammad al-Hassani. However, al-Hassani has refused to go, and seems to have maintained his support from SCIRI.

Meanwhile, a U.S.-educated senior official in Samawa, Muhammad al-Zaydi, has resigned his position under criticism. Also, on the night of the 10th, the houses of al-Muthanna councilors Abdallah Shanoon and Muhammad Hassuni were fired upon by unknown assailants, and two passersby were wounded in these attacks. On the same night, a large sound of an explosion was heard in central Samawa. The situation is so confused that Iraqi Prime Minister Jaafari is sending a special envoy to Samawa to try to resolve the crisis.

Finally, I present below a recent article from the Mainichi Shinbun. So far, only the Mainichi has made a serious attempt to analyze the current crisis in Samawa. The article has been translated by the Shingetsu Institute, and contains many points of interest.

WE NEED ELECTRICITY, WATER, AND ORDER!

Unsteady Reconstruction Becomes an Outlet for Peoples’ Dissatisfaction
Why Did People in Samawa Come to Be Against the SDF?
An Anti-Japan Group is Leading Series of Demonstration

By Muneo Takahashi and Yoso Furumoto

In Samawa, where an Iraq reconstruction assistance unit of SDF is currently operating, anti-Japan feeling is on the rise. The recent demonstrations are led by the Samawa branch of the Muqtada al-Sadr group, a formidable anti-American Shiite group. The SDF presence in Iraq has continued for about a year. Why did people in Iraq sympathize with anti-American hawks and come to be against SDF, even though they had welcomed SDF at first? Assistant reporters Muhammad Askari and Jafar Ahmad from the Mainichi Shinbun (both Iraqis) visited the scene and looked into the background.

Burning the Rising Sun Flag: “Withdraw the SDF Immediately!”

A crowd of approximately 400 Iraqi citizens shouted this slogan and marched around central Samawa. It was July 26th. The demonstration against the SDF continued three days in a row. This demonstates the expansion of the al-Sadr group, which once launched bloody clashes on the US forces.

The participants were displaying sun flags or boards on which “Withdraw the SDF Immediately!” slogan was written.

“We don’t need the SDF. We want electricity, water, and order!”

With this slogan shouted, a feverish participant burned a rising sun flag.

Many of the demonstrators are about 20 years old. Members of the Mahdi Army of the al-Sadr group had concealed guns.

Two hours later, the demonstrators reached the governor’s office. Governor Hassan of al-Muthanna told them, “I want to talk with your leader,” and talks took place for about an hour inside the building. The governor expressed his intention of increasing the electricity supply and asked them to calm down.

The chief of the branch, Galabi, who was among the al-Sadr group, and led the demonstration, was inaugurated in this March. He is known for his hawkish views and deeds. He said in a rage, “What the hell has the SDF ever done for the citizens? Only the US government is happy about their presence. We regard any country’s military force stationed in Iraq as the forces of occupation, and call for their immediate withdrawal.”

The Arrival of Militant Forces?

The chief of the branch Galabi denied any relation with the bombing on June, which was probably aimed at the SDF vehicles. On the other hand, he did hint at the possibility of armed conflict by saying, “We’re ready to be an affiliate with the groups of other sects like the Sunni militants in order to make the occupation troops withdraw.”

There’s an uneasy rumor that a militia force is expanding its power in southern Samawa. According to Chief Hilbad of the Samawa police, the police authorities have captured 18 armed militants since June in the desert suburbs, based on information from the Department of the Interior, and has confiscated trench mortar bombs, automated rifles, explosives, and so on. The chief strongly said, “Samawa remains the safest place in Iraq. We can’t tolerate the arrival of militant forces here.”

Despite such efforts, a jewelry shop owned by Mr. Saiq, chairman of the Japan-Iraq Friendship Association, was bombed on July 24th. Mr. Saiq has declared, “I’m not that surprised. Anything can happen in Iraq.” He didn’t say much, but the bombing was probably done by an anti-SDF group.

A Result of Excessive Hope

The stagnation of reconstruction forms the background that led to quite a few citizens agreeing with radical opinions such as that of the al-Sadr group.

Samawa is now intensely hot, and sometimes people have to bear temperatures of 50?. However, the electricity supply time is only about ten hours a day. People have to buy a big ice chunk and put it into their refrigerator every day because blackouts last for several hours. Expensive mineral water is taking the place of the contaminated city water, and the gasoline people use for power generation is a burden on household economies. High unemployment, as much as 50%, hasn’t shown any signs of improvement.

Mr. Hafagi (61), a leading member of the consultation organization consisting of influential people like local tribal leaders, criticized the anti-SDF feeling that is now spreading among citizens. He said, “the SDF is still our important guest. It’s shocking and a big disappointment that demonstrations or attacks on the SDF took place.” At the same time, however, he also complained, “since the end of the major battles, it has been more than two years, but there doesn’t seem to be any big change. It’s hard for me to understand why reconstruction has been so slow.”

This is probably one reason for the disappointment that people have felt about the SDF, with its image of “the advanced nation Japan.” Ms. Majid (58), who runs a variety store, glumly said, “I was delighted that the SDF had come to Samawa at first because I thought my son could have a job. However, our lives didn’t change. The SDF hide in their distant camp, and none of them visit my store. They just look down on poor people like us.”

A man, who simply said he was a driver, spoke quickly and furiously saying, “The SDF erected a monument, but Samawa’s craftsmen can do that. They painted a school building, but that’s also an easy job. Anybody can do it. I don’t think those are things which a G-8 member state should take the trouble to do.”

On the other hand, there are also sympathetic opinions toward the SDF. Mr. Hishami (27), a city official, pointed out, “the SDF is doing well, but people can’t help expecting more than what they are doing. Although the government and the U.S. army should be blamed for stagnant reconstruction, the neighboring SDF has become an outlet for their dissatisfaction.”

The Japanese Government Recognizes a Deterioration in Public Order

The government has to admit the deterioration of order, facing the fact that “anti-Japan” demonstrations and attacks targeted on the GSDF were repeated. Tsutomu Mori, a GSDF staff officer said, “Things are different from what they used to be.” The basic plan of the dispatch, which was based on the Iraq reconstruction special law, is going to expire on December 14th. However, the reality is that the plan is not to be discussed when the government decides their policy, because Prime Minister Koizumi has expressed his intention to decide whether or not the SDF dispatch should be extended. What is more, an executive of the Defense Agency said, “The government can’t handle anything other than the postal privatization bill at this moment.” Some say that they are unable to know the details of what is happening in the field, and can’t help staying on the alert.

The Democratic Party has asked for “an immediate withdrawal” of SDF members. If the postal privatization bill is voted down, the House of Representatives is dissolved, and the election is to be held, the SDF dispatch will surely be among the issues of the election. “Anti-Japan” demonstrations undoubtedly will become a big political liability for the government party, since they have put stress on the “welcomed SDF.”