KTFA Members "Iraq Thursday News" 11-21-19
KTFA:
Samson: Reuters: 40 dead and wounded using security bombs against protesters in Baghdad
21st November, 2019
At least two protesters were killed and dozens wounded in an attempt by security forces to break up demonstrations near a bridge in central Baghdad, Reuters news agency reported on Thursday.
Two people were killed and 38 wounded after Iraqi security forces used tear gas against demonstrators in Baghdad, Reuters reported in an urgent report. LINK
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Samson: Unknown gunmen set fire to parliament office in southern Iraq
21st November, 2019
Unidentified persons set fire to the office of the House of Representatives in the southernmost province of Basra, a local official said on Thursday.
The source told Twilight News, that a fire broke out inside the Office of the House of Representatives in Basra by tires used by unidentified people at dawn today.
The source added that the fire brigades of the civil defense were able to fight the fire and prevent its spread. LINK
Samson: Economists: The Biggest Corruption Exists In The Central Bank And Currency Auction
21st November, 2019
Economists expressed their opinion on the actions of the Iraqi Integrity Commission on fighting corruption and corrupt in the Iraqi state, indicating that it dropped the secondary figures and left the "big", stressing that the largest corruption exists in the central bank and auction currency.
The Iraqi economic expert, Majid al-Suri, in a press statement followed by the "independent" on Wednesday, "The corruption files that have been raised are just simple issues in the large corruption files that concern projects in most state institutions."
He added, “To refer to the reports of the Audit Bureau since 2005 and so far, there is a fixation of very large cases of corruption, especially with regard to the file of electricity and defense deals and the entry of ISIS, and these very large files of corruption shaking thrones, but unfortunately not addressed, because Senior officials are involved and cannot condemn themselves.”
He pointed out that "one of the main causes of corruption is the lack of real institutions in the Iraqi state, as evidenced by the contradiction between the ministries and their decisions, as well as the lack of application of laws, including the law on financial management and public debt, which has not been applied since 2003 and so far."
For his part, said professor of economics at the University of Wasit Ahmed al-Atwani, "the pursuit of the figures involved in corruption is much more important than the follow-up of corruption sites to catch young corrupt," pointing out that "quotas made the fight against corruption difficult."
He added, "The largest corruption exists in the central bank and auction currency, but those files are difficult to disclose because the corrupt have wide ways to circumvent in this framework."
He pointed out that "the size of corruption is estimated at 183 billion dollars, but the failure to follow up on these files due to structural imbalance in anti-corruption bodies."
The professor of political science at the University of Baghdad, Atheer al-Jasser, in a statement :, "The presentation of these files at the moment can not be read only in the context of absorbing public anger, and can not be taken seriously." "If the Palestinian Authority wanted to succeed in absorbing the anger, it would have toppled the big political figures and the president involved in corruption cases."
He pointed out that "there is no longer any confidence between the Iraqi street and governments, and put corruption files in any formula will not only push Iraqis to question what is hidden from those files," pointing out that "the most important question now is who is held accountable?"
There is a state of distrust of the entire political class. There is no confidence in its seriousness in the anti-corruption process.” LINK
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Samson: Fisherman: The law "Where do you get this" will eliminate money laundering and corruption
22:58 - 20/11/2019
Between the independent MP Kazem al-Sayadi, Wednesday, that the law "from where you this" will eliminate money laundering and corruption, pointing out that the popular pressure is the law that restored "graft" to the interface.
"The political forces have lost their confidence with themselves and the street," Sayadi said in a televised statement.
He added that "the money dissolved their contracts allocated to them from recycling funds, they have a service for more than five years and deserve to return, as their return will make the people satisfied with the state."
He added: "The constitution was born dead and will not be able to breathe life to Iraq," pointing out that "popular pressure is the restoration of the law of graft to the interface, in addition, the law from where you will eliminate money laundering and corruption." LINK
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Samson: Parliament asked to open an investigation into the involvement of officers in the Interior to introduce drugs
2019-11-21 13:52
Rep. Alia Nassif renewed her request to the Integrity and Prosecution Authority to open an investigation into the case of the involvement of personalities and officers in the Ministry of Interior to bring drugs into the country.
"We have already revealed names of corrupt officers in the Ministry of Interior facilitating the introduction of narcotic crystal in addition to money laundering and many crimes in cooperation with the director of a financial transfer company," Nassif said in a statement received today. Someone who was in control."
