Unrest Grows in Iraq, Police Disperse Protesters
BASRA (Dispatches) – Iraqi police wielded batons and rubber hoses to disperse about 250 protesters gathered at the main entrance to the Zubair oilfield near Basra on Tuesday as unrest across southern cities over poor basic services gathered pace.
Since demonstrations began nine days ago, protesters have attacked government buildings, branches of political parties and powerful militias and stormed the international airport in the holy city of Najaf.
Iraq’s military spokesman said authorities would not tolerate any actions that threaten the country’s security.
Officials and industry sources said the protests have not affected output at Zubair, run by Italy’s Eni, and the other major oilfields including Rumaila developed by BP and West Qurna 2 managed by Lukoil. Many Iraqis believe their leaders do not share the country’s oil wealth. Some demonstrators said foreign laborers were robbing them of employment at oil companies.
Three protesters have been killed in clashes with police, including one at West Qurna 2, and dozens wounded.
"We the people of Basra hear about the Iraqi oil and its huge revenues, but we never enjoy its benefits,” said 24-year-old protester Esam Jabbar.
"Strangers have decent jobs at our oilfields and we don’t have the money to pay for a cigarette. That’s wrong and must be stopped.” Jabbar said he was unemployed.
On Monday, the Iraqi Heath Ministry said eight demonstrators had lost their lives in protests over poor public services and alleged corruption in various southern cities since a week ago, when daily protests began in Iraq’s Basra port city.
Medical sources, however, had previously said that at least 11 civilians had been killed in the protests.
Earlier on Monday, Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said 487 Iraqis had also been wounded during the protests in southern Iraq, noting that half of them were security forces.
Basra is an important hub for oil exports, which account for over 95 percent of Iraq’s government revenues. Long neglected, the city is one of the few cities in the Middle East without an effective water treatment system. State officials blame a public funding crisis caused by years of low oil prices.
Since the unrest erupted, demonstrators have vented their anger at several major oilfields.
Iraqi officials, however, stressed that the protests have not affected production or export operations in the OPEC member country.
The demonstrators have also previously attacked provincial government buildings, the local headquarters of political parties, and an airport in the holy city of Najaf.
The protests over basic services come at a sensitive time, as Iraqi political factions are trying to form a coalition government following the May 12 parliamentary elections.
An Iraqi policeman arrests a demonstrator during a protest at the main entrance to the giant Zubair oilfield near Basra, Iraq July 17, 2018.
Since demonstrations began nine days ago, protesters have attacked government buildings, branches of political parties and powerful militias and stormed the international airport in the holy city of Najaf.
Iraq’s military spokesman said authorities would not tolerate any actions that threaten the country’s security.
Officials and industry sources said the protests have not affected output at Zubair, run by Italy’s Eni, and the other major oilfields including Rumaila developed by BP and West Qurna 2 managed by Lukoil. Many Iraqis believe their leaders do not share the country’s oil wealth. Some demonstrators said foreign laborers were robbing them of employment at oil companies.
Three protesters have been killed in clashes with police, including one at West Qurna 2, and dozens wounded.
"We the people of Basra hear about the Iraqi oil and its huge revenues, but we never enjoy its benefits,” said 24-year-old protester Esam Jabbar.
"Strangers have decent jobs at our oilfields and we don’t have the money to pay for a cigarette. That’s wrong and must be stopped.” Jabbar said he was unemployed.
On Monday, the Iraqi Heath Ministry said eight demonstrators had lost their lives in protests over poor public services and alleged corruption in various southern cities since a week ago, when daily protests began in Iraq’s Basra port city.
Medical sources, however, had previously said that at least 11 civilians had been killed in the protests.
Earlier on Monday, Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said 487 Iraqis had also been wounded during the protests in southern Iraq, noting that half of them were security forces.
Basra is an important hub for oil exports, which account for over 95 percent of Iraq’s government revenues. Long neglected, the city is one of the few cities in the Middle East without an effective water treatment system. State officials blame a public funding crisis caused by years of low oil prices.
Since the unrest erupted, demonstrators have vented their anger at several major oilfields.
Iraqi officials, however, stressed that the protests have not affected production or export operations in the OPEC member country.
The demonstrators have also previously attacked provincial government buildings, the local headquarters of political parties, and an airport in the holy city of Najaf.
The protests over basic services come at a sensitive time, as Iraqi political factions are trying to form a coalition government following the May 12 parliamentary elections.
An Iraqi policeman arrests a demonstrator during a protest at the main entrance to the giant Zubair oilfield near Basra, Iraq July 17, 2018.