
‘Leave our marshes alone'
PLANS to drill for oil in the protected Mesopotamian marshes of southern Iraq have galvanised villagers and activists determined to save the mythical wetlands already battered by years of drought.
'We will never accept it,' marshes activist Murtada al-Janubi told a meeting, seeking to reassure anxious residents gathered in a traditional hall made of woven reeds from the wetlands, to discuss the government's plans for the Unesco-listed area that is their home.
Everyone nodded in approval.
If they fail to save the Huwaizah Marshes, 'a historical era... with its heritage and southern identity will vanish for ever,' Janubi, 33, said during a tour of the wetlands that straddle the Iraq-Iran border.
The millennia-old history of the marshes - the reputed home of the biblical Garden of Eden – 'would end with this oilfield', said the moustached, tanned activist.
In 2023, the oil-rich country awarded a Chinese firm the rights to explore the Huwaizah field.
A fisherman showing his catch. Plans to drill for oil in the protected Mesopotamian Marshes of southern Iraq have galvanised villagers and activists determined to save the mythical wetlands already battered by years of drought. — AFP
Several residents of Abu Khsaf, the village in Missan province where the meeting with activist Janubi was held, said that at the time they did not fully grasp the implications.
Only this year, when heavy machinery was brought in to conduct seismic studies and open a new road, did the residents say they recognised a 'threat' to the swamplands that have sustained their traditional way of life.
The government says that the oil and environment ministries are collaborating closely to avoid endangering the wetlands, and that any activity would occur near, not inside, the marshes.
Satellite images of the area from March, obtained from Planet Labs, show tracks left by heavy vehicles.
Wim Zwijnenburg of Dutch peace organisation PAX said the images point to the 'rapid' construction of 'a 1.3-kilometre-long dirt road in the vegetation of the marshes'.
Missan province already has several oilfields, including one just kilometres from the marshes.
Its emissions fill the sky with heavy grey smoke, and its gas flares can be seen from the fishing boats that roam the depleted marshes, suffering after years of harsh drought and dwindling water supplies.
Papyrus plants grown in Iraq's marshes of Huwaizah. — AFP
Nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Mesopotamian marshes depend on rivers and tributaries originating in neighbouring Turkiye and Iran.
Sparse rainfall and reduced water flows blamed on climate change, upstream dams and government rationing have created shortages with severe impacts on the marsh ecosystem.
Residents expect the marshes to dry up in summer, hoping for a long-absent good rainy season to revive them.
The current water level in many areas is less than a metre deep.
Um al-Naaj lake, once teeming with fish, is now just 3m deep, compared with at least six before the drought.
Rowing his boat on the lake, fisherman Kazem Ali, 80, said that while the new project may create some jobs, 'we, the average people, will not benefit'.
'All we want is water,' he said.
Rasul al-Ghurabi, a 28-year-old buffalo farmer, said he would never quit 'the marshes and the freedom that comes with them' even if the oil company offered him a job.
One cool March morning, as he led his buffaloes to the marshes to graze, Ghurabi was surprised to see workers laying cables and drilling holes.
A cable caused one of his animals to stumble, he said.
The marshes contain a core area that serves as a habitat for numerous species, including migratory waterbirds, surrounded by a buffer zone for protection.
Environmental activists meeting with the indigenous people of Huwaizah. — AFP
Activists have accused authorities of conducting seismic studies within the core, which the state-owned Missan Oil Company denies, saying that the vehicles spotted in the area were carrying out work for a separate field nearby and had since left.
The Huwaizah oilfield was discovered in the 1970s, and Iraq shares it with Iran, which has been extracting oil for a long time.
The Missan Oil Company says that 300sq km of the field's area overlap with the marshes' buffer zone, but that the oilfield does not encroach on the core.
An environmental impact assessment concluded in 2024 would provide 'the baseline for work in the field', the company said, adding that exploration would take place 'without harming the natural habitat.'
According to environment ministry official Jassem Falahi, the protected status of the marshes does not bar development projects.
'But investment is subject to specific conditions and standards that must not disturb the core area... or affect the site and its biodiversity,' he said.
Iraqi activist Ahmed Saleh Neema, a vocal advocate for the protection of the marshes, expressed concerns that oil companies might not adhere to regulations and further drain the marshes.
A Unesco spokesman said that 'concerns have been raised in recent years' over the potential impact of oil-related activities on the marshes.
Across the border in Iran, local media have long warned against the environmental impact of oil projects.
In a report earlier this year, two decades into oil activities in the wetlands known in Iran as Hoor al-Azim, the Tasnim news agency said energy companies had obstructed water flows and drained areas to build infrastructure.
Tasnim also said that oilfields have polluted water resources.
Environmental activist Neema said authorities should strike 'a balance between two great resources: the oil and the marshes.'
Iraq is one of the world's largest oil producers, and crude sales account for 90% of state revenues.
But while oil is financially vital, the marshes represent the livelihood of its people and 'the heritage, the folklore, and the reputation of Iraq,' Neema said.
Back in the village of Abu Khsaf, Janubi said: 'Our region is already teeming with oilfields. Isn't that enough?'
