Commemorating the 16th of March (Halabja Day) 16.3.2010
RodinRojhilat KURDISTAN
By Baqi Barzani, a longtime contributing writer for ekurd.net
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March 16, 2010
With the advent of every 16th of March, the staggering memories of
“Halabja” are once again revivified in the minds and hearts of every
Kurdish compatriot. Once again, it is reminiscent of those gloomy days
that our innocent people became the victims of artful global politics.
The muteness and hypocrisy of global philanthropist community against
such horrendous, inexpressible crimes in that era is even more
agonizing to imagine.
Time has changed.
From deception to extinction, Halabja has now gained legitimate,
universal genocide recognition status; its memorial ceremony is held
all over the world and special monuments have been constructed in its
honor. After 22 years, most of the senior Baath officials involved in
committing this crime have been brought to justice and prosecuted.
Kurds have made more allies than ever and the terms such as “Halabja,
Kurdistan, and Kurdish chronicle” are almost made acquainted to every
citizen in every corner of this vast sphere.
In previous years, the masses of Halabja voiced their discontent about
the living conditions, infrastructure and poor basic services through
protest marches.
Up to date, the heroic people of Halabja are still offering sacrifices
and tolerating the deficiency of water and electricity supplies,
destitution, unpaved roads,www.ekurd.netunemployment and the crippling
inflation. Just commemorating Halabja event every year does not
suffice. The most deserving Halabja citizens of Kurdistan must be
treated with special status and dignity and their demands must be met
to ensure their welfare and well-being, especially after what they
have been through for decades. Kurdistan owes to the valor, heroism
and bravery of Halabja people.
Following are some propositions to further raise public awareness
about Halabja genocide both nationally and internationally:
1- Establish more monuments in its honor both in Kurdistan and abroad
and produce more documentary evidence in major foreign languages to
propagate Halabja cause and inform others about the precise magnitude
of this peerless tragedy, especially from the survivors.
2- Set up an independent monitory commission to oversee the plight of
Halbja residents.
3- Seek UN assistance in prompting Baghdad to implement the recompense
plan.
4- Organize fund-raising campaigns for Halabja victims both in a
national and international level.
5- Urge different foreign institutions to invite Halabja victims to
speak on this subject and broadcast on national TV.
6- Find art galleries, museums or any other such centers to host
Halabja photo exhibition.
7- Make the government in Bagdad and international donors aware of the
needs of Halabja citizens.
8- Write in foreign press in an attempt to internationalize its
commemoration resembling other major world events.
9- Come up with ideas of your own and how we can be of more assistance
to them.
Thank you for your consistent patronage and sympathies with the
citizens of Halabja.
Baqi Barzani was born in 1976 in Barzan- Kurdistan Region (Iraq). His
relatives and close family members were killed when Saddam Hussein
attacked a Kurdish Village named Barzan. Barzani fled to Pakistan in
1990 where he worked for United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees.
He is now applying for U.S. citizenship and plans to work as a
linguist/cultural advisor for the U.S. government. He contributes
regularly to Kurdish press and media. He is the editor-in-chief of a
Kurdish-English online newspaper klawrojna.com.
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