ANYF 2014 2... - Assyrian Universal Alliance

ASSYRIAN NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
2014 / 6764
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Program - Assyrian New Year Festival
Sunday 30th March 2014
2:00 PM The Dr. Donny George Assyrian Exhibit - Official Opening
2:30 PM Assyrian New Year Festival: Program Start
Australian and Assyrian National Anthems (refer to page 13)
Performed by: Ms Jessica Ablahad
Brief Welcome Message & Acknowledgment of Guests
Master of Ceremony: Mr Ninos Aaron
Welcoming Speech by: Mr David M. David,
President of Assyrian Australian National Federation (AANF)
Speech by: Clr. Frank Carbone, Mayor of Fairfield City Council
Address by: Mr Hermiz Shahen,
Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
Dance Performance by: Assyrian Star Folkloric Dancing Group
Senator The Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social
Services, representing Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Tony Abbott MP
Speech by: The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Federal Member for McMahon, Shadow Treasurer, representing The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition
Speech by: H.E. Mr Mouayed Saleh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia &
New Zealand
Speech by: The Hon Philip Ruddock MP. Federal member for Berowra, Chief Government Whip
Speech by: Mr Chris Hayes MP, Federal Member for Fowler, Chief Opposition Whip
Speech by: Mr Craig Kelly MP, Federal member for Hughes
Dance Performance by: Assyrian Star Folkloric Dancing Group
Mr Kruno Kukoc, State Director NSW & Global Manager Refugee & Humanitarian Visas & Global
Manager Family Visas
Speech by: The Hon David Clarke, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, representing the Hon.
Barry O’Farrell MP, Premier of New South Wales
Speech by: Mr Guy Zangari, MP, State member for Fairfield, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and
Communities
Speech by: George Dadisho, Vice Chairperson, The Young Assyrians
Speech by: The Hon. Amanda Fazio MLC
Award Presentation
4:05 PM Official Opening
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MR HERMIZ SHAHEN
DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL
ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE
Distinguished Guests,
It gives me great pleasure and much pride to welcome you all to this annual
celebration, I am particularly thankful for the presence of the representatives from
Federal, state and local government. I also welcome the Iraqi Ambassador and
representative of all organisations present.
I also wish to thank all our wonderful, generous and amazing Sponsors for your
support, and for helping to make this Festival such an exciting, rewarding and
successful event.
We meet here every year to celebrate the arrival of the Assyrian New Year. This day
brings hope in the hearts of Assyrians and reflects their determination of survival
through generations, despite many tragedies of war, genocide and aggression that
have been inflicted on them throughout their past long history.
The New Year Festival is also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the important
contributions, the Assyrian community has made to Australia, which reflects its
partial role in determining the character and landscape of the society we live in
today which makes us proud Australians.
The New Year will also be a time to think of our struggling nation in the Middle
East, including those who lost their lives and are living in fear in Syria and Iraq and
the tens of thousands of refugees in the neighboring countries. We hope that Iraq
will restore its security and stability, and that all citizens of that country will soon
benefit from the quality of life that we in Australia are lucky enough to enjoy.
Assyrians today need friends like you to support their justified cause; we need your
action, guidance and prayers.
Happy Assyrian New Year, I wish you all the best.
MR DAVID M. DAVID
PRESIDENT
THE ASSYRIAN AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FEDERATION
On behalf of the executive committee of the Assyrian Australian National Federation
and the affiliated organisations, I welcome you to this year’s Assyrian New Year
Festival. It is a real privilege to share with you our traditional culture which spans
6764 years.
We are humbled by the kindness and support of our volunteers, committees, sponsors
and extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Australian Government and NSW
Police, in particular Fairfield Police Commander Superintendent Peter Lennon ,
our Government officials from all levels, Local, State and Federal for their on-going
support for the plight of the Assyrians.
We are extremely honoured to offer an opportunity for the Australian Assyrians to
unite and to celebrate this special day in the ancient Assyrian calendar and keep a
tradition, inherited from our forefathers alive.
We will continue to appeal to the Australian Government and worldwide community
to hear the difficulty of the Assyrians living in Iraq and its neighbouring countries.
We urge you to continue your support for this cause and to spread awareness of the
issues at the highest level. We ultimately wish for these Assyrians to live a settled,
peaceful life and to save future generations of the Assyrian Christians from facing
extinction.
Our thoughts are with the Assyrians who are suffering in the Middle East crisis, we
have not forgotten about them. We hope that one day they will also be able to enjoy
such festivities in our ancestor’s homeland Assyria.
I would like to also thank the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australian Chapter in
particular Mr Hermiz Shahen for his tremendous work for the Assyrian cause.
On a final note, I take this opportunity to thank everyone for attending this year’s
celebration and wish you all a happy, healthy and safe Assyrian New Year 6764.
MR NINOS AARON
CHAIRPERSON
THE YOUNG ASSYRIAN
YOUTH BRANCH OF THE AUA-Australia
Starting somewhere new is always a peculiar experience. There’s much to get used
to, and things come at you at such a pace. It’s been a huge year of distinctions for
Assyrians.
We’ve had some incredible high points. One of them being the call to establish an
Assyrian Province in Iraq by Australian Federal Parliamentarians; and to be honest
I had to pinch myself to think I was actually there when many spoke on the issue in
Parliament House.
And another one was the Assyria Day conference, a wonderful day organised by the
committee of The Young Assyrians, a very informative and encouraging day for the
many attendees.
On the flip-side, Assyrians endured yet another year of torment in their ancestral
homeland spanning Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. Assyrians are being forced to leave
their lands, Churches, businesses and in some cases families in order to survive.
This festival we are taking part in today began in those same lands that Assyrians
are being forced to leave, Mesopotamia, the land between two rivers, the land of the
Assyrians.
I know it’s the New Year, and in keeping with New Year traditions, I would like to
suggest a resolution for all Assyrians and their friends. I want to suggest this year
that each of us makes a resolution to try and change the fate of Assyrians in the
Middle East from where we are.
Martin Luther King Jr said the hope of a secure and livable world lies with
disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.
Every generation has the chance to be a great generation, and I believe we can be
that great generation.
Looking at the world today I see many signs of hope for Assyrians, but also there
is much despair, many families, and many individuals struggling to endure in the
Middle East.
Perhaps our New Year’s resolution is therefore not just to do something slightly
differently, but to set our eyes on changing the world around us. That would really
change the fate of Assyrians in the most amazing way.
THE HON. CHRIS BOWEN MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR McMAHON
SHADOW TREASURER
It is with great pleasure that I send my best wishes to Assyrian Australians celebrating
the Assyrian New Year Festival.
The history of calendars and the celebration of the New Year spans several thousand
years. With this year’s celebration marking 6764 years in the ancient Assyrian
calendar, the Assyrian culture is one of the oldest in human history.
We are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of the Assyrian
calendar year and experience the continuation of one of the most ancient festivals
right here in Australia. It has become an important date in my electorate, where
the Australian Assyrian community as well as those from other backgrounds come
together to celebrate. The festival offers a window into Assyrian culture and traditions
with the ability to sample Assyrian food, dance and music.
It is equally important that as we celebrate here in Australia we recognise the
adversity that Assyrians are experiencing currently in the Middle-East.
I would like to congratulate the Assyrian Australian National Federation and the
Australia Chapter of The Assyrian Universal Alliance for organising this vibrant
event which is such a great example of Australia’s multicultural society.
Diversity is one of our country’s greatest strengths. I am glad to have Assyrians, as
well as a rich mix of other wonderful cultures, make up the fabric of my electorate.
I wish you all happiness, peace and prosperity in the coming year.
Reesha d’sheeta hoiya brikhta qa koolokhon.
CHRIS HAYES MP
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FOWLER
CHIEF OPPOSITION WHIP
It gives me great pleasure to provide this letter of support for the 2014 Assyrian
New Year Festival. The Assyrian New Year is an important day for our AssyrianAustralian community and marks the first day of the ancient Babylonian calendar.
I have worked closely with the Assyrian Universal Alliance and the Assyrian
Australian National Federation, and supported the great work undertaken by
many people, among them, Mr Hermiz Shahen and Mr David David. I have also
spoken in the Federal Parliament about the plight of the Assyrian people in Iraq
and Syria, as we continue to advocate for those who do not have a voice.
I congratulate the Assyrian-Australian community on the historic announcement
of a proposed plan for a Nineveh Plain Province for Christians of Iraq by the
Government of Iraq. This decision will help recognise the rights of indigenous
Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs. This result is a testament to the years of tireless
effort both within Iraq and the work of the Assyrian-Australian community.
The Assyrian New Year is a great opportunity for family and friends to celebrate
the achievements of the Assyrian-Australian community. It is a time of renewal
and of new beginnings. It is also a time to reflect on the spirit and traditions of
this ancient culture. For the Assyrian people, I pray the New Year ushers in a spirit
of reconciliation and peace, particularly for those who continue to experience
oppression and persecution.
To all those attending, I hope you enjoy the traditional songs and dances, as well as
the traditional Assyrian food. I wish all a very peaceful and prosperous New Year.
THE HON. MARIE FICARRA - MLC
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO
THE PREMIER
My best wishes to all celebrating the commencement of the lunar based Assyria New Year as we
enter the year 6764. This year is based on the establishment of the first temple at Assur in the Year
4750BC – the ruins of which are now a UN world heritage site. Indeed Assyrians were the first
civilisation to accept Christianity in the first century after the death of Jesus on the Cross.
Such is the richness of Assyrian history, heritage, spiritual faith, language, traditions and academic
learning imparted around the world, but most importantly in Australia’s most diverse multicultural
community centred around Fairfield City and its surrounds in Sydney’s South West.
My heartfelt thanks go to the leaders of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and the Assyrian
Australian National Federation (AANF) for the dedication they show for their community and
all their diaspora, but in particular the desperate plight of those innocent Christians of Assyrian
heritage in Iraq, Syria and other regions of the Middle East.
Since the collapse of the Assyrian Empire in 612BC, colonisation of your homeland has lead
to much hardship, persecution and human suffering for Assyrian Christian families trapped in
intolerant and unjust regimes over millenia.
Assyrians together with their Armenian and Greek Pontian brothers and sisters have suffered
genocides at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman rulers and still today such sectarian violence and
discrimination continues, with the targeting of church and community leaders, killings, assaults,
sexual attacks and abductions, forced religious conversions and daily social repression and
discrimination of Christians in Iraq. Land, Church buildings, homes and belongings confiscated
have never been returned or compensated for.
In 1980 Assyrians were 8-10% of the Iraqi population and now they are less than 2% with no
protection, democratic representation or voice. Assyrian refugees scattered throughout Syria and
other parts of the Middle East are classified as an ethno-linguistic Christian minority without
national identity, without provision for basic health, housing or education and without state
protection.
I join with the voices of the AUA and the AANF for an immediate cessation of such violence
and persecution of Assyrian people and we support international calls for the establishment of
an autonomous safe region in Northern Iraq for Christians in Iraq and those scattered Assyrian
refugees throughout the Middle East.
