Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Kurds Continue their protest against Iranian and Turkish Governments in South Kurdistan
Kurdish people in Southern Kurdistan continue their protest against the Turkish bombardment of Qendil Mountains.
There was mass protest against Turkish aggression and attacks on civilian villagers in Saysadiq District, Sharazor town in Southern Kurdistan.
People of Saysadiq in the early morning gathered upon a call of ''Board of Revival Journalists of Town''. The people marched through the city chanting anti-Turkish aggression slogans and condemned the AKP government.
People marched from city centre toward the city hall and welcomed by mayor of the city and other governmental administrators.
The protesters handed a letter to the mayor of the city in which they had denounced Turkish bombardment of Kurdish villages.
Thereafter a joint declaration of Kurdistan Tailors Party, Kurdistan Socialist Party, and Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (PCDK) was read out which condemned the Turkish air attacks on Kurdish civilians.
source: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/component/content/article/1535-protest-continues-in-south-of-kurdistan
Turkish Governments use of Chemical weapons on Kurds exposed
Human Right Association (IHD), branch of Amed (Diyarbakir) has reported that 437 guerrillas have lost their lives in 39 separate operations carried out with chemical weapons by the Turkish army since 1994.
Human Rights Association (IHD) has released its "Report of Chemical Weapons” which contains important information regarding the operations of the Turkish army carried out with chemical weapons. According to the report released by IHD administrator Serdar Chelebi, chemical weapons were used in 39 operations among those carried out from 1994 to 2011, while 437 guerrillas lost their lives in these operations.
Some other figures in the report are as follows;
Alleged use of chemicals on nature and lands: 5
Alleged use of biological weapons: 2
Number of guerrillas who died as a result of chemical weapons use: 437
Number of animals perished as a result of chemical weapons use: 134
The report which reminded that the allegation concerning the use of chemical weapons has been frequently brought to the agenda since the 1990s also gave examples from the military operations where chemical weapons were used.
Remarking that all the applications made on the subject remained inconclusive so far, Branch Secretary Raci Bilici called on national and international civil organizations and competent institutions, individuals and governments to investigate the allegations concerning chemical weapons.
Bilici said; “The rules of humanitarian law regulate the rules that must be obeyed even under war circumstances. We expect competent authorities to investigate all these allegations which mean a violation of the humanitarian law, the laws of war and armed conflict and to make scientific data-based statements to the satisfaction of the general public.”
Some other information from the report, which consists of the applications made by families as well as the compilation of news from DIHA and ANF, is as follows;
20 PKK guerrillas, who lost their lives in the operation near the Ballikaya (Bilika) village in Silopi district of Sirnak on May 11, 1999, were asserted to have been killed with chemical weapons. To the extent reflected to the media; a chemical gas tube, claimed to have been used in the operation and found at the scene, was sent to Germany by guerrillas for a criminal investigation. The report issued after the investigation in the criminal laboratory in Germany concluded that the material (the tube) was of a deadly chemical gas containing chemicals.
8 PKK guerrillas including two women, who lost their lives in a clash in September 2009 Cukurca district of Hakkari, were killed using chemical weapons. Upon finding some photos and materials verifying the assertion, human rights organizations sent the materials to Germany for an investigation after which the German press wrote that the Turkish army used 'chemical weapons' against PKK militants.
While German human rights activists and politicians demanded an international investigation into the issue, the University of Hamburg issued a report and proved the use of chemical weapons by the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces). Separately, expert Hans Baumann who examined the photos of the event proved that the photos were real images, while Hamburg University Hospital issued a report saying that the militants were most likely killed with chemical weapons.
PKK guerrilla Bedran Kaya, who lost his life in the clash in Hakkari's Semdinli district on July 31, 2011, was as well claimed to have been killed with a chemical weapon. The assertion came up upon the notification of those seeing Kaya’s body which had no bullet marks but an intense skin eruption.
Zafer Tanrish who appealed to our branch on 29 April 2009 made the following statement; ‘‘my brother Gokmen Tanrish left home about 16 years ago and we have not heard from him since then. After some time we received unconfirmed information that he had joined the PKK. In addition, we did not have any information on whether he was alive or not. However, 10 days ago we learned that my brother had been killed in a clash where chemical weapons were used in Samsavat region between Erzincan and Gumushane provinces in 1994. We want to reclaim his body and to find out if he was killed with a chemical weapon or not. I demand you to make the necessary attempts for the identification and reclaimation of his body.’
22 students, who left Malatya to join the PKK but slaughtered in mass on May 17, 1994 at the Bezar Mountain in Adiyaman yet before reaching the guerrilla area, and six PKK guerrillas, who came to the area to meet the students, were also claimed to have been killed with chemical weapons. While few eye-witnesses confirmed the use of chemical weapons during the operation, journalist Evrim Alatash called attention to the use of chemical weapons in a review she wrote about Fidel Tore who was among these 22 students.
