گوێگرتن باشترین چارەسەری هەموو ناڕەزایەتییەكە!

لە سەروبەندی ئەو هەرا و توندوتیژییەی بەم دواییە لە سلێمانی بەرپا بوو و بارودۆخی كوردستان كەوتە بارێكی شپرزەوە بەهۆی تەشەنەكردنی خۆپێشاندانەكان و لێكەوتنەوەی كوژرا و بریندار و سووتانی داوودەزگەی حیزبی، ڕایەك هەیە كە خۆپێشاندان تا هێمنانە تر بێ دیموكراتیتر و جوانتر دەبێ و كاریگەریشی بۆ سەر حكوومەت زیاتر دەبێت. بەڵام بەڕای من ئەمە شتیكی نیسبییە و پێوەستە بەو حكوومەتەی خۆپێشاندەران ناڕەزایەتیی لەدژ دەردەبڕن و تا چەند ئامادەیی تێدایە گوێ بگرێت. لە ڕووی گوێگرتن بۆ ناڕەزایی وەڵامداندا حكوومەتگەل دەبن بە سێ جۆر: یەكەمیان گوێ لە خۆپێشاندان و ناڕەزایەتیی هێمنانە دەگرێت، دووەمیان گوێ لە خۆپێشاندانی توندوتیژ دەگرێت، لە كاتێكدا سێیەمیان گوێ لە هیچ ناڕەزایەتییەك ناگرێت.

بۆ جۆری یەكەمی حكوومەتان كە گوێ و لە ناڕەزایەتیی خۆپێشاندەری هێمن دەگرن خۆپێشاندانەكانی شۆڕشی پرتەقاڵیی ئۆكرانیا باشترین نموونەیە. لە ساڵەكانی 2004-2005 خۆپێشندەران لە ئۆكرانیا داوای ئەنجامدانەوەی هەڵبژاردنی سەرۆكایەتییان دەكرد لەبەرئ ئەوەی ڤیكتۆر یانوكۆڤیچی سەركەوتوو لە هەڵبژاردن تۆمەتبار كرا بەوەی هەڵبژاردنەكە لە بەرژەوەندیی ئەو ساختە كراوە. خۆپێشاندان و ناڕەزایی هێمنانە لە كیێڤی پاتەختدا لە مانگی تشرینی دووەمی 2004 تا مانگی كانوونی دووەمی 2005 بەردەوام بوو تا هەڵبژاردن ئەنجام درایەوە و دەركەوت ڤیكتۆر یوشچینكۆی ڕكابەر بە ڕیژەی 52 لە سەد بەسەر ڤیكتۆر یانوكۆڤیچدا سەر كەوت. بۆ جۆرەكەی دووەم كە تەنیا گوێ لە خۆپێشاندانی توندوتیژ دەگرێ و گرینگی بە خۆپێشاندانی هێمن نادا تا دواجار خۆپێشاندان كوشتنی لێ دەكەوێتەوە و فشاری نێوخۆیی و نێودەوڵەتی لەسەر كۆ دەبێتەوە مل بۆ خۆپیشاندەران نادا، ئەوا نموونەی میسر و تونس باشترین نموونەن. لە میسر دەسەڵات پێی لە زەویدا داچەقاندبوو و ئامادەی ملدان نەبوو تا كوژرانی دەیان كەس و برینداربوونی سەدانی تری لێ كەوتەوە ئەوجا دەسەڵات گوێی بۆ خۆپیشاندەران گرت بەڵام تازە كار لە كار ترازا بوو. لە حكومەتی جۆری سێیەم كە گوێ نە بۆ خۆپێشاندانی هێمن و نە توندوتیژ نادا و تا دوا هەناسە دەست لە بیناقاقای میللەت و وڵات هەڵناگرێ و هەرچی بەشێوەیەكی هێمن یان توند داواكاری خۆی بخاتە روو بە خائین و دوژمن دێتە لەقەڵەمدان و سەری پان دەكرێتەوە، لیبیا نموونەیەكی هەنووكەیییە. موعەممەر قەزافی پێی وایە میللەت دوژمنە و بەكرێگیراوی ئەفەریقییایی هێناوە بۆ شەڕكردن لە دژی خەڵكی خۆی تا ئێستە هەزاران كەس بەو هۆیەیوە كوژراون.

