|
Kurdish town pushes for the arrest of
fugitives in Iraqi Kurdistan
8.2.2010 |
|
|
|
February
8, 2010
CHAMCHAMAL,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', —
Kurdish officials send additional forces to a town
that threatened to take into the streets if
authorities will not act to round up dozens of
fugitives who have taken shelter in the area.
Last week, a group of journalists in Chamchamal,
west of Sulaimaniyah, threatened to organize
protests if officials will not put an end what they
called "an increase in shootouts, killings," in the
town in recent weeks.
At least five people have been killed in January and
not a single suspect has been arrested, according to
statistics provided by police and published in local
papers. However, local residents said that the
figure is higher.
Judge Omar Saleh, head of investigative court in
Chamchamal, said that the district courts have
summoned around 180 people in the past three years
but they are still at large.
"(The list) has all types of charges, some of them
are murder suspects, some are theft," he said.
The group, called the Campaign to Defend the
Stability and Security of Chamchamal, gave a week
ultimatum to Kurdish officials to visit the town and
listen to the concerns of the resident otherwise
they will organize protests.
"The lives of all (residents) of the area are under
the (mercy) of bullets," the statement said. "Some
of the people who are wanted by court are being
supported and sheltered by the political parties in
Kurdistan."
Latif Fahet Faraj, of the campaign, said that
Kurdistan Regional Government officials have
promised to immediately act, "The security and
police forces in town are competent,www.ekurd.netbut
the social situation might create obstacles (for
them) to take actions," he said adding that the
government will send additional security forces to
the area in order to arrest suspects and fugitives.
Sources told Rudaw that dozens of additional police
forces were deployed in the downtown today.
Last week, Prime Minister Barham Salih and Minister
of Interior Kareem Sinjari respectively met with a
delegation of the group. On Tuesday, deputy Interior
Minister visited the town to talk with the local
authorities on how to address the issues.
Last year, a delegation of the town met with
President Massoud Barzani asking him to make sure
that fugitives are brought to justice, but local
residents say that no practical steps were taken to
arrest suspects.
Ako Shwani, who has signed the campaign statement,
said that family problems and social issues are the
main factors for violence in the area.
More than 150,000 people live in Chamchamal
district, which include five sub-districts and more
than 200 villages. The area was the scene of a major
military campaign against Kurds in the Anfal
operations that was carried out by the Baath regime
in 1980s in which thousands of Kurds were taken to
unknown destiny.
"We hope that people will help us with information
(on fugitives) and political parties will stop
supporting people who are being summoned to appear
in courts," said judge Omar.
Copyright, respective
author or news agency, rudaw net
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
®
