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Lawlessness Sweeps Kurdish Town in Iraqi
Kurdistan
11.2.2010
By Charles McDermid and Hemin H Lihony in Chamchamal
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Security
forces deployed to end “out of control” crime wave
in Chamchamal.
February
11, 2010
CHAMCHAMAL,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Hundreds of security
forces have been deployed in the Kurdish town of
Chamchamal after a wave of unsolved murders moved
residents to demand government intervention.
Locals claim a bloody tribal vendetta has spilled
onto the streets, making revenge killings and rapes
a common occurrence in this community some 20
kilometres from the disputed town of Kirkuk.
Residents also speak of "mafia groups" that operate
with impunity, creating an atmosphere of fear and
violence that has tainted the town’s reputation.
Experts say the town’s conflicts are worsened by
years of forced relocation, unemployment and a
well-known culture of lawlessness.
"Chamchamal…has a long history of conflict and
violence,” said Ali Kurdistani, a political analyst
who conducted conflict resolution seminars in
Chamchamal in 2008. “This history has deeply
affected all aspects of daily life and now you can
see this in terms of how the people treat each
other."
TORTURED HISTORY
The town was badly affected during the Anfal
campaign in the 1980s, in which hundreds of
thousands of Kurds were displaced and killed. Mass
graves are still being discovered in the surrounding
hills. [See: DNA Testing to Reveal Mass Grave
Secrets http://www.iwpr.net/?apc_state=hkuficr358356&l=en&s=f&o=359231]
Kurdistani said Chamchamal also suffered “because of
their own bloody conflicts between tribes and
between political parties during the civil war of
the mid-1990s. The people there have mostly only
lived in situations where people were killing each
other. That's why it's still the most armed town in
Kurdistan”.
Today, Chamchamal is a sprawling town of roughly
100,000 residents. Crime-ridden and impoverished, it
is a labyrinth of muddy, pot-holed streets lined
with half-finished concrete buildings and crumbling
mud-brick homes.
The town has long been synonymous with lawlessness
in Iraqi Kurdistan, but residents say they are
alarmed by the recent spike in violent crimes.
"Ever since December the situation has been like
never before. It is more dangerous than ever,” Hana
Attar, an 18-year-old student, said. “When you bump
shoulders with someone, no one accepts an apology. A
small incident like this can lead to bloodshed.”
CULTURE OF IMPUNITY
Authorities and residents report conflicting figures
on the spate of crime in the town. Police chief Dara
Abdullah said there had been four murders in
Chamchamal since December, which led to two arrests,www.ekurd.netwith
one suspect still at large. He claims the media has
exaggerated the situation, but concedes that the
town has problems.
"Since the liberation of Iraq in 2003, crimes have
increased because we are on the border with Kirkuk
and other unsafe places. This area is tribal and
sometimes the local policemen refuse to arrest
people from their own tribe," Abdullah said.
But Karim Agha Hamawandi, the 82-year-old leader of
the area's largest tribe, echoed a claim made by
many residents that 17 murders had been committed,
many in broad daylight, over a span of 20 days. He
attributed them all to tribal disputes. In an appeal
to Kurdish authorities for better security, civil
society leaders also reported that 17 people had
been murdered.
"Everyone knows about the killings, rapes and honour
killings that happened last month. The police here
aren't strong enough to arrest the criminals," said
Burhan Hashim, 46, a teacher playing backgammon at a
local teahouse, reflecting a widely held view. |
Chamchamal police
chief Dara Abdullah stands in front of police
headquarters to greet a high-level delegation of
security officials. Security forces were sent to the
restive town following a spate of unsolved murders
Around 150 troops arrived in Chamchamal to crack
down on a crime wave that had drawn complaints from
concerned citizens. The troops arrived in armoured
personnel carriers equipped with heavy machine guns.
Chamchamal, some 20 kilometres outside the city of
Kirkuk, is a sprawling, wind-swept town that was a
centre for fuel smuggling during the Baathist
regime. Many of the town’s streets are unpaved and
filled with debris and potholes.
Karim Agha
Hamawandi, leader of the area’s largest tribe, gazes
out the window of his ornate greeting room in
Chamchamal. There are ten tribes in Chamchamal,
according to Hamawandi, and tribal disputes are
generally settled by a meeting of tribal chiefs.
Photos: Jamal Penjweny, IWPR net |
"The average person who lives and works here wishes
we could live in a civilised way, not [by] the
culture of the gun," he added.
The independent Kurdish newspaper Hawlati said that
from December 15 to January 15, there were more than
100 reports of violent incidents, including 12
murders, seven shootings, five rapes and scores of
robberies.
