May god bless them.
Posted on 01/27/2005 11:40:55 PM PST by Eurotwit
Iraqis in Australia Cast First Votes in Election
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Iraqis in Australia cast the first votes in their homeland's long-awaited election on Friday, and celebrated the historic moment by dancing in the streets.
Exiles gathered at nine polling stations around Australia, some proudly displaying the blue ink on their fingers which proved that they had cast their ballots.
"When I look at the ink on my finger -- this is a mark of freedom," said Kassim Abood, outside a polling booth in a disused furniture warehouse in western Sydney.
"I didn't think I would live long enough to see this moment," said Abood, who decades ago fled the oppressive government of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) to seek asylum in Australia.
But other Iraqi exiles urged their compatriots to boycott the poll, saying it was designed to serve American interests.
Iraqis in Australia were the first of 280,303 expatriates in 14 countries expected to cast votes in the Jan. 30 election.
Iraq (news - web sites)'s election commission has said 14 million of Iraq's 27 million people could go to the polls on Sunday in the country's first election since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam in April 2003.
Insurgents in Iraq bent on wrecking the poll have unleashed a flurry of attacks around the country this week, targeting Iraqi forces due to provide protection at polling stations.
But in Sydney security at the polling venue was light, with voters being checked only with hand-held metal detectors, and election officials said there had been no security incidents at any of the nine polling centers in Australia.
"People should not be afraid to vote," said Nassima Barzani, 68, proudly clutching a small Iraqi flag close to her chest.
Polling station manager Rebwav Aziz, 38, the first Iraqi to cast a vote in the election, said: "The point is that if you want freedom you have to fight for it. I'm voting for democracy."
DECADES IN EXILE
But many of the voters had not lived in Iraq for decades and had not experienced the precarious security conditions under which many Iraqis now live.
Election officials said between 2,000 and 3,000 people voted on Friday, and they expected 90 percent of those registered to cast ballots by Sunday night. But many exiles had not registered, officials said, fearing reprisals against themselves or their families still in Iraq.
Across the road from the polling station, a small vocal group of Iraqis, members of the Iraq Communist Party, staged a protest, declaring the election illegitimate and lacking transparency.
"The so-called election is nothing but the recognition of the occupation of Iraq," said Iraq Communist Party member Mazin Nadir. We want an election, but this election will end up with a puppet government that will serve American aims."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the election would give Iraqis freedom to choose their leaders.
"I think the vast majority of Iraqis want to vote, they want their own government to be put in place, not have a government put in place by outsiders," he said.
Jubilant voters in Australia celebrated their democratic right, with Christian Assyrians dressed in ornately embroidered costumes dancing, twirling scarves and singing on the footpath.
"Iraqis are hugging each other, kissing each other, this is a wonderful day," said Abood. "I am born anew today."
May god bless them.
Freedom. How very sweet it is. I hope my time here in Iraq will always remind me never to take liberty for granted.
"Polling station manager Rebwav Aziz, 38, the first Iraqi to cast a vote in the election, said: "The point is that if you want freedom you have to fight for it. I'm voting for democracy." "
I sure hope that the decent folks in Iraq step up to the challenges both now, and the next couple of years.
The ball is in their hands now.
Great article, and pic! So proud of our troops and coalition troops for giving them this chance at freedom!
The Iraqis here on their home turf appear very happy and excited about voting Sunday. We Americans can't even imagine what it would be like to have to fear for our lives as we go to vote. I admire those who are going to do it and I pray the turnout is very high as I believe it will be.
Prayers for our troops who will be guarding the polling places.
That's good to hear. NPR interviewed some Iraqis the other day. They were so brave. In one family, a young couple with young kids, the father and mother had decided to vote at different times, so that if anything happened there would still be a living parent to raise the kids. Another family decided to all go at once so that they'd all live or die together.
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