من دڵنیام كە حكوومەتی هەرێمی كوردستان لە جۆری سێیەمیان نییە بەڵام بەهۆی ئەو ڕووداوانەی شلێمانیشەوە گومانم هەیە لەوەی كە لە جۆری یەكەمیان بێ. با زیاتر بە نموونە ئەوە ڕوون بكەینەوە: بەهۆی یاسای خۆپێشاندانەوە لە زۆربەی شار و شارۆكەكانی هەرێمی كوردستان خۆپیشاندان بەڕێوە چوون لە دژی ئەو یاسایە و داوا لە پەرلەمان و سەرۆكی حكوومەت و سەرۆكی هەرێم كرا ئەو یاسایە پەسەند نەكرێ بەڵام گوێ بە داوای خۆپێشاندەری هێمن نەدرا. لە سەرەتای سەرهەڵدانی خۆپێشاندانەكانی سلێمانیش حكوومەت دەست بەجێ نەچووە پێشوازیی خەڵك و بزانی داواكارییان چییە و گوێپان لێ بگرێت تا خۆپێشاندانی هێمنانە گۆڕا بۆ توندوتیژ. كە واشی لێ هات ئیتر لەبری ئەوەی هەوڵی هێمنكردنەوەی دۆخەكە بدرێت و گوێ لە خەڵك بگرن و بەزووترین كات داواكانیان جێبەجێ بكەن خۆپێشاندەران بە "ئاژاوەگێرَ" هاتنە ناوزەدكردن.

ئەمە گەورەترین هەڵەی بەرپرسانی حكوومەت، هەر لە سەرۆكی حكوومەت و سەرۆكی پەرلەمان (من باسی بەرپرسانی حزبی ناكەم چونكە حیزب لە ڕوانگەیەكیك حیزبیەوە قسە دەكات نەك لەو ڕوانگەی كە باوكی میللەتە) ئەوە بوو كە خۆپێشاندەرانیان بە ئاژاوەگێرَ وەسف كرد و ملیان نەدا بۆ ئەوەی دان بە خۆپێشاندانەكانیاندا بنێن و گوێیان لێ بگرن. من دەڵێم ئەمە هەڵەیەكی گەورە بوو كە وایان ناوزەد بكەن چونكە هەر ئەو "ئاژاوەگێرَانەن" كە دواجار حكومەت دەبێ ملیان بۆ بدا و گوێشیان لێ بگرێ و داواكانیشیان جێبەجێ بكات. ئەو دانیشتنە نائاساییەی 23ی شوباتیش لە پەرلەمانی گوردستان خۆی لە ئەنجامی فشاری ئەو "ئاژاوگێڕانە" و داواكارییەكانیان بوو لەبەرئەوەی زۆربەی ئەو خاڵانەی خۆپێشاندەران لە یاداشتێكی 9 خاڵیدا پێشكەشی دەسەڵاتدارانیان كرد لە سلێمانی لە بڕیارە 17 خاڵییەكەی پەرلەماندا هاتبوون، بۆ نموونە ئەنجامدانی ریفۆرم و بنبڕكردنی گەندەڵی و كشانەوەی هێزەكانی زێرەڤانی و جارێكی تر نەجوڵاندنی ئەو هێزانە لە شارێكەوە بۆ شارێكی تر تەنیا لە حاڵەتی هەبوونی هەڕەشەیەكی نیشتمانی لە هێزێكی دەرەكییەوە.

بۆیە من پێم وایە حكوومەتی هەرێمی كوردستان خۆی خستە نێو خانەی دووەمی ئەو حكوومەتانە كە تەنیا گوێ لە خۆپێشاندانی توندوتیژ دەگرن دەنا لە حاڵەتی خۆپێشاندان و ناڕەزاییی هێمنانەوە تەنیا گەمەی چاوشاركێ دەكەن. بە كورتی ئەگەر حكوومەتی هەرێم یەكێك بیەوێ خۆپێشاندان تەشەنە نەكات و توندوتیژی بەرهەم نەهێنێ پێویستە گوێ لە خەڵك ڕابگرێ و داواكانیشیان جێەجێ بكات.