THE HON. REV. FRED NILE - MLC
NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY
On behalf of the Australian Christian Democratic Party I convey my warmest
personal greetings to the Assyrian New Year Festival, as the Assyrian people celebrate
the New Year annually, in accordance with the ancient traditions of their ancestors
in Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia is the location chosen by Almighty God for the birth of the human
race, with Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden.
Ur in Mesopotamia is also the birthplace of Abraham, known as the ‘Father of the
Faith’.
I am honoured to be your guest. I admire your historical defence of the Christian
faith in spite of many years of persecution and suffering, particularly under Islamic
regimes.
There are still those who wish to rewrite history and continue to vigorously deny
awful genocidal assaults of Assyrians over the past century, right through to today.
Assyrians continue to be vulnerable in their historic homeland and in other parts of
the world to which they fled, following attempts to annihilate them.
I give you my continuing personal promise, as a Member of the NSW Upper House
(State Senate), to protect the Assyrian people of NSW from any possible future
attacks by any individual or organisations, against the Assyrian community its
Churches or its Clergy.
I will also demand and support the official recognition of the Assyrian Homeland
in Iraq.
THE HON. DAVID CLARKE - MLC
MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR JUSTICE
It gives me great joy to extend greetings and congratulations to the AssyrianAustralian community on the occasion of the 6,764th Assyrian New Year.
Assyrians, both in their national heartland in present day Iraq and in the worldwide
diaspora will feel mixed emotions at this time.
Firstly, it is a time for Assyrians to look back on their 6,763 years of recorded history
with great pride. It is an illustrious history of great achievements by a people of
heroic virtue.
The Assyrians were the founders of one of the greatest Empires of the Ancient World,
the builders of great cities like Nimrod, Ninevah and Babylon, and the creators of
the world’s first universities, library and legal code, the Code of Hammurabi. They
were also one of the first nations to accept Christianity.
Secondly, however, Assyrian New Year is a time when Assyrians will understandably
be looking to the future with much anxiety. This is because whilst Assyrians in
Australia and the world diaspora continue to thrive, in their homeland and other
parts of the Middle East they suffer great persecution including attempts to annihilate
them altogether because of their Christian faith.
So at this time of the celebration of the Assyrian New Year we need to make a New
Year’s Resolution to redouble our efforts to help alleviate the plight of Assyrians in
the Middle East and to help bring an end to their persecution.
GUY ZANGARI MP
MEMBER FOR FAIRFIELD
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP
AND COMMUNITIES
Happy Assyrian New Year 6764
On behalf of my staff and family, I wish to extend sincere blessings to the Assyrian
community for the Assyrian New Year 6764.
Over many years, the Assyrian Community has been a key contributor to the
success of multiculturalism in Fairfield. The Assyrian Community whole heartedly
participates in building our great nation.
Each New Year brings with it much anticipation for good health and wealth and I
trust that this year will bring to you and the Assyrian Community, great prosperity.
It gives me great pleasure to be given the privilege to represent the Assyrian
Community in the Legislative Assembly in the New South Wales Parliament.
Over the years the Assyrian Community has extended warm hospitality and
friendship to my family and I. For this I am forever grateful.
I do take this opportunity however, to offer up prayers and thoughts to the plight of
Assyrians in the Middle-East who are suffering great injustices as a result of their
Christian beliefs.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance is to be commended for championing the cause of
not only Assyrians in South-West Sydney, but Assyrians all over the globe.
It is through the hard work and commitment of the Assyrian Universal Alliance that
the plight of Assyrians is raised in Parliaments throughout the world.
I would like to thank the organisers of the Assyrian New Year festivities and the
Assyrian Universal Alliance for their ongoing work throughout the years.
Department of Immigration
and Border Protection
KRUNO KUKOC
STATE DIRECTOR NEW SOUTH WALES
GLOBAL MANAGER REFUGEE AND HUMANITARIAN VISAS
On the occasion of the New Year, I am pleased to congratulate the Assyrian community both in
Australia and around the world on your long and rich history.
I am delighted to be here with you in Fairfield, the heart of the Assyrian community.
This festival provides a great opportunity to embrace Assyrian culture and to honour tradition
from the remote past.
Industriousness, courage and resilience are values which have sustained your community for
more than sixty-five centuries in difficult circumstances.
In bringing these values to Australia, your community has productively participated in Australia’s
cultural and economic achievements.
I would like to commend Mr Shahen, Mr David, the Committees of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance and of the Assyrian Australian National Federation and all community members present
today, who, through their dedication, commitment and hard work enhanced the prosperity of our
country.
On this important day, I would like to wish you a peaceful and successful new year.
SUPERINTENDENT PETER LENNON
FAIRFIELD POLICE COMMANDER
NSW POLICE FORCE
Congratulations and celebrations to our Assyrian friends on this New Year Festival.
On behalf of all the Police in the area, thank you for working with us to make our community a
safe and peaceful place. We are your Police, we are here to help you in accordance with the law of
the State, we are obliged to help you. Our theme is ‘We are You’- we live here, we work here, we are
proud in the good times for our area and saddened when matters are not so good. We ask for your
trust, knowing also we have to earn it; be responsible as a community member and work with us
to ensure happy and blessed lives. Rished sheeta brikhta, Havetoon baseemeh Raba.
CR FRANK CARBONE
MAYOR OF FAIRFIELD CITY
On behalf of Fairfield City Council, I would like to extend my regards and wish the
Assyrian community a “Kha b’ Nissan” - happy New Year.
The day reflects and symbolises love, brotherhood and friendship for the Assyrian
community.
Over the years, Fairfield Council and the Assyrian community have built a strong
relationship and on behalf of Fairfield Council we thank you for contributing to the
Assyrian community and for making the City a special place.
The Assyrian community has made significant contributions to the rich and unique
community spirit within Fairfield City.
The Assyrian community have always had an open attitude to sharing its traditions
and history with others, which has makes Fairfield City a culturally diverse place in
which to live and work.
I would like to extend my congratulations to the Assyrian Universal Alliance and
the Assyrian Australian National Federation for its ongoing success and I wish you
every success in the coming years.
With that said, may this New Year bring you and your family’s peace, prosperity and
happiness.
The Assyrian Flag
The three wavy stripes symbolise the three major rivers flowing through the land of
Assyria.
At the top we see the mighty Euphrates, represented in blue denoting abundance.
In the center the great Zab is in white portraying peace.
The bottom we see the mighty Tigris in a red color representing the Assyrian nation’s
courage, glory and pride.
At its center, the star encompasses a golden circle representing the sun (Shamash)
The four wedges of the star are a bright blue colour and represent happiness and
tranquility.
Hovering over the star is the emblem of Ashur, it features a figure standing in a
circle with two eagle wings spanning and over stretching its length on two sides.
This emblem is in the same shape and color scheme of the original ceramic work
preserved in the British Museum in London, England.
National Anthems
Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We’ve golden soil and wealth for
toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history’s page let every stage
Advance Australia fair,
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern
Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of
ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who’ve come across the
seas
We’ve boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.
We stand in salute of our great
nation Assyria,
The cradle of civilization.
We stand in honour of our
forefathers who,
Spread across the earth and guided
nations,
To live in peace, prosperity, and
achieve greatness in God
2014 Australia Day
CARMEN LAZAR OAM, JP
Medal of the “Order of Australia” recipient
Mrs Lazar was awarded OAM on Australia Day . She is the centre manager and
settlement officer at the Assyrian Australian Association office of Assyrian Resource
Centre in Fairfield she is also the executive board member at Cabramatta Community
Centre, National Council of Churches in Australia commissioner, chairperson of
the Community Participation Network at Fairfield Hospital, as well as an active
member Medicare Local, Fairfield Migrant Inter-agency Network, the Immigrant
Women’s Network, Refugee Task Force, Housing Task Force,
Mrs Lazar has also placed herself as an active member with the Assyrian Universal
Alliance and Assyrian Australian National Federation. Mrs Lazar continues to
persue herself in helping the Middle Eastern crisis this is done by the support given
by the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Assyrian Australian National Federation.
She also has ongoing scheduled meetings with the members of the Parliament who
help enable such provision to the Middle Eastern community. In her capacity as
the principal of the community language school, Mrs Lazar works actively with
the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Assyrian Australian National Federation in
preparing community activities such as the Annual Assyrian New Year festival,
Assyria day and Assyrian Martyrs Day.
Carmen works in partnership programs with the University of NSW giving Masters
of Education students the opportunity to help Assyrian students with homework
and assignments. This has been a very successful program.
Carmen recently recruited 12 volunteers placing them through Certificate IV and
Diploma in Community Services. She taught the participants all aspects of running
an office from administration to customer service skills. Carmen also helped them
with compiling a resume and applying for jobs. So far, four volunteers have secured
work within the community.
Mrs Lazar has been vice-president and secretary of the Assyrian Australian
Association from 1996 to 2008, the principal of the Assyrian Australian Association
-Diqlat Language School since 2001- current and was the vice-president of the
Assyrian Australian National Federation.
Award Recipients
BASIM SHAMAON
Fairfield City Young Citizen of the Year
Basim Shamaon was recently awarded the 2014 Fairfield City Young Citizen of
the Year - becoming the first young Assyrian to have received this Award since it
was piloted. He is truly a role model to the youth of the Assyrian community in
Australia. He takes the lead in representing the interest and needs of young people.
He continues to motivate and encourage the youth community to participate in
charity events and supports humanitarian causes.
When Fairfield Fire Station closed, he wrote a book about its service and importance
to the area. The book is now available at the Whitlam Library. Basim spent two
years researching more than 100 heritage items of Fairfield City and posted them
on ‘History Pin Website’ to promote the City locally and internationally. He also
dedicates a lot of his time volunteering and has worked with over 20 different
organisations and charities.
ALBERT MOOSHI
Fairfield City Achievement Medallion
As a member of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Assyrian Australian National
Federation and the Assyrian Charity and Education Community, Albert advocates
for his community regarding local issues and concerns. From 1999 to 2012, Albert
was a Councillor for the Fairfield Ward at Fairfield City Council. He served twice as
Deputy Mayor and represented Council on the board of the Western Sydney Regional
Organisation of Councils. Albert dedicates his time to serve the community and has
a passion to help local residents. Assyrian Legend
The Late
Malfono
Ninos Aho
1945 - 2013
The late Ninos Aho was a well-known poet in the Assyrian nation, who passed away
on Monday, July 15, 2013. Ninos was a great nationalist and a fighter for the rights
of his people; he provided valuable services to the Assyrian nation as a whole. His
passing left a void and precious memories in the heart of every Assyrian.
In the heart of every man fighting for his nation there is always hope, hope for a
better future for his nation. It was that hope which was reflected in the poems of
the Late Ninos which touched every Assyrian nationalist, driving him to become a
fighter for the freedom of his people..... These are the noble and tender memories
submitted by Ninos Aho during his 50-years-of giving to the Assyrian people.