The bodies of 21 PKK militants, who were claimed to have been killed with chemical weapons in a clash in Chemishgezek district of Dersim on 11 April 1997, have still not been delivered to their families although their code names and birth places are already registered at the Office of Malatya Special Authority Chief Prosecutor.”
source: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/kurdistan/1533-use-of-chemical-weapons-by-turkish-army-exposed
Kurdish Regional Government urges Turkey to apologize for raids on Kurds
Kurdistan Regional Government urged Turkey to apologize for a week of air strikes across the border and has also called for a closure of Turkish military bases inside Iraqi territory.
After local officials reported a Turkish air strike killed seven civilians on Sunday 21, protests were staged in the capital Erbil (Hewler) and other towns.
In the first official comment from Turkey on the civilian deaths, the Turkish authorities denied any casualties. But Iraq's central government has summoned the Turkish ambassador to demand an end to air strikes and the regional Kurdish government condemned the deaths.
"We demand an end to the presence of Turkish military bases and their intelligence agencies in Kurdistan's territory," the Iraqi Kurdish parliament said in a statement. "We demand the Turkish government make a formal apology to the people and the Kurdistan government."
According to Iraq's foreign ministry Turkey has around 1,300 military in Iraqi territory at small observation posts set up in the 1990s with the permission of Baghdad.
source: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/component/content/article/1534-kurdish-regional-government-urges-turkey-to-apologize-for-raids-
Leyla Zana writes to world leaders on Kurdish Issue
Kurdish well-known female politician and the deputy of Amed (Diyarbakir) Leyla Zana has sent a letter to the U.S. President Barack Obama, NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, President of the Council of Europe, Herman Van Rompuy and Turkish President Abdullah Gul regarding the most recent policy implemented against the Kurdish people.
While Turkey's air strike continues in southern Kurdistan, Amed’s deputy Leyla Zana, in a letter to the leaders of the world, criticized the silence over the growing attacks against Kurds.
Deputy Leyla Zana's letter is as follows;
While the world is going through a very fast process of change and transformation and the Middle East is witnessing new developments, our people who are deprived of the fairness of the history still continue their struggle for “existence” at the cost of their lives.
When it comes to the Kurds and their political status, the world opinion keeps remaining silent and condoning the right and boundary violations, bombings on villages, houses and people, regardless of women, men and children, cross-border operations and the ongoing aerial operations. This situation is greeted with great astonishment by our people and considered difficult to understand.
The constant attack position of these powers and their intention to destroy all the values of Kurds do not comply with the character of the 21st century and the principles of fairness in the world.
The latest aerial attacks on Kandil, which have killed a civilian family in the region, are defended by Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey which is currently trying to set an example of a “model country” to the Middle East and conducting negotiations to be a member of the EU. In a statement to a national newspaper, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, saying that “the operations are legitimate and true”, didn’t abstain from defending the attacks which target civilians. (Bulent Arinc/Cihan News Agency/22.08.2011)
I would like to express my regret that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey is increasing the policy of violence against Kurds as the Western world is holding up him as an example to the Middle East. I am greatly worried that we may face a modern dictatorship while the dictatorial regimes in the Middle East are falling down. The state’s attitude which forces the whole society to think the same with itself and the closure cases against the worldwide multilingual Roj-TV need to be accepted as a sign in this regard.
In brief, the military, political, diplomatic attacks launched against the Kurds and most importantly, the boundless attacks on our civilian people are in front of the eyes of the world public opinion. It is possible to foresee how the destruction of an oppressed people’s children will deepen the deadlock.
All efforts of the Kurdish side are intended for finding a democratic and political solution to this problem. Although Mr. Ocalan has many times silenced the weapons since 1993 and created opportunities for obtaining the rights of the Kurdish people on a democratic ground as well as convincing his public that the problem can be solved in this way, the state has negated all these processes with a negative attitude and turned a blind eye to these opportunities. Resisting extraordinarily about defining the problem, the state has at every turn considered and applied violence as the single method of solving the Kurdish problem.
Mr. President,
In the testimony of the whole world’s humanity, the geography which has been in a conflict environment for two hundred years is now expecting peace and quietness.
Kurdistan's geography should not be a second Palestine and the Sri Lanka simulation shouldn’t even be associated with the situation in Turkey. Otherwise, a social chaos and an ethnic war among the peoples will be unavoidable, which will no doubt drag the world peace and humanity into more disaster.
I expect and wish that you will meet the requirements of your both conscience and position.''