Iraq expects wave of demos Friday

Erbil, Feb. 24 (AKnews) - A wave of public demonstrations is expected to sweep across Iraq Friday with protestors calling for better living conditions, employment opportunities and social justice. The Iraqi people have been disgruntled with the government for not being able to assure basic services like electricity, water and promised food subsidies, in addition to allegations of administrative corruption and social injustice. Campaigners have called for the demonstrations on social network websites and have set February 25 for a day of protests. Over the past two weeks there have already been public protests in some 14 Iraqi provinces but February 25 has been marked as a nationwide day of protests. Iraqi officials have warned that insurgents my exploit the occasion to attack the rallies of demonstrators. The Iraqi Prime Minister said earlier this week that the demonstrations are politicized by "evil-intentioned people" and that through the demonstrations militants can regain their sway over the country. Similarly, Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) announced on Wednesday that they had intelligence information that suicide bombers are preparing to target the demonstrators. BOC also announced a ban on live coverage of the event as part of a bid to keep vehicles off the streets of the Tahrir Square area of Baghdad where the biggest demonstration so far is expected to be staged. However, the move is seen by some as an excuse to head off the demonstrations because the security forces were able to provide security for more than 2 million pilgrims during the Shia ceremonies in southern Iraq in recent months. The demonstrations, inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings, point an accusatory finger at the government and the dominant ruling bloc for the poor level of services provided to the public. In some parts of Iraq, electricity is available only for 6 hours a day while government corruption, unemployment and social injustice remain widespread concerns. On Feb. 21, the Iraqi parliament speaker said some US$40 billion was "missing" from a post-Gulf War fund that Iraq maintains to protect from foreign claims. He said they did not know where the money had gone. Iraqi PM's annual income is equivalent to that of the President of that United States, if not more, and the Iraq MPs receive some IQD32 million (about US$25,000) a month in a country where the average salary is between US$500 and $600. Iraqi demonstrators have called for a cut in the salaries of the top government positions and administrative reforms in the government institutions over the past two weeks. Earlier this month, the Sadrist Current called for the allocation of 15% of the 2011 general budget to the Iraqi people. They claimed they wouldn't vote for it unless the 15% was included in the bill. The bill, however, was approved by the Parliament and instead of the 15% of the general budget, 20% of the "surplus" was allocated to Iraq's needy families. Iraq's 2011 budget is suffering from a deficit of US$12 billion. The demonstrations over the past two weeks have mostly been peaceful but some violent clashes with security forces have erupted. At least one person has been killed and dozens injured in the protests in the Iraqi provinces other than in the Kurdistan region. The protests were transferred to Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan's second largest city, last week where protesters called for rooting out corruption in the government institutions, better living conditions, and employment opportunities. In the Sulaimaniyah protests 3 people were killed and more than 100 were injured when the peaceful demo became violent and demonstrators clashed with guards at the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarters. The Kurdistan Regional Government has taken security measures to protect the protesters and to make sure the demonstrations are peaceful in case the Kurdish cities took to the streets on Friday along with the rest of the country. Raber Younis Aziz (AKnews) Thursday, February 24th 2011 1:24 PM

