ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani warned protestors against “destructive efforts” and violence, in a statement released on Monday, amid ongoing anti-government protests in several towns in Sulaimani province.
“This is a difficult situation, not wanted or desired by the Kurdistan Regional Government, so I urge the dear citizens not to be influenced by destructive efforts and messages aimed at complicating and destabilizing the Kurdistan Region,” said Barzani in an official statement.
Barzani urged political parties to be cooperative in overcoming this difficult period and maintaining stability in the Region.
“The Kurdistan Regional Government, of course, feels the burden and hardships of the lives of its citizens,” he said, recognizing the demonstrations as a “legitimate right” of citizens. “However, destructive and chaotic attempts are different from asking for people’s legitimate rights,” he added, calling for perpetrators of violence to be brought to justice.
Protesters in Sulaimani city took to the streets last week, demanding their unpaid salaries, followed by a series of protests across the province in the towns of Ranya, Said Sadiq, Chamchamal and Piramagrun.
One protester died of a gunshot wound in Chamchamal on Monday, as tensions escalated in the town.
Protesters in the town of Said Sadiq set fire to the offices of five of the Kurdistan Region’s largest political parties on Monday, as demonstrators were injured in clashes with police in the town.
Protesters in the Sulaimani province town of Piramagrun attacked the headquarters of the KRG’s ruling parties on Sunday, setting the PUK’s (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) alight, after security forces tried to prevent the movement of protesters.
Kurdistan Region civil servants have not been paid for several months of this year amid ongoing disputes between the KRG and Baghdad over the Region’s share of budget.
Barzani affirmed that the KRG has made “every effort” to overcome this "difficult" situation and is in talks with the federal government to provide the KRG with its "legitimate" financial rights.
Erbil has struggled to pay civil servant salaries in full and on time for five years, due to the war against the Islamic State (ISIS), disputes with Baghdad and a drop in oil prices.
KRG has begun distributing the October for several ministries since Thursday, according to a statement, after the government said they would take out a $205 million loan for the payments.
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