February 17, 2003

GOOD MORNING=20 BET-NAHRAIN

PAPAL ENVOY=20 VISITS MOSUL

Courtesy of the Zenit Vatican News Agency = (13=20 February)

(ZNDA: Baghdad) The Pope's special envoy to Iraq last week = traveled to=20 northern city of Mosul to meet with the Christian community while = awaiting=20 his meeting with President Saddam Hussein.

Cardinal Roger Etchegaray celebrated Mass in Mosul, located in = the=20 region of Iraq with the greatest number of Catholics, virtually = all of=20 whom are of the Chaldean rite.

Cardinal Etchegaray met with the Iraqi president on Saturday, a = day=20 after John Paul II's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz = at the=20 Vatican, and the U.N. Security Council's session to hear the new = report of=20 the U.N. inspectors on Iraq's disarmament.

In an interview on Vatican Radio, Cardinal Etchegaray said he = was=20 deeply moved by the prayers of Iraqi Catholics at the = Mass-for-peace he=20 celebrated Wednesday in the Chaldean Church of St. Joseph in = Baghdad.

"It was a large crowd profoundly recollected in prayer, as the=20 Catholics, like the Iraqi population as a whole, feel the threat = of the=20 war," the cardinal said.

"However, they hope that through prayer and all that is = possible=20 through human means, peace may still be attained," he said.

"It is necessary to believe in peace until the last moment," he = added,=20 "until the last second ... until the exhaustion of the resources = found in=20 every man of good will [and ...] in the people, but above all in = the=20 leaders of society, both in Iraq as well as in the international=20 community."

In reply to the question, =93What kind of Church did you find = in Iraq?=94,=20 Cardinal Etchegaray said: A Church that is alive and profoundly=20 affectionate with the Pope. In few parts of the world is there = such a=20 contagious feeling, almost palpable, for a Vatican representative = -- an=20 affection that stems from the complex situation of a minority that = lives=20 seeking unity with Rome. Moreover, after the two-day visit to = Mosul, I=20 would like to stress its ecumenical aspect. An ecumenism made of = concrete=20 solidarity between Catholics and Orthodox: On Sunday they exchange = churches and the two communities help one another financially to = construct=20 their buildings of worship. It is something admirable that must be = stressed.=94

The Cardinal was then asked by the Vatican reporter: =93Are you = concerned=20 about the fate of Iraqi Christians?=94 Cardinal Etchegaray = replies: =93Here,=20 Christians are Iraqis above all, and they will suffer the same = condition=20 as the rest of the country. With the exception of rare cases of=20 intolerance between Muslims and Christians, on the whole there is = osmosis=20 in daily life. Christians are considered as authentic Iraqis and = they will=20 follow their country's fate.=94

ASSYRIANS TO BE REPRESENTED AT THE = SYRIAN=20 ELECTIONS

Courtesy of the News from the East (8=20 Februay)

(ZNDA: Qamishli) An official in the Assyrian Syrian Movement, a = non-registered Syrian political movement, stated that the movement = is=20 participating in the upcoming judicial elections in Syria in order = to=20 affirm the principle of the participation and integration with the = Syrian=20 people.

Gabriel Moshe Gorial, the Movement=92s candidate for the Syrian = parliamentary elections, to be held on 2 march 2, 2003, comments: = =93We are=20 participating in this round as we did in the last three elections, = representing the Assyrian Syrian Movement in general and the = Assyrian=20 Democratic Organization (ADO) in particular. We were successful in = the=20 1990 parliamentary elections when we won a seat through our = representative=20 Mr. Bashir Sa=92adi.=94 He adds: =93We are participating in the = elections=20 because of our convictions in deepening the national spectrum for = the=20 Assyrian national existence=85 The purpose is to affirm the = democratic=20 exercise in public life and assure the principles of participation = and=20 integration with all the citizens of the country.=94

On the Movement=92s ability to form coalitions with other = groups, Gorial=20 comments: =93We believe, in the right to disagree but within the = framework=20 of national unity. For that reason, we in the Assyrian Syrian = Movement are=20 opened to all national factions regardless to their affiliation = and=20 national, democratic and ethnic aspirations and we seek to create = an=20 electoral coalition with organizations and patriotic people who = share with=20 us the same principles and goals that will serve the country as a = whole=20 and not one segment of society without the other.=94

On the political scope of the Movement=92s vision for the = future of=20 Syria, Mr. Gorial explains that: =93The Movement will work = diligently to=20 dedicate the democratic culture and human rights in the public = life; aid=20 in building the concept of true citizenship and the role of the = law and=20 institutions in the creation of equal opportunities for all people = in=20 order to push the process of development and industrialization a = step=20 forward under the leadership of President Dr. Bashar al-Asad; to = affirm=20 the Assyrian presence in Syria; and to assure that we are a noble = nation=20 that has an extended and rooted civilization with a vision for a = future=20 that is in harmony with the aspirations of all the Syrian people. = We will=20 work to show that we are a nation of culture and national = aspirations and=20 to link the Assyrian Diaspora with home economically, culturally = and=20 socially since our Assyrian nation has tremendous energy in the = Diaspora,=20 especially in Europe, USA and Australia. Emotionally and = spiritually, this=20 nation is bonded with his historic country. There is a real = opportunity to=20 invest in this energy to serve national causes and be part in the=20 development and advancement of the country. Our role could develop = especially if the conditions assisted to accomplish that. = Furthermore, I=20 would like to elaborate that the movement is seeking to express = the people=20 economical anxieties, to point to areas of corruption in order to = beat it,=20 to request accomplishing a thorough and balanced development = throughout=20 the Syrian provinces, and to work in order to support the = agricultural=20 sector in the province of al-Hassaka in particular since = agriculture=20 represents the main economical source for the majority of its=20 residents.=94

Mr. Gorial wished that what had happened in the last two = elections will=20 not be repeated. The ruling Arab Ba=92ath Socialist Party in those = elections=20 nominated certain independent candidates and supported them by = listing=20 their names within lists that included the Progressive National = Front,=20 guaranteeing their victory even before the voting process took = place.

=93We demand equal opportunity for all independent candidates = to compete=20 in a democratic and free manner. We are optimistic that the = present=20 elections will take place under democratic and fair basis = especially since=20 President Bashar al-Asad during the ceremony of his Presidential = Oath=20 affirmed on the rights of all people to participate in the = process. We=20 request the return of the fifth seat assigned to the independents = in the=20 Hassaka Province according to the election law issued in 1990 = where five=20 seats were assigned for the province,=94 notes Mr. Gorial.

=93We rely in addition to the statements of Mr. Abd al-Qadir = Qadoora,=20 Head of Parliament, who about a month ago assured one of the = satellite=20 stations that the Ba=92ath Party is concerned with his own = candidates and=20 will not interfere with the rights of the others in selecting = their own=20 candidates,=94 adds Mr. Gorial.

The =93fifth seat=94 was removed in favor of the Progressive = National Front=20 list in the previous two elections.

Mr. Gorial in response to a question on his sense of realism = and modest=20 expectations states: =93We must be realistic under all = circumstances as we=20 cannot fanaticize and dream that we are capable in accomplishing = the=20 miracles in an environment that has not matured yet, an = environment that=20 can accept ethnic pluralism and the acceptance of the others and=20 understanding their rights and needs. Many of our citizens are = unaware, or=20 pretend to be, that there are Assyrians in Syria or consider this = nation=20 as part of a past that is gone forever. In best cases, some = people,=20 whether intentionally or not, still looks at our presence as a = Christian=20 sect and nothing more.=94

In conclusion Mr. Goriel comments: =93Our efforts will = concentrate on=20 defining the Assyrian presence, explaining to the Syrians the = Assyrians=92=20 national and historical dimensions and emphasizing that our = Assyrian=20 nation (including Suryan and Chaldeans) and with all their = different=20 rites, is a genuine and important part of the national fabric for = the=20 Syrian society which is embraced and protected by the Syrian = national=20 unity we are proud of as we work to strengthen it more and more = and that=20 our presence is a national event interwoven first and last = exceptionally=20 with the issue of democracy in Syria.=94

IRAQI CHRISTIANS SHACKLED BY FEAR, = DARING TO=20 HOPE

Courtesy of Christian Broadcast Network = (13=20 February); article by Paul Strand

(ZNDA: Washington) Pretty much everyone lives in fear in Iraq.=20 Christians are no exception. About 660,000 Christians live there = among a=20 mostly Muslim population of 23 million. Many of those Christians = are part=20 of an ancient empire whose people were the first, outside the = Jews, to be=20 converted to Christ.

After centuries of persecution, discrimination, and inescapable = fear,=20 some Iraqi Christians are daring to hope that a future of freedom = is on=20 the horizon. Yet they realize they must first survive the war that = is=20 almost certain to come soon, and then what might be the vicious=20 in-fighting for power after Saddam falls.