The Lord had given Malfano Ninos some extraordinary talents, one of them was
writing and reading poems in two Assyrian dialects; “Western and Eastern”, and
another was his love for the Assyrian nation with sincerity and truthfulness. His
poems were always mixed with love for the nation and a sense of national revival
directed to our youth and urged them to work for the sake of keeping their ancient
Assyrian heritage.
Ninos was born on April 24, 1945 in a small village (Kierki Shamo) in Syria. He
grew up at a time of the birth of the Assyrian political movements, being greatly
influenced by some intellectuals and Assyrian activists such as the late Noam Fayek
and Fraydon Aturaya as well as Shokri Al- Jermokulai who was the founder of the
Assyrian Democratic Organization and others….. He reached a conviction that the
only way to achieve the dream of his nation was to engage in political movements.
He joined the National struggle since 1961, in which he became a member of the
Assyrian Democratic Organization and then joined the Assyrian Universal Alliance
after its establishment in 1968, and became the AUA advisor.
We will always remember the late Ninos through his influential poems, his advice
and his selfless love for the Assyrian nation, especially the beautiful memories that
he left with us in the last AUA 28th world congress in Iran. Those moments will
always remain in our thoughts.
We pray that our Lord rest his soul in peace and reward him with eternal paradise.
The New Assyrian
by Malfono Ninos Aho
From the heart of fire
From the depths of eternity
From under the rocks to the peak of the mountain
From the words of the clouds in the heavens
A New Assyrian is born
From the burden of thousands of years
From hunger and thirst and destitution
From the lies of history
From the merchants of goals and nation, today he is free
For the deniers of rights
For the oppressors of nations
His greeting is a bullet and a bomb
And for those who forsake him, he has more
If you ask him where he is from, or to which church he belongs
He will answer you honestly,
“I am not Tyaraya and not Tkhomnaya,
I am not a son of the valleys nor a son of the mountains,
A Jacobite, a Chaldean, a Nestorian and a Presbyterian also I am not”
And with a firm voice he will tell you, “I am an Assyrian”
He does not care how he lives, what he wears, and where he dies
And following in his footsteps, a new armed generation
Will come and speak the truth.
With his heart on his sleeve and his book always with him
He tours, preaching the nature and existence of Assyria
By force and by blood, and in the name of Ashur, he declares,
“Me? I was born before the earth and the sun
I existed before time; there is no death for me, nor end
I am Assyria’s star, shining in the sky between the two rivers
I am the god Ashur, I turn the wheel of time
I was the torch of light guiding the people of the world,
Is it true that today I do not exist and I am slowly vanishing?
No and one thousand no’s!
Assyria endures and time will be silenced
Assyria endures and history will bow
Assyria endures and its tower will rise
Assyria endures and will never fall”
NEW SOUTH WALES
PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS
CALLS FOR A NEW
AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE
FOR ASSYRIANS
Sydney – 20 March, 2014
Thursday, 20 March, 2014, marked
another historic day for the Assyrians
in Australia. Rev The Hon Fred Nile
MLC raised a motion that was tabled
on Tuesday 18 March 2014, in the
Legislative Council of New South Wales
Parliament, focusing on the Assyrian
demand for the establishment of an
autonomous province in the heart of the
Assyrian ancestral lands in the Nineveh
Plains in northern Iraq.
We are pleased to announce that the
motion was successfully seconded and
endorsed by all parties in the house.
Rev Nile’s motion was as follows:
1. That this House considers
and supports a resolution by the
Australian Assyrians that demands the
Iraqi Government to accord the new
proposed Nineveh Plains Province an
autonomous status (self-administrated
region) to the Assyrians and other
Christian minorities on the land of
their ancestors in the north of Iraq (the
territory located between the greater
Zab and the river Tigris) and that the
newly created Assyrian region in the
said territory shall be administrated
and protected by the Assyrians, under
the jurisdiction of the central national
Government.
2.
That this House considers it will
be absolutely necessary to the security
and survival of the Assyrians in Iraq and
the establishment of such an Assyrian
region as promulgated under article
121 of the Iraqi constitution will allow
greater local Assyrian control within the
context of their integrated, sovereign
Iraqi state, and furthermore, such an
Assyrian area would allow for political,
educational, linguistic, religious, and
cultural protection.
3. That this House calls on the
Federal Government to use our seat in
the United Nations Security Council
to adopt a similar motion supporting a
new province for the Assyrians in Iraq
at this critical time before the next Iraq
national election.
Mr Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary
General of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance (AUA), and Mr David David,
President of the Assyrian Australian
National Federation were present at the
House during the debate.
In his opening remarks, Reverend the
Hon. FRED NILE said: I draw to the
attention of the House the proposed
Nineveh Plain Assyrian Province in Iraq.
Iraq’s Council
of Ministers,
led by the
Hon. Nouri Al
Maliki, Prime
Minister
of
Iraq,
on
Tuesday
20
January 2014
decided
in
principle
to
create
three
new provinces
from contested
parts of the
country.
A
statement said
the
Cabinet
had “agreed in principle to turn the
areas of Tuz, Fallujah and the Nineveh
Plain into provinces and the Cabinet
will decide after the fulfilment of the
necessary requirements”. It did not give
a reason for the decision. Assyrians have
been demanding separate province status
at Nineveh Plain for years. Today the
Assyrian Christian nation is struggling
to impress upon the international
community the importance of being
distinctly recognised as a nation in
need of significant protection and,
more importantly, a nation in pursuit
of autonomy within the territorial
boundaries of a centrally governed Iraq.
More than 750,000 Indigenous
Assyrians were slaughtered by the
Young Turks during World War I. The
injustice continued and in 1932, within
15 months of the enactment of the
Declaration of the Kingdom of Iraq—a
declaration that guaranteed the rights of
persons belonging to national ethnic or
religious minorities—Arabs and Kurds
were armed by the Iraqi Government
and offered one pound for every Assyrian
head. Eleven villages were summoned
under the pretext of police protection.
Assyrians were disarmed after being
assured of the “good intentions” of
the Government; the population was
indiscriminately murdered; priests
were tortured and killed; girls were
raped; 65 out of 95 Assyrian villages
were destroyed or burnt to the ground;
thousands of Assyrians were removed
from their homes; thousands were
killed, and their killing denied by the
Government; the Assyrian religious
leaders were deported; a camp was set up,
and the Iraqi Government was charged
with the task of looking after thousands
of Assyrian refugees, but instead they
were left destitute and penniless causing
death by famine and disease.
As a result of these massacres hundreds
of Assyrian families crossed the border
into Syria on 21 July 1933, in hope
of receiving asylum from the French
Mandate of Syria. Some 35 villages were
established on both banks of the Khabur
River between Hassaka and Qamishli
to settle the flood of refugees. Today
these people are facing the same fate as
Syria and 70 per cent have fled Syria,
devastated by the recent rebel attacks on
their villages and churches. In similar
conditions, more than 200 Assyrian
villages were destroyed and their
Assyrian population forced into internal
and external displacement during Iraq’s
Saddam Hussein regime.
Today Assyrian Churches are still being
bombed and Assyrians are still being
killed, kidnapped or assaulted. Assyrians
have survived the adversities of history
for thousands of years, but their hope,
faith and determination cannot continue
to sustain them from extinction.
Without international cooperation and
pressure, having serious regard to this
fundamental crisis, their ancient nation
will not survive.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance in
Australia (AUA) has lobbied the
Australian Federal Government for years
to endorse and support the Nineveh
Plain province. Many members of the
Federal Government spoke in support
of this issue including Mr Chris Hayes,
MP, Mr. Craig Kelly, MP, and the Hon.
Chris Bowen, MP. Mr Bowen tabled
a motion in the Federal Parliament
focusing on the Assyrian demand for
the establishment of an autonomous
province in the heart of the Assyrian
ancestral lands in the Nineveh Plains
in northern Iraq. I propose to move the
same motion in this House.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
thanks The Hon. Rev Nile, for accepting
to raise the AUA motion to support the
demand for an autonomous province
for the Assyrians and all Historical
Christians in the Nineveh Plains.
The AUA also thanks all members of
Parliament, all sides of politics; Christian
Democrats, Labor, Liberal, Shooters,
Greens and Nationals for supporting this
motion. Furthermore, the AUA thanks
Mr Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister
of the Federal Republic of Iraq, for his
rightful decision to create the Nineveh
Plain province, this will help in securing
the rights and the future of the Assyrians
in Iraq .
Although this has been a muchwelcomed beginning, the debate is far
from over and the Assyrian community
in Australia is encouraged to lobby their
local Federal Member of Parliament
to ensure support for this worthy and
necessary cause on a federal level. The
AUA is cautiously optimistic and hopeful
that both Liberal and Labor Members
will unite to unequivocally protect the
indigenous Assyrian Christians of Iraq.
Rev. Hon. Fred Nile ED., L.Th., M.L.C.
Parliamentary Leader, Christian Democratic Party
Parliament House, Macquarie Street, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Telephone: (02) 9230 2478 | Facsimile: (02) 9230 2098
Email: f.nile@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Media Release
Rev Fred Nile successfully moves historic
Assyrian Homeland Motion
Thursday 20 March 2014
On Wednesday 19 March 2014, The Rev Hon Fred Nile successfully moved the historical Assyrian
Homeland Motion which was passed unanimously by all political parties Liberal, National Party,
Christian Democratic Party, Greens, ALP and Shooters and Fishers Party.
ASSYRIAN AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE MOTION
1. That this House considers and supports a resolution by the Australian Assyrians that demands
the Iraqi Government to accord the new proposed Nineveh Plains Province an autonomous status
(self-administrated region) to the Assyrians and other Christian minorities on the land of their
ancestors in the north of Iraq (the territory located between the greater Zab and the river Tigris)
and that the newly created Assyrian region in the said territory shall be administrated and protected
by the Assyrians, under the jurisdiction of the central national Government.
2. That this House considers it will be absolutely necessary to the security and survival of
the Assyrians in Iraq and the establishment of such an Assyrian region as promulgated under
article 121 of the Iraqi constitution will allow greater local Assyrian control within the context
of their integrated, sovereign Iraqi state, and furthermore, such an Assyrian area would allow for
political, educational, linguistic, religious, and cultural protection.
3. That this House calls on the Federal Government to use our seat in the United Nations
Security Council to adopt a similar motion supporting a new province for the Assyrians in Iraq at
this critical time before the next Iraq national election.
“I am very pleased all Members of the NSW Legislative Council (The Upper House) voted in
support of my historical Assyrian Homeland Motion which I moved on behalf of the Australian
Assyrian Community.
“This Motion will also be a great encouragement to the Assyrian Christians in Iraq who are
suffering persecution. It is time for an historical Assyrian homeland to be re-established after so
many centuries” said Rev Nile.
“I am very encouraged by the action of the current Government of Iraq to agree, in principle, to
turn the area of Tuz, Fallujah and the Nineveh Plains into three new Provinces and the Cabinet
will decide after the fulfilment of the necessary requirements.”
“An Assyrian Homeland Province based on the Nineveh Plains, as an autonomous status (selfadministrated region) would provide protection and security especially for the Assyrian Christian
population” said Rev Fred Nile MLC leader of the Christian Democratic Party.
