Observers greet PM’s reconciliation plan with cautious optimism

A national reconciliation plan proposed on Sunday by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki represents a positive step towards ending sectarian violence, according to experts. “The reconciliation plan is an important step towards promoting peace in the country,” said Ayar Muhammad, professor of political science at Baghdad University, “especially if it opens the door for negotiations with armed groups, which have been looking for a way to be heard.” Excluding certain groups from the political process in the past, he added, has only served to promote the insurgency. Al-Maliki’s 24-point plan aims to promote dialogue between the country’s various armed factions by way of a national reconciliation committee, set to include representatives of the three main branches of government, spokesmen for armed militias, civil society officials and tribal and religious leaders. The plan does not, however, call for dialogue with groups such as al-Qaeda, allegedly responsible for numerous civilian casualties. Rather, the prime minister warned that captured al-Qaeda members would face trial on terrorism charges. “We must confront terrorism using rigorous and powerful measures,” al-Maliki said at a press conference, “while leaving the doors open for dialogue and reconciliation to all those who wish to involve themselves in the political process.” Al-Maliki went on to note that, under the plan, raids and arrests would be better regulated, while rampant displacement – which has come in the wake of unprecedented sectarian violence – would be stemmed and compensation provided. While ordinary Iraqis generally welcomed the prospect of negotiations and a reduction of violence, they also expressed the opinion that violence would not subside as long as US-led multinational troops remain based in Iraq. “The reconciliation plan is very helpful in that it creates a chance for isolated groups to participate in the political process,” said Fua’ad Salah, political science professor at Mustansiriyah University. “But fighting will continue – causing the death of more innocent people – as long as multinational forces are in Iraq. All this could be prevented if the foreign troops just left.” AS/AR/AM