The Assyrian Democratic Organization
By Emmanuel George Brikha
Fairfield(Australia) – fairfieldchampion — — Fairfield Assyrians met last week to discuss ways to raise general awareness of the plight of Assyrian Christians in Iraq and the Middle East.
More than 40 attended the meeting, at the Assyrian Sports and Cultural Club at Fairfield Heights, and met Gaby Kiwarkis, president of the Assyrian Levies (veterans) Association, to discuss ways to put pressure on the Federal Government to help Assyrians being persecuted in Iraq.
The meeting was held in response to the exodus of Assyrians from the Dora district of Baghdad, once an Assyrian stronghold. “Extremists have issued ultimatums, telling the Assyrians to leave their homes or face conversion or death,” Mr Kiwarkis said. “Almost 200,000 Assyrians are living on the streets of Jordan and Syria in tents with little food or clothes. “Some women have been forced to prostitution just to buy food.
There has been little done to help them. “In Jordan and Syria, they are not allowed the title of refugee, which would allow them international help.” Mr Kiwarkis said the Assyrian community wanted to stage a peaceful protest to make Australians aware. He said many local Assyrians were saddened and angered at the “ignorance” and “rejection” of Western governments. On May 24, an Assyrian community delegation went to Canberra to meet government officials.
The secretary of the Australian chapter of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Hermiz Shahen, of Bossley Park, said the delegation lodged a petition with Federal Parliament seeking a region for Assyrians in northern Iraq. “As a matter of urgency and importance, the delegates called upon the Australian Government to take some immediate action and lasting measures to address the major humanitarian crisis suffered by the Assyrian refugees and requested immediate emergency assistance,” he said.