But until the day of freedom, the era of fear shadows Iraq like = the=20 darkness of night. For that reason, many of the identities of the=20 Christians in this story have been concealed.

Terry Law is a minister who was just in Iraq in January, = bringing food=20 to poor believers and medical aid to cash-strapped hospitals. He = says the=20 fear of Saddam Hussein is absolute.

"This ominous face and eyes are watching you everywhere you go, = and=20 there's that terror and absolute fear of the leader," he said. =

Law found Iraqis were afraid to speak openly, even in their own = front=20 rooms. He asked one Iraqi lady, "Would you say that there's a lot = of=20 fear?" She replied, "We can't talk about it. We have to keep = quiet."

Law explained, "I was in the privacy of Christian homes, trying = to=20 encourage them to say something about their leadership. They said, = 'No.=20 We've told our children: Don't say anything political. You go to = school=20 and make a political statement, they'll come home and kill us.'" =

This daily fear is what the Christians of Iraq =98 many of whom = are=20 Assyrians, not Arabs =98 have been reduced to.

Ken Joseph, an Assyrian now living in Japan, said, "The = Assyrians were=20 the people that Jonah went to."

Joseph says his people were once proud rulers of an ancient = empire that=20 stretched across the Middle East. "It was those same Assyrians = that were=20 the first major people group, eventually country, to accept the = Gospel,"=20 he said. "And then beyond that, the Assyrians were the largest = missionary=20 movement in the past."

John Nimrod is director of the Assyrian Universal Alliance. He = says his=20 Christian people have now faced centuries of persecution in the = land they=20 once ruled. "We are the American Indians of Iraq," he said.

He says the Assyrians are now second-class citizens in their = own=20 homeland. "The Christians are in a particularly precarious = position=20 because you have a sea of Muslims and a small, tiny group of = Christians=20 with no one to protect them," Nimrod said.

Joseph's own grandparents had to flee Iraq in 1919 to survive a = massacre of Assyrians by the Muslim Kurds who share and covet the = land=20 around what was once Nineveh.

"First of all, we're discriminated against because we are = Christians,"=20 Nimrod said. "Secondly, we are discriminated against because we = are=20 pro-West."

Joseph further explained, "The Christians have always been seen = as=20 agents of the West, because they were Christians. Previously, Iraq = was=20 governed by the British. And it was the Assyrians who aligned with = the=20 British. So once the British were gone, the Assyrians were put at = the=20 mercy of the government that ensued."

Widespread slaughter followed, and present-day Assyrians are = worried it=20 could happen again.

"I think the concern they have is a fundamentalist regime = succeeding=20 Saddam Hussein and becoming a lot more like, say Iran across the = border=20 one way, or Saudi Arabia across the border another way," Law = said.

So Iraq's Christians live in fear today, but they fear the = future too,=20 worried they may lose what religious freedom they have now. = Believe it or=20 not, despite all his evil, Saddam has not discriminated much = against=20 Christianity.

Joseph said, "Iraq is unique in the Middle East in that it's = one of the=20 few countries that have a secular government. Most of the other = countries=20 have these very strict Islamic governments."

Law agreed, "Saddam's regime strangely enough has been = relatively=20 moderate in dealing with Christianity and allowing Christians=20 freedom."

Those fundamentalist Muslim regimes surrounding Iraq have = chased out=20 most of their Christians. But because of Iraq's tendency not to=20 discriminate as much, if there is anywhere that could nourish a = future=20 homeland for Christians in the Middle East, it could well be = Iraq.

"The dream of the Assyrians is to have their country back, or = at least=20 some measure of autonomy, so that Christians throughout the world = who have=20 been scattered and would like to return would feel confident = enough to=20 return back again," Joseph said.

But to get to that day, the people of Iraq will probably have = to go=20 through another war.

"Everywhere I went people said, 'When are you going to bomb = us?'" Law=20 said. Families that he met described their terror as bombs crashed = around=20 them during the last Gulf War.

"All the windows were broken," an Iraqi woman remembered. Law = continued=20 her description of those days. "The children were screaming. She = said to=20 this day those children have memories of the bombing and it = traumatized=20 them," he said.

But CBN News met Iraqi Christian in Israel who says war may be = a=20 necessity. Salam said, "It's the only way to force Iraq to listen = to the=20 United Nations. Yes, I believe the United Nations or America = should go=20 into Iraq and help the Iraqi people."

And so...there is hope. The Iraqi woman said, "What is going to = happen?=20 It's God's will."

"They don't want the drama and the trauma of an attack, but at = the same=20 time they are desperate to remove the current regime," Law said. =

So, worried about war, but hungry for freedom, the Assyrians = and other=20 Iraqi Christians are desperate to get fellow believers praying for = them.=20 Joseph said, "We've set aside February 16th as a day of prayer = throughout=20 the world for the Christians in Iraq."

Salam said, "My message to America, my message to all the = Christians=20 around the world: that they should not depend on their weapon or = their=20 army or strength. They should depend on Jesus and the truth and = power=20 through the praying."

Beyond the dangers of war and the current fears of Iraqi = Christians,=20 Joseph sees a bright future ahead. "God could use this terrible = situation=20 not only as a way to bring the Christians back to the Middle East, = but to=20 bring revival to the oldest church in the world."

News = Digest

ASSYRIANS HOPE FOR U.S.=20 PROTECTION

Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times (17 = February);=20 reprint of an article by Teresa Watanabe

(ZNDA: Los Angeles) They regard themselves as heirs to an = ancient=20 Mesopotamian tradition that produced early legends of creation, a = great=20 flood and a boy in a basket, set adrift in a river and rescued. = But those=20 traditions have virtually vanished from widespread public = awareness, they=20 say, eclipsed by later biblical stories.

Their history is rife with massacres -- including attacks by = the=20 Ottoman Turks and Kurds in the early 20th century that wiped out = much of=20 their population. But their problems have been overshadowed, they = say, by=20 the Armenians who suffered alongside them.

After losing their empire and wandering stateless for more than = 2,600,=20 years they were promised a homeland, they believe, by the League = of=20 Nations after World War I. But the promises were betrayed, they = say, their=20 interests cast aside.

Now many of the world's remaining Assyrian Christians, several = thousand=20 of whom live in Southern California, fear they will become an = afterthought=20 again as the United States prepares for a possible war against = Iraq, where=20 nearly half their compatriots live.

In the drive to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Assyrian = spokesmen=20 say, the United States must stay engaged long enough to ensure = that=20 whatever regime comes next protects the country's ethnic and = religious=20 minorities.

Otherwise, "at the end of the day, all of the other people in = Iraq are=20 Muslims, and they will discriminate against us and try to get rid = of us,"=20 said Carlo Ganjeh, U.S. secretary for the Assyrian Universal = Alliance.=20 "This is the sad reality of the Mideast."

More than two millenniums ago, their ancestors created one of = the=20 world's great empires, covering much of what is now Iran, Iraq, = Syria and=20 Turkey. Among the earliest peoples to convert to Christianity, = they claim=20 inventions including the wheel, the Zodiac and fractions. But = today, with=20 their people scattered in 40 countries, Assyrians are one among = many=20 peoples who survive from the ancient days of the Middle East, half = forgotten by the world.

"I don't know anybody who's ever heard of Assyrians," said Anil = Varani,=20 20, youth group vice president of the Assyrian American Assn. of = Southern=20 California. In the 13 years since she emigrated from Iran, she has = usually=20 told others that she's Babylonian -- a related people at least = vaguely=20 familiar to more Americans, she says.

Some Assyrians say Jews are one group of people who seem to be = more=20 familiar with them. But because the Hebrew Bible describes = Assyrians as=20 cruel and ruthless conquerors, people such as the Rev. William = Nissan say=20 he is invariably challenged by Jewish rabbis and scholars about = the=20 misdeeds of his ancestors.

Asked whether many Jews still bear grudges against modern = Assyrians,=20 Yitzchok Adlerstein, an Orthodox rabbi who teaches at Loyola Law = School,=20 replied: "They still survive?"

The scant public awareness puts Assyrians in the position of = frequently=20 fighting to assert their proper identity, even among themselves. = Some=20 argue for a common Assyrian identity for all the non-Arab, = Christian=20 groups that trace their ancestries to ancient Mesopotamia and = surrounding=20 lands. Others who would fit into that blanket identity regard = themselves=20 as distinct from Assyrians, both ethnically and religiously. For = example,=20 some Chaldeans, most of whom are Roman Catholic, say they should = be=20 considered separate from Assyrians, who belong to the Church of = the East,=20 the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Syriac Catholic Church and some = Protestant=20 denominations.

The internal divisions are noted as one of the community's = greatest=20 challenges by both U.S. government officials and Assyrian leaders = such as=20 Ronald Michael, president of the Assyrian American League. "My = greatest=20 criticism and challenge" to fellow Assyrians, he said, "is to put = aside=20 personal differences and come together and coalesce."

