The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Its 10 minutes past 11 on a beautiful Monday morning on the 14th of February.
A handful of Assyrian activists, a long with The Hon. David Clarke MLC are standing outside the American consulate in Sydney, waiting and wondering that if a peaceful demonstration to protest against the prevention of Assyrian participation in the Iraqi National Elections would transpire.
A few of us become anxious about the success of the day worried that no one else was coming. Then like a thunderstorm coming closer, the sound of drums beating gets louder, an army of 200 invade a usually quiet street (much to our relief) and march down to the steps of the US consulate chanting ?god bless America, god bless Australia, god bless Assyria?.
With only 2 police officers required to keep this protest peaceful, the program began with the first of many speakers.
Renee Dinkha a 21-year-old Assyrian Australian, spoke about the daily attacks on the Assyrian Christians in northern Iraq, in her maiden speech she pleaded for help from the US and Australian Governments. She outlined why the Assyrian people had come there to protest, the reasons behind the prevention of their voting, and mentioned that vote prevention was one of the many voting irregularities reported to have occurred. She outlined the concern all Assyrians around the world shared for the situation in Iraq. She said that the Elections in Iraq couldn?t be considered ?significantly successful? until such time that the Assyrian Christians were allowed to vote and the people who prevented the Assyrians from voting were condemned for their undemocratic behaviour. Renee then called on the Australian government to conduct its own impendent inquiry into the Iraqi national elections and if the investigation confirmed that Assyrians were purposely prevented from voting, the necessary measures be taken to ensure the complete integrity of Iraq?s first democratic election.
Then the guest speaker, The Hon. David Clarke MLC, walked on stage and opened by stressing that the protestors who had gathered there today, did so in support of Australia and America. All of us were united in our support for the coalition forces serving in Iraq and Mr Clarke on behalf of the people gathered there commended our soldiers and thanked them for the sacrifices they made for the freedom of all Iraqis. But the fact remains that Assyrian Christians who were oppressed under Saddam are still oppressed today, not only by an intolerant Islamic insurgency but also by the Kurdish Democratic Party, which wants to fuse its control of the area around northern Iraq. The Hon. David Clarke MLC urged the governments of the United States and Australia to not forget the small Christian nation, which sacrificed one third of its population to support the allies during both world wars and most recently the two gulf wars.
The Hon. David Clarke MLC then made an undertaking to the crowed of protesters, promising that he would personally see to the delivery of an official letter from the organisers of the protest, to the prime minister of Australia, The Hon John Howard PM.
Finally the demonstration outside the US Consulate ended with Nicholas Al-Jeloo, a long time advocate of Assyrian rights reading a passage from the official letter, (which is attached). Then handing one copy to The Hon David Clarke MLC and taking another copy to a representative of the US Consulate General in a symbolic gesture of good will.
I thank The Hon. David Clarke MLC for attending the demonstration and honouring the Assyrian Australian community with his kind words, I thank all of the organisers of the protest including, Samir Shiba, Adsen Iesho, Albert Iesho, Ninve Yakou, Renee Dinkha, Nichols Al-Jeloo, Janet Kenna, Aneeta Iesho and Kaise Stephan. The success of the protest is testimony to the effort made by the organisers, who managed to achieve such a large crowed in such a short time on a day like Valentines Day. The demonstration proved that the Assyrian Australians have the resolve to mobilise when needed and defend the rights of Assyrians in a country where too often their voice goes unheard.
Hopefully the success of the protest is not an end but a stepping-stone that will motivate a revival in a movement to secure the rights of Assyrians in their native homeland of northern Iraq.
Best Regards
Mr. Zaya Toma
