BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: A member of al-Iraqiya Bloc, led by former PrimeMinister Iyad Allawi, Salim al-Jiboury, on Tuesday expressed surprise for thecampaign of detentions, carried out by the Military Forces in northeast Iraq'sDiala Province, against its officials, following its announcement as anindependent Region.
"Theonly thing Members of Diala Province's Council Members have done, was supporttheir opinion and struggle to achieve Diala's interests," Jiboury said ina statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
"Theproclamation of Diala as a 'Region' wasnot directed against any party, but took place in the interest of Diala'speople," he stressed.
Jiboury, whoalso holds the position of the Parliament's Human Rights Committee, said,"the announcement took place due to the feelings of Diala Province's inhabitants of marginalization anddetentions that covered a large number of people, in addition to keeping awayand discharging efficient elements, unemployment and funds that are not paideasily, along with absence of public services."
Jiboury alsocondemned the "process of detaining of Diala Council's member, ZiyadDalawi and Chairman of al-Iraqiya Bloc in Diala , Katab al-Sultany,"describing the measures taken by the said Forces as "primitive."
The localauthorities in Diala Province had announced their intention to transform theProvince into an administratively and financially independent "Region," along with keeping theunity of Iraq and commitment to the Constitution, after the signing of themajority of the Province's Council Members of a decision to form the 'Region,'according to the measures, cited by the Law.
Noteworthy isthat the Iraqi Constitution, announced in 2005, allows the formation of suchRegions, on condition of getting the approval of one-third of any Province'sCouncil members or a demand by one-tenth of the electorates in those provinces,before carrying out a referendum toaccept or reject the decision by the majority of the electorates.
© Aswat Aliraq 2011
