Kurdish opposition MPs locked in parliament

By Shwan Zulal
It was another day of protest in Maidani Azadi in Slemani and other towns across Kurdistan. Today being the international women day, the protest organizers called some prominent women speakers and asked women to attend the square. The event all went well and some other intellectuals among them a Kurdish novelist gave a speech and the previous presidential candidate also arrived back in Slemani to support the protestants.

Nevertheless in the late afternoon in a bizarre indecent the opposition MPs were locked in the parliament building, and the speaker called the militia to attend parliament, moreover the armed force came into the building and the episode took over 20 minutes. Later it emerged that the speaker has postponed the parliamentary session in an effort to silence the opposition voices talking about the current crisis in Kurdistan. It has also been reported that one of the opposition MPs protested and sat down in the speaker's chair, which has prompted the speaker to lock all the opposition MPs in the chamber.

This indecent has laid bare the lack of respect for KRG parliament by the incumbent political parties of PUK and KDP. In the last three weeks the Kurdish authority has made it clear that the rule of law does not exist in Kurdistan and the armed militia belonging to the two parties do not respect it. Parliament is not a play ground of the militia and such incident should have not happened in the first place. As usual so far nobody is taking responsibility for this lack of judgment and many in the government see it a proportional response.

Unrest in Kurdistan

I have been meaning to keep my blog updated but due to work commitments and having two children, it has been rather difficult to find time to do so. Nevertheless the events of the last few weeks in Kurdistan has made me make time and write about what is happening as it is the least I can do, being far away from the events in Slemani. 

The current protest has started on 17 Feb as part of an opposition call to support what was happening in the wider middle-east and demonstration against corruption and government failure in providing public services. The rally started in the centre of town and moved towards Salim street in order to protest in front of KDP(Kurdistan Democratic Party) and later on to PUK(Patriotic Union of Kurdistan). While the crowed were in front of KDP HQ-4 in Slemani, video suggested that one of the protesters were hurt first and then the crowed were animated and started throwing stones at the building, smashing windows.  http://vimeo.com/20108107. 

Then the people inside the building started opening fire on the protesters killing a teenager and injuring around 40 others. this has infuriated everyone including me and showed that the Kurdish ruling elite have lost touch with reality and were ready to do whatever to stay in power. Although  the intention  of the demonstrations were not to topple the government, the shooting have changed that and  it hardened the protestors determination. After another week of violence in other parts of Kurdistan and slemani city, more people were shot and others were arrested by the authorities. This act of thugery by the heavy handed militia forces have turned opinions in Kurdistan, and the protesters have started to ask for regime change and the resignation of KRG President, Prime minister and parliament speaker.

Shwan Zulal