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Security measures in Iraqi Kurdistan's cities, on the
anniversary of anti-KRG protests |
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Security measures in Iraqi Kurdistan's
cities, on the anniversary of anti-KRG protests
17.2.2012
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Huge Kurdish security forces at Sulaimaniyah's Tahrir
Square "Azadi square" Friday
February 17, 2012. Photo: Hawlati. From February 17,
2011, 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.
See Related Links
Huge Kurdish security forces at Sulaimaniyah's Tahrir
Square "Azadi square" Friday
February 17, 2012
February
17, 2012
SULAIMANIYAH,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — Security forces have
dispersed in Sulaimaniyah and other smaller local
administrative units in expectation of
demonstrations on the first anniversary of the
protests that demanded political reforms in
Kurdistan.
Informed sources here told Aswat al-Iraq that the
dispersion was in anticipation of violent actions
that may erupt in the city.
The precautionary measures were taken following
calls made on Facebook demanding the renewal of the
demonstrations today, Friday, 17 February.
The calls demanded the arrest and trial of those
responsible for killing 8 demonstrators and two
cops.
Kurdish opposition, represented by Change Movement,
the Islamic Federation and the Islamic Group,www.ekurd.net
announced that their followers have no intention of
demonstrating because the situation in the Kurdish
region and Iraq as a whole is "critical and does not
need any demonstration".
Opposition parties supporters believe that the
government did not fulfill its reform promises.
Security forces stressed that any demonstration
should take the necessary approvals, otherwise it
shall be banned.
A number of Kurdish cities and towns witnessed
protest demonstrations on 17 February last year
demanding combat of corruption and political and
social reforms.
The demonstrations lasted for 62 days in
Sulaimaniyah with the participation of thousands of
youths, intellectuals and civil activists, that led
to 10 killings and tens of casualties.
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.
Copyright ©, respective
author or news agency,
aswataliraq.info | ekurd.net | Agencies
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