Authorised
For Media Interviews contact:
Rev Fred Nile (02) 9230 2478 or 0418 619 731?
Research Assistant: Belinda Dover (02) 9230 2978
Refer Hansard for Rev Nile’s Question and Speech.
Australian Federal
Parliamentarians call for
the establishment of an
autonomous province
for Assyrians in Iraq.
Monday, 3 June, 2013, marked a historic
day for the Assyrians in Australia. In less
than ten hours after a motion was raised
by The Hon. Philip Ruddock MP, Member
for Berowra, in the Federation Chamber
concerning the Human Rights violations
committed against Assyrians in Iraq,
another historical debate took place in the
Federal Parliament for a motion raised
by The Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Member
for McMahon, focusing on the Assyrian
demand for the establishment of an
autonomous province in the heart of the
Assyrian ancestral lands in the Nineveh
Plains in northern Iraq.
We are pleased to announce that both
motions were successfully
seconded and endorsed by
the speakers of the house.
The entire debate lasted
about 30 minutes.
Mr. Bowen’s motion was as
follows:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Assyrian population
of Iraq continues to suffer
persecution 10 years after
the fall of Saddam Hussein;
and
(b) since 2003, 600,000 Christian Assyrians
have left Iraq, including many thousands
to Australia; and
(2) being aware of the Assyrian aspirations
for the establishment of an autonomous
province, calls on the Government of Iraq
to take all appropriate steps to protect the
rights of minorities, including the Assyrian
Christian people, and to support the
continuation of their linguistic, cultural
and religious traditions.
A delegation led by Mr. Hermiz Shahen,
Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance (AUA), was at the
House during both debates. The delegation
included Mr. David David, President of the
Assyrian Australian National Federation,
members of the AUA and representatives
from the Assyrian media, NinevehRadio.
com.
heartland for the Assyrian people. There
have been calls for the establishment of an
autonomous region in the Nineveh plains
for the Assyrian people, and I support this
call. This will help in establishing there on
place and defence forces such as the other
groups have been able to do,” Mr. Bowen
In his opening remarks, Mr. Bowen said.
mentioned the first motion that was
raised and passed by the House in 2005, During his speech Mr. Bowen
highlighting the plight of the Assyrian people acknowledged the presence of the Assyrian
of Iraq. It calls on the Federal Government Universal Alliance and for being the
to make direct representation to the newly driving force in bringing this issue to the
elected Iraqi Government to ensure their Parliament.
ethnic minorities are constitutionally
guaranteed the right to freely exercise their Mr. Craig Kelly MP, member for Hughes,
customs, religion, language and traditions, made a remarkable speech in support
given protection by law enforcement and of this motion. He started his speech by
international security forces and given giving recognition to the AUA and other
equal representation and participation in delegation in the gallery. “Today, in Iraq
all levels of government.
there is an ethnic cleansing. Assyrians are
being killed in a deliberate and strategic
“It pains me to say that all these years way. It is aimed to derive this ethnic
later the situation for the Assyrian people minority from Iraq. Among the chaos and
has worsened. Working for many years the lack of security, the new Iraqi authorities
with the Australian government and are unable to protect their Christian
successive Foreign
Ministers on this
issue, I reached
the view that the
only sustainable
solution is the
autonomous
region for the
Assyrians
and
Chaldeans within
Iraq.
In
the
northwest of Iraq
lies the Nineveh
Plains, a 4000
square kilometre
area which is
the
traditional
minorities, so the
only way forward
is what is known
as the Nineveh
Plain solution, the
establishment
of
an
autonomous
province in the
Nineveh
plain
region, at the centre
of the Assyrian
ancestral heartland
to provide a safe
haven for Assyrians
and
all
other
historical Christian
people. This solution
is also in consistence
with the United
Nations’ declaration
for the rights of the indigenous people.”
“Speaker, we now have a non-permanent
seat in the United Nations Security
Council, one that came at great expense
of the Australian tax payers, and we
only hold that for two short years. This
shouldn’t be a trophy that sits on a metal
plate gathering dust. We must use our
voice to promote freedom, democracy,
Human Rights and religious liberty and
to raise significantly these Human Rights
concerns of the Christian Assyrians with
the Iraqi government. There is no other
alternative,” Mr. Kelly said. Other speakers
in support of the above motion were: Mr.
Chris Hayes MP, member for Fowler; Mr.
Scott Morrison MP, Member for Cook; Mr
Rob Mitchell MP, Member for McEwen,
Victoria and Mr. Luke Simpkins MP,
Member for Cowan, Western Australia.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
thanks The Hon. Chris Bowen MP, for
accepting to raise the AUA motion to
support the demand for an autonomous
province for the Assyrians and all Historical
Christians in the Nineveh Plains. The AUA
also thanks all members of the Parliament,
both Labor and Liberal, for supporting this
motion. Furthermore, we thank Mr. Nouri
al-Maliki, Prime Minister of the Federal
Republic of Iraq, and Mr. Jalal Talabani,
President of Iraq, for supporting the
establishment of the Assyrian province.
Although this has been a much-welcomed
beginning, the debate is far from over and
the Assyrian community in Australia is
encouraged to lobby their local Member
of Parliament to ensure support for this
worthy and necessary cause. The AUA is
cautiously optimistic and hopeful that
both Liberal and Labor Members will unite
to unequivocally protect the indigenous
Assyrian Christians of Iraq.
Motion to raise the
significant human
rights concerns of the
Assyrians with the
Iraqi Governmet
1)
recognises that:
a) Christian Assyrians, a minority
religious and racial group in Iraq, are
subject to ongoing violence, intimidation,
harassment and discrimination on
religious and ethnic grounds;
b) on 31 October 2010, 58 Christian
Assyrians were killed in an attack on a
church in Baghdad, in an act of violent
extremism targeting this minority group;
c) Christian Assyrians are actively
discriminated against by having their
land illegally occupied and transferred to
squatters;
d) 600,000 Christian Assyrians have
now fled Iraq, including many thousands
to Australia; and
e) Assyrians remaining in Iraq
are denied many basic human rights
and subject to ongoing harassment,
intimidation and discrimination;
2) condemns violence, intimidation,
harassment and discrimination on
religious and ethnic grounds wherever it
may be found, including in Iraq; and
3) calls
upon
the
Australian
Government to raise the significant
human rights concerns of Christian
The petition was read as following: Mr. Assyrians with the Iraqi Government.
Ruddock: To move that this House:
(Notice given 27 November 2012.)
The Assyrian Universal
Alliance
(AUA)
in
Australia is pleased
to
announce
that
on Monday, 3 June
2013, The Hon. Philip
Ruddock MP, Federal
Liberal Party member for
Berowra, moved a motion on the Human
Rights concerns of the Assyrians (text
below) that was debated in the Federation
Chamber of the Parliament around
11:30am. The motion was successfully
seconded and endorsed by ten speakers
of the House from both sides of politics
including: Mr Chris Hayes MP, member
for Fowler NSW; Mr Craig Kelly MP,
member for Hughes; The Hon John Cobb
MP, member for Calare, Orange NSW; Ms
Kelly O’Dwyer MP, member for Higgins,
Victoria; Mr Alex Hawke MP, member
for Mitchell NSW; The Hon Michael
Danby MP, member for Melbourne Ports;
Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP, member for
Calwell Victoria and Mr Laurie Ferguson
MP, member for Werriwa NSW. The
whole debate lasted about one hour.
violence,
intimidation,
harassment
and discrimination. They have been
discriminated against in many ways,
including by the illegal occupation
and transfer of their land. There are
reports that some 600,000 Christian
Assyrians have now fled Iraq, and many
of those have settled in Australia. The
Assyrians remaining are subjected
to harassment, intimidation and
discrimination. This motion condemns
that violence, intimidation, harassment
and discrimination and calls upon the
“Mr. RUDDOCK (Berowra) (11:31): This
is not the first occasion on which I have
spoken in this chamber on the plight of
Christians in the Middle East. I said on
the last occasion, in May 2011, that for
my own purposes I have often travelled
widely in the Middle East. One of the
discussions I had was with the Middle
East Council of Churches, because already
there were numerous Christians who had
fled, many from Iraq, and had settled in
Syria and Jordan seeking sanctuary. Many
of course were
seeking to move
further afield. In
my discussions
with the Middle
East
Council
of
Churches
it made very
strongly
the
points
that
Christians have
been resident in
the Middle East
for some 2,000
years and that
it did not want,
essentially, to
preside
over
Christians being driven out of the Middle government to raise these issues with the
East.
Iraqi government.
This motion is designed to focus on those
issues. It is not the only motion that
will come before the parliament—the
government seems to have found reason
to talk about these issues again—but I
think it is very important to understand
that Christian Assyrians, who are a
religious and racial minority group in
Iraq, have been subjected to ongoing
I do not know that these matters are
pursued by government but I do know
that governments have a responsibility
to protect their people. When I hear
suggestions that we should simply refer
to reports that raise these matters I
think it ignores the responsibility that
government itself has to protect its own
citizens and to ensure that they are not
discriminated against.
I think the plight of the Assyrians,
particularly in Iraq—but it is not only in
Iraq; it is now occurring in Syria with the
violence that is occurring there and it is
also happening in other areas where there
are Kurdish populations. The Assyrians
face very considerable discrimination.
It is not just the illegal occupation of
their land and the transferring of it to
which first started under the regime of
Saddam Hussein and the details that
I mentioned that I would give include
in January of 2008, Epiphany Day, five
Assyrian churches, one Armenian
Church and monasteries in Mosul and
Baghdad were attacked with car bombs
in a coordinated fashion. On 31 October
2010 at the Sayidat-al-Najat cathedral in
Baghdad 58 people were left dead. There
were eight attacks on churches in 2011
with more than
35 civilians and
security
forces
wounded. These
attacks
were
used as a tool
to suppress the
Christian religion
in my view.
Kidnapping
for
ransom has been
a
significant
problem
with
six
abductions
reported in 2011,
largely around Kirkuk. Some were freed
when ransoms were paid but other
stories were not so positive. Ashur
Issa Jacob was kidnapped by al-Qaida
operatives—$61,500 was made in ransom
but his body was found later mutilated in
Kirkuk, including near decapitation, his
eyes were gouged out and there were dog
bites on his body.
squatters—which is the subject of quite
comprehensive reporting, and I do not
think can be put aside lightly—it also
includes many attacks on Christians that
have occurred and continue to occur
in Iraq now. Iraq has its difficulties,
but I think there is a responsibility to
ensure that the people are able to get full
information about what their government
is doing and how they are seeking to deal
with this issues.
These are the sorts of experiences that
many have seen, and the threats and
The point I was making was that the harassment which are part of daily life
Assyrians are unique. They have been are very significant. It is my view that
predominantly Christian in the regions in the Australian government needs to be
which they live. They face discrimination actively pursuing these matters with the
Iraqi government. We do not blame them
for what is happening but we expect that
they would be using all of their efforts to
ensure the protection of their people. That
is the responsibility of all governments
and it is not a matter of treating these
matters lightly when so many people
have fled. The massive movement of the
Assyrian population has meant that it is
now about half what it was, and many of
those people who continue to live there
have been internally displaced.
assist is so much more limited because
of the failure to be able to adequately
manage our borders. That has meant that
the program places are assigned to others
who come and pay people smugglers and
those who have real needs end up being
very significantly disadvantaged.