At the same time, Assyrians say they must fend off efforts to = "Arabize"=20 them, both here and abroad. The Assyrian International News = Agency, for=20 instance, has chastised the Washington, D.C-based Arab American = Institute=20 for saying Assyrians, including Chaldeans and Syriacs, are Arab = Christian=20 minorities. The news agency called such attempts an "egregious, = willful=20 and deliberate mischaracterization of Assyrian identity" to = enhance the=20 Arab demographic "and, by extension, political clout in the = U.S."

"Assyrians are not Arabs," the news agency wrote. "Assyrians, = including=20 the Chaldeans and Syriacs, are the indigenous Christian people of=20 Mesopotamia and have a history, spanning 7,000 years, that = predates the=20 Arab conquest of the region."

After Sept. 11, 2001, in what the Assyrian news agency called = "an=20 erroneous association with the Arab identity," St. John's Assyrian = Church=20 in Chicago was set afire and another Assyrian church in a nearby = town=20 received a letter asking, "Are you with the U.S. or with the = enemy?"

More than two decades earlier, said Noray and Elgret Betbaba, = who=20 emigrated from Iran in 1969, their former sandwich shop and home = in Oxnard=20 were vandalized while Iran held U.S. hostages in the early 1980s. = At one=20 point, Noray Betbaba said, he and his friends were threatened in a = North=20 Hollywood bar by a man wielding a knife who told them: "You dirty=20 Iranians. You leave here or I'll cut you up."

Identity Threatened

Assyrians say the assault on their identity is most pronounced, = however, in their ancestral lands. Michael said Iraqi President = Hussein=20 has cleansed textbooks of Assyrian history and accomplishments, = denied=20 government benefits to those who refuse to use Arab or Muslim = names,=20 uprooted Assyrian villages and banned the Assyrian language from = the=20 workplace.

Many Assyrians say they fear even greater persecution in a = post-Hussein=20 Iraq if the United States withdraws too quickly and leaves the = country to=20 chaos.

Their fears of persecution are grounded in the living memories = of many=20 Assyrians. On a recent Sunday, several dozen Assyrians gathered to = share=20 their family stories at the Assyrian center in North Hollywood, a = social=20 hall decorated with the Assyrian flag, winged bull statues and = portraits=20 of ancient kings.

According to cultural anthropologist Arian Ishaya, Assyrians = first came=20 to California in 1910 as farmers in the Turlock area of the = Central=20 Valley. They have since moved into the "solid middle class" as=20 small-business owners and professionals in computer science, law,=20 engineering and medicine. The nation's largest Assyrian = populations are in=20 the Detroit and Chicago areas, but Assyrian spokesmen claim a = population=20 of 7,000 in Southern California.

For Assyrians like William Warda, a 62-year-old graphic = designer,=20 success in America has not diminished memories of a horrific past. = At the=20 recent Assyrian center gathering, Warda said he was a 4-year-old = boy in=20 the northwestern Iranian area of Urmia when he saw his village = plundered,=20 his father shot through the head and his 6-month-old sister = bayoneted by=20 Turks in 1946. Prevented from burying his father's corpse, Warda = said, the=20 family watched helplessly as dogs picked it apart.

"They said, because you are Christians, you are supposed to = die," Warda=20 said -- adding that Muslims in another village sheltered them and = helped=20 the rest of the family escape.

Manon Dooman, a 67-year-old artist and former nurse, said most = of her=20 family was massacred by the Ottomans in 1915, but her grandmother=20 survived, escaped to Russia and passed down stories of seeing=20 sword-wielding soldiers ruthlessly slaying Assyrian Christian boys = and=20 men.

Assyrians say they lost 750,000 people to the Ottomans; the = Turkish=20 government denies any atrocities, just as it rejects Armenian = assertions=20 of genocide. Assyrians commemorate the 1933 slaughter of 3,000 = Assyrians=20 in Iraq on their Aug. 7 "Martyr's Day," but that history, too, is = little=20 known outside their community.

Ever so slowly, however, Assyrians appear to be coming together = -- and=20 drawing more attention.

Ganjeh, of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, said a meeting in = London=20 last November for nine of 14 major Assyrian political = organizations=20 represented a milestone in unity efforts and that follow-up = meetings are=20 being organized. Though many Assyrians still dream of recovering a = homeland or autonomous state, others say guarantees of democratic = freedoms=20 in a Muslim-ruled state may be the best they can hope for.

Signs of Hope

In the United States, Assyrians had been neglected by = Washington=20 policymakers crafting plans for a post-Hussein Iraq.

But that changed after intense lobbying by groups such as the = Assyrian=20 American League, which was established last year and has won the = backing=20 of some prominent politicians, including Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), = who=20 represents a district outside Chicago.

Assyrians are now formally mentioned in speeches by President = Bush and=20 included in Iraqi opposition meetings convened by the U.S. State=20 Department. The Assyrian Democratic Movement has qualified for = federal=20 funds under the Iraq Liberation Act, which funnels federal money = to Iraqi=20 opposition groups.

"We basically got in the face of everyone," said Michael of the = Assyrian American League. "Our rights, which have been trampled on = for so=20 long, need to be secured."

Meanwhile, Assyrians say other Christian groups are beginning = to rally=20 behind them. A worldwide day of prayer for the protection of = Assyrian=20 Christians was observed Sunday and supported by the Rev. Pat = Robertson's=20 Christian Broadcasting Network.

"Western Christians must show some interest in what's happening = and=20 help us out," said Shamiram Tabar, president of the Assyrian = American=20 Assn. of Southern California. "Otherwise, sooner or later the = Mideast=20 won't have any Christians left whatsoever."

MEXICAN AUTHORITIES DETAIN 6=20 CHALDEANS

Courtesy of Fox News

(ZNDA: Tijuana) Mexican authorities have detained five men and = one=20 woman who claimed to be German citizens whey they arrived in the = Tijuana=20 airport last Tuesday night on a flight from Mexico city. All six = are Iraqi=20 citizens, believed to be Chaldean Christians and intended to cross = into=20 the United States from Tijuana. Immigration authorities sent the = Iraqis=20 back to Mexico City for questioning.

Chaldean Christians often seek U.S. asylum, but many say these = requests=20 have been complicated by security concerns in the United States. = San Diego=20 area in southern California across the U.S.-Mexico border is home = to the=20 second largest Chaldean community in North America.

Mexican authorities were investigating whether the Iraqis might = have=20 violated Mexican immigration laws.

SYDNEY'S IRAQIS PONDER THE DILEMMA OF=20 WAR

Courtesy of the Daily Telegraph (17 = February);=20 based on an article by Linda Morris

(ZNDA: Sydney) To bomb or not to bomb their homeland is the = important=20 question for the Iraqis in Australia. Arab, Assyrian, Kurd and = Turkoman=20 alike, the Iraqis condemn the madness of their leader, dream of an = end to=20 dictatorship and worry that liberation may come at great human and = financial cost.

TOP RIGHT: Hermiz Shahen who fled from Iraq with his = family in=20 1981.
Mr. Shahen is the Secretary of the Assyrian Universal = Alliance=20 for Australia).

But they remain divided on the need for a United States-backed = war to=20 topple him.

Arab Muslims are the single largest ethnic group in Iraq. The = Kurds,=20 based in a region of northern Iraq they call Kurdistan, make up 23 = per=20 cent, and the remaining 5 per cent comprise a melting pot of = Turkomans,=20 Assyrians and Armenians, all non-Arabs.

Assyrians fleeing the violent Ba'athist Arab nationalist regime = of=20 Colonel Abd as-Salem Muhammed Aref, Saddam's predecessor, were = among the=20 first Iraqis to settle in Australia.

The trickle of refugees became a minor flood after the Gulf War = when=20 Kurds from the north and Shi-ites from the south were attacked and = joined=20 the exodus.

Refugees fled the dictatorship for neighbouring Turkey, Iran, = Syria and=20 Saudi Arabia before making their way to havens in Australia, the = US,=20 Britain, Sweden, Denmark and Canada.

More recently, Iraqi asylum seekers have arrived illegally in = the boats=20 of people smugglers.

The 2001 census reported about 24,832 Iraqis living in = Australia, more=20 than half of them in Sydney where they were scattered in = fragmented ethnic=20 pockets in Auburn and Arncliffe.

Mr Abood says the figure is more likely 120,000 to 150,000 once = members=20 of nationalistic ethnic groups whose homelands lie in Iraq are = included.=20

In Sydney, most of Iraq's newly arrived refugees have settled = in=20 Fairfield and Auburn.

The mixed businesses and restaurants which have sprung up at = the=20 southern end of Auburn Road have added a touch of Baghdad to the = row of=20 shops known locally as "Little Istanbul".

Most Iraqis believe Washington's support of Saddam during the = Iran-Iraq=20 war disqualifies it from a future role in Iraq.

There is also a deep-seated belief among Iraqi-Australians that = the US=20 blundered during the Gulf War when it encouraged Iraqis to rebel, = then=20 allowed Saddam to reassert his authority and abandoned the rebels = to their=20 fate.

