Sunday, February 28, 2010

Kurdish activist injured in Iraq election violence in Souther Kurdistan

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28.02.2010

Hewlir — An opposition activist in Southern Kurdistan was injured by supporters of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Saturday in the regional capital Arbil, an opposition spokesman said, ahead of March 7 polls.

"Fifteen armed men travelling in two vehicles entered our area in the centre of the city at around 1:00 pm (1000 GMT)," said Jafaar Khayat, spokesman for the Goran (Change) party.

"They removed all the posters of our candidates and replaced them with posters of President Talabani and Kosrat Rasul," who is a senior official in Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

Khayat added that one of the party's guards was beaten with the butt of a rifle, and said that the people behind the attack left before police arrived at the scene.

Hewlir police chief General Abdul Khaleq Talaat confirmed the incident and said: "We were able to identify the people behind the attack and have issued warrants for their arrest."

The Goran bloc, which is primarily composed of ex-PUK members, emerged as the region's first credible opposition in regional elections last July, after nearly two decades of dominance by the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of regional president Massud Barzani.

Several incidents have so far marred campaigning in Southern Kurdistan, and Iraq's election commission has imposed a 9:00 pm curfew on campaigning in Sulaimaniyah province, which borders Hewlir, after a number of violent incidents were reported.

Nawshirwan Mustafa: The issue of the detached areas for us is a big democratic challenge.

Go to fullsize image

  • KurdishMedia.com
  • By Nawshirwan Mustafa
  • 28/02/2010

Nawshirwan Mustafa's message on the issue of Kirkuk and the detached areas

Sbay website, 22 Feb 2010

In this message I will explain to you the position and approach of the Change movement on the issue of Kirkuk and the detached areas.

The issue of the detached areas means the issue of Kirkuk, Khanaqin and Mandali, Sinjar and other areas. This is one of the central and principal issues for the Change movement. After the downfall of the regime and the redrafting of the Iraqi Constitution a special article for the resolution of these problems was added, this was article 140. According to this article most of the aims of this clause should have been implemented by the end of 2007 and by now all the associated issues should have been resolved. Now three years have passed since this deadline, not only have no serious steps been taken for the implementation of this article, but also the example that the Kurdish administration did present to these areas was so bad and unjust and corrupt that it has not only alienated the ethnic, racial and faith groups in Kirkuk in particular and in the detached areas in general from the Kurdish people and Kurdistan region but has also caused a great discontent by the Kurdish people too. Instead of taking justice, democracy and freedom to the people of Kirkuk and detached areas, they carried an irresponsible party political conflict to these areas and there they repeated all the mistakes and flaws that once took Kurdistan to internal war and made it weak. Establishing two divided administrative zones, two separate security forces and two decision-making centres recreated the same party political administration in these areas which had existed in Kurdistan and it still exists. In this way the political forces of Kurdistan presented a bad example to these areas which has even angered the Kurds. The Kurdish authorities have not only discriminated between the Kurds and Arabs and Turkomans, but they have also practised discrimination within the Kurdish community itself. The experience of Kurdish two parties [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party] in Kirkuk, Khanqin, Sinjar, and other areas has angered the Kurds more than the Turkomans and Arabs because it is not enough for these two forces to be a Kurd in order to have human rights and deserve a reasonable life. No, you must, in addition to being a Kurd, also belong to one of the parties. Even this is not enough. Within the party you must belong to a certain powerful persons and factions then you will have rights, freedoms and privileges.

It is time now to put an end to this unjust politics. It is time that we all together used our will for the establishment of a new political and administrative system guided by a new mentality based on Kurdistani citizenship and Iraqi citizenship.

In our view the Kurdish administration should have behaved very sensitively towards these areas and has dealt with them with an open democratic plan for comprehensive services because these areas are not like the other areas that interpret the lack of freedoms, justice and services as bad administration only. Every flaw besides being an example of bad administration is also considered as a kind of religious, sectarian or ethnic oppression. In fact, the Kurdish administration has not been able to remove in Kurdistan the feelings of ethnic and religious oppressing that the diverse groups in the region have. The Kurdish administration has not been able to make the Shiites, Ezidis, Turkomans and Arabs feel that the political framework of Kurdistan is theirs too and it equally protects their interests.

In our belief, the issue of these areas cannot be resolved unless we in advance prove to all the peoples in the detached areas that the Kurdish administration of these areas will be a just one and protects the interests of the citizens equally.

Our motive for trying to return Kirkuk, Sinjar and Khanaqin to Kurdistan region is not based on a closed nationalist discourse. But it is based on the returning rights to those who have been deprived of them. We look at the detached areas as a right that has been taken away. This means that our national vision is based on the concept of citizenship and rights of citizenship rather than on extreme nationalism.