'Leave our marshes alone.' — AFP
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
The billion-Baht casino empire: How Thai-Cambodia border tensions expose hidden networks of power
BANGKOK: Recent border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have inadvertently exposed a sprawling network of influential figures who have built a multi-billion baht casino empire along the frontier, according to explosive new research from the Centre for Gambling Problem Studies. The territorial dispute, which erupted into clashes at Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani province and led to reduced border crossing hours from Saturday (June 7), has disrupted what investigators describe as a "massive profit network" hidden behind the Thai-Cambodia frontier. The Koh Kong Kingdom At the heart of this investigation lies the Koh Kong Resort casino, located just 800 metres from Thailand's permanent Khlong Yai border crossing in Trat province. The operation is owned by "Oknha Ly Yong Phat," known in Thailand as "Pad Suphapa" or "Sia Pad," a Cambodian senator and businessman of Chinese-Thai descent. Sia Pad controls tens of thousands of rai through his LYP Group, one of Cambodia's largest corporations under the Li So company umbrella. Beyond casinos and hotels, his business empire encompasses industrial estates, fruit centres, commercial buildings, private roads, and river bridges. Most significantly, the research identifies Sia Pad's connection to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, described as his "elder brother" and political patron. This relationship reportedly began when Sia Pad supported Hun Sen's political campaigns in Koh Kong province, leading to electoral victory and Sia Pad's subsequent appointment to Cambodia's highest royal title of "Oknha." The Poipet Powerbrokers Cambodia now hosts approximately 150 casinos, making it Southeast Asia's gambling capital, with most concentrated along the Thai border. The largest hub is Poipet in Banteay Meanchey province, opposite Thailand's Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo, where an estimated 80% of gamblers are Thai nationals. Key Poipet operations include Grand Diamond City, owned by Watthana Asavahem, a former 11-term MP from Samut Prakan known as the "Paknam Godfather." - Photo: The Nation/ANN He purchased the business in 2001 for approximately 700 million baht and attempted to sell it in 2021 for 12 billion baht. Watthana currently faces a 10-year prison sentence for land fraud. Holiday Poipet represents a joint venture between Indonesian, Macau Chinese, and Thai businessmen, whilst Star Vegas & Club involves oil tycoons partnering with Taiwanese investors and the brother of a former Cambodian defence minister. The Shadow Shareholding System The research reveals a sophisticated "nominee shareholding" system where influential Cambodians leverage land ownership to secure stakes in casino operations. Former Khmer Rouge leader Samphor, who became Pailin province's governor, exemplifies this pattern by opening his territory to Thai investors whilst demanding partnership stakes in multiple casinos including Pailin, Crown Diamond, Dream World, and K.R. Victoria casinos. These arrangements require casino operators to pay overlapping concession fees to both central and local governments, creating multiple layers of profit-sharing amongst political elites. Cross-Border Corruption Networks The investigation exposes systematic corruption involving officials on both sides of the border. Casino operators must pay bribes to facilitate border crossing schedules, passport processing, contraband inspections, and cross-border money transfers. Crucially, the casinos serve as money-laundering centres for Thai elite engaged in illegal businesses, with conspiracies between money launderers and casino owners who often become VIP clients. The research identifies "Kok An," a wealthy Cambodian businessman and Hun Sen adviser, who was involved in constructing the Princess Crown casino in Poipet. The project violated border agreements, prompting Thai protests and forcing construction to halt with excavated canal soil returned. Border Restrictions Hit Casino Profits The current border restrictions directly impact casino operations, particularly at the Aranyaprathet-Poipet crossing, now operating 08:00-16:00 with explicit prohibition: "Thai nationals travelling for gambling and tourism are forbidden to leave the country." These measures may represent attempts to control gambling and cross-border crime, but they also highlight the complex relationships between state power, business interests, and influence networks spanning both nations. The International Web The casino network involves multiple international players including "Tony," an Indonesian businessman owning Holiday Palace and Holiday Poipet; Chen Lip Keong, a Malaysian tycoon controlling Naga World through NagaCorp; Macau Chinese businessmen with stakes in multiple casinos; and Taiwanese investment groups in Star Vegas. Thai involvement includes "Sia Somboon," former Star Vegas and Star King owner, Cosmo Oil businessmen holding Star Vegas shares, and local Sa Kaeo entrepreneurs with stakes across multiple operations. Questions for the Future The current Thai-Cambodia dispute has inadvertently exposed what researchers describe as a "colossal profit network" generating billions of baht whilst connecting influential figures across both countries. As border tensions continue, the sustainability of these cross-border gambling empires faces unprecedented scrutiny. The key question remains: how long will the current dispute last, and what will be its ultimate impact on the multi-billion baht casino networks that have operated in the shadows of Thai-Cambodia relations for decades? - The Nation/ANN [* This investigation is based on research by the Centre for Gambling Problem Studies examining economic and political elite networks and the impact of border casinos along the Thai-Cambodia frontier.]