The six-week war, which killed 100,000 Iraqi soldiers and = destroyed the=20 country's infrastructure, only tightened Saddam's grip.

Iraqis boast of Iraq's status as a centre of learning, of its = large=20 class of professionals and technocrats, its hospitable and = moderate people=20 who had never before the Iraq-Iran conflict waged wars of = conquest.

Many Sydney Iraqi exiles are members of its agricultural and = middle=20 classes, university-educated teachers, doctors, engineers and = scientists=20 who would be more than willing to return to help rebuilding = efforts.

Said Stephan, an Assyrian Christian with a PhD in electrical = science,=20 is offering to return for up to a year to help with the = reconstruction of=20 hospitals, airports and office blocks. His children would remain = in=20 Sydney.

Dr Stephan is likely to be joined by recently arrived asylum = seekers,=20 angered by their failure to win permanent residency.

It is a question that resonates among lonely fathers walking = Auburn=20 Road. In these uncertain times they cannot risk returning to the = families=20 and losing their visas and they cannot bring their families to = Australia.=20

In any event, they feel that Iraq is not Australia's = business.

"We cannot see any benefit to Australia or the Australian = people to=20 participate in that war," says Mr Abood. "Saddam is a criminal, a=20 dictator, but he didn't do anything to Australia."

COUNCIL WILL GIVE AUSTRALIAN = IRAQIS A SINGLE=20 VOICE

Courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald (18 = February); article by Linda Morris

(ZNDA: Sydney) Leaders of several Iraqi communities in = Australia have=20 decided to form a council to help each other in "difficult times". = The=20 council will represent various ethnic and religious groupings, = including=20 Muslim, Arabic, Christian, Kurdish, Assyrian and Chaldean = communities of=20 Iraqi origin.

The chairman of the Community Relations Commission, Stepan=20 Kerkyasharian, said the council would be a unique forum for = Australian=20 Iraqis. "They are of the view, given the potential for war in = Iraq, that=20 there will be times when they need to present themselves as people = with a=20 common interest," Mr Kerkyasharian said.

"This means everything from advocating the safety of friends = and=20 relatives suffering for many years, to possibly providing = assistance to=20 those displaced as a result of the war."

The council is preparing to draft a constitution and is to be=20 registered under company law.

The council's spokesman, Kassim Abood, said: "We're proposing = to=20 establish a single contact point for dealing with issues - = anything from=20 welfare to education and training - and as an umbrella for all = Iraqis to=20 hopefully speak with one voice."

ASSYRIAN MAN FROM CALIFORNIA REFLECTS = ON LAST=20 IRAQ WAR

Courtesy of the Tri-Valley Herald (18 = February);=20 article by Scott Smith

(ZNDA: Modesto) When asked, Kamal Thomas avoids any talk about = Saddam=20 Hussein or the political thundercloud hanging over America's = impending war=20 on Iraq, his native country.

The 49-year-old Manteca businessman says he just doesn't want = to get=20 involved in that debate.

But Thomas can talk about the cost of the American war in 1991 = that=20 brought his country to a grinding halt: Bombed-out electrical = plants=20 darkened homes. Drinking water didn't flow from faucets. Plants = that=20 supplied gas for cooking and heating were knocked out.

Thomas knows because when that happened, he was in Iraq.

That wasn't the worst, he said. Bombs dropping from the dark = skies=20 night after night brought a fear that the next one was coming at = you.

"It's terrible," said Thomas, drinking coffee in the small = office of=20 his used-car lot in downtown Manteca [few miles north of Modesto,=20 California].

"You don't know when you're going to die."

Before war comes again to his native country, Thomas said he = prays that=20 political leaders first explore every last attempt at a peaceful=20 resolution.

Thomas now lives in Modesto with his wife and four children, = who are=20 between the ages of 16 and 22.

But 12 years ago, he was in Baghdad on the phone with his = parents=20 calling from California.

Monitoring news developments, they told Thomas to get out of = Baghdad.=20 Bombs would start dropping the next day, they told him.

So, Thomas, a graduate of the University of Baghdad who in = quieter=20 times traded rice, flour, cigarettes and alcohol from Cypress, = Greece and=20 Europe, fled to his family's home village of Arbil in the north of = Iraq.=20

Tuning in his radio, Thomas heard about the bombs dropping at 2 = a.m.=20 the next morning.

He stayed in the village for three weeks before making his way = back to=20 his home in Baghdad still under siege.

Returning, he found Baghdad a ghost town.

"There was no electricity, no water, no sewer, no gas -- you = name it,=20 you cannot find it," said Thomas, adding that he was fortunate = because he=20 sent his wife and children to the United States before the = bombings in=20 1990.

Most Iraqis understood that the bombs weren't targeting = civilians,=20 Thomas said. Of course, in war, mistakes happen. And mistakes = happened.=20

Fortunately, none of his relatives suffered more than a few = broken=20 windows in their Baghdad homes.

The allied coalition bombs did successfully cripple public = services,=20 making everyday life difficult, especially for children and old = people, he=20 said.

The next round of bombing will be just as paralyzing for his = relatives=20 and millions of Iraqis who have no chance to leave, he said.

"I am completely against war. What I saw last time, I don't = want=20 anybody else to see," said Thomas, who acknowledges there are = problems in=20 Iraq.

If there were no problems, Thomas says, he wouldn't have had to = leave=20 Iraq and start a new life while middle-aged.

Thomas is Assyrian, an ethnic group of Christians living within = the=20 modern-day borders of Iraq. Of the Assyrians worldwide, only 30 = percent=20 remain in Iraq.

A large population of Assyrians live in the Central Valley = between=20 Modesto and Turlock.

Fluent in Arabic, Assyrian and English with a smattering of = German,=20 Thomas said that a couple of times each week, he maintains contact = with=20 his cousins, aunts and uncles still living in Iraq.

He offers them support and sometimes sends money, he said.

"What can we do more than that?" Thomas said.

Like he did, they want to leave Iraq, he said. And with the = United=20 States gearing up for another war, the pressure to leave only = increases.=20

"Everybody is scared and waiting for the minute war will come," = said=20 Thomas. "They're preparing."

Surfs Up!
Letters From = Zinda=20 Magazine = Readers

HAPPY 9TH=20 BIRTHDAY!

Best wishes and regards from the = Church and the=20 Assyrians of Australia on your Zinda=92s 9th Anniversary.

Mar Meelis Zaia
Bishop of = Australia &=20 New Zealand
Church of the East

Congratulations for Zinda Magazine = 9th magical=20 year anniversary. I applaud you for your true journalistic = wisdom in=20 publishing opposing views, which doesn=92t necessarily = represent the=20 views of your distinguished magazine. Furthermore, I am = pleased with=20 your announcement to further enhance the quality of Zinda by = verifying=20 the source of articles and letters to the editor published in = Zinda=20 Magazine. Hopefully, your new policy would force those = imposters=20 hiding behind fake names to come out of the closet and = disclose their=20 true identity.

Sargon R. = Michael
California

May you receive my sincere ecumenical = and=20 fraternal greetings and wishes of health, blessings and peace=20 (particularly praying for Iraq and especially for our = ancestral=20 Assyrian Chaldean brethren and for stopping all kind of = violence, war,=20 turmoil and oppression there and everywhere. Yours in the = Christ love=20 and Light.

Jose Luis = R.M.
Argentina

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING WITH=20 US!

Thank you so much for praying for the = Worldwide=20 Day of Prayer for the Assyrian Christians in Iraq. We were = able to do=20 interviews for the Los Angeles Times, USA Radio Network, Moody = Radio=20 Network, Christian Broadcasting Network 700 Club to name just = a few .=20 . . because you prayed!

Thank you for praying for our TV Spot we had great freedom = to speak=20 and were able to talk about the plight of the Assyrian = Christians in=20 Iraq and give witness to Jesus . . . because you prayed!

Please pray as we speak, Sunday, 2/16/9AM/2PM Japan Time,=20 2/15/4PM/9PM West Coast Time/2/15/7PM/12AM East Coast Time. = Please=20 pray for the annointing of Jesus, favor with the audience and = clear=20 opportunity to share Jesus!

How can we be praying with you? Please let us know at pray@keikyo.com

Rev. Ken Joseph = Jr.
Japan

CAN=92T STICK REAL HISTORY TO=20 FABLE

In last week=92s issue, Mr. Tony = Khoshaba of=20 Chicago, wrote under the title =93Enough Glue to Stick Kaldu = to Atoor=94:=20 =93The official name of our community in Iran is =91Ashuri = Kaldani=92 hence=20 the name Assyrochaldean actually is our official name in = Iran.=94

Mr. Khoshaba should know better that just because a group = of people=20 had a particular name preference over another does not = necessarily=20 give it legitimacy or historical depth in every case. For = example,=20 something that happened hundred years ago in the United States = is=20 indeed history since the United States=92 entire history is = two hundreds=20 years old. The Assyrians have a history that spans some four = thousands=20 years, and one hundred or one hundred seventy years is a drop = in the=20 ocean; we cannot discard the four thousand years in favor of = the=20 hundred or hundred seventy.