We must put an end to that party mentality that offers money and services only to those people and places that belong to them and neglects the other citizens who do not belong to them. The main aim of Change movement is to return to establish and restore respect to the right of citizenship away from any political, ideological and even national, faith and religious considerations. We work for equal rights for the citizens of Kurdistan region and equal share in the wealth and revenues of the region. At this level, when we all our power, try to return Kirkuk and the detached areas to Kurdistan region, we are very keen to work very seriously to reconcile and create a new sold relationship between the different components of these areas. We will work to ensure equal opportunities for work, power, freedom and services for every citizen in these areas irrespective of their ethnic, religious or faith affiliation. We must prove to all the peoples of these areas that their becoming part of Kurdistan region will bring them more freedoms and better services. The issue of the detached areas for us is a big democratic challenge. It is in these areas that real democracy as well as an end to the mentality of party supremacy, which has caused immense political, social and cultural crises to Kurdish society, must be achieved.

Dear citizens and the oppressed Kurdish society,

We are closely aware to what extent our rivals and adversaries circulate hostile propaganda for this new movement. We are aware that the enemies of our movement are prepared even to undermine their own history in order to defile this movement which has been born for you and your interests. They are furious about this movement because it has become the true mirror of your desires and demands. Many of the activists of Change were once holding high party and government positions and posts. They gave up all these just in order not to leave you alone and not to participate in the party supremacy regime that has done immense injustice to thousands of citizens of this country. They gave up everything so that they would be close to you and through this movement become the first trench to defend your rights, demands and aspirations.

We want to establish a new political beginning where we all together away from nepotism, cronyism, and party dividends live under the ceiling of one region and country and establish a new open democratic experience on the basis of citizenship not party affiliation.

If you wish to get rid of irresponsible party officials' mutual interest sharing; if you want to have a country in which we all Kurds, Arabs and Turkoman, Shiite , Christians, Ezidis and Shabak, have equal rights in it; If you want to get rid of the aggression of the parties' secret agencies, and oppression and assaults of party officials and their guards; If you want to put an end to the unequal distribution of wealth; if you want to enjoy your rights without feeling any favour to party leaders and officials; I ask all of you: voters in Kirkuk, voters in Sinjar and detached areas of Nainawa. Voters in Khanaqin, Mandali and detached areas of Diyala, Kurdistani people in the detached areas, Kurdistani people abroad: If you wish to have a country based on equality in the face of law and social justice:

Vote for Change list.

I wish you all success. May God protect you!

Nawshirwan Mustafa

22 February 2010

13 Kurdish asylum seekers killed themselves


28-02-2010
Erbil - The head of International Federation for Iraqi refugees confirmed that 13 Kurdish asylum seekers committed suicide because of forced deportations.

Dashti Jamal from International Federation for Iraqi refugees revealed this. "So far 213 Kurdish refugee have died in Europe, in which thirteen of them died as result of forced deportation [suicide] and some of them have died, when they tried to escape from Turkish and Iranian police," he said.

According to the Federation's statistics in the last five years 4240 Iraqi and Kurdish asylum seekers have been deported back to Iraq and Kurdistan region.

Furthermore Jamal revealed that last week 35 Kurdish asylum seekers were deported back to Erbil International Airport from European countries by military planes.

© Rudaw

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Nawshirwan Mustafa: “The issue of the detached areas for us is a big democratic challenge.”

Kurdishaspect.com - Translated by Dr Kamal Miarwdeli


Nawshirwan Mustafa's message on the issue of Kirkuk and the detached areas

In this message I will explain to you the position and approach of the Change movement on the issue of Kirkuk and the detached areas.

