Kurdish Aspect
May 31 2009

While US administration works for reconciliation in Iraq, hundreds of
Kurds lose their lives to Genocide. Halabja started in 1988 but it
continues today!

Kurdishaspect.com – By Ara Alan

Genocide is an act with intend to eradicate a group of people based on
some criteria that binds them together such as race, religion,
ethnicity, believe, class ¦etc. Armenian Genocide was the first
genocide of the twentieth century while Anfal occurred at the end of
the century. Holocaust, Rwanda and Kosovo found themselves in
between. Our very first genocide in twenty-first centuries and our
most recent shame on humanity takes place in Darfur.

While children women and men were killed in Darfur; simultaneously in
Kurdistan, the same is occurring. Kurdish genocide in Iraq continues
as the US administrations work hard to bring forth Iraqi factions to
the table of `reconciliation’.

Kurds in 2009 die daily in cities like Halabja as its genocide
continues. Kurdish genocide that occurred in 1988 didn’t end in 1988,
nor in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992¦2001, 2002¦nor in 2009. The
Kurdish Genocide didn’t end even after the Iraqi Army stopped its
military operation. It continued as Saddam Hussein was charged in
Iraqi tribunal court with genocide. It continues after the execution
of Saddam. Kurdish genocide continues until today and into the
future. It is the only genocide that crosses multi generations layers.

The deadly cocktail of Chemicals used in 1988 to commit the acts of
genocide against the Kurds has reacted in a synergistic matter. The
cocktail acted much stronger than any of its components, cyanide,
mustered and nerve agent would alone. The cocktail proved to be lethal
even in small doses.

The gassing of Halabja and Anfal villages has acted as a mutagen and
caused the DNA of its victims to change. According to the health
minister of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) the ratio of patients
with cancer in the gassed populations is 5:1 when compared to
non-gassed populations. Many of the little girls exposed to the
gassing in 1988 today give birth to children with down-syndrome or
still-birth and they have very high rates of miscarriage and some are
completely infertile. According to KRG’s health minister incident
cases of breast cancer are much higher. Breast cancer in Kurdistan is
much more aggressive than in other countries, and it is much more
likely to kill.

As result of the gassing many Kurds are dying today. Many are
paralyzed, handicapped, blinded or bedbound. Many babies from the new
generation are born with genetic diseases that result in their death
or a life that is dependent on a medical care which is almost
non-existent where they are born. Kurdish genocide continues since
1988 into post Saddam-Iraq and today.

What has been done to heal the pain or at the very least to stop the
ongoing genocide in Kurdistan? Most of the gas victims suffer from the
complications that came with their exposure or the exposure of their
parents. Psychological affect of the ordeal such as loosing most of
their families, isolation in the community because of their
infertility, disfigurement ¦etc are among the least of the problems
that Kurdish victims of genocide are faced with. These victims are
plagued with genetic diseases and cancer; there is a lack of adequate
basic healthcare and hospital close/affordable to Halabja and Anfal
victims.

The Iraqi government has not put forth any initiative not only to heal
those affected but to ensure adequate health facilities are available
to slow down the ongoing genocide that is continuing in Kurdistan.

Without taking serious steps toward ending of the genocide in
Kurdistan reconciliation is nothing more than a euphemism. Iraqi
government is responsible for the actions taken in its name by Saddam
Hussein. According to International law a new government inherits the
assets and responsibilities of its previous governments. As it was the
case with Germany and the victims of the holocaust.

Iraq must take serious steps in apologizing for what they have carried
out in Kurdistan. Their apologies should not end with words but it
should be reflected in serious efforts toward ending of the genocide
in Kurdistan. There has yet been an effort by the Iraqi government to
open special hospitals in the affected area. They must dedicate a
percentage of Iraq’s revenue to provide adequate aid for those still
suffering. They must also work on cleaning the environmental affect
of chemical gas in soil and water tables of Kurdistan. True
reconciliation is done with good intension and it is reflected in
action not with colorful euphemism.

For the sake of stability and tangible results in Iraq; US
administration should work on promoting true reconciliation among its
factions. Serious efforts must be taken to help stop the continuation
of genocide in Kurdistan.

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