Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Editorial: Attacks on protesters continue

Two Killed In Renewed Anti Government Protests In Iraq

Samya Kullab (AP) reports, "Iraq’s prime minister said Monday he had ordered an investigation into the killing of two anti-government protesters, saying security forces were not authorized to fire 'a single bullet' toward the demonstrators. Twenty-one protesters were also wounded in the overnight clashes."  An investigation?

Doesn't he have investigations already into previous attacks on protesters?

And no one's been punished for those attacks -- attacks carried out by security forces under the command of the prime minister.  To be fair, these previous attacks?  We're talking about attacks carried out before Mustafa al-Kadhimi became prime minister (May 7th).

But he made promises.  As AL KHALEEJ TODAY reminds, "Prior to joining office Mr Al Kadhimi vowed to meet protester demands by holding early elections and investigating protester deaths. Yet the new prime minister has had to deal with a catastrophic economic crisis triggered by a decline in oil prices caused by the coronavirus pandemic."

Are any of these promises going to be kept?

Oh, he's dealing with an economic crisis?  Wow.  Poor baby.  All the leaders of countries are dealing with economic crisis in one form or another -- with or without oil being factored in.    




Yes, AP, Mustafa did Tweet:

Yesterday's protest by young Iraqis are a legitimate right, and the security forces do not have permission to fire a single bullet towards our protestors.



What does that have to do with his failure to keep promises?