The issue of the detached areas means the issue of Kirkuk, Khanaqin and Mandali, Sinjar and other areas. This is one of the central and principal issues for the Change movement. After the downfall of the regime and the redrafting of the Iraqi Constitution a special article for the resolution of these problems was added, this was article 140. According to this article most of the aims of this clause should have been implemented by the end of 2007 and by now all the associated issues should have been resolved. Now three years have passed since this deadline, not only have no serious steps been taken for the implementation of this article, but also the example that the Kurdish administration did present to these areas was so bad and unjust and corrupt that it has not only alienated the ethnic, racial and faith groups in Kirkuk in particular and in the detach ed areas in general from the Kurdish people and Kurdistan region but has also caused a great discontent by the Kurdish people too. Instead of taking justice, democracy and freedom to the people of Kirkuk and detached areas, they carried an irresponsible party political conflict to these areas and there they repeated all the mistakes and flaws that once took Kurdistan to internal war and made it weak. Establishing two divided administrative zones, two separate security forces and two decision-making centres recreated the same party political administration in these areas which had existed in Kurdistan and it still exists. In this way the political forces of Kurdistan presented a bad example to these areas which has even angered the Kurds. The Kurdish authorities have not only discriminated between the Kurds and Arabs and Turkomans, but they have also practised discrimination within the Kurdish community itself. The experience of Kurdish two parties [Patriotic Union of Kurdist an and Kurdistan Democratic Party] in Kirkuk, Khanqin, Sinjar, and other areas has angered the Kurds more than the Turkomans and Arabs because it is not enough for these two forces to be a Kurd in order to have human rights and deserve a reasonable life. No, you must, in addition to being a Kurd, also belong to one of the parties. Even this is not enough. Within the party you must belong to a certain powerful persons and factions then you will have rights, freedoms and privileges.

It is time now to put an end to this unjust politics. It is time that we all together used our will for the establishment of a new political and administrative system guided by a new mentality based on Kurdistani citizenship and Iraqi citizenship.

In our view the Kurdish administration should have behaved very sensitively towards these areas and has dealt with them with an open democratic plan for comprehensive services because these areas are not like the other areas that interpret the lack of freedoms, justice and services as bad administration only. Every flaw besides being an example of bad administration is also considered as a kind of religious, sectarian or ethnic oppression. In fact, the Kurdish administration has not been able to remove in Kurdistan the feelings of ethnic and religious oppressing that the diverse groups in the region have. The Kurdish administration has not been able to make the Shiites, Ezidis, Turkomans and Arabs feel that the political framework of Kurdistan is theirs too and it equally protects their interests.

In our belief, the issue of these areas cannot be resolved unless we in advance prove to all the peoples in the detached areas that the Kurdish administration of these areas will be a just one and protects the interests of the citizens equally.

Our motive for trying to return Kirkuk, Sinjar and Khanaqin to Kurdistan region is not based on a closed nationalist discourse. But it is based on the returning rights to those who have been deprived of them. We look at the detached areas as a right that has been taken away. This means that our national vision is based on the concept of citizenship and rights of citizenship rather than on extreme nationalism.

We must put an end to that party mentality that offers money and services only to those people and places that belong to them and neglects the other citizens who do not belong to them. The main aim of Change movement is to return to establish and restore respect to the right of citizenship away from any political, ideological and even national, faith and religious considerations. We work for equal rights for the citizens of Kurdistan region and equal share in the wealth and revenues of the region. At this level, when we all our power, try to return Kirkuk and the detached areas to Kurdistan region, we are very keen to work very seriously to reconcile and create a new sold relationship between the different components of these areas. We will work to ensure equal opportunities for work, power, freedom and services for every citizen in these areas irrespective of their ethnic, religious or faith affiliation. We must pro ve to all the peoples of these areas that their becoming part of Kurdistan region will bring them more freedoms and better services. The issue of the detached areas for us is a big democratic challenge. It is in these areas that real democracy as well as an end to the mentality of party supremacy, which has caused immense political, social and cultural crises to Kurdish society, must be achieved.

Dear citizens and the oppressed Kurdish society

We are closely aware to what extent our rivals and adversaries circulate hostile propaganda for this new movement. We are aware that the enemies of our movement are prepared even to undermine their own history in order to defile this movement which has been born for you and your interests. They are furious about this movement because it has become the true mirror of your desires and demands. Many of the activists of Change were once holding high party and government positions and posts. They gave up all these just in order not to leave you alone and not to participate in the party supremacy regime that has done immense injustice to thousands of citizens of this country. They gave up everything so that they would be close to you and through this movement become the first trench to defend your rights, demands and aspirations.

We want to establish a new political beginning where we all together away from nepotism, cronyism, and party dividends live under the ceiling of one region and country and establish a new open democratic experience on the basis of citizenship not party affiliation.

If you wish to get rid of irresponsible party officials' mutual interest sharing; if you want to have a country in which we all Kurds, Arabs and Turkoman, Shiite , Christians, Ezidis and Shabak, have equal rights in it; If you want to get rid of the aggression of the parties' secret agencies, and oppression and assaults of party officials and their guards; If you want to put an end to the unequal distribution of wealth; if you want to enjoy your rights without feeling any favour to party leaders and officials; I ask all of you: voters in Kirkuk, voters in Sinjar and detached areas of Nainawa؛ Voters in Khanaqin, Mandali and detached areas of D iyala, Kurdistani people in the detached areas, Kurdistani people abroad: If you wish to have a country based on equality in the face of law and social justice:

Vote for Change list.

