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Assyrian Christian Leader in Iraq Speaks.
Irbil, Iraq
8/28/2009
In a wide ranging interview at his modest home in the Ankawa
neighborhood of Irbil in northern Iraq, the reclusive Minister
of Finance of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Sargis Agajan
was all but reclusive. Over lunch and for most of the
afternoon he told his side of the story.
“First,
I have only one goal. That is to help my people. I am not very
well and healthy – I am just getting over a long illness. At the
same time, I am doing all I can as long as God gives me the
strength and opportunity to do something for the Assyrian
Christians.”
Often criticized for being a “stooge” of the Kurdish Government,
Agajan reflects a simplicity and humility extremely rare in the
Assyrian Christian community.
“My
main concern is to help our people return to their villages” he
says.
Beginning with the Assyrian Holocaust in 1915/1916 when nearly
two thirds of the Assyrian Christians were massacred to most
recently in the Anfal Campaign of Saddam Hussein in which nearly
all of the Assyrian village were complete destroyed it has been
a nonstop nightmare for the first nation to accept Christianity
– the Assyrians.
“What I am trying to do is very simple” he continues. First, I
am doing all I can in my position with the Government to locate
all of our villages, rebuild them including homes, electricity,
schools and whatever is needed for the people to return.
Second,
we need to have jobs for them so when they come back to their
villages – some for the first time in decades they can live with
their families and prosper.
Third,
I have worked very hard to get into the new Kurdistan Regional
Government Constitution Autonomy for the Assyrian Region so our
people can not only have a house, a job but the freedom to carry
on our own lives with our language, traditions an faith.” 
As part of his responsibility as Finance Minister Agajan has
arranged for nearly 120 historically Assyrian Christian villages
previously destroyed to be rebuilt.
Churches to be rebuilt and schools for the Assyrian Language
are among his many projects. Staying in one of the “Sargis
Villages” one is struck by the reality. A village of nearly 400
people with 125 neatly lined two bedroom homes – basic but nice.
A
school, bakery, two small shops surrounded by fields complete
the village. “I was born and raised in this village” says the
Mayor Isaac. “Saddam completely destroyed this village. The only
thing left was the remains of our school” he says as he gestures
to the bombed out hulk of his former school.
“Thanks
to Sargis we were able to rebuild our village as we remember it
and the families have come back. Our crops are being planted
again, the children are going to school and we finally have
hope.” Agajan continues, “While I am an Assyrian and am very
concerned for my people, I also have to be fair so along with
doing the best I can to restore our people to their former
areas, I also an doing the same with all other groups of people
that are under my charge.”
In
response to the many rumors rife in the Middle East and in
particular among the Assyrian Christian Community worldwide that
he has secret sponsors behind him and other intrigue, Agajan is
very clear. “There is no secret group behind me. I am
simply doing the best I can with my position as Finance Minister
to do all I can for my own people and all the people of
Kurdistan so we can all move forward after the nightmare of
Saddam Hussein.” Most interesting, though in talking with Agajan
is his intense Christian faith.
Tracing his current situation to a personal experience with God
in which he felt and experienced the presence of God calling him
to a life of service he is adamant that he is only a very flawed
and plain vessel. Often breaking into the conversation to pray,
he says “I am nobody special. Look at me! I am not good looking,
I am not well – I am nobody. For whatever reason God has given
me this opportunity to do something for my people who have
suffered so much.
I
have no idea how long my health will hold out nor how long I
will have my position – it could all end tomorrow. That is why I
work so hard always wondering if this might be my last day.”
He continues.
As
Iraq increasingly turns Islamic the future of the Assyrian
Christians, the legendary people of Nineveh, of the Biblical
Jonah and the Whale and the only people still speaking Aramaic,
the language of Jesus is bleak. Agajan, walks a fine line
between doing all he can for the Assyrian Christians without
angering both the Iraqi and Kurdish Governments.
Becoming
animated, he pores over a series of maps of Assyrian Villages
and points out the estimated area of an Assyrian Autonomous Area
which is the dream of all Assyrian Christians worldwide. “If all
goes well this area will be the Assyrian Area” he says. “The
Assyrians who are the original people of Iraq will be able to
preserve our language, customs, religion, way of life and not
only restore what we once were but grow by encouraging many
Assyrians who are refugees now and those living overseas to come
home.”
Is he just naïve? Is he a “stooge”? Is he a front for other
shadowy figures? It is the Middle East and truth is a very rare
commodity.
At least on thing can be said, he is a committed believer who
appears to have a very strong faith and sees all he does and the
small window to do something for his people as a mission from
God.
Will he succeed?
The
lives of thousands hang in the balance and Agajan shows the
weight of the reasonability in his tired face.
Ken
Joseph Jr.
Team@jhelp.com |