Kurdish parliament condemns violence and orders reforms

Erbil, Feb. 24 (AKnews) – In an extraordinary session to discuss the recent demonstrations and unrest in Sulaimaniyah city that turned into violent clashes leaving many casualties, the parliament of Kurdistan Region has condemned the use of violent force against the protesters as well as attacks on partisan or government offices. After long hours of discussion between the parliamentary factions on Wednesday evening which lasted until 1 am Thursday, the parliament of Kurdistan Region came up with a 17 points conclusion. It called for grassroots reforms and improved living conditions for the people, social justice, and a broadening of freedoms. The Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister, the Peshmarga Minister and the Interior Minister will be summoned to attend parliament for interrogation over the incidents in Sulaimaniyah. During the discussion, all MPs agreed that the use of force against demonstrators or party and government buildings were to be condemned. In the Sulaimaniyah protests which lasted 5 days, at least 3 people were killed and more than 100 protesters were injured when the peaceful rally turned violent with demonstrators pelting the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarters in the city with stones. The KDP headquarters security personnel in turn fired at the demonstrators in "self-defense". There were also reports that some of the protesters were armed and forced their way to the headquarters. Demonstrators were protesting against corruption, poor living conditions, unemployment and social injustice. The agreed conclusion also states that all the detained protesters who participated in the demonstrations be released immediately except for those who committed "crimes" and who should be handed over to the court. And from now on, protesters can not be, by any means, arrested for taking part in demonstrations without a court order. Some 70 people were arrested in the Sulaimaniyah protests. The Police said earlier that they had released them. The government would also compensate financially and morally the demonstrators, parties, offices and forces hurt by the violent clashes in the demonstrations. The conclusion also provides for the appointment of a member of the Appellate Court to head the investigation committee formed to look into the causes of the violent clashes and also to disclose the findings to the public. Also the security and police forces accused of not carrying out their duties professionally during the protests are to be subject to accountability. Some of the local newspapers and media outlets close to the KDP had earlier accused Iran of standing behind the unrest in Sulaimaniyah, and a leader in the party did not rule out the investigation looking into Iran's role in the demonstrations. A local weekly newspaper in Kurdistan, Rwber, which claims independence wrote in its Feb. 22 issue that Iran's Quds army was behind the unrest in Sulaimaniyah city "in revenge" for the January stoning of Iran's consulate in Erbil by demonstrators in protest against the execution of Kurdish activists in Iran. On January 29, angry demonstrators in Erbil city pelted the Iranian consulate over the execution of Kurdish activists in Iran. According to figures, in 2011 alone, Iran has executed more than 20 Kurdish activists, and some 16 others are currently awaiting execution by hanging. The Peyamner news outlet, close to the KDP, reported that the leader of the Gorran, Nawshirwan Mustafa, had meetings with Iranian officials near the, suggesting an Iranian hand behind the protesters' recent attack on the KDP headquarters. Moreover, the parliament emphasized again the need for permission from the authorities before protesters can stage a demonstration. The current demonstrations law requires prior permission from the authorities for any demonstration. The five day demonstrations in Sulaimaniyah were not permitted by the authorities, except for the first day where one teenager was killed and more than 57 were injured. In the following days, enraged demonstrators did not care about obtaining permits. The law had already sparked a row in December last year when parliament passed it, and the opposition forces still call for reforms to it. They want to change the obtaining of permission for demonstrations to simply "informing" the authorities of planned demos instead. The authorities said the law was to ensure national security and to give the authorities the time to assign police and security forces to provide security for the demonstrations. The opposition says the law restricts the right of the freedom to demonstrate because it gives the authorities the power to deny permission to public protests. Another point agreed on by parliament was not mobilizing troops from one city to another to contain the demonstrations except in the case of a national security threat from an external party. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Ministry of Peshmarga had sent Zeravani forces, Kurdish defense forces, to the suburbs of Sulaimaniyah city from Erbil in a move to control the demos in case they developed into a threat on government offices. The parliament also stressed on freedom of the press by condemning the attacks on a private TV station, Nalia Radio and TV, NRT, and the Gorran TV station, with urging for the immediate accountability of the assailants. NRT started airing on Feb. 17 but after only 3 days was stormed by some 50 gunmen early at dawn who destroyed the equipment in the premises with bullets before setting everything on fire. The General Manager of the TV channel Twana Othman says they are receiving ongoing threats from anonymous sources of repeated attacks. The NRT said on Feb. 22 that it planned to resume broadcasting but was threatened with repeated attacks, therefore suspended indefinitely their transmissions. Raber Younis Aziz (AKnews) Thursday, February 24th 2011 10:54 AM

Sulaimaniyah: Street protests continue for fourth day

Sulaimaniyah, Feb. 20 (AKnews) – Demonstrations in Sulaimaniyah city continued for the fourth day on Sunday after thousands of protesters took to the streets despite efforts to defuse tensions.   In the protests on Sunday over alleged corruption and injustice in the region, a rally estimated at thousands of people flooded the streets of Sulaimaniyah paralyzing normal life in the city. Security forces were widely seen in the streets trying to prevent the demonstration from developing into a violent one.   AKnews reporter Dilshad Saifaddin reported from the scene of the demonstrations that the rally was split into two groups, one group heading towards the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarters in the city where a teenager was killed by guards on Thursday after the demonstrators pelted it with stones. While the other group held onto the Sara Square in the center of the city.   Security forces reportedly fired into the air to disperse those demonstrators trying to access the KDP headquarters. The protestors, following the Thursday clashes between the demonstrators and the KDP security personnel, have tried repeatedly to access the KDP headquarters.   Most of the shops and markets have been closed, and there were reports that a group of demonstrators attacked journalists covering the protests, and broke their equipment. The headquarters of the newly established Kurdish TV channel Nalia were torched on Sunday morning just three days after its launch. The channel's management has blamed government forces for the pre-dawn attack. The TV channel reported during its 08:30 news bulletin on Sunday that it had been threatened over the phone to stop broadcasting.   The demo has also prompted the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate (KJS) to postpone indefinitely a conference set to take place on Feb. 22 through 24.   "Today, it was decided by the KJS board that the conference be postponed because the situation in this area is instable, and once the situation goes back to normal, the conference will be held," KJS secretary Hamid Mohammed told AKnews.   There were calls from several parties to help cool down the anger of the demonstrators to prevent further development of the situation.   Faruq Rafiq, a prominent intellectual who was leading the protest following the Thursday clashes, called on the protesters to end the demonstrations and go home. He also urged the crowd not to attack the KDP headquarters again.   Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)'s deputy Kosrat Rasul Ali said there will be a meeting between the KDP, PUK, and other opposition groups as soon as possible to find ways to solve the problems through dialogue.   "I urge you to end this situation from a feeling of national responsibility" he said.   In a move to defuse the tensions, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s Minster of Peshmarga Sheikh Jaafar said in a press conference in Sulaimaniyah city that a reserve force that had been stationed near Sulaimaniyah city for emergency has started to pull back after protesters railed against the mobilization of the forces. The pullback of the force was part of 9-point communiqué handed on Saturday to the authorities by the protesters.   The force had been sent by the ministry from Erbil to Sulaimaniyah city in case the violent clashes in Sulaimaniyah on Thursday developed into a vandalous attack on government offices.   "The security forces have been actively attempting to control the situation in the city, therefore I have ordered the force to pull back as of today."   Also, Sulaimaniyah police said on Sunday that all the arrested protestors were released today.   On Saturday, 14 people were wounded in clashes between police forces and the demonstrators and some 15 others were arrested by the security forces.   Dilshad Saifaddin, Ardalan Mohammed, and Omar Sadiq contributed to this story, Written by Raber Y. Aziz Ka/AKnews   Sunday, February 20th 2011 5:12 PM

