Updated: Protesters set party, government offices on fire for second day
12:17 am, December 20
PM Barzani acknowledges protesters’ frustrations, urges unity and patience
Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said he understands the frustrations of protesters who have taken to the streets over the past two days.
“These are challenging times for our region. Your frustrations are understandable, and I hear them,” he said, adding that he supports the “peaceful expression of views” as a legitimate democratic right.
“But violence is never acceptable. I call on all of you to conduct your protests peacefully.”
He reminded the public that the Kurdish security forces are facing challenges in a “violent and fragile region” where just on Tuesday they engaged ISIS militants.
“Of even more concern is that we are tracking movements by Iraqi forces in Makhmour,” he added.
He concluded by urging unity.
“We are stronger when we are united. I appreciate your resilience and patience in this difficult period. We have got through much worse in the past, and I still believe that, together, we will build a better future.”
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11:52 pm
Sulaimani governor denies he requested closure of NRT
Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir has denied he requested the closure of NRT. According to a statement from the Ministry of Youth and Culture, the decision to close the Kurdish and Arabic channels of the Sulaimani-based NRT was made after a phone call between Abubakir and the ministry.
In a statement on social media, Abubakir said the Ministry’s assertion was a “complete lie and fabrication.”
He demanded a formal explanation from the minister.
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10:56 pm
PUK rejects ‘uncivil’ behavior in protests, calls for KRG to fix salary systems
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said it stands by the principles of the right to protest, but rejected the “uncivil” behavior in the protests Monday and Tuesday.
“We as the PUK reiterate our commitment to the principles of freedom, democracy, right to protest and just demands of people, and we regard ourselves as leaders in enforcing these principles,” the party’s leadership council asserted in a published statement Tuesday night.
“We don’t accept and strongly reject this kind of undemocratic, uncivil and chaotic behavior,” the statement qualified.
It accused “some rioter groups” of storming public places under the guise of the anti-government demonstrations.
For their own part, the PUK said they hold themselves responsible “to protect the homes and lives of people, public properties and service agencies of the cities and towns, namely power and water services in this difficult winter time."
Without naming any specific media outlet, the PUK criticized reporting that it said contributed to the deadly violence seen over the past two days.
“The incitement of directed media outlets to cause chaos under the name of freedom of the press is never acceptable,” the party stated, saying it called on courts and relevant institutions to fulfill their professional “and national responsibility” by taking “legal, rightful and necessary procedures against rioters and the group supporting them.”
Addressing the root causes of the protests, the PUK asked the government to “ramp up its utmost efforts to improve the livelihood and salary systems of the government employees in general and teachers in particular."
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10:20 pm
Komal leader: ‘There are no grounds for killing people’
Condemning the bloodshed in anti-government protests on Tuesday, Ali Bapir, leader of the Kurdistan Islamic Group (Komal), said demonstrators must remain peaceful and security forces can have no cause to use lethal force.
"We are very sad that once again demonstrations in the Kurdistan Region, unlike the majority of protests in the world, have resulted in a lot of martyrs and injured,” he said in a televised statement Tuesday evening.
“There are no grounds for killing people,” he stressed.
Bapir said people in the Kurdistan Region could learn from massive demonstrations in Baghdad by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr. "They do not even break a tree," Bapir said.
He said that people were justified in being upset because of “financial woes and the intense financial situations of the people.”
Like other Kurdish leaders and parties, Bapir urged "calm."
He called on angry protesters to avoid having their demands "derailed" by others, thereby undermining their legitimate demands.
"Any side turning to violence only causes damage for all sides. Therefore, storming shelters and offices and public institutions, public or private properties will of course have no effect or result, but destruction and damaging this country's infrastructure.”
"Asking for rights must be in a correct way," he told the protesters.
He said that the government and ruling parties must respond to the protesters’ demands and “no longer be passive in resolving issues and accumulated crises."
"Komal has always been on the side of people and the nation...” Bapir said. “At this time it is more determined in its unwavering attitude, even though we have paid a high price for such attitude in the past. We are ready to pay an even higher price.”
He said that if an interim government had been established, as his party had called for along with Gorran, “the situation would not reach what it is now."
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7:53 pm
Gorran urges calm as protests turn more violent
"We are calling on the citizens and protesters to express their dissatisfaction and raise them to the authorities in a civil way and far away from violence," Gorran urged in a statement.