"If the government and regulators are serious about meeting the demands of the demonstrators in the fight against corruption and referring the corrupt to the competent courts, then they should return to all our previous statements and statements that contain information and evidence of the crimes of these gangs, which have not taken any action to this day." LINK
Samson: Abadi: The people have not been suppressed since 2003 as they are now
2019-11-20 23:56
The head of the victory coalition, Haider al-Abadi, criticized the continued repression of the authorities to the demonstrators.
Abadi said in an interview about the government and demonstrations in the country against the political class since last October, he "stands against the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi because of the killing of Iraqi demonstrators." He stressed that "his parliamentary team insists on questioning the government and calls for early elections."
Commenting on the confrontation of protesters, Abadi said that "there has been no repression of the people since 2003, as is happening now," adding that "there was no such killing of demonstrators" during his presidency. He called for the release of the abductees and the preservation of public freedoms.
Asked about his quest to return to power, the former prime minister said: "I am not seeking to succeed Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to rule." LINK
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Samson: 3 years imprisonment for the former mayor of Hilla
2019/11/21 10:59
The Criminal Court of Babylon sentenced to three years in prison for the former mayor of Hilla and the head of the Procurement Committee for 2017 on issues related to waste of public money.
The Media Center of the Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement received by the Euphrates News, a copy of it, that "the second body in the Criminal Court of Babylon on the integrity issues sentenced to three years imprisonment for the former mayor of Hilla municipality and head of the procurement committee for 2017 in the same department."
He added that "the judgment comes based on the provisions of Article 340 of the Penal Code, on issues relating to the waste of public money." LINK
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Samson: Will the United Nations be an active player in resolving the crisis in Iraq?
21st November, 2019
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), called on Wednesday, the House of Representatives to make improvements in the election law. "Electoral reform has become a key demand of many peaceful demonstrators, and in recent weeks the Iraqi authorities have sought legislative solutions that meet the people's calls for credible, free and fair elections, and this process is owned by Iraqis and under Iraqi leadership, as it should be, '' the mission said in a statement.
Will the United Nations be an active player in resolving the crisis between the demonstrators and the Iraqi government? Will the Iraqi government react to UN calls?" "After the lack of trust between the people and the political parties, as well as with the executive and legislative branches, there must be a party," said Aziz Jabr Shial, director of the Political and Strategic Research Unit at the Faculty of Political Science at Mustansiriya University. The third is trying to find compromises."
He added: "I believe that the problem experienced by the Iraqi people is the need for a third party acceptable to all parties." He continued: "I think that the United Nations and after the statements of its representative in Iraq network Balaschart has become weak role, but nonetheless can play this role, as long as it is an impartial party to either side."
He stressed, "Iraqi society is divided into two parts, the political system on the one hand and the people on the other, so we must bridge the gap between the two sides."
"One solution currently available, for example, is the election law, which came up with a disappointing draft, and I don't think it will satisfy the Iraqi people, because the ruling class is trying to re-share, but in a new way, by recognizing the parties' right to 50," he said. % Of the votes, and the rest for individual elections."
He added: "In any case, individuals can not compete with the parties that looted the money and now have the power and power, as evidenced by the throwing of demonstrators in detention, and this means that there are still working to muzzle." LINK
Don961: Iraqi figures on the US sanctions list on charges of corruption and repression
- Two Hours Have Passed
BAGHDAD - The United States plans to take punitive measures against Iraqi figures over their involvement in the use of lethal force to quell mass popular protests that began in early October and continue for the 50th consecutive day, informed sources in Baghdad said.
The sources told "Arabs" that Washington is also considering punishing Iraqi figures from the first political line, on charges of corruption and violation of human rights.
According to the sources, there are two lists that may be issued by the US Treasury soon, including the names of five Iraqi figures, which will be covered by financial sanctions in accordance with the laws in force in the United States.
The sources pointed out that the new US sanctions, will be extended to three prominent Iraqi figures, closely linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Popular Mobilization militias, pointing out that "Abu Jihad al-Hashemi, Director of the Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, put his name at the top of the list of punished figures."
Fog has surrounded the fate of al-Hashemi since the beginning of this month, after the leaked office of Abdul-Mahdi news of his resignation, and the appointment of Qais al-Amiri, close to Faleh al-Fayyad, head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, in his position.