Mr. Khoshaba tells part of the story of the Assyrians in = Iran. The=20 Iranian Constitution acknowledges this term =93Ashuri and = Kaldani,=94 yet=20 Mr. Khoshaba does not tell his readers how the representative = of the=20 Assyrians in the Majlis (Parliament) is recognized! The = Assyrian=20 representative is not recognized as the Ashuri and Kaldani=20 representative, rather the Ashuri (Assyrian) representative. = Mr.=20 Khoshaba also neglects to mention additionally that none of = the=20 Assyrian organizations in Iran, including the AUA, carry the = name=20 Ashuri and Kaldani as part of their name.

The Iraqi government calls the Assyrians of Iraq = =93al-ta=92ifa=20 al-Athoriya=94. Should we accept that term? We lived under = oppression in=20 the Middle East and those governments are in position to say = whatever=20 they want, but that does not make them right.

This term AshurKaldo never existed throughout history = except when=20 few of our clergymen, whether due to ignorance, their studies = in=20 Catholic Rome, or simply out of their good heart and simple = mind to=20 bring our people together, used it in the very latter parts of = the=20 19th and early 20th century.

Let me explain by addressing two points in contrast:

We cannot glue two completely different and non-comparable = names=20 together, it did not work with the Czechs and the Slovaks when = they=20 glued Czechoslovakia together; The Serbians, Bosnians and the = Croats=20 when they glued Yugoslavia together; it did not work when they = glued=20 the Tajik and Peshtun and made Afghanistan; and did not work = the=20 collapsed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) when it = was glued=20 together, and there are many more exmaples.

In the Assyrian case, the point is that when you try to = glue the=20 two terms Ashor and Kaldo together and keep them next to each = other,=20 you are giving legitimacy and affirming the myth that the = MODERN=20 Chaldeans are separate than the Assyrians, and that is a sin = on its=20 own. AshorKaldo should not be an option under any = circumstance.=20 Historically speaking, we could say Assyria and Babylonia or = Nineveh=20 and Babylon but we cannot say Assyria and Chaldea or Nineveh = and=20 Kaldo; the prior two sets are comparable while the latter two = are=20 simply not. Chaldea is a mysterious term; many scholars do not = even=20 agree that it really existed. Even if it did for a very short = period=20 of time, which should not mean that it is going to take = precedence=20 over the historic Babylon. Furthermore, there is no connection = whatsoever between the ancient Chaldeans and modern Chaldeans. = Yes=20 there has been certain mistakes made in history, but we must = not make=20 rules out of the exceptions. If Mr. Khoshaba still insists on = using=20 the combined name, let him then do it correctly and use=20 KaldoNestorians. But let me remind Mr. Khoshaba that by using=20 Assyro-Chaldean, Kaldo-Ashur, or whatever of the combination, = he is=20 still ignoring the third vital segment of the Assyrian nation; = the=20 Suryanis (Jacobites and their Catholic counterpart the = Melkites)!

Mr. Khoshaba mentions about Mar Toma Odo=92s book = =93Grammar of the=20 Chaldean Language" published in Urmia in 1905. I am not sure = what=20 grammar book of 1905 Mr. Khoshaba is referring to, but I want = to make=20 couple points here:

First, Mar Toma Odo=92s dictionary, printed originally in = 1897 in=20 Mosul, was called =93Semta d=92 Lishana Suryaya=94. Let me = remind Mr.=20 Khoshaba that another Catholic Bishop J. E. Manna published = another=20 dictionary, reprinted in 1975 by the Catholic Church in = Lebanon, under=20 the title =93Chaldean-Arabic Dictionary=94. Sadly, many = changes were made=20 to the titles of the earlier works when reprinting took place = in later=20 times. My question to Mr. Khoshaba, is there, linguistically = speaking,=20 anything called Chaldean language? Linguistically, Chaldean, = or what=20 it is really known today as Filehi, is a DIALECT of the Syriac = language and NOT A LANGUAGE of its own. Let me remind Mr. = Khashaba=20 furthermore by what Mar Toma Odo stated in his book published = in 1906.=20 Mar Toma Odo, by the way, is considered as the father of the=20 neo-Syriac literature. In his 1906 book, the Archbishop = suggested that=20 one should return to the ORIGINAL name =93Atoraye=94 instead = of using=20 =93Suryaye (Suraye), since the latter had come into being = through=20 apocopation of the initial =93a=94 and a fricative = pronunciation of the=20 =93t=94 (Please read =93Semitica: Serta philological: = Constantino Tsereteli=20 dicata. 1993, p.103), so I am not sure what =93Chaldean=94 Mr. = Khoshaba is=20 talking about!

Secondly, in that same book "Qaryaneh Jobyeh" Mar Toma Odo=20 (1853-1918), the Chaldean Archbishop in Urmia, on page 168 = stated that=20 after the fall of Babylon the Chaldeans (referring to the = ancient=20 Chaldeans of southern Mesopotamia of course) mixed with the = Persians,=20 Elamites, and then with Arabs and they were assimilated = COMPLETELY=20 into these and other surrounding peoples. Mar Toma Odo is = telling us=20 that there were no Chaldeans left after the fall of Babylon in = 539=20 B.C.

Finally, let me remind Mr. Khoshaba that in life there is = what is=20 called stuff for history and there is that other stuff used in = political speech or poetry for example. For a singer or a poet = to=20 fantasize with something like AthorKaldo is one thing but to = corrupt a=20 4,000 years historical reality and try to enforce a mythical = term and=20 give it historical legitimacy is something else that is = completely=20 foolish. When I communicate with scholars and mention the name = Chaldea, they smile in a wicked manner =85 it is a joke, sir. = I know=20 this is harsh to say, but sometimes when encountering ignorant = people=20 who refuse to listen and learn after so much that has been = presented=20 to them, there is no other way to present the truth to them = but as=20 plain as it is. We need to learn our history and most = importantly undo=20 the mistakes of the past based on reliable and solid = information. We=20 cannot in this age of enlightenment insist on living in the = dark.

Fred Aprim
California =

LEAVE THE BISHOPS = ALONE

I write to Zinda to express my = uttermost=20 disgust at the arrogant and uneducated comments made on this = forum=20 about the Assyrian bishops. The people writing these comments = base=20 their facts on =93rumours=94 and =93speculation=94 rather than = facts. A fact=20 is defined as =93things known to be true, reality=94. Instead = of arguing=20 and debating about a failed investment scheme which cost the = Assyrian=20 community over $100 million, we sit and criticise bishops, = holy men=20 about their management skills.

As an Assyrian youth it disgusts me to see such low acts of = betrayal and irrelevancy. For many months I have been reading = Zinda=20 and instead of understanding the issues facing Assyrians = around the=20 globe I am constantly bombarded with =93this bishop done = this=94 and =93this=20 bishop done that=94. Such thoughts are purely subjective and = open to=20 numerous views.

Instead of using this medium in a way which will help us = grow and=20 prosper, we use it to spread rumours and cause quarrels. It = hurts me=20 to see that pursuing an academic career like that of Mar Bawai = Soro=20 will only draw laughable jealousy and criticism by others = within the=20 community. This poor man pursued a religious career, to serve = our=20 community and his faith. It did take him 10 years, but so do = other=20 doctrines in other professions, only an uneducated person with = low=20 social and academic exposure would validate such claims.

Further I have been frustrated at the way which people = compare=20 =93accomplishments=94 between bishops as though these people = are prolific=20 builders or leaders of states engaged on a pursuit to build = mass=20 infrastructure for the Assyrian community. Again, the = worldwide=20 audience of Zinda is exposed to the low social and academic = mentality=20 of this very selective few who constantly send in their = e-mails and=20 portray an extremely negative tone.

The Assyrian youth around the world have little authority = and=20 interaction with matters affecting our nation. We are the next = generation; however our views are not heard. It appears that = the=20 dominant issues remain constant regressive religious = criticisms and=20 rumours.

I know my letter will make no difference and the hypocrites = and=20 socialites within this forum will reply to their own tunes and = criticisms, again with their own =93rumours=94 and mysterious = =93sources=94.=20 Instead of using their time productively achieving results for = our=20 community, they choose to continue slandering Bishops and = other=20 leaders. As an Assyrian, I tolerate the rigid leadership = structure we=20 have in our community. Everyone that seems to have some level = of=20 authority comes under severe criticism in some stage of his or = her=20 lives. In recognising this, I constantly ask myself how large = of a=20 role Assyrians are able to play in any future decisions = affecting our=20 nation. I=92m sure that foreign administrations planning a = future (or=20 death) for our homeland would be seeing the lack of support = within our=20 community as something laughable.