Video of Demonstration In kurdish city of Qamishlo in West Kurdistan
Thousands of people poured to the street of Qamishlu protesting against the Turkish ongoing bombing of Kurdish villages.
Turkish bombing of South Kurdistan has been going on since Wednesday 17th August. In one instance Turkish warplanes killed 7 members of a family including the pregnant mother and their four children.
Kurds in Qamishlu strongly denounced such an offensive and appealed to all the Kurdish organisations to take strong measures and project their national stance.
In the meantime another protest was carried out in the city of Amude with the same aim. That took place in front of the public cinema.
source of the news: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/component/content/article/1531-protest-in-west-of-kurdistan
Nechirvan Barzani:We are trying diplomatically and peacefully to deploy our forces at the border.
In an exclusive interview with Rudaw, deputy head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Nechirvan Barzani, said that he is in the middle of extensive diplomatic efforts to diffuse the tensions at the borders of Iraqi Kurdistan with Iran.
Barzani said that he is “meeting with all sides” in order to facilitate the deployment of Peshmarga forces along the borders of Kurdistan with Turkey and Iran.
“We do not want trouble and war,” Barzani said. “We are now trying diplomatically and peacefully to deploy our forces at the border.”
Accompanied by a diplomatic team from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Barzani visited Tehran last week and met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian foreign minister to discuss the latest tensions that arose along the borders between Iran and Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
Barzani said that he raised the issue of the Alwand River that originates in western Iran and flows into the Khanaqin area of Kurdistan. The residents and farmers of the area complained last month that Iran had blocked the river—badly affecting their livelihood.
Barzani said that the Iranian authorities have promised to investigate the issue, “but they also said that there is shortage of water and (blocking the Alwand) was not politically motivated,”
In his interview with Rudaw, Barzani said that the main topic of his talk with the Iranian authorities was the heavy clashes that took places at the border between the Iranian forces and fighters of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK).
“In their fight they (PJAK) never take into account the interests of the Kurdistan region and they give excuses to those countries (Iran and Turkey) to attack the territories of the Kurdistan region,” Barzani said.
Regarding PJAK and PKK armed activities along the border, Barzani said, “It is unacceptable and based on the international standards the Kurdistan region cannot tolerate it,”
Barzani said that the Kurdistan region is a government and not a group on the mountains, and therefore the KRG is responsible for the lives of its people and the international law.
Barzani also said that with its recent attacks along the Turkish border, the PKK damaged the efforts that have been launched between the Turkish government and the jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to find a political and peaceful solution for the Kurds of Turkey.
“PKK was in a position from which it could derive great benefits, but unfortunately after the June 12 elections the group has been following a wrong policy,” Barzani said.
Barzani criticized PKK’s latest confrontation with the Turkish army, saying that there is always a chance for armed struggle, but peace opportunities rarely come by. He said that the PKK couldn’t wait enough to see what Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayyib Erdogan was going to deliver after the parliamentary elections.
“There were high level negotiations going on with Ocalan and he was considered a major player in the process,” Barzani said. “But PKK’s errors ruined the efforts of Ocalan and Turkey.”
Regarding the boycott of the Turkish parliament by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) following the elections, Barzani said it was a “strategic mistake,” that shouldn’t have been made.
However, Barzani still hoped that PM Erdogan will “meet with the BDP and the other parties because it is in the interest of Turkey and the Kurds.”
“And certainly the PKK too will have to silence its guns and work to prepare the ground for peaceful solutions,” Barzani said.
Barzani said that Erdogan will have the chance to solve the Kurdish issue. In the meantime he called Erdogan’s recent statement that there is no such thing in Turkey as the Kurdish problem, but there is “terrorism” problem, a mistake.
Regarding the statements of the spokesperson for the US embassy in Baghdad who told Rudaw in an interview that the PKK should put down its weapons unconditionally, Barzani said that disarmament can be done through a political process.
“The Turkish government should restart its democratic process and thus reach the conclusion that weapons should be laid down,” he said. “One should speak realistically. You can’t say lay down your weapons just like that.”
About the recent air strikes by the Turkish air force in the Qandil Mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, Brazani said, “America should try with Turkey to find a peaceful solution. For America and Europe it is more important if they solve the Kurdish issue than allow Turkey to send its fighter planes to attack the Kurdistan region.”
source: http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=246154
Political Activist Sajjad Karami Detained
He was arrested after participating in a religious ceremony along with families of political prisoners and several reformists.
According to the witnesses, plainclothes agents were all over the place even though the location was quite and there were no protests.
One of the plain clothes agents approached Karami and asked him to accompany him. He then took him to a police vehicle.