Thursday demo gives clerics chance to call for “justice” after “calm”

Erbil, Feb. 19 (AKnews) – Preachers in their Friday sermons urged the government to enforce justice and equality following demonstrations in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan's second largest city, which left one killed and dozens injured.   On Thursday, dozens of people took to the streets to show solidarity with the Tunisian and Egyptian peoples but the peaceful demo turned into a violent clash with the security personnel of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarter in the city when the protesters showered it with stones.   There were also reports that some of the protesters were armed and fired at the headquarters. Two of the building's guards were reportedly injured by the gunfire.   The protesters accused the government and the two ruling parties of corruption. Immediately after the clashes, the ruling parties said there was a hand behind what they termed "riots" in Sulaimaniyah, implicating the opposition group - Gorran.   Following the Sulaimaniyah clashes, the headquarters of Gorran in Erbil and the Soran district were set on fire by supporters of the KDP.   Gorran issued a statement on January 29 which called for the reformation of the government prompting security forces go on alert for any attack on government buildings. Observers say the statement has had great impact on destabilizing the region.   The preachers stressed in their Friday sermons that the people of Kurdistan have been able only after long years of suffering atrocities to establish the current government and assure security in the region, and therefore, all such acts that would annul the achievements and destabilizes the region should be avoided.   Mullah Mazhar, Imam of Qadir Bla mosque in Erbil, likened the situation, which he believed would destabilize the region, to a folk story where a man standing on the branch of a tree cuts the branch, falls and breaks his own back.   The preacher called on the people of Kurdistan to maintain order.   Mullah Idris, the Imam of the Rahma Mosque in Erbil, said the Kurdish region had many enemies and "we should not do what would impose a threat on the achievements."   But he also stressed that calm should be accompanied by "justice". "The Kurdistan Regional Government should take serious steps to fight oppression, enforce justice and provide services to the public."   On Friday the deputy leader of the KDP Nechirvan Barzani appeared in a press conference trying to calm down the situation saying they will not accuse any political actor of attacking the KDP headquarters.   He also voiced resentment for the attacks on the headquarters of Gorran and called them "evil" acts that would mar the reputation of the region. Mr Barzani also criticized the police and security forces of Sulaimaniyah for not upholding their duties. Reported by Saiwan Ali Ry/Ka/AKnews Saturday, February 19th 2011 1:06 PM