It saddens me as an Assyrian to even have to write this = e-mail. I=20 hope that the status quo will disappear, but I remain very = pessimistic=20 and will continue pursuing my life in a way where my pride in = the so=20 called =93modern=94 Assyrian community is depleting.

Peter Esho
Australia

LEAVE AUSTRALIA OUT OF = IT

I am pretty sure that all Assyrians = and members=20 of the Asyrain Church of the East in Australia including the = Bishop,=20 will agree with me in saying: =93Please leave us out of the = mess in=20 California. We are very happy here working hard to preserve = our=20 Christian faith and the future of our Assyrian nation. Do not = use our=20 success here to chastise others. Use it for encouragement and = to=20 achieve better results than us. You have the means, resources, = money=20 number and good planners.=94

We as a group of young people will pray for the success and = well=20 being of our brothers and sisters throughout the world. Please = remember us in your prayers.

For a change, on a good and positive note, we have learned = that the=20 Assyrian church in Sydney has already started implementing the = plan to=20 build a High School and a technical college. Best wishes and = may the=20 Lord be with His Church and Nation always.

Happy 9th Annivesary Zinda,

Robert Y. = Jacob
Australia

FOR OR AGAINST THE = WAR

I don't recall your magazine = surveying the=20 Assyrians around the world if they were "for" or "against" = United=20 States of America going to war with Iraq. I am curious what = the result=20 would be.

Albert Warda
United = States

[Z-info: On 3 February the following poll appeared on = Zinda=20 Magazine homepage: =93Should the United States go to war with = Iraq=20 despite lack of support from some major U.N. members?=94 For = the 188=20 votes cast, 66% voted for and 31% against the war. 3% remained = undecided.]

ARE THERE CYPRIOTES OF = ASSYRIAN=20 DESCENT?

A = post-Graduate Student=20 at the University of Cyprus have written to me requesting = information=20 about the Nestorians of Cyprus and is attempting to write = about their=20 existance in Cyprus before they converted to Catholicism in = August 2,=20 1445.

He stated that the last information about the = Nestorians=20 in Cyprus he was aware of dated back to 1472, from a letter by = Pope=20 Sixtus IV, concerning the usurpation of the powers of Latin = diocesans=20 on the Island of Cyprus by the Greek Orthodox, Armenians, = Jacobites,=20 and Nestorians who have assumed these powers outside the = boundaries of=20 the localities assigned to them originally. Furthermore, and = what was=20 more interesting, he asked for any information about Nestorian = bishops=20 in Cyprus around the 6th century because he had located a = source or=20 two in reference to certain Nestorian refugees in Cyprus who = have=20 originated from the region of Assyria after the Persian = invasion.

The post-Graduate Student = supplied the=20 following reference in Greek by E. Chrysos from the story of=20 monasticism in Cyprus in 7th century presented in "Epetirida = Kentrou=20 Meleton Ieras Monis Kikkou", 4, Nicosia 1999. In the above = article,=20 the following bibliographies are recorded:

1. Patrologia Grecae (P.G.) 87,3, column 2877-8.
2. A. = Baustark, Geschichte der syrischen literatur, Bonn 1922, p.=20 190.
3. Patrologia Orientalis (P.O.), 5, Paris 1910,p. = 273=20 f.
4. Patrologia Orientalis (P.O.), 8,p. = 181-183.

I was wondering if anybody can assist in this = topic.
Please=20 e-mail me at fred.babylon@att.net

Fred Aprim
California

Surfer's=20 Corner

SUNDAY 9 MARCH: = WORLDWIDE DAY OF=20 PRAYER IRAQI CHRISTIANS

13 February 2003
Press = Release

The Assyrian Universal Alliance is sponsoring the Worldwide Day = of=20 Prayer for the Christians of Iraq.

The Churches representing the two (2) million Christians in = Iraq=20 are:

The Holy Apostolic Assyrian Church of the East
The Holy = Ancient=20 Apostolic Church of the East
The Chaldean Roman Catholic = Church
The=20 Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic Churches
The Armenian=20 Churches
The Protestant Churches

These Churches also serve an additional two (2) million = Assyrian,=20 Chaldean and Syriac Christians scattered in over forty countries = around=20 the world.

This special Day of Prayer on March 9, 2003 is for the = Christians of=20 Iraq. An urgent appeal is going out to the Worldwide Christian = Community=20 for a Day of Prayer during the Sunday Church Services and = throughout the=20 day for those Christians currently beleaguered in Iraq.

Urgent prayer is being requested for protection for this = special=20 Christian Community, the oldest Christian Nation in the world = struggling=20 for survival in a sea of turmoil in the land of their = forefathers.

Please pray for the Assyrian Church of the East that this = oldest Church=20 in the world, will endure this trial experience and return to its = roots as=20 the largest missionary force in the world.

Urgent prayer is also being asked for opportunities through the = media=20 of Newspapers, TV, Radio, Magazines, etc., to get the word out to = the=20 world that this Christian Community in Iraq is on the verge of = another=20 survival situation. Between 1914 and 1918 and again in 1933 these=20 Christians went through massacres in which over 2/3 of the nation = was=20 slaughtered.

Urgent prayer is also being requested for these indigenous = Christian=20 people of Iraq so that this time such an inhumane holocaust can = never=20 happen again.

With signs of war with Iraq increasing every day, lost amidst = the fog=20 of war are these Christians, once a proud and very influential = nation.=20

The liturgy of the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac Churches is = still=20 today in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus Christ. Early in = the first=20 century the Assyrian Church sent missionaries to China, Central = Asia,=20 India, Mongolia, Japan, Siberia, Ethiopia and the rest of the = known=20 world.

Urgent prayers are asked for this nation that is remembered in = prophecy=20 (Isaiah 19 : 23 - 25).

It is their history that is little known. It was to them that = Jonah=20 came to bring the message of repentance and they repented. It was = to them=20 that the Apostle Thomas came and their King Abgar repented for his = people=20 and Assyria became the first Christian Nation. These Christians of = Iraq,=20 for whom we ask your prayers, today are the remnants of Assyria = that was=20 the creator of much of our present civilization.

The Christians of Iraq because of their Christian faith have = suffered=20 greatly in an area that is almost completely Muslim. In the past = they have=20 been oppressed by the Persians, Mongols, Turks, Kurds and Arabs. = Today=20 these Christians face another problem in Iraq. They are plagued by = the=20 Iraq Government program to "Arabize" all citizens. The Christians = as other=20 minorities in the region suffer under this Arabization program. = Although=20 they are not Arabs they have been forced to sign forms that = require them=20 to renounce their ethnic ideates, religion and declare themselves = to be=20 Arabs.

Urgent prayer is being requested from the worldwide Christian = community=20 so that Almighty God will hear our prayers and protect His = children,=20 Assyria the work of His Hand.

Please let us know that you will join us in prayer on March 9, = 2003.=20 Please inform us by Fax, letter, e-mail or phone. Our organizing = committee=20 is in need of volunteers. We need your help.
Organizing = Committee=20 information:
- Rev. Ken JosephJr. Chairperson email:=20 info@keikyo.com
- Sen. John J. Nimrod email:=20 JohnNimrod@aol.com
-Carlo Ganjeh email: ganjeh@aol.com
- = Hon. Homer=20 Ashurian email: libashur@aol.com

Assyrian Universal Alliance
Tel: (773) 274-9262
Fax: = (773)=20 274-5866
e-mail: auaf@aol.com

PRESS RELEASE OF THE CHURCH OF THE = EAST IN=20 AUSTRALIA

14 February 2003
Press = Release

The Assyrian Church of the East, Diocese of Australia and new = Zealand,=20 has forwarded the press release issued by the Assyrian Universal = Alliance=20 (AUA) Organization to 15 church members and Observers of the = National=20 Council of Churches in Australia, and the New South Wales = Ecumenical=20 Council, seeking their participation in offering prayers for the=20 Christians in Iraq during the Worldwide Day of Prayer on Sunday, = 9th March=20 2003.

Simultaneously, the press release is also issued to almost 60 = other=20 parishes, religious organizations and humanitarian agencies to = take part=20 in this special occasion.

The Diocese will conduct a special Mass on 9th March, 2003. An=20 exclusive prayer printed in four languages will be distributed to = mark=20 this important occasion in the history of our nation.

May the blessings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with = our=20 Nation always.

Mar Meelis Zaia
Bishop
Secretary of = Holy=20 Synod
Assyrian Church of the East
Sydney, = Australia

NEW ONLINE PHOTO ALBUMS

Guys = From=20 Austria

The Assyrian Voice Network (www.AssyrianVoice.net) = has=20 released new photo albums. With over 100 new pictures and a total = of 7=20 albums, you won't want to miss seeing those beautiful Assyrians = faces from=20 everywhere. The new albums are from 49 through 55.

Visit: www.AssyrianVoice.net/P= hoto_Album=20 or visit our website and click on Photo Albums

Ashur Sada
Assyrian Voice = Network

Literatus

INTERVIEW WITH DR. = RONALD MICHAEL=20 M.D.