I make the point, as I did earlier, that
there are some who would suggest that
the Australian government has done all
that it should and that we should support
their efforts. Let me make it clear: I think
there is a lot more advocacy to be done.
Governments do have a responsibility
to protect their own people and I think
the Assyrian Christians are entitled to
that protection, whether they are in Iraq,
whether they are in Syria or whether they
are in Turkey. “
When they are internally displaced they
face very significant problems. There are
hostilities. They find it difficult to find work
and employment. They find it difficult to
get services. They find it difficult to be
able to practice their religion. These are
matters that are well known when they do
occur but in Iraq, in particular, they are
significant and continue to be significant. A delegation led by Mr Hermiz Shahen,
Deputy Secretary General of the AUA,
The purpose of the motion I have moved was at the House during the debate. The
is to bring these matters to notice to delegation included Mr David David,
ensure that Australians are aware of the President of the Assyrian Australian
plight of Assyrians and to know what National Federation, members of the
is being experienced by the families of local AUA branch and representatives
many of their neighbours who live here in from the Assyrian media, NinevehRadio.
Australia. I make the point again that we com. The delegation then met with
need to be generous, as we have been over prominent members of the Parliament to
decades, in assisting those people who are show their appreciation and to thank all
refugees and who are forced to flee and the speakers for extending their support
we ought to be providing for placements to the Assyrian cause, including most
in our own programs to assist.
notably The Hon. Philip Ruddock MP
and Mr Craig Kelly MP.
The Special Humanitarian Program has
always been one that has been available
for that purpose. Previously, when I was
minister, I was pleased that we were
able to accommodate many Assyrian
Christians in those programs. I regret
that today the possibility of being able to
Will a Province
for Assyrians Stop
Their Exodus From
Iraq?
By Peter BetBasoo and Nuri Kino
Posted 2014-01-22 19:38 GMT
AINA asked internationally renowned
journalist and Middle Eastern Expert Nuri
(AINA) -- On January 21 the Iraq Council Kino to interview Sargon Slewa regarding
this important
of Ministers approved a plan to
development
establish three new provinces in Iraq.
for
Iraq’s
One province would be in Fallujah,
b e l e a g u e re d
in central Iraq; a second would be in
and besieged
north Iraq, in Tuz Khormato; the third
Assyrian
would also be in north Iraq, in the
Nineveh Plain bordering the Kurdish
Community.
areas. The Nineveh Plain has the
Nuri
Kino:
largest population of Assyrians (also
What have you
accomplished
known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) in
Iraq.
with
this
legislation?
Sargon Slewa, the Minister of
Sargon Slewa:
Environment and a member of the
One of the
main
goals
Iraqi Parliament and of the Assyrian
Democratic Movement, one of the
and
reason
for Assyrians
largest political parties that represents
Assyrians and other Christians in
to stay in Iraq
is to have selfIraq, requested the establishment
of a province in the Nineveh Plain,
pursuant to a study of the needs of Christians, administration. This legislation lays the
as outlined in Iraqi Cabinet meeting 54 in foundation for achieving that goal.
2011.
Nuri Kino: Can you tell us where in the
process you are?
The Council of Ministers instructed the State Sargon Slewa: Recognizing the Nineveh
Minister for Provincial Affairs to prepare a Plain as province by the by the Council of
study of these projects and submit a report to Ministers.
the Council.
Nuri Kino: How many percent of the
inhabitants of the plains are AssyriansSyriac-Chaldeans?
Sargon Slewa: Almost 40 percent. But still it
depends on the borders of the province and
which districts will be included.
Nuri Kino: Practically speaking, what does
that mean? Will the Nineveh Plain have its
own police force? Its own government? Its
own budget?
Sargon Slewa: The Ministry of Provincial
Affairs will conduct studies and make
preparations establish this province, which
would have whatever is needed in security,
economy and government.
Nuri Kino: What role will the Assyrians
play? On what level was the decision made?
The Iraqi government? The Parliament? Will
there be a voting?
Sargon Slewa: This decision was taken at
the governmental level. There are special
considerations for the Assyrians/Chaldeans/
Syriacs. This decision was taken to insure the
continued existence of our community in the
region. There is much work to be done, but
this was the main step and the most difficult
hurdle.
Nuri Kino: What does this mean for countries
dealing with Iraq?
Sargon Slewa: The international community
must pay good attention to this issue, and in
light of announcements to receive Christians
refugees in Western countries.
Nuri Kino: Tell me about your feelings. What
are you feeling and thinking right now?
Sargon Slewa: It is one of the greatest
moments of my life. I feel like I want to sleep,
like when you have finished an exhausting
and satisfying task and you are tired and
need a nap.
Assyrian Federation of Sweden, said:
If implemented this could change the reality
on the ground for Assyrians and put them
in a position to have a say on their future in
Iraq, hopefully reversing the emigration to
the West.
Attiya Gamri, an Assyrian member of the
Provincial Parliament in North Holland,
said:
I am very glad the Iraqi Parliament decided
this. The Arab and Kurdish political parties
will get the chance to show the world they can
realize an Iraq with different ethnicities and
different religions. In no any other country
in the Middle East is this realized; they have
the opportunity to show the Assyrians in Iraq
and in the Diaspora that they want and will
respect national minorities by giving them
the same rights as they have. The Arabs and
Kurds can show the world that this can be
achieved in the Middle East. I hope this will
be the first step toward respect politically for
the Assyrians in Iraq. What the Assyrians
are asking is not something new or different
from what the Kurds and Arabs already have.
Dr. Matay Arsan, president of the Assyria
Foundation Netherlands, said:
The rest of Iraq should not fear to allow
the Christian Assyrians to have a selfadministrative region in the Nineveh Plains.
They contributed to Iraq’s great history and
legacy enormously and this could give them
the opportunity to do that again. The Iraqi
Arabs and Kurds should realize that allowing
the Assyrians to protect themselves and
receive a part of Iraq’s budget would only
prove that they, Kurds and Arabs, care for
Iraq and its stability.
Reactions From the Assyrian Diaspora
Robert DeKelaita, executive member of
Assyrians outside of Iraq greeted this news the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of
with cautious optimism.
America, said:
We congratulate our people on this first step
Afram Barryakoub, the president of the toward a practical solution for our people
and their most difficult plight over the last
10 years in the form of the recognition of
the Nineveh Plain province. We thank all
of those who participated, whether publicly
or privately, in making this dream come
true. It is a very first step to be sure. But a
very critical first step. We are grateful to all
of our parties on the ground, both political
and non-political, for their untiring efforts
and advocacy. Let it be very clear that we
in the Diaspora, in particular through the
medium of the Nineveh Council of America
and all of the organizations and individuals
that support it, intend to give our full support
to the positive growth of this province in the
interest of our people and all of Iraq.
churches bombed, hundreds killed and more
than half the Assyrian population forced into
exile in Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.
It is estimated that half of the Assyrians who
were in Iraq in 2004 have fled the country
(report).
The decision to create a province in the
Nineveh Plain comes on the heels of a
decision made two weeks ago by The Iraqi
National Assembly to recognize Assyrian
and Turkmen as official languages. Arabic
and Kurdish are also official languages. This
decision allows public and private schools at
all levels to teach in Assyrian and any other
officially recognized language. Government
documents are required to be provided in
Speaking from Australia, Hermiz Shahen, Arabic and Kurdish only.
Deputy Secretary of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance, said:
The decision to make the Assyrian language
I would like to thank Mr Nuri al-Maliki, official also instructs the Minister of Education
the Iraqi Prime Minister and his Council of to open literacy centers for teaching Assyrian.
Ministers on this rightful decision. My most The Ministry of Education has sent a letter to
heartfelt appreciation and congratulations to churches to urge people to register for the
goes to all the thirteen political organisations literacy programs. The government will pay
that gathered in 2010 in the City of Erbil upon students to attend classes twice a week and
request from the Assyrian Universal Alliance issue a certificate of completion.
and with one voice agreed on the demand
on the establishment of a province for the Many Assyrian observers say these steps
Assyrian people in Nineveh Plain. We also are too little and too late. Given the drastic
appreciate the efforts of all diaspora Assyrian exodus of Assyrians from Iraq and the
organisations that pushed for this cause. I general mood of the Assyrians, who see no
believe the next step is to make sure that the future in a country torn apart by Sunniboarders and the law of this new province will Shiite bloodletting and lack of economic
be made in a way that will serve and protect opportunities, the Assyrians continue to
the rights and purpose of the establishment leave. Recently the Chaldean Church said
of Nineveh Plain for the Assyrian people in that six Assyrian families leave Iraq daily. For
Iraq. I would also recommend that another the first time in their history, there are more
conference by the coalition of our political Assyrians living outside of Iraq.
organisations and parties in Iraq to be called
inviting all interested parties to affirm that Observers also point out that many such
the demands of this nation will be served.
decisions have been made in the past but
never been implemented, and are adopting
Will the Assyrian Exodus From Iraq Stop? and wait and see attitude.
Since 2004 Iraq’s Assyrians have experienced
a low-grade genocide (report), with 73
Atheel Nujaifi governor
of Nineveh attacked
strongly the decision
made by the Iraqi
Ministerial Cabinet to
turn Nineveh Plain into
province
The idea of creating new provinces between rejection and acceptance
WE STRONGLY SAY NO TO NAJAIFI
AND YES TO NINEVEH PROVINCE
Atheel Nujaifi governor of Nineveh attacked strongly the decision made by the Iraqi
Ministerial Cabinet to turn Nineveh Plain into province.
Atheel al-Najafi, the governor of Mosul, accused “the State of Law Coalition —
led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki — of creating more divisions between the
components of Iraq. Al-Najafi, said he is working to transform Nineveh province
into a State, he started discussions and coordination “ with the Kurdistan region
within the project of transforming the Nineveh province, and as pointed out that “
he need to tour with the leaders of the Iraqi Shiite to inform them that this new State
will not be a Sunni sectarian territories “ , he stressed that the province “ will be one
of the factors of unity of Iraq and not vice versa , as promoted by opponents . “
Najafi explained, “Since we expect that the Electoral Commission will not be able to
make any referendum before the parliamentary elections, we strive to complete these
requirements at this time.”