He was previously arrested in February for the charges of conspiracy aginats national security by persuading people to jon the February 14th protests and anti-regime propaganda. He was sentenced to one year in prison.
source:http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/33183
Kurdish Peaceful Human shields wounded in Hakkari by the Turkish government Forces
demonstration by the human shields has been violently attacked by security forces in Çukurca, province of Hakkari, near the border.
The demonstrators have been attacked by tear gas and it is reported that at least two people have been badly injured. One of the wounded is thought to be a child.
The army did not give permission for the human shields march and attacked the demonstration with violence.
Protest actions against the military operations carried out during the month of Ramadan continue. Peace organizations, NGOs, trade unions, political parties, intellectuals and Kurdish politicians have participated in these marches against war and the government of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The Peace Mothers Initiative–lead human shield protest at a border near Şırnak continues. “We have nothing to lose,” said 53-year-old Tokatlı Emriye Ektiren, a Turkish Peace Mother from Mardin. “As a Turkish mother, I am here to support the Peace Mothers. We have come here to build a bridge to our children. We are addressing the government saying, absolutely no mother can endure the pain of a lost child. It does not matter if they are Turks or Kurds; they are our children.”
Ektiren’s daughter-in-law and another Peace Mother, Gülseren Üzer added, “Every side of our life is under occupation. My husband is a member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and my brother is a soldier in the Turkish Military Forces (TSK). They are both a part of me. I am here for all the soldiers and the PKK members. I am here to stop these operations. Those who are killed in this conflict are people’s children. Brother kills brother in this land. We are here to stop this war.”
Police seized eight vehicles heading to Diyarbakır from Dersim, Malatya, Elazığ, Bingöl and central Diyarbakır in support of the human shield action. In Mardin, police detained MKM artist Rojbin. Police reaction to citizens and BDP deputies who are protesting by blocking roads continues.
In the meantime, human shield protesters on their way Süleymaniye, Hewler and Duhok to Sengeser stopped and began a hunger strike. They were then taken into custody. A spokesperson for the approximately 50 human shields who were detained said that the detainees were subjected to violence and, if Iran and Turkey’s attacks continue, the Government of the Federal Kurdistan Region should sever trade and diplomatic ties with these countries.
In Cizre, the Saturday Mothers met for the 31st week, announcing that they would travel with the human shields during the Ramadan holiday.
In a number of house raids, police from the Hakkari Police Department and the Gendarmerie Command carried out a number of house raids in villages and the city center. Seventeen people were taken into custody.
Police attacks began yesterday in Yüksekova at the end of a funeral cortege for one of the HPG guerrillas who lost their life.
In Mersin’s Akdeniz District, police detained Azadiy Welat Newspaper worker Kahraman Aktay. He was reportedly taken to the Aktay Siteler Police station.
Police raided a community condolences tent in the district of Sarıgazi which was set up in honor of Hamide Şevlük (Rohanî Kendal), who was one of three HPG members who were killed in an air strike in the Federal Kurdistan Region. The Mardin BDP District Organization provided food for the Ramadan Iftar meals of the families.
In Diyarbakır, many warplanes took off from the 2nd Air Force Tactical Command Center last night, apparently headed for the Kurdistan Federal Region.
PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers have been prevented from meeting him for four weeks. On Wednesday, they made their tenth application to visit their client, which was refused for the reason of an “official holiday.”
Intellectuals and academicians reacted against the escalating violence. They said that the AKP’s isolation of Öcalan is an “obstruction to peace.”
The academics pointed out that the only power that might prevent the course of the conflict is Öcalan. They called on the government to make a step towards mitigating this situation.
source:http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2945
Van's Peace and Democratic party Councillor wounded by tear gas of Turkish Military has died
Yıldırım Ayhan was a BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) councillor in Van.
He died today, after being hit by a tear gas thrown by soldiers. Ayhan together with hundreds of others was demonstrating for peace.
He had joined the human shields protest in Çukurca, in the province of Hakkari.
The army attacked the crowd viciously.
The photo of councillor Ayhan, wounded on the ground says it all. It says of the brutality of war. But it says also of the brutality of those who do not want to listen to the cry for peace.
The soldiers who thrown the tear gas into the peace protesters are guilty of killing councillor Ayhan.
Deliberately they have chosen to respond with violence to the unarmed people's demand for peace. But those in command are even guiltier, assuming there is (and there is not) a different measuring rate when speaking about violence.
Those in command are the army generals and the government.
The AKP government of prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is guilty of killing a man, a democratically elected representative of the people, who had dared asking for peace.
source: http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2950
Demonstration of Kurds all around the world against the war
new demonstration against the Turkish Armed Forces’ (TSK) aerial bombardment of the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been staged in Mersin.
Meanwhile in Istanbul the Saturday Mothers, holding their 335th sit in action in Galatasaray Square continued their quest for justice for family members who were victims of unsolved murders or have disappeared while in police custody. Like every week, the mothers carried banners with pictures of the missing.