[Z-info:=20 The following is a reprint of the interview by Cultural = Survival=92s Beth=20 Jacob with Dr. Ronald Michael, president of the Assyrian American = League.=20 The AAL was selected as this week=92s =93Indeginous Organization = of the Week=94=20 by the Cultural Survival.]

Background: Dr. Michael is a surgeon in Chicago, Illinois. = He was=20 born in Lebanon, grew up in Iraq and Lebanon, and moved to Chicago = in=20 1967. All four of his grandparents are from what is now southeast = Turkey,=20 along the border of northern Iraq. They fled there during the = Assyrian=20 Holocaust by Ottoman troops and Kurds during the waning years of = Ottoman=20 rule.

As complex and ancient as the Assyrian history is, can = you give=20 a brief description?

The Assyrian culture was historically concentrated in northern = Iraq.=20 Our history is over 6,700 years old, as we are the indigenous = people of=20 Iraq. Even though the Assyrian empire ended in 612 B.C., detailed = records=20 show their continued presence up until today.

The last great capital of Assyria was Nineveh. The earliest = habitation=20 levels of Nineveh go back to 4,750 B.C. We have lived there = continuously=20 since that time, and we predate any other people in the area today = by=20 literally millennia.

Assyrians were some of the first people to accept Christianity. = When=20 the Arabs conquered the region in the 7th century A.D., Arabic = supplanted=20 Aramaic, the lingua franca of the region at the time. Aramaic, the = language spoken by Jesus Christ, had been the lingua franca of the = region=20 from the latter periods of the Assyrian empire, 8th and 9th = centuries=20 B.C., until around the 7th century A.D. Over time, Assyrian = Christianity=20 divided into four main sects, adhering to different churches: = Syriac=20 Catholics, Syriac Orthodox, Chaldean Catholic (Roman Catholic = offshoot of=20 the Church of the East), and the Church of the East. Further = divisions=20 occurred when Western missionaries arrived in the 19th century and = gained=20 converts to Protestant denominations, including = Presbyterianism.

Can you tell us about the Assyrian = language?

The language is Semitic, related to Arabic and Hebrew, but = quite=20 distinct from both. Assyrians have been using Aramaic since at = least the=20 8th century B.C. It is safe to say that there are at least four = million=20 Assyrians today. Many still speak modern Assyrian, or Syriac or = Aramaic,=20 or NeoAramaic, as it is variously known.

We work towards preserving our language. It is the language of = Christ,=20 and we are passionate about preserving it. Mandaens, Samaritans, = and=20 Assyrians use this language, and the other Iraqis that = historically used=20 the language were Iraqi Jews. There were many languages and = cultures that=20 were lost when the area from Iraq to Morocco was Arabized.

Why is all this important?

Ninety percent of the world's 6,000 languages are expected to = die=20 within the next generation or two. To explore this alarming = statistic and=20 the facts surrounding it, you should read "Vanishing Voices; The=20 Extinction of the World's Languages" by Daniel Nettle and Suzanne=20 Romain.

What kinds of discrimination and challenges do = Assyrians=20 face?

In the lands where we have lived continuously for nearly 7,000 = years we=20 are treated like second-class citizens. While freedom of religion = is a=20 right for which we fight, it is not our only struggle. We work to = preserve=20 our culture, not just our religion. Many Middle Eastern = governments try to=20 use the churches to divide the people. An example of this is Iraq, = which=20 tries to manipulate the Chaldean difference - which is not really = a=20 difference - by pitting us against each other. Just like the old = fashioned=20 "divide and conquer". Both the Iraqis and Kurds find differences = among the=20 Assyrians, and try to use these differences to weaken us. As a = minority,=20 we are not only discriminated against because of our religion, but = also=20 because of our language and ethnicity.

Iraq's tolerance is only towards those who reject their = religion and=20 ethnicity, as they try to Arabize the country. There are endless = examples=20 of how Iraq does this. Assyrians cannot have Assyrian names, and = if they=20 do they cannot get government recognition. The only way to advance = in Iraq=20 is to deny your ethnicity. If you wish to succeed, you cannot have = a=20 non-Arab nationalist consciousness. Iraqi textbooks mention = Assyrians as=20 "ancient Iraqis" or "Iraqi Christians". In northern Iraq, under = Kurdish=20 rule, Assyrians cannot seek advanced degrees unless they join the = KDP=20 (Kurdistan Democratic Party). This is a tactic that was used by = Stalinist=20 Russia.

Are there tensions between Kurds and = Assyrians?

We are just under ten percent of the Iraqi population, and = Kurds are=20 roughly 15 percent. Crime committed by Kurds against Assyrians is = never=20 prosecuted. [Even Kurds killing Assyrians is tolerated by the = KDP.] The=20 lack of justice in crimes that harm Assyrians is overwhelming and=20 unjustifiable. I would urge your readers to visit www.aina.org for = documented examples of this.

What is the chief objective of the Assyrian American=20 League?

Lobbying the U.S. government is one of our main objectives. We = also=20 strive to educate the pertinent branches of the U.S. government, = and state=20 governments, about our plight. We want them to know who we are, = what we=20 want and why it is in America's best interest to help us.

We do not want our Assyrian representatives chosen by = outsiders, as the=20 Kurds have done recently. Assyrian Democratic Movement = representatives=20 have been invited to the various Iraqi opposition meetings, but = the Kurds=20 select some of their own handpicked puppets, to dilute our = presence, and=20 to divide us.

We simply want to speak our language, build our churches, and = educate=20 our children. We should not have to fight for these basic things. = Our=20 energies should be invested in helping to solve the world's = problems, not=20 fighting for what should be basic, universal human rights.

Do you think your organization has been successful in = achieving=20 its goals?

I think it has been successful to an extent. The State = Department has=20 invited us to Iraqi opposition proceedings. The Iraq Liberation = Act has=20 been expanded to include the Assyrian Democratic Movement as a = legitimate=20 Iraqi opposition group eligible to receive American aid. We = alerted=20 President Bush that he did not include us in his speech to the = United=20 Nations. The President did later recognize us as an essential = component in=20 Iraq in his next Foreign Policy speech in Cincinnati, Ohio, = saying, "The=20 oppression of Kurds, Assyrians, Turkomans, Shi'a, Sunnis and = others will=20 be lifted. The long captivity of Iraq will end, and an era of new = hope=20 will begin." This encouraged us to believe that all of Iraq's = ethnic=20 groups will chart the future course of Iraq. This attention is = important=20 to us, as it is the first time Assyrians were recognized by a U.S. = President.

What are your views on Assyrian attitudes towards the = current=20 crisis with Iraq?

We support the U.S. objective of regime change in Iraq. But we = do not=20 want to replace the tyranny of Saddam, with the tyranny of a new = Saddam,=20 or of the Kurds. There has never been a tradition of democracy in = Iraq, so=20 if America leaves after regime change, there may be total chaos. = We have=20 to build institutions they do not yet know, establish a totally = new=20 mind-frame, and this will take time. I think Japan and Germany = were good=20 models for postwar reconstruction and institution building. Iraq = is a=20 country that is very wealthy in natural resources, technologically = advanced, and with a sound educational system. Iraqis have a long=20 tradition of culture, education and literacy. Iraq may prove very = fertile=20 ground for democratic institutions to germinate. It will take a = long time,=20 however, and the U.S. must be prepared to remain engaged until = that time=20 arrives.

Could you tell us a bit more about AAL's=20 activities?

The organization meets regularly. It is based in Chicago, but = in touch=20 with Iraqi groups around the world on a regular basis. This can be = difficult, unpredictable, and risky because of the political = situation in=20 certain Middle Eastern countries .

Is there anything else you would like to = add?

My challenge to Arab intellectuals, Arab Governments, and the = broader=20 Arab and Islamic world is to push as vigorously for Assyrian = rights as=20 they do for Palestinian rights. Otherwise, they lack credibility = and run=20 the risk of appearing hypocritical. Assyrians must be at the = table, as=20 non-Assyrians will not look after Assyrian rights. We constitute = ten=20 percent of Iraq's population. Our voice must be heard.

[Z-info:=20 Cultural Survival is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based = in=20 Boston. It develops new strategies for responding directly to the = critical=20 needs of the world's indigenous populations. It analyzes and = publicizes=20 examples of how indigenous peoples have successfully responded to = the=20 serious crisis. These case studies are discussed in Cultural = Survival's=20 conferences, in its publications and on its web site. Above all, = they are=20 analyzed by indigenous leaders and specialists as well as by = others who=20 have made a special study of the situations of indigenous groups. = In this=20 way Cultural Survival seeks to use the resources of the new = information=20 age to benefit the indigenous peoples who might otherwise be its=20 victims.]

