"This is the country for the holidays" according to our editor Bwar and it certainly is. Over the last two months I have only worked two full weeks and this week we have another two days off (at least).
However, here people are frequently confused as to the actual day of the holiday and even what the holiday is for. In some cases it is just the schools and government employees (60% plus of the population) who have the holidays - for private enterprise it is more of a free-for-all.
This week is the perfect case in point. On Wednesday 30th Iraq goes to the polls to elect a new government. Now everyone agrees that day is a holiday. The following day is May Day and most people think it is also a holiday. In the meantime some schools and government offices are also having Monday and Tuesday off, but no one is sure which schools and which government offices and so the confusion begins .
Unlike the relaxed and festive atmosphere for New Zealand elections, here the security is on maximum. The borders are closed, as are the airports with all flights canceled, and the internal border between Arab Iraq and Kurdistan is sealed. Long distance travel is discouraged and the number of checkpoints substantially increased.
In a hopeful moment during the early part of the election campaign, the violence in Arab Iraq actually decreased, but in the last 10 days the ugliness has returned and the death total for this month now tops 900 (Approximately 1000 dead each month for January, February and March).
None of these deaths been in Kurdistan and the only incident in Slemani was last week when some hotheads took a few pot shots at the PDK headquarters in the main street.
Election fever has now reached a high point and I think tonight is the last opportunity for the parties to campaign publicly. Security has been intense along Salim Street, but the military and police here are very experienced in maintaining order in a calm and relaxed manner.
The other night I was taking some photos when a soldier came up to me, put his arm around my shoulders and politely said "Mamosta you can not take photos of the military". Mamosta is a very respectfully term broadly meaning teacher.
However, here people are frequently confused as to the actual day of the holiday and even what the holiday is for. In some cases it is just the schools and government employees (60% plus of the population) who have the holidays - for private enterprise it is more of a free-for-all.
This week is the perfect case in point. On Wednesday 30th Iraq goes to the polls to elect a new government. Now everyone agrees that day is a holiday. The following day is May Day and most people think it is also a holiday. In the meantime some schools and government offices are also having Monday and Tuesday off, but no one is sure which schools and which government offices and so the confusion begins . Unlike the relaxed and festive atmosphere for New Zealand elections, here the security is on maximum. The borders are closed, as are the airports with all flights canceled, and the internal border between Arab Iraq and Kurdistan is sealed. Long distance travel is discouraged and the number of checkpoints substantially increased.In a hopeful moment during the early part of the election campaign, the violence in Arab Iraq actually decreased, but in the last 10 days the ugliness has returned and the death total for this month now tops 900 (Approximately 1000 dead each month for January, February and March).
None of these deaths been in Kurdistan and the only incident in Slemani was last week when some hotheads took a few pot shots at the PDK headquarters in the main street.
Election fever has now reached a high point and I think tonight is the last opportunity for the parties to campaign publicly. Security has been intense along Salim Street, but the military and police here are very experienced in maintaining order in a calm and relaxed manner.The other night I was taking some photos when a soldier came up to me, put his arm around my shoulders and politely said "Mamosta you can not take photos of the military". Mamosta is a very respectfully term broadly meaning teacher.
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