Chamchamal's top judge, Omar Salih, described the
situation in Chamchamal last month as "out of
control".
Harrowing stories about criminals and their actions
circulate throughout the town.
“About 10 days ago, my cousin had a date with a
girl. When the family of the girl found out they
killed my cousin and their girl too," said Aram Ali,
a 20-year-old worker in Chamchamal's bazaar.
"A mafia group in this town is above the law. Just a
few weeks ago, some of them raped a girl and left
her at midnight. When she went home, she was
immediately killed by her dad.
“The criminals all walk free and no one can arrest
them. Our town has become really scary; our children
often wake up at night and scream when they hear the
sound of guns."
PROTEST WARNINGS
In the wake of the violence, last month a group of
teachers, journalists, activists and lawyers
submitted a petition to the KRG, threatening to hold
protests if the government did not deploy security
forces in the town and bring the perpetrators to
justice.
"What makes the crimes in this town different from
other places in Iraq and the world is that the
criminals here are well known and walk the streets
freely. The court and police don’t dare arrest them.
There is a mafia group here that is above the law
and we asked the KRG to take them to court," said
Aso Shwani, a 28-year-old activist who signed the
petition.
In response to the group's plea, a top-level
delegation of security officials arrived in
Chamchamal on February 4, accompanied by roughly 150
troops in armored personnel carriers equipped with
heavy automatic weapons.
"We have brought these extra troops with us to
Chamchamal and asked the KRG to deploy another 100
policemen to the town in order to control the
situation," said Colonel Hussein Mansur, the top
police official in the region, which also includes
the towns of Kfri and Kalar.
Mansur also downplayed media reports of the extent
of the crime wave, but confirmed that many of the
perpetrators were still at large.
"Some of the criminals escaped to Kirkuk and the
rest of Iraq where, due to unrest, they can hide
themselves. Some others went to Europe," Mansur
said.
"You should know that this town has many tribal and
social problems, which can be traced back to the
Saddam regime. Each tribe has its enemy," he added.
Judge Salih said he was encouraged by the civil
society group's call for action and the government's
subsequent response. He told IWPR on February 7 that
investigations had been "energised" since the new
troops arrived and that his office had handed over a
list of 180 of the town's most-wanted criminals to
the KRG.
"We don't have a strong court, and no one responds
to it here. Our problem is that those criminals who
are wanted by us have no respect for the law or the
court," said the judge.
TRIBAL JUSTICE
Hamawandi, the tribal chief, said that some of the
public’s scepticism about the court may come from
the presence of a tribal system of justice that has
ruled the town's fractious clans for generations.
When disputes arise,www.ekurd.nethe
said, the tribal leaders gather to solve the
problem.
"Tribal problems should be solved among tribes. We
solve problems without the court. Sometimes the
court doesn't even know of the problems," he said,
although he admitted that the tribes could only
solve two of the 17 recent reported murders.
"The conflict and fighting will never end in this
town because of how it was altered. Saddam destroyed
many villages in the area, and the expelled people
came to this town. Since the Anfal campaign,
thousands were brought here. There are now ten
tribes and it is difficult to co-exist.”
Activist Shwani blames the tribal judgement system
for worsening crime in Chamchamal.
"The criminals either belong to political parties or
tribes and they are rich. They put up money for the
crime and kill whomever they want. Then they go to
the tribal court, in which the criminal gives money
to the poor and the problem is solved," Shwani said.
With the residents of Chamchamal left to call on
higher authorities to provide security and justice,
many townspeople told IWPR they are forced to arm
themselves for their own protection.
"I have to carry a weapon with me because I go home
late at night and I really need it to protect
myself. This city has many criminals and they roam
around freely. Just stay here with me for a bit and
I will show you some," said Bassam Attar, 17, as he
showed off a six-inch switchblade he pulled from his
pocket.
Kurdistani, the analyst, said Iraqis often rely on
tribal justice rather than the law to resolve
disputes.
“They have never experienced a functional legal
system to solve their problems, so they always
looking for tribal solutions. Sometimes even they
ignore tribal solutions, and see revenge as best
option," he said.
"Most Iraqis see law as a gun in the hand of an
authoritarian regime trying to oppress the people,”
he said. “Laws and courts are seen as working in the
interest of these groups, not the interest of the
people."
Hemin H Lihony is an IWPR Iraq local editor in
Sulaimaniyah. IWPR Iraq editor Charles McDermid
contributed to this story from Chamchamal and
Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Copyright, respective author or news agency,
Institute for War & Peace Reporting | iwpr net
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