Newsletter No. 1379
News-Analysis
June 13, 2009

 

The following newsletter has been contributed by Adam Lebowitz (Shingetsu Member No. 68). Lebowitz is based at Tsukuba University.

IRAQI DOCTOR CRITICIZES GOVERNMENT POLICY, PRAISES JAPANESE NGO EFFORTS

Baghdad-native Dr. Mohammed Nuri Shakil spoke on June 6th at the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. Dr. Shakil received his medical education in Iraq and worked in a hospital during the invasion. Death threats forced him to escape to Jordan, where he established the Amman office of the Kansai-based NGO Mercy Hands. Since 2007, he has been a student at Osaka University Medical School. His talk was sponsored by K9MP (Kempo Kyujo Message Project), one of the national associations concerned with the preservation of the “peace clause” Article Nine of the Constitution.

The main points of his talk were:

-- The Bush administration promised democracy but instead brought “seven painful D’s”: death, detainment, deepening of sectarian differences, displaced persons, delivery of terrorism, deprivation of human rights (especially for women), disease, and disability.

-- Professional society is being purposefully targeted by not only sectarians but also foreign governments to keep the country from rebuilding.

-- Japan’s SDF participation is seen by the Iraqis as part of the US/UK invasion and not a “humanitarian deployment.”

-- In contrast to the SDF, Japanese NGO assistance in Samawa was more effective and welcomed by the community.

-- The invasion has weakened the authority of the UN and is precedent for North Korea’s combative attitude regarding its nuclear weapon development.

Asked afterwards about life under Saddam Husain, Dr. Shakil, who has lost family and friends in the continuing violence, said most Iraqis dream about those days. He himself received his medical education free of charge under the regime, and says a hard leader is necessary when one is surrounded by enemies. Democracy may be in Iraq’s future, but only if the different elements of society are conciliated. He said it was the United States’ aim to set these elements against each other, which has now resulted in them becoming entrenched in political parties, each of whom control their own military.

As for the future of Iraq, Dr. Shakil stated that terrorism is foreign and will be dispelled by Iraqis as soon as US forces leave Baghdad. However, he has no illusions about the United States leaving the country completely, and cited bases in Japan as an example.

As for what Japan can do specifically to help Iraq, he suggested that an embassy be established; now he has to apply for visas in Jordan, and crossing the border is always uncertain and dangerous.