I wish you all success. May God protect you!

Nawshirwan Mustafa

Sbay website, 22 Feb 2010

We swear by Peshmarga Forces

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Kurdishaspect.com
By Baqi Barzani

To perceive the merger of Kurdish Peshmarga Forces happen is the ultimate wish of every Kurd. This issue has been propounded often times by citizens of Kurdistan but it is still pending a concert outcome.

In case of any contingencies or exigencies, the only true power that the people of Kurdistan utterly depend on and expect to intervene is the Peshmarga forces. The true guardians of the homeland and the pride of our nation.

Apart from persevering the integrity and sovereignty of Kurdistan, Peshmarga forces are also responsible for other pivotal issues such as: combating terrorism, illegitimate cross-border invasions, drug trafficking, disaster relief services, maintenance of rule of law and even administering the country if required.

However, there are stumbling blocks that need to be removed in order to thrive and be able to achieve those goals and the most decisive one is the non-aligned status and utter non-reliance of this force on any political entity.

Even thought, its budget is safeguarded from KRG, it should totally be able to operate as a nonpartisan establishment, free of influence and independent body in decision-making policies pertaining to vital national interests and defense issues. This is part of rights and obligations that are inevitably entrusted to military bureaucrats.

KRG should have limitation of interference and Peshmarga forces should by no means be politicized and dragged into non-relevant faction and factionalism. They should be sought when a national emergency case loom.

Like many world military, Kurdistan Peshamrga Forces should be provided with the requisite funds to modernize its armaments capability, import foreign military know-how, invest on research, bolster the quality of the training and education offered to its members and ensure that the newly-joined young Peshmargs will have a brilliant future if they choose to continue serving. Given the population of Kurdistan, conscription is an option that deserves being taken into consideration, as well.

Today, Kurdistan's militaries remains an important component in the checks and balances that protect Kurdish democracy. If any factional polarization, chaotic situation or economic instability that may cause damage to the country's political system erupts, it is justified for Peshmarga Forces to directly get involved.

Genuine and patriot Kurdish officers are abundant and I hope they will cut off their factional membership, work on the unison and consolidation of Kurdish military and only serve their country and people under the Kurdish national flag.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Italian Government Helps Europe's Worst Human Rights Abuser Suppress the Kurds!



The Italian government today carried out raids on Kurdish people's Cultural Centre's.

Helping Turkey's attempts to 'criminalise' the legitimate Freedom Struggle of the Kurds the Italian authorities should be ashamed of themselves of aiding Europe's worst human rights abuser to suppress the Kurds.

Here is a statement from a Kurdish Solidarity Group in Italy:

Dear friends
As you may have read in the press today was held in Italy a police operation aimed at dismantling an alleged network recruiting the PKK. This network would have its centers in some farmhouse in Tuscany, Veneto and Friuli. Currently no firearms were found in Italy.

I find it extraordinary how a terrorist group can train the future fighters without weapons and how, throughout Italy, has not been found even a blowgun, despite the dozens of stops made and I find it extraordinary that the main accusation has been raised is that of having held meetings to debate the political, social and cultural issues.

This will not only criminalize a political movement but a whole hard-working people who were forced to flee his homeland because of war, let us not forget that to date has led to more than 5 million refugees and the destruction of about 4,500 villages .

What to do with the fight against terrorism to destroy the pastures, fire camps, the killing livestock?

What to do with the fight against terrorism set fire to the villages?

Because it prevents people from speaking your language?

Why in Turkey may be sentenced to 10 years in prison, and without having made violent crimes, child of 14 years?

This to me is the real terrorism, not those of a people seeking only to live in peace in his land.

In light of all this I ask you an effort, even more, in this difficult period. Be close to the Kurdish people.

Join Our Mother's Day Protest for Berivan and Kurdish Children in Turkish Jails!



Berivan's Mother!

Mother's Day Protest outside Turkish Embassy in London.

On behalf of Berivan's Mother and all Mother's of Kurdish Children in Turkish Jails we are going to protest near to Mother's Day outside the Turkish Embassy in London.

We are going to hand in petitions and letters calling for the urgentimmediate humanitarian release of Berivan and All Kurdish Children in Turkish Jails!!

Please join and help to build this demo if you are in London and please organise your own demo in your own country outside the Turkish Embassy to call for the release of Berivan and all Kurdish Children in Turkish Jails!

London Demo:

Friday 12th March 2010
assemble 1430-1600
Outside Turkish Embassy
43 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PA (nearest tube Hyde Park Corner)
12th March. 1430-1600.