Turkey: PKK to take decisive stance in March

Erbil, Feb. 19 (AKnews) –Kurdish armed group the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) says it will discuss and assume a decisive stance late in March as to whether to extend the current ceasefire or resume its military activities if the Turkish state continues to show no sign of wanting to peacefully resolve the country's Kurdish issue. The outlawed PKK which has been locked in a combat with the Turkish state since 1984 that has claimed some 45,000 lives, most of them Kurds, announced a ceasefire last year as a show of good will towards a peaceful solution to Turkey's Kurdish issue. Although the PKK have declared unilateral amnesty seven times over the past 17 years, Turkey has never officially recognized them. The PKK's latest ceasefire announced on November 1, 2010 has been extended three times. "The leadership is obliged to discuss the inactive attitude of the PKK in late March, because we have found out that the Turkish state is preparing for a military attack on the bases and headquarters of the PKK," said Roj Welat, media official for the PKK's People's Confederation of Kurdistan (KCK). The KCK is generally known as the urban wing of the PKK. "Everybody knows that the KCK has extended its ceasefire three times, but this has not prompted any positive reactions from the Turkish state" Mr. Welat said, "in fact, the oppression and detention of Kurdish activists has worsened." The Kurdish issue in Turkey comes down primarily to the Kurds not being recognized in the Turkish constitution as a nation. On September 12, Turkey voted on a package of constitutional reforms, but those reforms did not contain any reference to the identity of the Kurds and subsequently was boycotted by the majority of the ethnic group. The reforms were approved by a 58 percent victory. The Kurds constitute around 20% of Turkey's population of 71 million. The KCK official accused the Turkish state of deceiving the Kurds under the cover of initiative, the "Democratic Opening" which was declared by Prime Minister Recep Teyip Erdogan to show intentions of solving the Kurdish issue. Mr. Welat believes that Turkey can no longer "deceive" Kurdish politicians with "new stories" under the name of democratic opening in the country, "because the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is practicing an occupier-occupation policy in Kurdish cities." The ruling AKP is trying to cover up "inhumane" crimes against the Kurds in the Kurdish cities of Turkey by the Turkish state, he said. "But the mass graves are evidence of those crimes." On Feb. 9, some 20 bodies were recovered in two mass graves discovered in the predominantly Kurdish city of Bitlis in southeast Turkey, believed to be victims of the conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK. At the height of the conflict in the 1990s, thousands of people disappeared and their families' struggle to find out what happened to their loved ones has always been met with silence. The chiefs of staff of the Turkish army said the remains belonged to the outlawed PKK fighters who were killed in the 1999 clashes. Arsene Sonmazler, the head of the Free Thought and Educational Rights Assembly, believes that there are about 100 mass graves in the city and hundreds of them in Kurdish areas. Reported by Karzan Karim, edited by Raber Y. Aziz Ry/Ka/AKnews Saturday, February 19th 2011 11:09 AM

Raber Y. Aziz: Newsagents boycott newspaper for 'blasphemy'

Raber Y. Aziz: Newsagents boycott newspaper for 'blasphemy': "Sulaimaniyah, Feb. 10 (AKnews) – A boycott against a Kurdish newspaper in Erbil imposed by newsagents saying it contains “bla..."

Newsagents boycott newspaper for 'blasphemy'

