|
Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran Fights
for Regime Change
5.5.2006
By Mina Al-Oraibi
|
|
|
|
London, Asharq
Al-Awsat- Regime change in Iran is necessary for the
Kurds to obtain their rights, according to the
Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran.
The Kurdish opposition group, led by Mustapha Hedjri,
has intensified its activities in recent months, as
Tehran is increasingly under international pressure
because of its nuclear program.
As part of its campaign against the Iranian regime,
officials visited European capitals last week,
including London, where they sought to publicize
their concerns.
Asharq al Awsat met Secretary-General Hedjri who
said Europe “Unfortunately, cares more about its
interests in Iran and not the rights of the Kurds.”
On the use of armed force to oust the current regime
in Tehran, Hedjri said, “All means, with the
exception of terrorism are permitted to achieve this
objective. But, for the time being, we have not
engaged in armed confrontation.”
With Iraqi officials accusing Iran of bombing
Kurdish targets inside their territory, the Kurdish
leader said, “According to the information at our
disposal, Iran and Turkey have mobilized their
troops on the border with Iraqi Kurdistan but we
don’t have details about the number of troops.”
Tehran and Ankara, Hedjri added, both target the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its leadership in
Turkey . “The two countries have been coordinating
their operations against the PKK for some time and
were waiting for the climate to improve in order to
carry out this military operation because the
mountainous terrain makes it difficult during
winter.”
On his party’s relations with the PKK, banned in
Turkey, the Kurdish leader said, “We have no
relations with them. They are not close to us. They
operate on the other side of the border.”
As long as the clerics remained in power in Iran ,
Hedjri said, minorities will not be granted their
full rights. This, he added, is why regime change
was a priority for the Kurdish group. “If the US and
Europe ascertain that Iran has nuclear weapons, they
will change the regime in Tehran.”
“The Islamic Republic approaches the issue of
minority from a security angle only. All those who
demand their rights are accused of being agents of
the US and Israel . Since the Kurds in Iraq obtained
some of their rights, the Iranian regime has
tightened its control over us.”
Hedjri revealed that his party had forged an
alliance with seven other groups who representing
minorities in Iran , including the Baluchs and Arabs
in Ahvaz , the Trukomen and Azeris.
Outlining his plan to visit the US, where he hoped
to meet with administration officials, Hedjri
expressed hope “the US would offer its support in
order for us to obtain our rights” but indicated he
was not aware of “the details of US plans to finance
programs to spread democracy in Iran.”
“Our party has worked for 60 years to support our
people but it is only natural we ask for assistance
from other democratic countries. European countries
care more about their national and commercial
interests than human rights in Iran”.
However, with the election of conservative Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, “it is crucially to discuss human
rights violation, especially given the human rights
abuses during his reign.”
Aawsat com
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 