Please make home made placards and invite friends.

Berivan's Original Letter From Diyarbakir Prison.




Please help us get Berivan and all Kurdish children out of Turkish prisons.

Sulaimaniyah Braced for Tense Poll

IWPR - By Shorish Khalid in Sulaimaniyah

Kurdish city expected to be a key electoral battleground with much at stake for main contenders.

The Iraqi Kurdistan city of Sulaimaniyah is heading for a tense election that analysts say could settle the fate of the region's dominant party, and of a new bloc trying to unseat it.

At least 11 people have been injured this month in street-fighting involving the security forces and rival supporters from the opposition Change list and the incumbent Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, PUK. Gunfire is often heard at night, though much of it appears to be aimed skywards.

Fearing violence between armed supporters, the authorities have imposed a ban on campaigning between 9 pm and 6 am. Sulaimaniyah is the only Iraqi province with a campaign curfew, which party supporters are violating nightly.

In the evening hours, the city's main thoroughfare fills up with hot-blooded young men, chanting provocative political slogans or cruising by in cars, watched by scores of riot policemen.

Iraq's nationwide parliamentary elections on March 7 are seen within Sulaimaniyah as the ultimate contest for control of the city.

For decades, the city and the province that shares its name have been the power base of the PUK. The party is fighting this election on the joint Kurdistani Alliance ticket alongside its onetime rival and current partner in government, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP.

In an election last July for the semi-autonomous region's parliament, the newly formed Change list cut heavily into the PUK's majority with a campaign that played on discontent over perceived corruption and cronyism in the government.

Change, known as Goran in Kurdish, secured nearly a quarter of the seats in parliament, making it the region's main opposition group. Since June, the rivalry between Change and the PUK has intensified. Activists continue to confront each other in the streets, while their leaders trade accusations of betraying the Kurdish cause.

As the two groups enter this election, analysts say the stakes are higher than ever.

"In the previous election, the PUK didn't know the size of the opposition. This time around, it knows what it's up against – so the contest is more tense," said Rebwar Karim, a political science instructor at Sulaimaniyah University.

With 17 seats in the 325-seat Baghdad parliament, Sulaimaniyah province is an important prize for Kurdish leaders.

Butan Amedi, a Kurdish political observer based in the United States, said the PUK could not afford to lose seats in Baghdad, as this would leave it with little real power besides the control of Sulaimaniyah's provincial administration.

"For the PUK, this election is about political survival. For Goran, it's about continuing their movement to expand their influence in Baghdad," he said.

Defeat for the PUK in Sulaimaniyah could also alter the political equation within Iraqi Kurdistan, leaving the weakened party unable to justify its place as an equal partner in its power-sharing agreement with the KDP.

Both sides say they are applying lessons learnt from the previous campaign in June.

"This time round, we're more experienced," said Osman Barani, a Change leader. "We've opened campaign offices in the most of the city's districts."

Barani added that his list was better prepared to combat possible electoral violations by the dominant alliance. Change alleged widespread fraud in last year's regional elections, though this was denied by the parties that won the vote.

The PUK also appears to have adapted its tactics in Sulaimaniyah, with an attempt to emphasise the party's local origins. On the streets, fans of the PUK were far more likely to be seen waving the yellow flag of their party, rather than the colours of the Kurdistani Alliance to which it now belongs.

Farid Asasard, a member of the party's leadership committee, said it would not campaign on behalf of its coalition partner, the KDP, as it had done in June – a strategy thought to have alienated many PUK supporters who fought the KDP during Iraqi Kurdistan's bloody civil war in the 1990s.

"This time, our grassroots are running the election campaign," Asasard added. "We, as leaders of the PUK, are not showing ourselves."

Zana Mohammed, the head of Sulaimaniyah's security committee, said police and anti-riot teams were taking up joint positions at likely flashpoints in the city.

The conspicuous presence of heavily armed, uniformed men has proved contentious, however. Change says the security forces are largely loyal to the PUK, and their presence is intended to intimidate its supporters – a charge the PUK denies.

Eleven people were injured on February 16 in a skirmish involving Change supporters who had gathered outside a PUK office in the city. According to Mohammed Tofiq, a Change leader, his list's supporters were attacked by a counter-terrorism unit loyal to the PUK.

However, Arif Rushdi, a member of the PUK's leadership committee, denied any such force was involved and demanded evidence to back up Change's allegation.

Some of the injured Change supporters were later detained on suspicion of attacking the PUK office, a police official told IWPR. All have now been freed from custody, the official said.