Sulaimaniyah, Feb. 10 (AKnews) – A boycott against a Kurdish newspaper in Erbil imposed by newsagents saying it contains “blasphemy” has been interpreted as a ”dangerous” beginning to a deepening lack of understanding between intellectuals and clerics in Kurdistan. The Awene newspaper published on Tuesday an article by the Kurdish intellectual, writer and poet Mohammed Mukri defending a poet whose book was banned in the stores last month after clerics rallied against a poem in his book that described God in a way they said was “blasphemous”. The ban on the book had already stirred a lot of tension between intellectuals and clerics in the region. Intellectuals accused clerics of inciting people against their freedom of thought and written expression, and of slander in their Friday sermons, while the clerics accused them in turn of disregarding social and religious norms and values. “Since our community is Muslim by majority, everybody has to respect the religious principles of the community, but neither newsagents nor anybody else can judge what is forbidden and what is not for people,” said Kawa Mahmoud, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s spokesman. “This is not their business, freedom of thought has to be guaranteed for all in Kurdistan with all the different religious and ways of thinking” Mahmoud said. As well as defending Qubadi Jalizada in his article, Mukri included a poem by the poet whose book of poems “Styani Bafr Pra la Rishola” (The Corset of Snow is Full of Starlings) sparked an outcry among clerics who attacked him in their Friday sermons and accused him of blasphemy for his depiction of God in an “improper way”. Jalizada describes God in his poem as sitting with legs outstretched,“tired” and “angry” with mankind. Jalizada’s God is “helpless” in face of the vices and evils of man. Any personification of God or the attribution of physical characteristics to Him is strictly forbidden in Islam. The book was subsequently banned from the stores after the clerics, the ministry of endowment and religious affairs and the committee of religious affairs in parliament mounted pressure. Following the ban on the book, intellectuals pushed on the parliament of Kurdistan for a bill that would curtail the influence of clerics and mosques on written freedom in the future. They submitted a proposal to parliament according to which, in any of the three provinces of the Kurdistan Region there will be three sermons in three major mosques and these sermons will be broadcast on TV and in other mosques live instead of different sermons in the different mosques. The fights between the two parties continued for almost two week before the President of the Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani brought them together to sit and discuss ways to ease the tensions. “All we say is that different views have to be respected in our country, and nobody should watch and judge anybody else” the KRG spokesman, who is also the minister of culture, said. “We have started to feel that the issue between clerics and intellectuals is being used for a political purpose” he says, “therefore, on Saturday, the KRG will hold a dialogue conference between the clerics and intellectuals to find ways to solve the issue”. The clerics are supported by Islamic parties and factions of the Kurdish parliament. Peshawa Sardar, researcher in media and communications at the University of Rome in Italy said, “This is a dangerous beginning, widening the lack of mutual understanding and further deteriorating the social and cultural situation of the Kurdish community because this will allow an individual political actor to easily exploit newsagents to create tensions”. “I believe it is the duty of the municipality or the Erbil provincial council to punish those newsagents” he said, “so that they can no longer impose meaningless censorships on newspapers and journals”. But Sardar also believed that the newspapers also had to respect the sanctities and the faith of the majority of the Kurdish community. Meanwhile, neither the Writers Union nor the Journalists Syndicate has taken a stance condemning or at least begrudging the attitude of the newsagents. Intellectuals have started to doubt the position of the two bodies in such matters.  Idris Abdulqadir Ali, a writer and journalist, says “the Writers Union and Journalists Syndicate are to be blamed for this situation, they must take severe stances” he said, “unfortunately neither of these organizations have expressed a single word of discontent, but…when it comes to supporting the government they are present and ready to issue dozens of statements”. “Clerics have been pounding on writers and journalist in different ways for a while,” Ali continued, “I think this attitude will contribute to an increase in tensions and violence in our community rather than urging coexistence and calm” . Reported by Kamaran Subhan, edited by Raber Y. Aziz   Thursday, February 10th 2011 3:36 PM

Turkish military acknowledge mass graves of PKK militants in Bitlis

Erbil, Feb. 8 (AKnews) – The chiefs of staff of the Turkish army said on Tuesday that the human remains found near the southeastern city of Bitlis belong to outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants killed in clashes there in 1999. The clashes took place between Turkish troops and PKK militants in the Ghijit Cuyo, Ala Tobrak and Cohan farm areas on September 8, 9 and 17 in 1999. “The dead were buried in the Mottaki town in the same month after performing autopsies and obtaining the approval for the burial from the prosecution,” said the Turkish army’s Chief of Staff.     "Photos of the terrorists, autopsy reports, burial admission forms, investigation files and documents were presented to the Mottaki mayor," he continued. Arsene Sounmazler, the head of the Free Thought and Educational Rights Assembly in Tatephan told AKnews that the discovery of the mass graves had ignited the hatred of some while offering hope to others that their relatives could now be returned home and buried. “The mass graves found in the town reflect similar crimes to those committed by Serbs against the Bosnians,” he continued, adding that these are not the only graves – pointing to the existence of further mass graves in other parts of the city.   ”There are about 100 mass graves in the city and hundreds of them in Kurdish areas,” he said,  “Anti-terrorism forces in the Turkish army and elements of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) have committed many crimes not only against the PKK, but also against the elders of those areas, burying them on different sites.” Sounmazler said there was a need to "to expose the perpetrators of these crimes and bring them to justice,” adding that “this would reduce the suffering of the families.” Excavation work began on January 12 in Mottaki town at the request of the parents of the missing persons. The remains of more than 20 people were found.   Approximately 17,500 people, mostly Kurds, were victims of the conflict that started between the Turkish forces and the PKK in the 1990s.   The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the biggest Kurdish party in Turkey led by Salah al-Din Damirttash has called for the formation of a committee to investigate the circumstances behind the mass graves, shedding light on the crimes that it believes took place. Reported by Arkoln Toprak Rn/Ka/AKnews   Tuesday, February 8th 2011 5:44 PM