Evin Doğan, niece of Seyhan Doğan who disappeared while in police custody in 1995 when he was 13, said that her grandparents was searching justice for her uncle until they died last year. From now on, he is going to take over this responsibility and ask “where is my uncle.”
Protests against military raids are taking place in Europe as well. TwitterKurds has launched a demonstration in London against the Turkish air raids into the Kurdish Federal Region. It is scheduled to begin today outside the Turkish Embassy in Belgrave Square at 3pm (an earlier meeting point to join the demonstration is at 2pm at Manor House Tube Station).
In their press release, the demonstration organizers underlined that "the Turkish state’s repression of the Kurdish people has taken an ominous turn as Turkish warplanes continue to bomb PKK controlled areas in the Kandil Mountains and surrounding areas, killing scores of Kurdish civilians and emptying numerous Kurdish villages."
From the beginning of the year, the Turkish authorities have been intensifying attacks against the Kurdish people in all spheres of Kurdish political life.
Detentions have almost doubled from the previous year and the historical election victory of the Kurds was marred by grenade attacks on the night of election celebrations and compounded by the Turkish state's continued imprisonment of 6 Kurdish political prisoners who were elected to parliament from jail.
The 36 elected pro-Kurdish MPs were effectively locked out of parliament by the state whose real intentions have become blindingly clear.
The statement also says, "The Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan has used a mixture of clever psychological warfare and criminalization of the Kurds with a brutal crackdown on Kurdish political activists, surgically pinpointing and arresting the most active and effective leadership of the Kurdish Movement, who now are incarcerated in Turkish jails.”
Despite nightly bombardments and claims of over a hundred PKK casualties, the PKK self-defense forces (HPG) report that the only casualties have been civilian casualties, including families and children. They also point to the fact that most of their forces are operational inside Turkey.
KCK (Confederation of Kurdistan Communities) executive member, Murat Karayilan added that HPG to date have only percent of their forces engaged in operations and have warned Turkey that this could change if Turkey continues with its military operations.
source: http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2946
Friday, August 26, 2011
23-Year Prison Threat for Kurdish Politician by the Turkish Government
Altan Tan, Diyarbakır MP for the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) is facing imprisonment of 23 years and six months.
The indictment of the trial against Tan was prepared by the Public Chief Prosecution of Diyarbakır (south-eastern Turkey). The allegations are based on Tan's attending the funeral ceremony of members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) who were killed in clashes with security forces in Pazarçık (Kahramanmaraş) on 23 April 2011. He is also alleged of having joined a group that was chanting slogans in the favour of Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the PKK.
Tan supposedly did not make any attempt to stop the group from shouting the pro-Öcalan slogans and thus allegedly contributed to the offence they were committing.
Furthermore, the indictment put forward that Tan participated in the three-day mourning announced by the PKK on 16 May and that he attended a press release and a commemoration ceremony for the killed PKK members.
The indictment seeks prison terms of 23 years and six months in total on the grounds of the three incidents. Tan is charged twice with "making propaganda for the PKK" and twice with "opposing the Law of Meetings and Demonstrations". Moreover, he is tried under allegations of "committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization without being a member of the organization".
The trial will be heard before the Diyarbakır 7th High Criminal Court. (IC/VK)
source:http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/132362-23-year-prison-threat-for-kurdish-politician
Iranian government's propagates against PJAK in East Kurdistan
The security institutions of the Iranian Intelligence Service have embarked on an extensive propagation campaign against PJAK (Free Life Party of Kurdistan).
Despite the dissemination of CDs, leaflets and magazines, anti-PJAK exhibitions have also been opened to present the organisation in a way suiting regime’s ends.
The Iranian Security Institutions have opened exhibitions in the cities of Sine, Urmiye and Mahabad whereby they are making anti-PJAK propagations.
In the meantime they have disseminated a significant numbers of CDs and magazines. This is while they have been running a weblog named as ‘anti-PJAK’ fabricating ludicrous assertion about an organisation which emerged in 2004 but in such a short time it became the nightmare for the Iranian Mullahs.
source: http://www.rojhelat.nu/english/component/content/article/1527-iran-propagates-against-pjak
Kurdish Authorities have warned of Turkish ground operation
Local sources have said to ANF that officials of the Kurdish Regional Administration visited villages in Sidekan and warned them about a possible "ground operation". The officials encouraged the locals to leave their villages since the administration would not be able to protect them. It was said that the villagers did not follow their request.
Massoud Barzani, President of the Iraqi Kurdish Region, said last Tuesday that in case of a ground war in their region, they will resume the necessary attitude. Yet, he added, "right now diplomacy is important".
