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Kurdistan Peshmarge Minister gives green
light to shoot as PUK extreme elements take charge
25.4.2011
By Shwan Zulal - ekurd.net |
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April
25, 2011
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Sporadic protests breaks
out in most places in Kurdistan, high schools,
universities and colleges. But the authorities very
quickly respond to it and clamp down hard. A large
force have been drafted to many towns and cities
across Kurdistan and the security forces have
numbers in their sides. Reports of clashes between
the protesters and security forces this afternoon in
Kalar, lvinpress.
Kurdistan Peshmarge minister (Defence Minister),
Sheikh Ja'far Mustafa, has told independent Hawlati
newspaper in an interview that his “forces have
orders to shoot trouble makers”. He added that
Peshmerga forces would stay in Slêmani
[Sulaimaniyah] and other towns and cities as long as
they are needed”. The minister also threatens the
opposition by saying that “the opposition have to
understand and need to make their minds up whether
they are adopting a dialogue and brother hood or opt
to have a fight.” Furthermore; he has told the paper
that his forces have heavy weapons because what
Gorran and Komal (opposition parties) have been dong
amount to a coup.
It is not clear what exactly the minister means by
troublemakers, because the protests have always been
peaceful apart from occasional stone throwing. If he
mean the people who have been involved in stand
offs, the minister is making a very dangerous
statement saying that if anyone confront his troops
they will get shot. While he is saying his troops
are ready to shoot illegal protesters, protests have
been banned by hi government and all protests would
be illegal.
The current state of emergency can last as long as
it takes as the minister indicates and the
consequences is not clear. Opposition and other
civil institutions have been calling to an end to
the military siege in the Kurdistan and asked the
unconditional withdrawal of all the troops. It is
also been reported by Rudaw that the opposition
demands that an end to the current hostility before
they enter into dialogue.
The siege may have an effect for now but it is
almost certain that it could not last because a
large section of the Kurdish society disagree with
what they incumbent done. Barzani and Talabani have
chosen to force themselves on people rather than win
their trust, and majority of Kurdish people would
not accept that fact.
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK and Kurdistan
Democratic Party KDP argue that they have been
elected and they have the legitimacy to rule
Kurdistan. Despite irregularities in the last
Kurdish election they have a point as they are
“democratically” elected. Nevertheless, the election
part of it may sound legitimate but the fact is that
Kurdish Regional government and parliament have very
little influence on the big decisions in Kurdistan
and all such matters are agreed in dark rooms
between the two parties. Therefore KRG have no such
legitimacy as the leaders of both parties are
claiming.
The protesters argue that the Kurdish government
should go because it is toothless and although they
have been elected, they have very little power and a
slave to partisan politics. The recent events have
highlighted the fact that the PM, Barham Salih have
not been able to challenge Barzani and Talabani’s
Authority.
Late in march the PM responded to the protesters
demands and his letter addressing the demands
sounded like a wish list and aspirations rather than
a commitment to change. Salih has even send a letter
to Talabani last week asking him to consider the
future of the party. He told PUK leader that if by
his resigning and dissolving government,www.ekurd.netthe
current crises would end he will be willing to go.
But once again the letter from the PM was very
awkward and lacked any firm commitments as he
remains sitting on the fence.
Kurdish people had high hopes for KRG and everyone
was supporting it but due to partisan politics and
family business interests, it failed to deliver.
When it came to big decision and transparency, the
reforms did not materialise and public grew angrier.
In February this all came to head and protest took
place inspired by the middle-east protest demanding
democracy and freedom. The response from the first
confrontation between the protesters and authorities
turned ugly and KDP security forces shot at
protesters.
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Sulaimaniyah streets are almost a military zone.
Sheikh Ja'far Mustafa, Sheikh Jaafar Mustafa, The
Minister of Peshmerga (Kurdish forces) in Kurdistan
Region of Iraq and member of the leadership council
of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party led
by Jalal Talabani.
The centre of Sulaimaniyah, Sara square (Meydani
Azady), is completely over run by militiamen loyal
to PUK. No protests allowed.
Tanks in Raniya, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Photo:
Peyam. |
From then on the
whole event escalated. KDP, lead by Barzani family
soon took control of the situation in Erbil and
their stronghold areas by sheer force as any descent
and protest attempts were brutally suppressed.
Meanwhile PUK had a softly approach due to internal
disagreement as to what to do and how to react. The
moderate wing of the party were calling for reforms
and dialogue with protesters and the more extreme
wing wanting to use force to disperse protests.
Since the beginning of last week it has become clear
that the more extreme element within PUK have won
and ever since a large force has attacked protesters
and quelled any attempt of protest by force.
Kurdish public does not know what to make of it all,
as many still cannot believe that Peshmarge forces,
a name regarded by many as sacred, would take part
in such oppressive clampdown and be privy to
torturing peaceful Kurdish protesters.
The future looks rather grim after so much optimism
when the protest started as people in Kurdistan were
expecting a change in the past practises. Kurdish
people’s hopes have been dashed once again and this
time by a group of Kurdish leaders who are not
willing to give up power and believe that Kurdish
people owes them.
Shwan Zulal
is a Kurdish Blogger, a regular contributing writer
for ekurd.net, interested in political and legal
Reform in Kurdistan, KRG, Iraq and current Kurdish
affairs, including oil exploration companies and
relevant legislations. You may visit Zulal's website
at http://kurdishviews.blogspot.com/
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net
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