Iraq gears up for referendum

2005-10-07 11:38

Baghdad - Iraqi television channels, both state-controlled and private, are bombarding viewers with ads in a bid to bolster voting next week in a referendum on a new constitution.

The government has bought space on neighbouring Arab satellite TV stations as well, though only the 15.7 million registered voters living in Iraq are to decide on the draft legislation, introduced by parliament two and a half years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

An ad shows a smiling barber shaves a customer without fear of being punished by Islamic extremists for such work, while women students, both veiled and unveiled, attend a university lecture.

"They wanted to steal your smile. They wanted blood to flow. They wanted your prayers to go unfulfilled. They wanted to kill your dreams," the voice-over says.

Falah Mishaam, deputy editor-in-chief of the official Al Sabah newspaper, said the publicity campaign was necessary because of Iraq's murky political past.

"Iraq never had a democracy," he explained.

"Many people, and political parties too, are unaware of democratic traditions" despite general elections that were held in January, the first since the fall of Saddam, he added.

According to an opinion poll sponsored by the United States-based International Republican Institute, 85% of Iraqis intend to vote on October 15, down from 92% who said they would when asked in April.

Most observers forecast overwhelming approval of the constitution, but not everyone was convinced, in particular Sunni Arabs who fear it could lead to a federal state that favours Iraqi Shiites and Kurds.

"It's true that the TV adds are glitzy, but the constitution itself is tarnished," said 30-year-old Sunni taxi driver Omar Abdallah.

"I'll vote 'no' because I feel the constitution will divide the country."

Juad Sahid, a Shi'ite salaried worker, expressed doubts as well.

"I'm not convinced by the constitution because it was drafted by people who were out of Iraq for more than 30 years," he said.

"Two-and-a-half years after the overthrow of Saddam, they still haven't changed the country. The situation is getting worse and worse," he added.

"I shall vote, but I will vote blank."

- AFP