The governor of Nineveh ethyl Najafi said , on ( January 22, 2014 ) , that the formation
of the State of Nineveh as “ the only guarantee for the security of the province,”
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in (January 22, 2014) said that no one has the right to
object to the formation of new provinces in Iraq and describes the decision as a “legal
and constitutional “ , He pointed out that this issue needs study and preparations ,
while pointing out that the need to transform districts into new provinces exists
Parliament of NSW Legislative
Council recognises the
Assyrian and Greek genocide
On Wednesday 1st May 2013, in a historically
unprecedented move at the request of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance, the Australian
Hellenic Council and the Armenian
National Committee, the Parliament of NSW
Legislative Council passed unanimously a
motion recognizing the Assyrian, Greek and
Armenian genocide. Mr. Hermiz Shahen,
the Deputy secretary General of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance said; “this constitutes
an extraordinary moment in the history of
the Assyrian nation. The Assyrian nation is
struggling for years to gain the International
recognition of the genocide perpetrated
against them by the Ottoman government
under the leadership of a chauvinistic party,
the Young Turk between1914 – 1923. This
recognition will act as a powerful counter to
those, especially in present-day Turkey, who
still ignore or deny outright the genocides of
the Ottoman Christian minorities. Assyrians
in Iraq, Syria and Turkey are continuously
paying the price as a consequence of the denial
of their genocide.”
On behalf of the Assyrian community in
Australia and worldwide, Mr Shahen thanked
Rev the Hon. Fred Nile MLC, President of
the Australian Christian Party for moving
the motion on 30 April 2013 and for his
courageous stand and strong believe in the
rectification of this historical injustice, and his
demand that the State of Turkey recognises and
apologises for the Genocide. He also thanked
all the members who supported this motion.
The motion was as follow:
Whereas the NSW Parliament passed a
motion in 1997 recognising and condemning
the Genocide of the Armenians, this House
recognises that Assyrians and Greeks were
subjected to qualitatively similar genocides by
the then Ottoman Government between 1914
– 1923: and
(a) joins the Assyrians, Armenians and
Greeks communities of New South Wales in
honouring the memory of the innocent men,
women and children who fell victim to the first
“The bitter genocide committed against us by modern genocides;
the Ottoman Turks during WWI has left deep
marks in the heart and mind of every Assyrian. (b) condemns the genocides of the Assyrians,
The cold-hearted murder of hundreds of Armenians and Greeks, and all other acts of
thousands of defenceless Assyrian souls in genocide as the ultimate act of intolerance;
South East Turkey reduced our mass, impacting
our viability in the region dramatically”, Mr (c) recognises the importance of remembering
Shahen said.
and learning from such dark chapters in human
history to ensure that such crimes against on this issue, adopting a motion of recognition
humanity are not allowed to be repeated;
on the Armenian Genocide in 1997. I rise
today to urge we complete the efforts, adopting
(
d
)
condemns
and prevents
all attempts
to use the
passage
of
time to deny
or
distort
the historical
truth of the
genocides
of
the
Assyrians,
Armenians
and Greeks,
and
other
acts
of
genocide;
(e) recalls the
testimonies
of ANZAC prisoners-of-war and other a motion of recognition on the Assyrian and
servicemen who were witness to the genocides Greeks Genocides. In remembering these
of the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks;
events, we do not seek to apportion blame. This
is a matter of history, and history must neither
(f) recalls the testimonies of ANZAC be erased nor forgotten. We must remember
servicemen who rescued Assyrians, Armenians and speak the truth.
and Greeks genocide survivors;
NSW was recently visited by world-renowned
(g) acknowledges the significant humanitarian scholar Prof Taner Akcam of Clark University
relief contribution made by the people of New in the United States. In his own words;
South Wales to the victims and survivors of the
Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks; and
We must create a global awareness of genocides
(h) calls on the Commonwealth Government and their prevention … Genocide denial and the
to condemn the genocides of the Assyrians, struggle against it are part of global democracy
Armenians and Greeks.
and human rights. … Recognition is an issue
relevant to all of humanity.
Rev The Hon. Fred Nile, in his Adjournment
Speech said:
ANZACs, men of New South Wales, were
Over the years, many members of the eyewitnesses to the Genocides. ANZACs
Parliament – both in this chamber and in the rescued survivors of the massacres and
Legislative Council – have risen to address the deportations across the Ottoman Empire
issue of recognition of the Assyrian, Armenian between 1915 and 1918. People of our great
and Greeks Genocides. Indeed, it was the state donated generously to save the lives of
Parliament of New South Wales that led the way those who had reached sanctuary in Greece,
French Syria, British Iraq and British Palestine.
The story of the Armenian, Assyrian and
Greek Genocides are a part of the Australian
story and deserve their rightful place in that
narrative.
landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, there were
Greek people living there, tilling the soil and
fishing the waters. There were also Turkish tax
collectors, police and soldiers. The non-Turks
are the people who were deported; these are
the people who were massacred during World
The Genocides of the indigenous peoples of War I and after.
the Ottoman Empire that took place during
World War I and its aftermath are a historical International reaction was immediate to what
event. The victims of this criminal act were the British Secretary of the Admiralty Winston
indigenous peoples of the Ottoman Turkish Churchill labelled an ‘administrative holocaust’.
Empire: Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians. Relief committees sprang up all over the world.
Many members of this Chamber have A Joint Allied Declaration, issued 24 May 1915,
substantial numbers of Australian Assyrian, stated:
Australian Greeks and Australian Armenian
people in their communities. Hundreds of In view of these new crimes of Turkey
thousands of them have made their homes in against humanity and civilization, the Allied
New South Wales over the past two centuries. governments announce publicly … that they
All of these groups suffered at the hands of the will hold personally responsible … all members
government of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
of the Ottoman government and those of their
agents who are implicated in such massacres.
As
early
as
1910 plans were
formulated and
published for the
elimination of
the indigenous
Christians
of
the
Ottoman
Empire, part of
the government’s
efforts
to
homogenise
its population.
T h o s e
documents, and
millions more
like them, are
available today,
demonstrating
the
intention
of the Ottoman
T u r k i s h
government of the time. There was a When the Anzacs left the Gallipoli Peninsula,
determination on the part of Ottoman Turkish they left behind hundreds of prisoners of
politicians to eliminate non-Turkish identities. war—men such as Sydney-born Private
With the outbreak of the war, their plans Frederick Ashton (11th Battalion AIF) and
began to be implemented. When the Anzacs Bourke-born Petty Officer Cecil Arthur Bray
(HMAS A.E.2, RAN). The Anzac prisoners of
war went through a series of prisoner of war
camps, typically being marched from one to
another on bread and water rations, in bitter
cold or blistering heat. While Ashton, Bray
and many of their comrades were eventually
released, more than 60 other Anzac prisoners
perished from a combination of exposure,
disease, malnutrition and exhaustion.
the people of New South Wales, particularly
because our own servicemen witnessed
the suffering of the indigenous peoples of
Anatolia: Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks.
Australian soldiers, sailors and pilots saw
columns of Assyrian, Armenian and Greek
women and children being forced along the
countryside in death marches. They saw their
pitiful, bedraggled state. The homes, churches,
monasteries and schools of these people
A small number of Anzacs became rescuers, became the prison camps of the captured
saving the lives of those who had survived Anzacs and their allies.
the massacres and deportations. Most famous
of these are the men of the Dunsterforce. The truth of the genocide - the truth of what
Australian officers in this unit, including happened to the Armenian, Assyrian and
Captains R.H. Hooper, Andre Judge and Greek peoples - is in the records of our own
Stanley Savige, have left a legacy of written Australian servicemen. We should remember
and photographic records of their rescue of and learn from such dark chapters in human
some 40,000 Assyrians and Armenians in the history. What was the essence of the motivation
mountains of north-west Iran and eastern Iraq behind these massacres and deportations?
in the summer of 1918.
It was hatred - hatred in the form of racism.
We need to remember the depths to which
In response to the needs of destitute survivors humanity can sink if we allow racism and
scattered across the Near East, committees extreme nationalism to take grip. These events
of the Armenian Relief Fund and Save occurred 95 years ago. I repeat, in remembering
the Children Fund emerged in Sydney these events, we do not seek to apportion
and Melbourne between 1915 and 1919. blame. This is a matter of history, and history
Amongst the leading lights of this movement must neither be erased nor forgotten. We must
were Sydney Lord Mayor J. Joynton Smith, remember and speak the truth.
Haberfield’s Edith Glanville (founder of the
Australian Soroptomist and Quota Clubs), I close again quoting from prof Akcam:
Sir Samuel Sidney Cohen, Lady David (wife ‘Gradually,
the
connection
between
of the co-founder of David Jones Stores), democracy-building and human rights, on the
Professors Meredith Atkinson and Alexander one hand, and remembering and confronting
Leeper, both of the University of Melbourne, history, on the other, became clearer and more
Victorians Jessie Webb and George Devine acceptable across a broader swath of Turkish
Treloar, Queenslander Joice NanKivell Loch, society.’
Adelaide’s Rev. James E. Cresswell. It was a In the same spirit, we can secure recognition
truly national effort, with New South Wales at of a genocide which is still very real and very
its heart.
heartfelt by the Assyrian community, by the
Australian Greek community, and by the
I am indebted to the research of Dr Panayiotis Australian Armenian community in Australia
Diamadis and Mr Vicken Babkenian, Directors today. Lest we forget.
of the Australian Institute for Holocaust
and Genocide Studies. Their pioneering
research into the Australia’s relationship to the
Armenian, Greeks and Assyrian Genocides
has returned to the light of day this issue for
Legislative Council of NSW
Parliament passes Motion
recognising the Assyrian
and Greek genocide
On Wednesday 8 May 2013, in a historic move, The
Hon Barry O’Farrell MP, Premier of NSW, rose in
the NSW Parliament, Legislative Assembly (The
Lower House) to move a motion calling for the
recognition of the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek
Genocides. The motion was passed unanimously.
The recognition came after a week when a similar
motion tabled by the Hon. Fred Nile MLC,
President of the Australian Christian Party was
passed unanimously in the upper house.
This was a result of combined efforts by the
Assyrian Universal Alliance of Australia, the
Armenian National Committee of Australia and
the Australian Hellenic Council of NSW. The three
organisations conducted a number of meetings in
the past two years with members of parliament
pursuing support for recognition of the Assyrian,
Greek and Armenian Genocides.
Mr Hermiz Shahen, The Deputy secretary General
of the Assyrian Universal Alliance said, “The
Assyrian people have fallen victim to the genocide
against Christians in the Ottoman empire and its
aftermaths, and today is facing state sponsored
denial and truth distorting, re-writing of history by
the Turkish authorities..... This recognition will
help our Assyrian nation and its organisations in
their attempt to strengthen our national existence
in the homeland as well as in the diaspora. It will
help our nation to find its rightful place among
the nations of the world and to creatively make its
special contribution to the universal development
of mankind.”
Mr Shahen also thanked The Hon Barry O”Farrell
MP, Premier of NSW for tabling this motion, Mr
John Robertson, MP, Leader of the Opposition for
supporting the motion, and for all those esteemed
members of NSW Legislative Assembly who
backed the motion.
Let justice be done,
souls consoled, broken
hearts
mended,
nations
reconciled,
and honour given to
all those who perished
so needlessly during a
dark hour in mankind’s
recent history.
