Anbar Protesters Form Committee To Negotiate With Maliki
Four months into their demonstrations, the protesters of Anbar have formed a committee to negotiate with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and enter the political process, writes Ali Abel Sadah.
Protesters in Anbar province who are angry at Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have finally decided to form an official delegation to discuss their demands with him. These demands mainly consist of putting an end to what they describe as “Sunni marginalization,” as well as stopping the use of the security services to hit Sunni figures and leaders in the country.
Sheikh Saeed Lafi, a spokesman for the Anbar demonstrators, said on March 24 that they had formed a delegation to discuss their demands with the government.
Lafi, who spoke with Al-Monitor over the phone, said: “The delegation members are known by the people of Ramadi, that their names will be announced and that naming known people would stand in the way of mediators.”
Forming the negotiating delegation will provide the protest against Maliki with additional strength. As Lafi says, it will put "the ball in the government's court. Thus, the government will not have any excuse or pretext [for not discussing the demands]. I hope this step will be a good start to end the crisis.”