On February 18, clashes were again reported as a convoy carrying a PUK leader crossed the city's main street. Change supporters accused the leader's bodyguards of attacking them, while the PUK said the list's supporters had thrown stones at their vehicles.

Aram Kamal, a 25-year-old taxi driver, said he had stopped parking on the main thoroughfare because he feared the violence would worsen.

"I'm worried about people throwing acid at my car. I'm fed up with them," he said.

Shorish Khalid is an IWPR-trained journalist in Sulaimaniyah. IWPR local editor Hemin H Lihony also contributed to this report from Sulaimaniyah.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: Revival or mere survival?


  • Arab Reform Bulletin
  • 26/02/2010

While all Iraqi political factions are competing strongly in lead up to the March 7 parliamentary elections, in Iraqi Kurdistan the internal competition is especially intense. In particular, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK, the more secular and less tribal of the two major Iraqi Kurdish political parties) stands to lose or regain much. The PUK suffered major losses in the July 2009 provincial elections in its main powerbase of Suleimaniyah at the hands of the newly-formed Gorran (Change) list. This has created the perception that the PUK has become a junior partner to the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) in the power-sharing arrangement between the two major factions in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Among the many important implications of the upcoming elections will be a signal as to whether the PUK can bounce back or Gorran is here to stay as a new force in Iraqi politics.

Read the rest of the article on Arab Reform Bulletin website:Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: Revival or Mere Survival?

Crisis in Southern Kurdistan: The beating, kidnapping and imprisonment of journalists by the two dominant political parties

  • Organization for Defending Freedom of Press in Kurdistan
  • 26/02/2010

To: Amnesty International

Committee to Protect Journalists

International Pen

Reporters Without Borders

International Press Institute

International Center for Journalists

All civil society organizations and civil federations

Calling all supporters and defenders of rights of journalists- we plead with you, as true humanitarians and defenders of free speech and the rights of intellectuals, journalists and media, to make every effort possible to come to the defense of journalists and objective media outlets in the Iraqi Kurdistan region.

The beating, prosecution, imprisonment, torture, oppression and intimidation of journalists have become a daily occurrence in Iraqi Kurdistan. In the last three weeks alone, at least eight journalists have been beaten, tortured or threatened with murder. As many as 200 additional attacks and violations against journalists and independent media outlets were documented between 2008 and 2009. These documented cases include allegations of murder, kidnap, beating, torture, prosecution, imprisonment, removal of position in government and the threat of receiving the death penalty.

Today, in the strongest possible terms, we condemn all violations against journalists, specifically the attack and beating of Hawlati reporters Ara Ibrahim and Soran Ahmed by security forces in Silemani. Hawlati, or “Citizen” (www.hawlati.com), is an independent, privately-owned newspaper, first published on November, 5th 2000. Hawlati was established with the aim of defending freedom of speech, human rights, and promoting the development and enhancement of a democratic society through dialogue.

These tragic beatings, kidnappings and other violations are nothing short of organized crime in its wildest, most inhuman form. They represent a very dangerous step in the wrong direction, raising the real possibility of a return to oppression, civil war, the slaying of innocent men and women and kidnappings. These attacks have lead to a pervasive climate of fear and are, in no uncertain terms, crimes against humanity and gross violations of freedom of speech and are eroding Kurdish democracy, civil society and liberty in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Sadly, behind all of these egregious acts are mafias run by the two dominant Kurdish political parties, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and corrupt officials within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Additionally, the courts and judges seem to be complicit in these crimes by they repeatedly refusing to hear cases against potential violators or simply dismissing them without investigation. Even though it is commonly known who is committing these crimes, there have been no arrests.

Therefore, we are calling on all individuals, groups and international organizations who are dedicated to the defense and preservation of the freedom of speech to intervene on behalf of journalists and independent media outlets in Iraqi Kurdistan and demand an immediate end to and prosecution of the crimes being committed against them by the political party “security force” mafias.

We are now launching an international and universal campaign to protect journalists. It is time for us all to condemn these immoral, inhuman and dictatorial acts against those whose goal is the preservation and promotion of democracy, justice and equality through their objective and independent reporting. Please join us in our campaign to protect journalists and freedom of speech in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Organization for Defending Freedom of Press in Kurdistan

Who controls Kurdistan?

26-02-2010


By Rebwar Karim Wali

Until we get closer to the date of election the conflict and struggle between patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Change list grows in the areas where PUK is dominant.

Despite the incidents happening in Sulemany city, if you look at the whole area of Sulemany governorate you feel that conflict between PUK and Change list increases. It brings memories back of the civil war of 1992. When I was in Ranya, which is a district belong to Sulemany, then I realized that we have an election coming. You don’t see much electoral campaigning in Erbil.