COMMENTARY: SADDAM'S LOYAL = 'CHRISTIAN'=20

If the times weren't so serious, one would be tempted to laugh = at Tariq=20 Aziz's Roman road show. Here was Saddam Hussein's token = "Christian" paying=20 the pope a visit, but not kissing his ring. Here he was -- a = "Christian,"=20 remember? -- refusing to answer an Israeli reporter's question at = a press=20 conference, for which he earned hisses from the other journalists. = Bless=20 them!

And then we saw Iraq's deputy prime minister, accompanied by = Franciscan=20 friars, getting on his knees in Assisi to pray for peace. Would = you=20 believe it? The most loyal servant of the genocidal Saddam Hussein = presents himself as a faithful man of peace!

Well now, is Tariq Aziz actually a Christian? It's a matter of=20 interpretation. According to bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim, first = ordinary of=20 the Chaldean Catholic Church in the United States, he is a = Christian=20 "because he was baptized."

In fact, he was baptized Michael Yohanna some 66 years ago in = the=20 village of Telkaz, near the town of Mosul in northern Iraq. So why = does he=20 call himself Tariq Aziz? Because he thought this would make him = more=20 acceptable in the eyes of the Muslim majority in Iraq, exiled = Iraqis told=20 United Press International on Monday.

Is he still a Christian, then?

"Well," said bishop Ibrahim, "his wife is very faithful. She = attends=20 mass every day."

What about Tariq Aziz, though? "No," allowed the bishop, "but I = did see=20 him at his mother's and his brother's funerals."

But that doesn't make him a practicing Christian?

"No," admitted the bishop, "a practicing Christian he is = not."

Aha, but now he has himself filmed on his knees in Assisi.

"He's just using religion to serve Saddam Hussein's purposes," = said=20 Mowfaq Fattohi, a Prague-based member of the opposition Iraqi = National=20 Congress's central council, and himself a Chaldean Catholic.

Albert Yelda, the INC's highest-ranking Christian, reported = that Tariq=20 Aziz is the one man Christians in his homeland hate the most.

"They found he was not friend. He supported Saddam Hussein's = decision=20 that Christians must learn the Koran. He stood behind the = government when=20 it denied all basic human and cultural rights to the Assyrians," = the=20 ancient minority that has been Christian since the 2nd century = A.D.

"Tariq Aziz a Christian? That's laughable," agreed Mohammed = Mohammed=20 Ali, a top Shiite Muslim scholar in the INC. "He's an atheist. We = all know=20 it. He participated in the repression of all sorts of religious = leaders --=20 Muslim, Jewish and Christian. He was there when many of them were = hanged=20 in Baghdad's Albab al-Sharqi Square back in 1969."

"Perhaps 'atheist' is too strong a term," cautioned bishop = Ibrahim.=20 "Tariq Aziz is a Baathist." Now, the Baathists are pan-Arab = socialists=20 with a strong Socialist bent.

"Well, call him 'laic' in the French sense of the word." Ah, = Tariq=20 Aziz, a former English teacher and editor-in-chief of two = socialist=20 newspapers is something like a French "instituteur" (elementary = school=20 teacher) -- the proverbial antagonist of the Catholic Church.

That may be about right -- but then can you imagine a French=20 "instituteur" on his knees in Assisi?

Most likely, Tariq Aziz is what he is: Just a loyal minion of = another=20 Baath Party "laic" and hedonist who nevertheless found it = expedient=20 recently to have the entire Koran written in his own blood -- = Saddam=20 Hussein.

Uwe Siemon-Netto
United Press=20 International
Religion Editor

Bravo

THE ASSYRIAN AMERICAN=20 LEAGUE

The Assyrian American League (AAL) was established in 2002 as a = response to the potentially momentous changes that may soon take = place in=20 Iraq. The AAL is a grass-roots organization that seeks to educate = the=20 United States
government and the broader American public about = the=20 plight of Assyrians around the world, particularly in the Middle = East, and=20 most importantly, in the current circumstances, in Iraq.

The AAL hired former Illinois Fifth Congressional District=20 Representative Honorable Michael Patrick Flanagan as its lobbyist = and has=20 developed relationships with the State Department, Pentagon, = various=20 members of Congress, and the White House to advance its human = rights=20 agenda.

Assyrians do not have a country. They are a distinct ethnic, = linguistic=20 and religious minority in the Middle East and a minority = everywhere they=20 live. In the West this has not been a problem. In the Middle East, = and in=20 particular, in Iraq, in the land where Assyrians have lived for = nearly=20 7,000 years, this is a major problem. The mission of AAL is to = press for=20 the recognition of Assyrian ethnic, religious, linguistic, and = political=20 rights in the nations of the Middle East where Assyrians = reside.

The AAL seeks to educate the Western media about the plight of = the=20 Assyrians and in recent months, as a direct result of AAL = activity,=20 prestigious outlets such as Abcnews.com, The Washington Post, The = Wall=20 Street Journal, and the New York Times have reported on the plight = of the=20 Assyrians.

The AAL also seeks to foster greater international = understanding about=20 the Aramaic language. Aramaic is on the endangered languages list, = and=20 will perish unless something is done to safeguard the indigenous = Assyrian=20 communities left in Iraq and the Middle East.

Dr. Ronald Michael
AAL,=20 President
Chicago

INVOCATION OFFERED BY MAR BAWAI SORO = AT THE=20 STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

[Z-info:=20 The following is the full text of the invocation offered by Bishop = Mar=20 Bawai Soro before Mayor Ron Gonzales=92 =93State of the City=94 = address in San=20 Jose, California on 5 February 2003. Bishop Soro and several civic = and=20 religious leaders of the Assyrian communities in the Bay Area were = present=20 at this televised event.]

I would ask you now to join with me in a few moments of silent = prayer=20 and reflection in memory of the seven astronauts who gave their = lives in=20 the service of their fellow men and women.

Almighty God, [Marya Alaha Mrakhmana] in whose goodness we = trust and=20 under whose protection we seek refuge.

You have given us this good land, and this marvelous city for = our=20 inheritance.

We pray that we may be proved worthy of this great gift, and = remember=20 at all times and with thankfulness the freedoms we enjoy, and = accept with=20 gladness the responsibilities of citizenship which accompany these = freedoms.

May our city be blessed with industry, which is honorable, = learning=20 which is sound, and manners, which reflect the dignity of men and = women=20 who respect the rights and serve the needs of their neighbors.

May we be kept from violence, discord, and confusion in our=20 streets.

May all pride and arrogance be put away from us, and every = destructive=20 behavior which threatens our peace be eliminated.

Grant a solace and comfort to those who have come among us from = the=20 many different families of the earth and from among the many = languages and=20 cultures.

May they be received with magnanimity and grace as sharers in a = common=20 bounty.

May our mayor, and all who serve us in positions of trust and=20 authority, be given wisdom to govern in such a way as to promote = justice=20 and peace at home, and provide an example to be emulated = elsewhere.

When we are prosperous may we be thankful, and in times of = hardship may=20 we ever remain hopeful and confident in your providence.

And as we remember with sorrow the loss of seven courageous = souls in=20 the tragedy of the shuttle Columbia, may we seek consolation in = the sure=20 knowledge that their lives and work will continue to bear fruit = for the=20 benefit and progress of all mankind.

We pray for our nation in these times of peril, that it may be = guided=20 with wise counsel and preserved in its legitimate aspirations and = historic=20 freedoms.

These things we ask in the sure knowledge of your compassionate = and=20 merciful love.

Amen.

Calendar of=20 Events

Visit the Zinda Magazine Calendar at http://www.zindamagazine.c= om/calendar

Thank=20 You!

Zindamagazine would like to = thank:

Martin = Mirza
(Chicago)

Rita=20 = Pirayou
(California)

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ZINDA Magazine is published = weekly. =20 Views expressed in ZINDA do not necessarily represent those of the = ZINDA=20 editors, or any of our associated staff. This publication reserves the = right, at=20 its sole discretion, not to publish comments or articles previously = printed in=20 or submitted to other journals. ZINDA reserves the right to = publish and=20 republish your submission in any form or medium. All letters and=20 messages require the name(s) of sender and/or author. All = messages=20 published in the SURFS UP! section must be in 500 words or less and bear = the=20 name of the author(s). Distribution of material = featured in=20 ZINDA is not restricted, but permission from ZINDA is required. This = service is=20 meant for the exchange of information, analyses and news. To = subscribe,=20 send e-mail to: z_info@zindamagazine.com.=20

NOT A = TABLOID

RESEARCH PROJECT ON = IDENTITY=20 FORMATION AMONG WEST SYRIAN CHRISTIANS

ASSYRIANS HOPE FOR U.S.=20 PROTECTION

HAPPY 9TH=20 BIRTHDAY!

SUNDAY 9 MARCH: = WORLDWIDE DAY OF=20 PRAYER IRAQI CHRISTIANS

INTERVIEW WITH DR. = RONALD MICHAEL=20 M.D.

THE ASSYRIAN AMERICAN=20 LEAGUE