The TSK started sending personnel to the border region on Tuesday. It was announced that 2,000 commandos were sent. The TSK has also done logistic transfers before.
source: http://www.rojhelat.nu/english/component/content/article/1528-kurdish-authority-warned-of-turkish-ground-operation-
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Iranian soldiers killed 1 Kurd and arrested 7 others
While Iran is escalating its military operations in East Kurdistan; it also sees no constraint in killing and arresting of the local residents.
A Kurd from Mako was killed by the Iranian soldiers on a check point, and 7 other were arrested in Meriwan on the ground of working with the Kurdish political parties.
According to the latest information we received from East Kurdistan, on 21st August, Yousef Mirzayi Alem Holi from the village of Dim Qishlaq of Mako province, came under the gun fire of the Iranian soldiers while he was going back to his house with his children.
Mr Mirzay Alem Holi was killed on the spot; his daughter and son were taken captive by the Iranian soldiers.
In the meantime a brigade of the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) raided the villages of Gweze Kor and Espriz in Meriwan areas arrested 7 people.
source: http://www.rojhelat.info/english/component/content/article/1522-iranian-soldiers-killed-1-kurd-and-arrested-7-others
President Barzani's Statement on the Situation of Kurdistan Region Border Areas
Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Following the recent escalation of violence and bombardment of Kurdistan Region border areas by both Turkey and Iran, which have casued the death of 7 civilians, President Barzani today issued a statement calling on all sides to abandon violence and spare the Kurdistan Region. The following is the English translation of the statement by the President:
Dear People of Kurdistan,
As you know, the situation in the Kurdistan Region’s border areas has deteriorated, causing our people to face daily Iranian and Turkish bombardment and aerial attacks.
These attacks have inflicted great suffering on our people in the border areas, leaving some dead and injured. They have intensified in recent days to the point that we can no longer remain silent and watch our innocent, vulnerable civilians pay the price of this fight.
The presence of armed PJAK and PKK members in the mountainous border areas provides an excuse for our two neighbouring countries to commit these attacks. The continuation of their actions, the use of violence, and the use of Kurdistan Region border areas as bases will lead to the spread of violence to the Kurdistan Region and this will not in any way help the legitimate Kurdish question. It is unfortunate that no consideration is given to the interests and welfare of the people of the Kurdistan Region.
It has been our policy all along, and we reiterate again, that the Kurdistan Region aspires to develop friendly and good neighbourly relations with all sides, and it has never been involved in the internal problems of these two countries. We would never interfere in the internal affairs of any country. However, we can not remain silent when our innocent citizens are being killed.
As the Kurdistan Region, we deplore the shedding of innocent blood. We believe that dialogue and mutual understanding are keys to resolving all problems. In the past, we never spared any effort to resolve these issues through dialogue and always advocated for the pursuit of peaceful means by all sides. Unfortunately, the situation has once again become complicated.
In some point in our history, we resorted to armed struggle to defend our land, to obtain our rights, and to protect the dignity of our people. With our resolve and with the backing of our people, we managed to preserve our existence and identity. But today is different. In today’s world, the language of dialogue is far more effective than fighting and military action. We have spared no efforts to spread this message.
Our goal has always been the provision of prosperity for our people and maintaining the stability of our Region. We would never do anything to jeopardize the prosperity and stability of our Region, whatever the circumstances. Therefore, we request that the interests of the people of the Kurdistan Region be observed. The achievements made by our people are the result of hard work and great sacrifices, and it is incumbent on every Kurd to be proud of these achievements and to protect them.
It must be clear to the people of the Kurdistan Region that military action along the border areas gives an excuse to both countries to openly conduct their own military actions in the Kurdistan Region. The main victims of these bombardments and military actions are the people of the Kurdistan Region. I am certain that fighting and violence will not lead to any resolution. At the end of the day, peaceful means must be pursued. The sooner this fighting ends the better; however, if the opposing factions have chosen and insist on the option of fighting, we ask all sides to do their fighting elsewhere and spare the Kurdistan Region.
We are prepared for any cooperation to return the situation to normalcy through dialogue and peaceful means. At the same time, we call on the Iraqi federal government to use its diplomatic channels with our two neighbouring countries to bring these attacks to an end and protect the sovereignty of Iraq.
In light of this delicate situation, I ask the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament to comprehensively study this situation and then formulate a policy that reflects the unanimous view of the Kurdistan Region.
Masoud Barzani
President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
source:http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=245612
Kurdish Political Prisoner Mr. Farshad Kamangar in ICU after days of hunger Strike
HRANA News Agency – After 29 days of hunger strike, the Kurdish prisoner Farshad Kamangar has been hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital in the city of Bijar. He is in extremely critical condition.