In my last article I wrote that the situation is Erbil and Duhok is very calm. But I believe that Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP tries to work on collection votes calmly and without fighting of posters and banners. What I have seen in the areas belonging to Sulemany such as Ranya, Chwar Qurna and other places I saw look like doomsday. Flags raised on each house. The civil war between PUK and KDP, is now similar to the conflict between PUK and Gorran. Everywhere you can see flags of PUK and Gorran, while the KDP is silent.

Every evening cars of the Change list flow into the streets, though most of them are young people. I can say change list has spent the same amount as both KDP and PUK on buying flags and banners even sometimes you can find them on the ground.

Other parties stand on the side and look to the conflict between PUK and Gorran silently. Economical and social conditions of the areas belonging to Sulemany are very suitable with such a kind of conflict. When you talk to the people of the areas you realize why people have returned back to the situation of 1992. A friend of mine told me that most of the people there do not have anything to loose, and this situation is a chance for them.

In fact there is an area called the area under the control and domination of PUK, but this election will make it clear the area will remain under the control of PUK or not.

© Rudaw

Green Party calls for political freedom in Turkey

26-02-2010

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
Press Release 25 February 2010

Green Party calls for political freedom in Turkey

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign welcomes the Green Party’s emergency resolution on political freedom in Turkey. Tabled at the the Green Party’s Spring Conference in London, the resolution was passed almost unanimously.

The motion which can be seen in full below, catalogues the increasing repression in Turkey, in particular the arrests of DTP and BDP party officials, and calls on the ‘Green Party Executive, local Green parties and representatives in office to urge the UK Government to exert pressure on Turkey to fully abide by the international conventions and democratic norms to which it is a signatory’.

As the Minister for Europe, Chris Bryant MP, said in the debate on Kurdistan in the House on 12th January 2010, ‘…it must be possible to distinguish between nationalism that depends on the use of violence and terrorism and believes in violent overthrow and the legitimate aspirations of individuals who want to see a different political outlook’. The systematic closure of the DTP and previous pro-Kurdish parties leaves very little space for those seeking this ‘different political outlook’ and appears to give lie to the Turkish State’s proclaimed desire for peace.

We thank the Green Party for their continued support and wish them all the best in the upcoming elections.

Contact:
Rachel Bird - Tel: 020 7272 4131
Estella Schmid - Tel: 020 7586 5892

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign: Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question
44 Ainger Road, London, NW3 3AT

Patrons: Lord Avebury, John Austin MP, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas, Bairbre de Brún MEP

GREEN PARTY SPRING CONFERENCE 2010: EMERGENCY RESOLUTION

POLITICAL FREEDOM IN TURKEY

MOTION STARTS

Noting that Turkey’s Constitutional Court closed down the pro-Kurdish DTP (Democratic Society Party) in December 2009, despite the support of millions of Kurdish voters and with 21 elected MPs.

Noting that the ex-DTP MPs returned to Parliament as the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) and there were mass arrests of some 80 leading members of the new BDP on Christmas Eve 2009.

Noting that in the latest wave of arrests on 14th February 2010, 131 members of the BDP were arrested including party council members, executives from the women and youth councils, county commissioners and district executives.

Noting that the systematic closure of the BDP, DTP and previous pro-Kurdish parties leaves very little space for those seeking this ‘different political outlook’ and appears to give lie to the Turkish State’s proclaimed desire for peace.

Conference believes that in taking this course of action Turkey is reverting to an extremely regressive approach to the Kurdish question which appears to contradict the much-promoted reform process of Prime Minister Erdogan and will not bring about the peace that constructive forces in Turkey desire.

Conference therefore calls upon Green Party Executive, local Green parties and representatives in office to urge the UK Government to exert pressure on Turkey to fully abide by the international conventions and democratic norms to which it is a signatory.

MOTION ENDS

Democracy and free expression under threat in Southern Kurdistan

RSF


“You have guns, we have pens,” was the message that the Sulaymaniyah-based independent newspaper Hawlati (Citizen) printed on an otherwise blank front page on 24 February in a bold protest against a spate of threats, harassment and physical violence against journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan in the run-up to a parliamentary election on 6 March.

Hawlati’s front page is just one example of the growing protests by Kurdish intellectuals and independent media against abuses by the Kurdish security forces and by the supporters and security forces of the two parties that control the Kurdistan Regional Government – the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

The newspaper Awene, Radio Nawa, the television station Kurdish News Network (KNN) and Speda, a TV station that belongs to the opposition Kurdish Islamic Union (Yekgirtu), issued a joint statement on 23 February condemning the recent violations of free expression and media freedom in Kurdistan.