The motion was as
follow: I give notice
that this House:
a)
notes that on 17 April 1997 this House
recognised and condemned the Genocide of the
Armenians by the then Ottoman Government
between 1915 and 1922 and designated 24 April of
every year thereafter as a day of remembrance of
the 1.5 million Armenians who fell victim to the
first genocide of the twentieth century,
b)
recognises that Assyrians and Greeks were
subjected to qualitatively similar genocides by the
then Ottoman Government between 1915 and
1922,
a)
reaffirms its condemnation of the genocide
of the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks, and
all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of
intolerance,
b)
recognises the importance of remembering
and learning from such dark chapters in human
history to ensure that such crimes against humanity
are not allowed to be repeated,
c)
acknowledges and pays tribute to the
contribution of the ANZAC servicemen who aided
the survivors of the genocide, and
d)
acknowledges the significant humanitarian
relief contribution made by the people of New
South Wales to the victims and survivors of the
genocide.
AUA meet with
Minister for
Immigration and
Border Protection
On 19 December 2013, a delegation headed by
Mr Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General
of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), Mr
David M. David , President of the Assyrian
Australian National Federation and Mr Paul
Azzo, AUA advisor met with The Hon Scott
Morrison MP, Minister for Immigration and
Border Protection.
During which an official letter was presented to
the Minister in which explains the tragic and
dangerous situation that our people are facing in
Iraq and Syria. The AUA proposed a plan of action
and resolutions requesting to take the discussion
further with the Australian authorities.
Mr Shahen briefed the Minister with the latest
development in Iraq and Syria, the neglect of
the Assyrian question and the discriminatory
behaviour against Assyrians.
The AUA delegates urged the Australian
government to endorse and support the
Nineveh Plain Province Solution which entails
the development of a self-governed Assyrian
province in the Nineveh Plain under the
jurisdiction
of the central
government
of the Federal
Republic
of
Iraq.
The Australian
government to
offer political
support
in
favour
of
this policy in
its
dealings
with
the
government of
Iraq, and assistance in providing direct financial
aid for security and infrastructure development
in the Nineveh Plains.
“We seek your immediate intervention,
endorsement and support for the Assyrians to
take part in the proposed second Geneva peace
Conference about Syria. The interest of the
Assyrians in Syria has to be represented by our
Syria-based parties” said Mr Shahen.
The delegation thanked the Minister who
despite his very busy schedule granted the AUA
delegates the opportunity to meet with him
and extended their warmest congratulations
on his new appointment to the position of
Minister of Immigration and Border Protection.
The delegation also thanked Mr Craig Kelly
MP, Member for Hughes, for his assistance in
organising the above meeting and for raising
the Assyrian issue on many occasions with the
Australian Federal Government, and for his
outstanding efforts to support the rights of the
indigenous Assyrian of Iraq.
AUA delegation meet with the
Ambassador of the Russian
Federation and the Ambassador
of the Republic of Iraq in Canberra
On Monday, 20 January 2014, a delegation headed by
Mr Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), Mr David M. David
, Regional Secretary of Australia and New Zealand of the
AUA, Mr Benjamin Benjamin, AUA- Australia Chapter
Executive Board member and Mr Paul Azzo, AUA
advisor met in Canberra with H.E. Vladimir N. Morozov,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Russian Federation to the Commonwealth of Australia.
Mr Shahen briefed the Ambassador with the latest
development in Iraq and Syria and the neglect of the
Assyrian question in both countries, by the world
community. “The Assyrians
in both countries have
become the regular victims of
discrimination,
harassment
and persecution by the everincreasing Islamist extremist
movements and militias,
with incidents ranging from
intimidation and threats to
the destruction of property,
kidnapping and murder” Mr
Shahen said.
Mr Shahen also, thanked the
Russian noble and firm stand
in support for the Christians
in the Middle East who are
becoming more vulnerable.
Mr Shahen presented the Ambassador with an official
letter to the Russian government on behalf of the AUA
Leadership.
The Assyrian delegation conveyed their profound
gratitude and appreciation to H.E. the Ambassador for
his warm welcome and for the time that he devoted
listening to our delegates.
The AUA delegation then met with the Ambassador of
the Republic of Iraq, His Excellency Mouayed Saleh. The
delegation was received with an overwhelming welcome
by the Ambassador and Mr Mohammed Alaubidy, the
First Secretary in the Embassy. The delegation spent
over one hour discussing a number of significant issues
including the latest developments in Iraq as well as the
demands of the Assyrian people. The
delegates stressed the lack of funding,
work opportunities and aid to the Assyrian
region, the effects of sectarian violence
and systematic abuses by extremists
waged against the entire Christian
population. The delegation called upon
the Iraqi government to take immediate
measures to address this colossal
humanitarian crisis that is endangering
the very existence of the most ancient
people group in Iraq and other parts of
the Middle East. Mr Shahen presented
the Ambassador with an official letter
addressed to The Honourable Nouri Al
Maliki , Prime Minister of Iraq on behalf
of the AUA leadership.
The Ambassador stressed that Assyrians are the
indigenous people
of Iraq and they
must
exercise
their rights freely;
he
promised
to
deliver
the
Assyrian
U n i v e r s a l
Alliance’s
letter
to the Prime
Minister.
The
delegation
conveyed
their
sincere
thanks
and appreciation
to
H.E.
the
Ambassador for his warm welcome and for the time that
he devoted listening to the delegation with the hope that
the meeting would achieve a positive outcome.
AUA meet Iranian
Officials
On 3 November 2013, Mr
Yonathan Betkolia, Secretary
General of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance (AUA)
headed a delegation of the
AUA Executive Board to
meet with Iranian Deputy
Foreign
Minister
Mr
Ebrahim Rahimpour. And
on 3 November 2013, the
delegation met with Iranian
First Vice President, The
Honorouble Eshaq Jahangiri.
The delegation briefed the
Iranian Leaders with the latest
development in Iraq and Syria,
the neglect of the Assyrian
issue after the 2003 invasion
in Iraq, the wages of sectarian
violence and systematic abuses
by Islamic extremists against
the entire Christian population
in both countries. As a matter
of urgency and importance,
the delegates called upon
the Iranian Government’s
intervention to address the
major humanitarian crisis
suffered by the Assyrians. The
delegation were thankful for
the welcome reception and
are hoping these two meetings
will achieve a positive outcome
for the needs of our Assyrian
people in Iraq and Syria.
STANDING SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER WITH EGYPT’S COPTS
Hundreds of protestors gathered at Martin
Place in Sydney on Sunday 14 April 2013, to
protest the continuous persecution of Egypt’s
indigenous
Christians.
The rally was attended
by political leaders from
Federal, State and Local
Government, to support
calls by the Australian
Coptic Movement and the
Egyptian Coptic Orthodox
Church in Australia to
condemn the violation of
basic human rights of the
Christian Copts of Egypt.
Mr Hermiz Shahen, The
Deputy Secretary General
of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance and Mr David David, president of the
Assyrian Australian National Federation joined this
protest in a show of support for the Copts of Egypt.
Mr Shahen addressed the gathering; in his speech
Mr Shahen said “It is unimaginable that in the 21st
century, security and equality for Christians in
Egypt, and most Islamic countries of the Middle
East, is still a dream. The Copts are the second
largest group of citizens in Egypt, but without the
full rights, support and security they deserve. They
are facing a campaign of ethnic cleansing that is
being carried out by fanatic Muslims. Ironically, the
freedom from the tyranny of the past regime was
bestowed upon them by help from none other than
the Christian countries of the West”. “The Egyptian
authorities
are
responsible
for
ensuring
the
protection
of
their
citizens,
their
homes
and livelihoods
regardless of their
personal beliefs”.
He
continued
“Assyrians, like
the Copts, are
now
dispersed
throughout
the world as a
result of a systematic campaign of massacre and
destruction. We hope that with a common resolve
and united voice of the Copts and the Assyrians,
we can remind the world that there are Christian
communities in the Middle East, such as the Copts
of Egypt and Assyrians of Iraq and Syria, who are
facing oppression and violence every day.
Mr Hermiz Shahen addressing the gathering: “The Assyrian Universal
Alliance in Australia is proud of the strong relationship that we have
with the committee and youth of the Australian Coptic Movement. We
have a long history of working together for a common and just cause.
We hope that with a common resolve and united voice of the Copts
and the Assyrians, we can remind the world that there are Christian
communities in the Middle East, such as the Copts of Egypt and
Assyrians of Iraq and Syria, who are facing oppression and violence
every day”.
Assyria Day
2013
The 2013 Assyria Day
conference was held on the
Sunday 30th of June, 2013. Just
over 150 young Assyrians from
all over Sydney, as well as from
Canberra and Melbourne,
gathered at Nineveh Lounge
for the 3rd annual Assyria
Day conference, making it the
largest Assyria Day conference
held in NSW. The theme for
this year’s conference was
‘Return to Assyria’.
The conference was
officially opened by The Hon.
Chris Bowen MP, Treasurer
of the Commonwealth of
Australia, and member for
McMahon. Mr Bowen thanked
the organisers and emphasised
the importance that The
Young Assyrians were hosting
this conference. He reaffirmed
his
personal
position
supporting the establishment
of an “Autonomous Assyrian
Homeland” in Iraq. Mr
Bowen went on to say that he
understands that if granted a
homeland, not everyone would
return, but that Assyrians
should have the right to return.
Speaking of an Autonomous
Homeland, Mr Bowen said
“I’ve reached the view that it
is essential so that Assyrian
people can live in peace and
freedom in Iraq”. He went on
to say that he believes “that day
will come”. And “That things on
the international stage do not
come automatically, but rather
through pressure, activism and
involvement”. He concluded
by congratulating the Assyrian
and High Court of Australia;
Dr. Racho Donef, an historian
and researcher.
Mrs
Suzy
David
presented on the legal grounds
Universal Alliance and The
Young Assyrians, wishing
them all the best for Assyria
Day.
The Young Assyrians’
Chairperson, Mr. Ninos Aaron
said the conference gave him
“great hope for the future of
the Assyria”.
This
year,
the
conference featured keynote
speakers from different areas
of expertise. Speaking at the
Assyria Day conference were
Ms. Lynda Ben-Menashe,
NGO Relations Manager of
the NSW Jewish Board of
Deputies; Ms. Suzy David, of
David Legal, a solicitor and
barrister admitted to the NSW
and rights of the establishment
of an Assyrian State. Affirming
the right of Assyrians to exist
in harmony, peace & security
with their neighbours by
exercising the Right to Self
Determination and all other
international conventions and
treaties.
The final presentation
was by Dr. Racho Donef
who examined the many
terms that have been used
to define Assyrians such as
Syrians, Jacobites, Nestorians ,
Chaldeans and Arameans.
Mr Aaron said the
speakers were a key part of the
conference as they provided
participants with necessary
intellectual information.
He said young Assyrians
were sometimes derided
as dreamers for pursuing
nationalistic aspirations.
“But I found the opposite to
be true ¬- that a nationalistic
mind is the
most
realistic
mind there is,
it takes a firstclass mind to be
a
nationalist.”
Mr Aaron said
“Today a lot of
people became
convinced
of
the fact that an
Assyrian State is
possible”
“We are
filling the void
of much needed,
hard
hitting
and informative
e v e n t s ,
empowering our
youth and our people with the
knowledge required to bring
about change” said George
Dadisho, Vice Chair of The
Young Assyrians.