According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Farshad Kamangar has been behind bars in Kermanshah, Marivan and Bijar prisons for two years on alleged financial crimes. Although Farshad Kamangar has served his full prison sentence, he remains behind bars because he is unable to pay a fine to the Iranian government.
Since his hunger strike began 29 days ago, prison officials have ignored Farshad Kamangar’s requests and have failed to take any actions to address his concerns. Early this morning, August 23, 2011, while Farshad Kamangar’s family was heading to Tehran to file an appeal with the Supreme Court, prison authorities informed them that Farshad had been taken to the intensive care in extremely critical condition. Hospital officials have not given Farshad Kamangar’s family the permission to see him while he is in ICU and have said that he is in “grave condition.”
Farshad Kamangar’s family members have asked various government and hospital officials for the permission to see him but have been denied a visit every time. Dayeh Saltaneh is Farshad Kamangar’s elderly mother who has now fallen ill due to excessive pressure and concerns for her son’s life.
Farshad Kamangar and Hassan Akhtar Samand together with two other prisoners were transferred from Marivan to Bijar Prison on July 25, 2011. They began their hunger strike upon their arrival in protest to being exiled to Bijar. Hassan Akhtar Samand is a political prisoner.
source: http://www.en-hrana.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=487:farshad-kamangar-in-icu-after-29-days-of-hunger-strike&catid=12:prisoners&Itemid=12
Group of Kurdish youth protested in front of Turkish Consult in hewlair
The Federal Kurdistan Region Patriotic Youth Movement’s three-day march to Kandil and Zap areas has begun while 20 NGO representatives have started a separate march to Kandil region where seven people lost their lives due to the Turkish bombardment on Sunday.
The protest acts of human shields against the Turkish air assaults in Federal Kurdistan Region is growing with the participation of the youth who will act as human shields in the operation areas.
Making a statement in front of the Federal Parliament of Kurdistan in Hewler, about 40 young human shields said; “As the patriotic Kurdish young people, we will not remain silent in the face of any attacks carried out in the territory of Kurdistan. We will not allow this situation to continue in this way. We want to end the attacks with our human-shield act and our demonstrations will be performed in different areas if the attacks continue.
After the statement, young demonstrators walked to the Turkish Consulate where another statement was made on behalf of the Patriotic Kurdish Youth’s Initiative. Speaking on behalf of the Initiative, Zozik Çomani said the followings; “Our march-act will continue for three days until we arrive the Xinere and Xakurk regions. During our march, we will inform the people in Saklawa, Herir and Diyana towns about the attacks and then gather with another group of young demonstrators in Diyana. We will then all together make a press statement beside the guerrilla forces whom we will ask for permission to stay there until the attacks are ended. Should they allow us, we will stay there with them until the attacks finish and should they not allow, we will exhibit our efforts in different ways to make the assaults stop.”
In another protest statement in Rawunduz district of Hewler, about 20 non-governmental organizations reacted against the attacks of the Turkish army in the territory of Kurdistan. Speaking on behalf of NGOs, Hejar Ibrahim said the followings;
“Our act is initiated to stop the bombing in Kurdistan because the bombardment does harm to not only the people but also the nature which has been spoiled to a great extent for the last one week. The situation has reached another aspect with the killing of seven people. When we arrive at the Kortek district, we will let seven peace doves fly there in the name of these seven people to give the message that Kurds have never wanted a war and have always sided with peace. We will make a press statement to demand the ending of the ongoing attacks and the destruction of people and the nature at once.”
Source of picture and news : http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2916
Monday, August 22, 2011
President Maosud barzani condemned the Turkish Governments air attacks on south Kurdistan
President Masoud barzani, President of Kurdish regional government condemned yesterday's attack on a civilian car and killing 7 people by Turkish Airplanes.
Mr. barzani also showed his worries on continues attacks on Civilians by the Turkish Government airplanes. He stated that considering that there is no excuse for Turkish government for attacking unarmed and innocent people in Kurdistan hoped that such attacks on innocent people do not happen again.
Yesterday Turkish airplanes attacked the Kurdish areas and killed 7, which were mostly woman and children.
Source: http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=3&id=245433
Translation: Aram-rk.blogspot.com
Iraqi protestors condemn Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq
NCRI – The protestors in Baghdad’s Tahrir square condemned Iranian regime’s meddling in Iraq and called for measures to confront it, Iraqi TV Al-Sharqiya, reported on Friday.
“In their slogans and banners, the protestors called for early elections and changes in the current Iraqi government,” the report said.
“The Iraqi government has proven its inability and incapability to solve the problems and the sufferings of citizens have increased.”