Source: Iran presses on Iraq to replace US weapons deal with French

Baghdad, Feb. 8 (AKnews) - An Iraqi MP said Tuesday that Iran is pressing on the Iraqi government to revoke a US F16 fighters purchase deal to replace it with another deal to buy French-made Mirage fighters. The accusation came after an Iraqi satellite TV channel, al-Sahrqiya, reported that the Iraqi government intended to cancel a deal to buy F-15 fighter jets from the United States. According to Iraq's Defense Ministry, Iraq has a weapons deal with the US to purchase 18 F-16 fighting aircrafts  which are expected to be delivered by the end of 2013 in a move to enhance the air force abilities of the new army. MP Iskandar Wattout, deputy head of the security committee in the Iraqi parliament, criticized Tuesday Iranian interventions in the Iraqi affairs saying threatening to launch an investigation with the Iraqi government if it so intended. "The news of the Iraqi government intentions to cancel the purchase deal to replace (the US F-16s) with French-made Mirage came after Iranian pressure." said Mr Wattout. "Iraq has signed agreements with neighboring countries, including Iran, not to interfere in the internal affairs (of Iraq) and respect the sovereignty of the country" The F-16 Fighting Falcon, the first of the US Air Force multi-role fighter aircraft, is the world's most prolific fighter with more than 2,000 in service within the US Air Force and 2,000 operational in 25 other countries. The F-16 and the F-15 Eagle were the world's first aircraft able to withstand higher g-forces than the pilots. The Fighting Falcon entered service in 1979. "The F-16 planes have high qualities if compared to the French Mirage" says Wattout, "and they will be purchased to defend Iraq, and Iran should have no concerns about it" AKnews tried to contact Mohammed al-Askeri, the spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry, but he said he was ill. "I can not confirm or deny the story because of my absence from the ministry since a week due to illness" Reported by Wissam al-Jaff RN/RY/AKnews Tuesday, February 8th 2011 11:43 AM

Germany’s Development Minister in Erbil to boost ties

Erbil, Feb. 3 (AKnews) – Germany's Development Minister Dirk Niebel arrived in Erbil on an official visit on Thursday to boost bilateral economic relations between the two countries.   Following the December visit of Germany's Foreign Minister to Baghdad, Mr Niebel's three-day visit, accompanied by lawmakers and businessmen, underlines the German government's current focus on Iraq.   "Germany has a very serious focus in Iraq" said Mr Peter Mayr, the Managing director of MAN Automotive and a member of the German delegation.   Germany is focusing on three areas in Iraq; Erbil, Baghdad and Basra, where they have German Economy Offices (DWI). "… This is a very serious attempt on Germany's side to develop the existing potential between both countries".   The German minister's visit to Iraq "…Goes deeper into the interest of Iraq… in all aspects of development" Mr Mayr believes.   Germany currently exports about US $1bn worth of goods to Iraq.  But Iraq does not have much to offer in exports to Germany. Perhaps the only products Iraq can export are oil and gas.   Mr Mayr said there are ongoing talks between Germany and the Iraqi authorities for Iraqi oil and gas to be exported to Germany in the future.   Reported by Raber Y. Aziz   Thursday, February 3rd 2011 5:29 PM

Kuridstan's Oil exports to resume in coming days

Erbil, Feb. 3 (AKnews) – Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region are expected to "officially" resume in the coming days after grinding to a halt in 2009 over disputes between the regional government and Baghdad. The expected shipments follow an agreement between Iraqi government officials and the Kurdish Premier Barham Ahmed Salih in mid-January in Baghdad. Iraq's oil Minister Abdul Karim Luaibi is expected to visit Erbil in the coming days to participate in the official resumption of oil shipments. "After our visit to Baghdad, we met with the foreign companies operating in the oil fields of Kurdistan as well, now they are ready to resume oil exports and they have also carried out several test operations" Salih told AKnews. "We are now waiting for the Iraqi Minister of Oil to visit Erbil to jointly launch the resumption of oil exports" Shahristani said earlier that the shipments had resumed at 10,000 bpd. Once the exports fully resume, the Kurdish region will export 100,000 bpd. Kurdistan halted oil exports in October 2009 after the Iraqi government refused to pay the financial gains of the foreign companies. Some 42 foreign companies from 17 countries are currently involved in oil investment in Kurdistan. According to previous statements from the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, the region has the capacity of exporting up to 200,000 bpd. "We have come to terms with the companies that their exploration and development costs will be given, but after the resumption of oil exports" Salih told AKnews. Reported by Hazhar Mohammed, edited by Raber Y. Aziz Thursday, February 3rd 2011 11:21 AM