“Overall, and from
what I gathered from the
attendees, it was a smashing
success” said Susan George, The
Young Assyrians committee
member and MC for the event.
“People seemed very happy to
be a part of such a professional
conference. It makes me proud
to be involved in something
that uplifts my people.”
The day’s events continued
on at Nineveh Reception,
where the Official Assyria Day
Celebratory Event took place,
beginning at 5:00pm.
The event began with an
official speech delivered by
Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Vice
Secretary General of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance.
Mr Shahen detailed the
exodus of Assyrians from their
ancestral homelands, Iraq,
Assyrians and the other for the
establishment of an Assyrian
Autonomous Homeland, the
first of its kind in the world.
Mr
Shahen
was
followed by speeches from Mr
David David, President of the
Iran, Syria and Turkey during
the last century up till the
modern tragedy of the Gulf
War. Mr Shahen emphasised
the importance of Assyrians
not forgetting their land,
though they have been driven
out. “Assyria Day binds us to
our homeland” he said. “This
is the importance of Assyria
Day”. He spoke of his gladness
of youth participation. Mr
Shahen detailed the success
of having two motions passed
in the State Parliament
of NSW recognising the
Assyrian Genocide. He also
spoke of the triumph of
passing two motions in the
Federal Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia,
one for the protection of
Assyrian Australian National
Federation; Mr Shlimon
Haddad,
AUA
Regional
Secretary, Western Europe;
Mr Simon Essavian, President
of the Assyrian Charity and
Educational
Community;
Mr Tammuz Tammuz from
the NSW Babylon Cultural
Association. The speeches
were followed by a two poems
by the famous Assyrian poet,
Yousip Menashi.
Afterwards, speeches
were delivered by members
of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance Youth Association,
The Young Assyrians. First,
the Vice Chairman, George
Dadisho
outlined
the
importance of Assyria Day
2013 in connection with the
motion passed in Federal
Parliament calling for an
Assyrian Homeland. George
was followed by Anna David,
in the homeland.
Finally, a show stealing
performance by about 50
students of Diqlat Assyrian
which had the crowd standing,
clapping, cheering and waving
Assyrian Flags.
The
celebrations
continued through
the night with
the third part of
the Assyria Day
celebrations.
A
concert by two of
Australia’s most
loved
singers,
Charles
Tooma
and
Randa
Yacoub started at
7:00pm. The two
stars performed
single sets as well
as duets. Their
rendition of “Ya
committee member of
The Young Assyrians,
who spoke of the past,
present and future of
Assyrians.
Mrs
Carmen
Lazar, Principal of Diqlat
Assyrian Schools of the
Assyrian
Australian
Association, spoke of the
importance of Assyrian
Day as a catalyst for unity
within our Nation and
congratulated the AUA
on such an important
and valuable initiative in
establishing Assyria Day.
She was followed by a
speech by one of the hundreds
of students of Diqlat School,
Catherine Haroon. Catherine
gave a moving speech on what
it means to be Assyrian, as well
as the importance of learning
the Assyrian language. Her
speech was based on the stories
told by her mother about life
School, closed the program. A
short composition of Assyrian
students envisioning a future
Assyrian State weaved together
with western and eastern
thinking. With an emphasis
on learning and cherishing
our language and traditions
as well as our homeland. The
performance culminated in
a powerfully moving song
performance by the students
Broona d’Shimsha” being one
of the night’s most memorable
performances. The attendees
danced and celebrated their
Assyrian identity, culture and
Nation through the night.
Lamassu
This is one of a pair of guardian figures
set up in the palace of Ashurnasirpal
II (883-859 BC) at the Assyrian
capital of Nimrud (ancient Kalhu).
These figures were known to the
Assyrians as lamassu. They combined
the strength of the bull, the swiftness
of birds indicated by the wings, and
the intelligence of the human head.
They were designed to protect the
palace from demonic forces, and may
even have guarded the entrance to
the private apartments of the king.
The figure has five legs, so that when
viewed from the front it stands firm, while when viewed from the side it appears to be striding forward
to combat evil. The horned cap attests to their divinity, and the belt signifies their power. The Standard
Inscription of Ashurnasirpal, common to many of his reliefs, is inscribed between the figure’s legs.
It records the King’s titles The Lamassu a human-headed winged bull figure from the palace of King
Sargon II in his capital city of Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad)
Apkallu
Assyrian Nishrail. This winged eagle-headed figure is a classic
Assyrian type of protective super natural creatures, to frighten
away evil-wishing demons and to protect buildings and their
owners.They were placed in King palaces. Images of supernatural
creatures would be buried under doorways or set up at the
entrances of palaces and temples. These figures with wings may
possibly be supernatural creatures known as APKALLU. They
wear horned headdresses to show their divinity and carry buckets
and what appears to be fir cones used to sprinkle, presumably,
water from the bucket for purification
Sacred Tree
Sacred Tree or even, a Tree of Life. It bears some distant relationship
to the palm-tree, having a palmette on top of the trunk and a trellis
of smaller palmettes around it. The palmette is a distinctly Assyrian
version of a symbol which had long been known in Mesopotamia
and the Levant. Its exact meaning is not clear, but the flowing
streams and vegetation could be taken as representing the fertility of
the earth, or more specifically, Assyria itself. Though no two Sacred
Trees were exactly alike, the arrangement of the branches on the two
sides of each tree was always identical.
Assyrian New
Year Festival
2013 / 6763
Sydney, Australia
Once again the Assyrian Australian
National Federation (AANF) together with
the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
hosted one of the most successful Assyrian
New Year Festivals in the last eight years
where an estimated nine thousands people
gathered at Fairfield showground to
celebrate this historical event.. The Festival
started at 10:00
am till 10:00
pm.
The
formal
pro c e e d i n g s
began
with
the
official
opening of the
Assyrian Art
Exhibition at
2:15pm by the
Hon.
Chris
Bowen
MP.
The customary
New
Year
Pro g r am
commenced
at 2:30 pm,
with the Australian and Assyrian national
anthems performed by Miss Jessica
Ablahad, followed by prayer by Rev. Father
Ninos Eliya, from the Assyrian Church of
the East.
After welcoming the attendees, the
Master of ceremonies Mr. Ninos Aaron,
Chairman of Young Assyrians invited Mr.
David M. David, President of the Assyrian
Australia National Federation to welcome
the attendees followed by Mr. Hermiz
Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance, both leaders
thanked representatives of the Local,
State and Federal Government for their
attendance and support over years. Mr.
Shahen spoke about the bitter genocide
committed against the Assyrians by the
Ottomans during WWI that has left deep
marks in the hearts and mind of every
Assyrian. The cold-hearted murder of
750,000 defenseless Assyrian souls reduced
the Assyrian mass, impacting the whole
comprehensive strategy for assisting
the Assyrians and other ethno-religious
minorities of Iraq who are facing a systematic
campaign of massacre and destruction. He
stated that the international community
nation dramatically. Besides losing about
three quarters of their population, the
genocide has resulted in the loss of Assyrian
historical lands in today’s south-east Turkey,
caused the scattering of the Assyrian people
and has negatively impacted the economic
well-being of all Assyrians. Mr. Shahen
also talked about the atrocities facing the
Assyrian people of Iraq and the future of
Syria’s estimated 2.5 million Christians
who have traditionally prospered in that
country and the uncertainty they now face.
Mr. Shahen appealed to the
Australian government to lay out a
has an opportunity to effect a positive
change in our favour. Our people in Iraq
are demanding a province in the Nineveh
Plains, the heartland of the Assyrian empire,
under similar political and human rights
measures enjoyed by the country’s Arabs
and Kurds. This province will be under the
jurisdiction of Iraq’s central government,
both contributing to and benefiting from
the economic prosperity of the country.
This will encourage our people to remain
on and persuade the displaced and refugees
to return to their ancestral lands.
Mr. Ninos Aaron Chairman of
the Young Assyrian a subsidiary of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australian
Chapter spoke about their group activities
since their establishment in July last year
and encouraged our Assyrian youth to
participate in their efforts and activities.
Other guest speakers were the Hon.
Chris Bowen MP, Federal member for
McMahon; Mr. Craig Kelly MP; Federal
member for
Hughes, representing The Hon Tony Abbott
MP, Leader of the Opposition; Mr. Chris
Hayes MP, Federal member for Fowler;
Mr Guy Zangari, MP, State Member for
Fairfield, Shadow Minister for Citizenship
& Communities; The Hon. David Clarke
MLC; and Rev. The Hon Fred Nile MLC,
Leader of the Christian Democratic party.
In attendance were also Mr. Andrew
Rohan MP , Member for Smithfield
representing the Premier of NSW , the
Hon. Barry O’Farrell, MP; Mr. Nick Lalich,
MP, State member for Cabramatta and
Councilor Ninos Khoshaba representing
Mayor of Fairfield City . Among other
dignitaries were; Inspector Tony Mitchell,
Duty Officer from Fairfield Local Area
Command representing Superintendent
Peter Lennon; Superintendent Ray King,
Liverpool Local Area Commander and
Superintendent James Johnson, Green
Valley Local Area Commander.
All members praised in their
speeches the role of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance in its continued
deliberations and meetings
with
the
Australian
government. They talked
about the inevitability of the
Assyrian people to obtain
their full rights and freedom
in Iraq . They blessed this
great occasion, showed their
admiration of the Assyrian
Art Exhibition that was
organized by the Young
Assyrians branch of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance
– Australian Chapter and
expressed pride in the Assyrian civilization.
The official opening was attended
by representative of many Assyrian
organisations , prominent people and
representative of the Armenian , Greeks ,
Copts and Mandians communities.
This year the Australian Assyrian
of the year award was presented to Dr.
John Atto, in recognition of his valuable
contribution
and
for
outstanding
commitment shown to the Assyrian
community.
At 6:00 pm, a dramatic arts piece
was performed by a collaboration of
Assyrian youth groups. The theatrical piece
simulated the arrival of King and Queen of
Assyria from the remote past to bless the
festivity.
The Festival ended with a
beautiful display of Fireworks at 9:00 pm
accompanied with live music.
The 2013 / 6763 Assyrian Universal
Alliance Australian Assyrian of the Year
Award
Presented to
DR JOHN
ATTO
in recognition of his
selfless devotion in
serving the needs of
the Australian Assyrian
community and for
years of dedication in
providing exceptional
services, not only for his
patients but to anyone
who needs assistance,
April 1st, 2013 / 6763.
Above, from left: Mr Chris Hayes MP & Mr Hermiz Shahen
Below: The Hon Rev Fred Nile MLC & Mr David M. David
Above: Mrs Karen Bos , From Christian Faith & Freedom: Mrs Carmen Lazar and Rev Ninos Eilya
Right: Mr & Mrs Clr Joe
Molluso, Mr Craig Kelly
MP , Mr Paul Azzo and
Mr Simon Essavian
Sponsored by the NSW Government through Community Relations Commission
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