They also called for serious measures to be taken to combat corruption among senior government officials, and to overcome high unemployment,” the report added.
source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/32404
more then 5000 days of prison without any break for kurdish Political prisoner in iranian Prison
Mr. Vali Droodi, Kurdish political prisoner that is in Yazd Central prison today is still in prison for over 5000 days without any break.
According to activist group in iran, Mr. Droodi that is from the Village of Chersaneh areas of Kurdish city of kamyaran was arrested on June 1/1996 while he was injured and later being in jail for over 5000 days, he is still there without any rights of break or seeing any of her family.
this Political prisoner was first send to kermashan prison and spent couple years in this prison and in the same year he was convicted of Working with Kurdish freedom fighters and Kurdish political organizations.
Mr. droodi after spending many years in Kemashan central jail was transferred to Yazd Central prison and due to long distance the family are not able to work on seeing him.
Source: http://www.hra-news.net/1389-01-27-05-27-21/9372-1.html
Translation: Aram-rk.blogspot.com
2 Kurds were sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Iranian government
2 kurds from Kurdish city of Sardash were senteced to 12 years in prison.
according to Mukriyan news agency 2 kurds with the names of Hossien Amini and Khalid haji zadeh were arrested in charges of working with religious groups were sentenced to 6 years each in prison.
these 2 prisoners were arrested 6 months ago and currently at Rajaishahr prison in Karaj, iran.
Source: http://www.hra-news.net/1389-01-27-05-24-07/9371-1.html
Translation: Aram-rk.blogspot.com
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Turkish air assaults kill seven innocent kurdish civilians
Turkey's air strikes have once more targeted civilians during the air assaults on Kandil. As a result of the bombing of a civilian vehicle, six people including two women and childs have been reported dead.
According to information received, the warplanes bombing the region targeted on Kurtekê way a vehicle of civilians who were escaping from the bombardment in their village.
While one of the two children was yet not even a year-old, the bodies were reportedly dismembered due to the explosion. Among the casualties, the names of two were reported as Imam Hussein and Omar Bazid.
Warplanes are continuing to bomb Benê and Muslok regions.
Meanwhile, warplanes are reportedly flying over Zap region which has been bombed this morning besides Metina and Gare regions.
The names of the casualities have been determined as follows;
Hasan Mustafa Hasan (Father)
Mer Haci Mam (Mother)
Rezan Hüseyin Mustafa (34)
Oskar Hüseyin (10)
Sonya Şemal Hasan (4)
Solin Şemal Hasan (6-months)
Zana Hüseyin Mustafa (11)
source: http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2902
124 Kurdish villages evacuated due to Turkish bombardment
117 villages in Amediye region of Dihok and 7 villages in Kandil and Sidekan regions have been evacuated as a result of the ongoing Turkish air strikes on Federal Kurdistan Region since August 17, reported Rudaw newspaper.
Some other sources in the region have claimed that around 170 villages will be evacuated in Amedi region which has been targeted by the Turkish army. It has been argued that each family to be evacuated will be given 30 million dinars.
Giving information to ANF, Journalist Omar Mohammed Omar remarked that the Mêrga Çiya, Yekmalê, Hêsê, Xirabe, Şêlaza, Dergelê, Pîrka, Bêşîlê, Bêlîzanê, Bazê villages in Metina have been evacuated. Omar added that 10-15 other villages in Haftanin region and Xirabe and neighboring villages have also been emptied after yesterday’s assaults.
While political parties, civil society organizations and the public reacted against the operation in Federal Region of Kurdistan, the evacuation of villages is commented as “a sign of a wide-scaled operation after the Ramadan month as the region is left peopleless as most probably chemical weapons will be used during the operation”.
At least three villages have been hit by the air assaults of the Turkish army since five days, while countless houses and fields have been destroyed.
source: http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2901
Kurdish Regional Government condemned the Turkish air strikes
Federate Kurdistan Regional Government sharply condemned the air attacks of the Turkish army on the territory of the Federal Kurdistan. The government stated that the bombardment is a violation of the treaty of amity and international laws and agreements.
In the statement published on the website of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the attacks by the Turkish army since 17 August were condemned strongly. The statement emphasized that the problems could only be solved through dialogue and negotiation with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
The statement expressed that the bombardment on border villages and many areas in Kurdistan Region forced migration to the region’s people who suffered great financial losses and damages in their living areas.
“The government of Kurdistan is worried and uneasy with regards to this situation and in strong opposition to the ongoing bombardment. No excuse can be a justification to the bombardment on the territory of the Kurdistan region as this will give a great damage to the amity and security of the region’s people. In the current situation, everyone needs to pay regard to the sensitive period of the Kurdistan Region. In addition, not any power can purpose to use the Kurdistan territory as a mean to attack against neighboring countries. Both sides need to solve the problems through political ways and dialogue” said the statement.
source: http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=2900
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