Hashemi is described as the de facto prime minister in Iraq since the formation of Abdul Mahdi's government, which confirms the sources accompanying that he chose the most prominent pillars, while other sources say that “Abu Jihad is the financial coordinator of the activities of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq, which includes billions of dollars in the areas of housing, entertainment, tourism and materials Food. ”
The sources confirm that the decision to resign al-Hashemi was a formality, to suggest to the public that it is far from the office of Abdul-Mahdi when the list of sanctions to come out in public.
The second figure, who the sources say will respond to the sanctions list, is Hussein Faleh, known as Abu Zainab al-Lami, the head of the PMU's private security service, and is known as the personal companion inside Iraq of senior Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani.
The third person under US sanctions is Ahmed al-Asadi, a member of the Fatah bloc and leader of the Jund al-Imam Brigades.
Personalities targeted
Abu Jihad al - Hashemi , Director of the Head of Government Office
Hussein Faleh Security Service chief in the popular crowd ,
Ahmed al - Asadi Soldiers Brigades leader Imam
Nuri al - Maliki , the leader of a coalition of state law ,
Hadi al - Ameri , leader of the Alliance of Conquest
Sources confirm that these figures are directly involved in the coordination of sniper and killed and injured and the arrest and abduction Thousands of demonstrators, activists and journalists across the country have been experiencing protests since the beginning of last month.
The sources point to the existence of US financial sanctions against another list, including the names of high caliber in Iraq, such as the leader of the coalition of law Nuri al-Maliki and the leader of the conquest coalition Hadi al-Amiri.
The sanctions against al-Maliki and al-Amiri related to corruption and human rights violations, while the sources confirm that the United States is considering putting the name of the head of the Popular Mobilization Commission, Faleh al-Fayyad, on the same list, which includes the leaders of the rule of law and Fatah on similar charges.
Such sanctions would impose complex financial constraints on the movement of funds for persons listed in the Regulations.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday the administration would not stand idly by "while we see corrupt officials making the Iraqi people suffer."
He stressed that the United States will impose sanctions on corrupt figures who steal the wealth of the Iraqi people.
He added that the protests in Iraq do not distinguish between communities and ethnic groups, but wants to get rid of Iranian interference, pointing out that the United States remains the largest donor of humanitarian aid in Iraq.
But an Iraqi observer played down the seriousness of the leaks and predicted that government sources with limited influence had leaked them, with the aim of spreading terror among Iranian figures, whose presence was heavy on the political system.
The observer told Al-Arab, “It can be said that the protests have strengthened one wing of the last wing of the regime in Iraq, so that the wing dare to declare its desire to exclude the faces that have become subordinate to Iran is a burden on Iran itself. All this means that there is an intention to carry out liquidations within the regime, supervised by Iran in order to delude the protesters that there is a real response to their demands.
"Even if the leaks are real, they may be part of a plan to soak up popular anger and divert it from demanding the fall of the entire sectarian system and turn the page of corruption into attention to the fragments of the already existing conflict between the pre-existing wings of the regime under Iranian auspices."
He ruled that this would affect the protesters and reduce the ceiling of their demands because it is a prosthetic solution, like the ministerial changes, which they refused to consider a solution, stressing that the violence against the demonstrators was not an individual behavior as it was a systematic policy linked to an Iranian defense plan, details of which were illustrated by the recent repression Inside Iranian cities.
The Arabs LINK
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Samson: Deputy: Washington seeks to overthrow major heads in the political process
09:46 - 21/11/2019
The deputy of the Alliance of Sairon Riad Masoudi, Thursday, that the US side seeks through the file to recover Iraq's smuggled funds to political blackmail of some personalities, and pressure on them to change the political approach in the country.
Masoudi said in a statement to the information, that "the sanctions that America intends to impose on some Iraqi personalities aimed at overthrowing large heads in the political process, because the US administration is seeking to pass a special approach to the management of the country."
He added that "the US administration moves to recover the smuggled Iraqi funds, in addition to another file for politicians linked to money laundering and intelligence with other foreign countries, will use these files to pressure those figures to change the political approach."
He said that "America knows very well where the capital goes, but it uses these files for political blackmail, and therefore some politicians have caught themselves in the trap of American intelligence, so should be Iraqi national policy based on meeting the requirements of the people, without the search for narrow interests." LINK