Assyrian Democratic Organization ADO
ZNDA: Brussels) A group of ChaldoAssyrians demonstrated with flags and banners in front of European Commission headquarters in Brussels, on Monday. ChaldoAssyrians, in several cities across the world on Monday, demonstrated against what they believe are voting irregularities during the recent Iraqi elections. Several ChaldoAssyrian organizations organized a large-scale demonstration in Brussels. This Europe-wide political action found a strong resonance, as over 1,000 participants rallied from Guetersloh/Paderborn, Wiesbaden, Augsburg/Munich in Germany, as well as from the Netherlands and France and began demonstrations at precisely 1 PM.
The demonstration moved along Rue Archimedes ? Rond POINT Schuman ? Rue Froissart ? Rue Juste Lipse onto the Place Jean Rey, in front of the European parliament.
Speeches in several languages were presented to the gathered crowd. Speakers included George Chachan (French), Melikan Kucam (Dutch), Abboud Zeitoune (German) and Lazar Sana (Arab). In their speeches they expressed the ChaldoAssyrain people’s dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Iraqi elections in the Nineveh Plains.
Mr. Jonas Sjoestedt, a member in the Konfoederalen parliamentary group of the European parliament addressed two current issues of political significance to the Assyrian organizations. These included the possible entry of Turkey in the European Union. He emphasized that such a move must accompany the full recognition of the Seyfo Genocide of 1915. The second issue is the situation in Iraq. He wished that in the next elections there would be a better possibility for general participation and that more rights and guarantees be given to the ChaldoAssyrian people.
Mr. Willy Fautre of the Human Rights Without Borders explained the necessity for granting democratic rights for the ChaldoAssyrian people in Iraq. He commented that the ChaldoAssyrians’ demands in the new Iraq are legitimate.
A few representatives from the Churches were at hand also. Rev. Semun Bagandi from Delbrueck affirmed the importance of the churches in the context of a nation and wished much success for the political leadership in reaching their goals. Mr. Ishak Younadem from Wiesbaden, Germany spoke on behalf of the Church of the East and wished people strength and co-operation in these times.
After conclusion of the demonstration a group of five delegates met with the Deputy President of the Parliament as well as with all leaders of the Parliamentary groups in the European Parliament. A dossier was presented to the officials in the European Parliament to better describe the current conditions in Iraq and the requests of the ChaldoAssyrians in that country.