Asos Hardi, Awene’s founder and head of the company that publishes it, said: “The authorities do not stop talking about freedom of expression, constantly boasting of the media’s independence. But these words are meaningless. In practice, the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan do not believe in freedom of expression.” Hardi won the 2009 Gebran Tueni Prize for the defence of press freedom, which is awarded by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

Anwar Bazgr, the head of a press freedom defence committee formed by the Union of Kurdistan Journalists, has also condemned the recent attacks and has called on political parties to respect a law protecting journalists that was passed by Kurdistan’s parliament.

Hawlati editor Kamal Rauf told Reporters Without Borders: “I called Kurdistan’s prime minister, Dr. Barham Salih, to talk about the recent incidents involving journalists. He told me he was going to request an investigation.”

In a Hawlati editorial about the abuses, Rauf appealed directly to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani: “As free and independent journalists, we have improved the media’s level of impartiality and independence in the reader’s interests but now the security forces are attacking us and beating us without reason.”

The PUK’s own security forces, which are regarded as illegal, are alleged to have been responsible for most of the attacks on journalists in Sulaymaniyah since the start of the election campaign.

Some, but by no means all, of the press freedom violations of the past week are summarised below:

Security forces attacked and beat Hawlati reporter Soran Ahmed in Sulaymaniyah at 7:50 p.m. on 20 February, seized his mobile phone and camera and shut him in the boot of a car for more than half an hour. He got his phone and camera back when he was freed, but the data on both of them had been erased.

Two Speda television journalists were attacked in Erbil on 19 February.

Ara Ibrahim, the publisher of Hawlati, and Saman Majid of the magazine Livin and the TV stationGorran (Change) were attacked by security forces in Sulaymaniyah while covering the election campaign on the evening of 18 February.

“We were taking photos in Sahollaka Street, especially of a man who had been injured by members of the security forces, when individuals in civilian dress ordered us to stop, saying they were authorised by the PUK to confiscate our cameras,” Ibrahim told Reporters Without Borders. “One of them managed to take my camera. Then he began hitting him and insulting me. Saman managed to get away.”

Ibrahim, who still has not got his camera back, is the third Hawlati journalist to be attacked in Sulaymaniyah. An independent biweekly, Hawlati (www.hawlati.com) was founded in November 2000 with the aim of defending free expression, reinforcing civil society and helping the development of democratic debate.

Dawoud Baghstani, the editor of the magazine Israel-Kurd (www.israelkurd.com), who is also a local political figure and a member of Kurdistan’s Jewish minority, was attacked in a restaurant in Erbil on 18 February.

“I was invited to dine in a restaurant in the city’s Ankawa neighbourhood,” he told Reporters Without Borders. “After my arrival, I was attacked by the bodyguards of Dr. Nuri Othman, the head of the Kurdistan cabinet’s secretariat, who was also there. There were about 25 soldiers at the restaurant. They tried to scare me. It was clearly linked to my recent criticism of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Othman disputes this version of the incident, claiming that his bodyguards just defended him. “I was in a restaurant with foreign journalists,” he told Awene. “Dawoud Baghstani was also there. He brandished his pistol and insulted me and Iraqi Kurdistan. I just asked by bodyguards to disarm him.”

Baghstani said he intended to bring a complaint against Othman. “Masoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan, must investigate what happened,” he said. “I will file a complaint although I am sure the courts will support him.

He added: “The KDP and PUK do anything they want against journalists, who are the victims of frequent attacks and cannot work freely. Democracy and free expression are in danger in Kurdistan. International organisations must act to put an end to this harassment of independent journalists, otherwise we risk going back to the darkest years of Baathism.”

Shaswar Mama of Sbeiy.com (www.sbeiy.com), the official website of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was attacked by PUK and KDP supporters in the city of Raniya as he and KNN reporterKarwan Anwar were taking photos in the city’s market on 18 February.

A Hawlati photographer had already been attacked there on 16 February, when his camera was broken and his photos were erased.

Adnan Othman, a former Hawlati editor who is now an MDC parliamentary representative and editor ofRojname, a newspaper that supports the MDC, has received many death threats by email and SMS. He was also insulted by KDP and PUK supporters after he referred to the security forces that had attacked MDC supporters as illegal and called them “militias.”

Responding to these comments in a speech at the opening of a students’ conference in Erbil on 24 February, Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani said: “There is no place in Kurdistan for those who say that the province’s security forces are militias. I see nothing to stop me from acting against these people.”

© Reporters Without Borders.