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Kurdistan opposition group preparing to
commemorate last year’s Anti-KRG protests
15.2.2012
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Since last February, till middle April
2011, thousands of protesters
gathered daily
in Sulaimaniyah and other parts of Kurdistan against
corruption and the lording over Iraq's Kurdistan region by
two main parties KDP and PUK. Kurdish protestors
demand the ouster of the local Kurdistan government
KRG and president Massoud Barzani, calling for
improving services and living conditions and
fighting corruption. Photo:
Sbeyi.com See Related Links
February 15, 2012
ERBIL-Hewlêr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Kurdistan Region’s
largest opposition party, Gorran, is planning to
commemorate last year’s Sulaimaniyah protests that
lasted for about two months and claimed 10 lives in
the clashes between protesters and security forces.
Group’s Erbil official Salah Mazin says they have
plans for a “peaceful and away from violence”
ceremony in Erbil, the capital for the
semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, to mark February
17, the start date of the protests.
Mazin said the ceremonies will start on Thursday but
did not disclose the place. Asked if the
commemoration encompassed a rally, Mazin said “we
have not intention of organizing demonstrations, but
if the people started to protest, then we will not
keep silent and will act”
Opposition forces put heavy weight behind the
February protests last year before the protesters
were finally dispersed from the Azadi Square in
Sulaimaniyah by force.
The protesters called for political reforms, end to
corruption and improved living conditions. The
opposition forces,www.ekurd.net
meanwhile, called for a complete government
reformation after the protests turned violent. They
said the government had no legitimacy for shedding
the blood of the protesters.
Since February 2011, till middle April 2011, thousands of protesters
gathered daily
in Sulaimaniyah and other parts of Kurdistan against
corruption and the lording over Kurdistan region by
two main parties KDP and PUK. Kurdish
protestors demand the ouster of the local Kurdistan
government KRG, calling for improving services and
living conditions and fighting corruption.
After 62 days of protests, the Governorate of of
Sulaimaniyah has banned unlicensed demonstrations in
the city. Heavy Kurdish forces
deployed
in Sulaimaniyah city to prevent any
demonstrations, and occupied the city center and other parts of
Sulaimaniyah. The Security Committee in Sulaimaniyah
banned on April 18 all sorts of protests.
Most of the demonstrators opposed Massoud Barzani, and the ruling
Kurdistan Democratic Party KDP. Ten people
were
killed and more than 700 others wounded and 220
more have been arrested in clashes between
demonstrators and Kurdish security forces during a
wave or protests that swept Sulaimaniyah. The
Kurdish security forces (Asayish) arrested and
tortured a lot of activists and
journalists.
The protesters demand the Kurdish government and
parliament resign to give way for “early transparent
elections”. They complain about “monopolizing the
economic and political authority,” by the two major
parties of Kurdistan. Many observe allegiance to
either of the two ruling patties a must to get
employed and hence were deprived of the right. Kurdistan suffers from
electric power deficiency but after almost 20 years
of semi autonomy.
For decades, the KDP
of regional president Massoud Barzani and the
PUK of Iraq's President
Jalal Talabani have lorded over the region.
Massoud Barzani and his relatives control a
large number of commercial enterprises in
Kurdistan-Iraq, with a gross value of several
billion US dollars. The family is routinely accused
of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media as well
as international observers.
Iraq's Kurdish regional government has near
total autonomy and is funded by a share of the
country's oil revenue. The two parties that share
power each command former guerrilla militias that
have been given the status of regional security
forces.
Korek, owned by a nephew of Kurdistan president
Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP), was established in 2001 in the region
and has 3 million customers, while Kuwait's Zain
started operations in the zone last October.
AK news part of this article by Rebin Hasan
Copyright ©, respective
author or news agency,
aknews.com | ekurd.net | Agencies
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