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Basra roads closed as national protests continue
[Rudaw] Protesters in Basra blocked main roads in the city early on Sunday morning to push people to continue nationwide strikes. The road blockades follow Sunday announcements of national strikes in an attempt to push the Iraqi government to meet the demands of the protesters. Four provinces in southern Iraq, including Wasit, Babil, Misan, and Dhi Qar announced Sunday as a national holiday as a result of the strikes. In Baghdad, many schools have been closed by protesters. "The school is closed after an official order from the people," reads posters hung on their doors. At least 320 protesters and members of the security forces have been killed since October 1, with around 15,000 others maimed due to the festivities between security forces and protesters. The government has been slow to respond to protester demands, prompting the blockade of roads leading to major oil fields in the south of the country. City centers have also been shut down, leaving schools and workplaces empty in order to pressure Baghdad officials. Protests persisted in the southern city of Basra on Saturday, where the main road to one of the country’s biggest oilfields was blocked off. Located 60 kilometers from Basra, Majnoon is one of the richest oil fields in the world, with an estimated 38 billion barrels of oil. The blockade of oilfields, oil tanker routes and major ports by protesters has crippled the Iraqi economy, draining the country of billions of dollars. A single week of blockade at Umm Qasr port in Basra caused an estimated 6$ billion in losses. The United Nations ...an organization which on balance has done more bad than good, with the good not done well and the bad done thoroughly... ' Special Envoy to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, called on protesters to avoid blocking roads to oil installations and ports, as they cause "billions in losses" and undermine the fulfillment of protesters' legitimate demands. "Disruption of critical infrastructure also of grave concern. Responsibility of all to protect public facilities. Threats/closures of roads to oil installations, ports causing billions in losses. Detrimental to Iraq's economy, undermines fulfilling protesters' legitimate demands," Hennis-Plasschaert tweeted. Hennis-Plasschaert’s tweet angered Iraqis, however, with many accusing the UN special representative of caring more about oil than the Iraqi people. Related: Dhi Qar: 2019-11-13 Protesters block two bridges in Nasiriyah Dhi Qar: 2019-11-11 Intelligence sources reveal scheme to eliminate Iraqi demonstrations Dhi Qar: 2019-11-07 Iraqi protesters block entrance to Nassiriya oil refinery: Sources Related: Basra: 2019-11-17 Protesters Spill Back Onto Bridge in Iraq Capital Basra: 2019-11-14 #Basra remains #protesting against corrupt government Basra: 2019-11-13 New kidnapping case reported as female activists targeted in Iraq Posted by: trailing wife 2019-11-18 |
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