Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council
Encyclopedia
Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council is a political party
in Iraq
that was founded by Sarkis Aghajan, a high ranking KDP, in 2007. The Party runs Ishtar TV
and publishes several different monthly magazines.
In the local January elections of 2009, the party was part of a coalition that won the Assyrian reserved seat in Baghdad
and Ninawa.
The party's main goal is to have the heavily Assyrian populated Nineveh plains
receive self-administrative government or outright autonomy
. The party claims the majority of the population in the Nineveh plains suffers neglect and lack of service because of their Christian
faith.
The party is closely affiliated with Massoud Barzani's KDP and was accused in previous elections of intimidating and bribing Christians. The bribes included promises of employment and reductions in rents at Aghajan-owned apartments. This was confirmed by an investigation led by UNPO and Assyria Council of Europe
in the January 2009 elections.
On July 25, 2009, the party ran for the first time on its own for the 111-member Kurdistan National Assembly
(see Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election, 2009
). It received over 10,000 votes and won 3 of the 5 reserved Assyrian seats.
, Bakhdida
, and Al-Shikhan.
The second issue the party bases itself on is to have the three different Assyrian sub-sects all united as under one name in the constitution of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan region.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
that was founded by Sarkis Aghajan, a high ranking KDP, in 2007. The Party runs Ishtar TV
Ishtar TV
Ishtar TV is an Assyrian Chaldean Syriac broadcasting channel which has its headquarters in Ankawa, Iraq. It was established by Sarkis Aghajan and was led by George Mansour, who was Ishtar TV's first General Manager, in 2005. The language broadcasts mostly in Syriac, but Arabic and Kurdish are...
and publishes several different monthly magazines.
In the local January elections of 2009, the party was part of a coalition that won the Assyrian reserved seat in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and Ninawa.
The party's main goal is to have the heavily Assyrian populated Nineveh plains
Nineveh plains
Nineveh plains is a region in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq to the north and west of the city Mosul. The area generally consists of three districts; Tel Keppe, Al-Hamdaniya, and Al-Shikhan...
receive self-administrative government or outright autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
. The party claims the majority of the population in the Nineveh plains suffers neglect and lack of service because of their Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
faith.
The party is closely affiliated with Massoud Barzani's KDP and was accused in previous elections of intimidating and bribing Christians. The bribes included promises of employment and reductions in rents at Aghajan-owned apartments. This was confirmed by an investigation led by UNPO and Assyria Council of Europe
Assyria Council of Europe
Assyria Council of Europe is a lobbying organization based in Brussels, that lobbies the European Union and other European countries on behalf of the Assyrian people worldwide.-External links:***...
in the January 2009 elections.
On July 25, 2009, the party ran for the first time on its own for the 111-member Kurdistan National Assembly
Kurdistan National Assembly
The Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament or IKP is the parliament of Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan. The IKP is made up of representatives from the various parties, lists or slates that are elected every four years to serve by the inhabitants of the provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan currently...
(see Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election, 2009
Iraqi Kurdistan legislative election, 2009
The Iraqi Kurdistan legislative elections of 2009 took place on 25 July 2009. A total of 2.5 million citizens of Iraqi Kurdistan were eligible to vote for the parliamentary and presidential elections. People currently living outside Iraqi Kurdistan were not allowed to vote. The elections followed...
). It received over 10,000 votes and won 3 of the 5 reserved Assyrian seats.
Platform
There are two main issues that the party has based itself on. The first is to establish "self-government" in the Assyrian-inhabited areas of northern Iraq. The area generally includes the Nineveh plains, which compromises the three district of Tel KeppeTel Keppe
Tel Keppe , is one of the largest formerly Assyrian towns in Iraq. It is located in the Ninawa Governorate, less than 8 miles North East of Mosul in northern Iraq.-Etymology:...
, Bakhdida
Bakhdida
Bakhdida , also known as Baghdeda, Qaraqosh, Karakosh or Al-Hamdaniya, is an Assyrian town in the northern Iraq Ninawa Governorate, located about 32 km southeast of the city of Mosul amid agricultural lands, close to the ruins of the ancient Assyrian cities Nimrud and Nineveh. It is connected...
, and Al-Shikhan.
The second issue the party bases itself on is to have the three different Assyrian sub-sects all united as under one name in the constitution of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan region.