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Germany urges Dutch to crack down on citizens' border checks
FILE PHOTO: Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Sinan Selen, Vice-President of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (not pictured), attend a press conference to present the 'Constitution Protection Report 2024' in Berlin, Germany June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's interior minister and the head of its federal police union on Tuesday criticised unofficial border checks by citizens in the Netherlands, saying they expected decisive action from the Dutch authorities to stamp out such practices. A group of citizens carried out their own checks near the northern Dutch town of Ter Apel on Saturday evening, stopping vehicles to look for asylum seekers, local broadcaster RTV Noord reported on Sunday. The news comes a few days after Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders toppled the ruling coalition in a dispute over migration policy. While Wilders' party only shared power in the government, his anti-immigration views have shaped Dutch policy for decades. The Netherlands has some of the European Union's toughest policies on asylum and immigration. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Tuesday there was no legal basis for the citizens' action. "I believe we will indeed take another look at this if this phenomenon continues ... I also assume that the authorities will end such measures," Dobrindt, who introduced stricter border controls and immediate rejections for asylum seekers last month, said in an emailed statement to Reuters. The head of Germany's Federal Police Union, Andreas Rosskopf, said the Dutch authorities' reaction had been "a bit too little", and urged greater efforts to avoid escalation. "It must be clear that citizens without legal authority have no right to intervene, to monitor, and ultimately to carry out the tasks of the security authorities, the police authorities," Rosskopf told journalists. Dutch broadcaster RTL reported that police found no criminal offence when they arrived at the scene. Caretaker Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said citizens' frustration was understandable but that they must not take the law into their own hands. "Let the police and military police do their job," he said on social media platform X on Sunday. Dutch immigration has slowed significantly from a peak in 2022. The Netherlands received almost two first-time asylum applications per 1,000 inhabitants in 2024, slightly below the EU average, according to Eurostat data. (Reporting by Riham Alkousaa, Markus Wacket in Berlin, and Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam. Editing by Mark Potter)


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Fed to keep rates on hold at least until September as inflation risks linger
BENGALURU: The US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold for at least another couple of months, according to most economists polled by Reuters, as risks linger that inflation may resurge due to President Donald Trump's tariff policies. With most trade negotiations incomplete as the July 9 deadline for a 90-day pause on tariffs announced in April approaches, forecasters have been reluctant to change their already fragile economic outlook. Rising concerns about US debt and a deluge of bond issuance fuelled by a sweeping tax cut bill passed by the House of Representatives, but not the Senate, are not helping. Data on Friday showed no signs of significant stress building in the labor market, suggesting the Fed is in no hurry to cut interest rates any time soon. All but two of the 105 economists in the June 5-10 Reuters poll predicted the Federal Open Market Committee would keep the fed funds rate unchanged at its June 17-18 meeting in a 4.25-4.50 per cent range, where it has been since the start of the year. Around 55 per cent of economists - 59 of 105 - said the Fed would resume cutting next quarter, most likely in September and in line with interest rate futures pricing. That outlook has not changed from last month. "As long as the labor market looks fine, we expect the FOMC to continue to stay on hold, and use rhetoric to bolster their inflation-fighting credibility. Until there is a cost, why signal otherwise?" said Jonathan Pingle, chief US economist at UBS. "At the moment 'grey area' seems more 'charcoal'... the Committee is facing a substantial amount of uncertainty." Inflation expectations have remained elevated on predictions of high US trade barriers. The administration has recently raised aluminum and steel tariffs to 50 per cent from 25 per cent. US officials are currently engaged in trade talks with top Chinese officials in London, looking to secure a breakthrough. In the meantime, consumers are expecting price pressures to surge in coming years, while economists predict inflation to remain well above the Fed's 2 per cent target until at least 2027. A significant 42 per cent minority of poll participants - 44 of 105 - expect the FOMC to resume cutting rates in the fourth quarter of 2025 or later, with 20 predicting no cuts this year. "High tariffs are here to stay, and they will produce elevated inflation that is sustained well into 2026," said James Egelhof, chief US economist at BNP Paribas. "The Fed will see little need to cut... the lesson we have from history is, if inflation becomes entrenched in the economy, it can be very hard and very costly to remove." There was no clear consensus on where the rate would be by end-2025, but about 80 per cent of economists - 85 of 105 - predicted the fed funds rate in a 3.75-4.00 per cent range or higher. Trump called for a full percentage point reduction to 3.25-3.50 per cent immediately on Friday. The president's signature bill making its way through Congress is expected to add US$2.4 trillion to an already enormous US$36.2 trillion debt pile, making a rate cut more unlikely. "With more fiscal stimulus coming out of the tax and spending bill, the Fed sees less of a case for supporting the economy with lower interest rates," said Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank. "The fiscal policy looks set to push the deficit (higher)... exerting continued upward pressure on long-term interest rates that will be a headwind for credit-intensive parts of the economy like the housing market and business capital spending." The economy, which contracted 0.2 per cent last quarter on a widening trade deficit, is forecast to grow just 1.4 per cent this year, a sharp fall from 2.8 per cent in 2024. Next year, it was predicted to expand 1.5 per cent. That outlook was unchanged from May.