"Turning to demonstrations on the streets of Kurdistan cities and towns is the result of failed governance, monopoly, corruption and injustice throughout the many years of rule by the leading parties of the Kurdistan Region," said Gorran.
"In addition to supporting all the right demands of the people, we with deep sorrow extend our condolences to the families of today's martyrs... and we hope for quick recovery for the wounded," it added.
Gorran also called for restraint from the Peshmerga and security forces, urging them to protect people and property and not "point the barrels of their guns at their sisters and brothers in order to avoid any further deepening of the problems and derailing the objectives of the protesters."
The party concluded that "it is the government's duty to respond to the calls and demands of the protesters and take serious steps to resolve the Kurdistan Region's crisis."
Gorran has been very critical of the KRG’s record, especially on the issues of paying public salaries and accountability, and is currently considering withdrawing from the coalition government.
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7:33pm
NRT shut down on charge of inciting violence
The Kurdish and Arabic channels of NRT were shut down by a decree from the KRG on charges of inciting violence as angry anti-government protests are ongoing in the Kurdistan Region.
The Ministry of Youth and Culture, which made the decision, explained the channel will be closed for a week.
The decision to shut down the channels came following a phone call between Dr. Haval Abubakir, Sulaimani governor and the ministry.
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5:51 p.m.
Five protesters have been killed and 80 others wounded in the city of Raniya on Tuesday, Taha Mohammed, spokesperson for Raniya Public Health, told Rudaw Media Network.
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5:39 p.m.
Parliament speaker condemns the arrest of an MP at Sulaimani protests
Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Yousif Mohammed has condemned the arrest of a member of parliament among the protesters in Sulaimani.
“Today among the protesters in Sulaimani, security forces arrested Rabun Maaruf. This act by Asayesh violates the law as parliamentarians have immunity,” Mohammed said.
He called for “an immediate release of the MP and all the other people who were detained today.”
Maaruf is the spokesperson of the New Generation List – a new political party that had registered to run in the November 1 elections before they were cancelled. The party is critical of the current KRG leadership.
The party’s leader, Shaswar Abdulwahid, has urged people to come out and join the demonstrations, saying they will accept nothing less than elections and “accountability for government officials.”
An arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for Abdulwahid on the charge of encouraging people to protest. NRT, the media outlet formerly owned by Abdulwahid, reported that Sulaimani’s public prosecutor requested the court to take action.
Abdulwahid, who was in Baghdad holding meetings with Iraqi officials, will return to Sulaimani Tuesday evening. Security forces will reportedly arrest him on his arrival at the airport.
Parliament speaker Mohammed asked security forces and riot police to avoid shooting or aggression towards the demonstrators.
He called on the demonstrators to also avoid violence and stop storming party offices as well as state properties.
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4:55 p.m.
Kurdistan Parliament urges angry protesters to avoid violence
The Kurdistan Region Parliament declared its support for the protesters' demands, but urged demonstrators to "present their just demands in a calm and civil way."
Government and public service offices are there to serve the people. Setting them on fire, "in the end, it is the people who are damaged the most," the parliament added in a statement published Tuesday evening.
Violent demonstrations "derail the genuine objective of the people and the fulfillment of their just calls." Such violence as has erupted in some places Monday and Tuesday only serves the foes of Kurdistan, the parliament asserted.
"The Kurdistan parliament is in continued contact and consultation with the KRG and political parties in order for serious and genuine steps be made for the resolution of the problems and implementation of your right calls and desires," it concluded.
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12:41 p.m.
SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – Hundreds of people protesting against lack of services, demanding a fight against corruption and full payments of state salaries, have continued for a second day in a row in a number of Kurdish cities in the provinces of Sulaimani and Halabja, with the offices of several Kurdish parties and at least one government office set ablaze in Koya.
The protesters, coming from various backgrounds of the society also include state employees who have had their salaries reduced or delayed took to the streets in Sulaimani, Halabja, Kfri, Raniya, and Koya.
A large number of people have gathered in the Bardarki Sara Square in Sulaimani. A Rudaw reporter at the scene reported that the security forces shot live ammunition into the air to disperse the protest.
In Koya, northwest of Sulaimani, protesters set fire to the mayor’s building on Tuesday, sending a plume of smoke into the air. They also set the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Gorran on fire, while they lowered the flags of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Islamic Group (Komal) and the Kurdistan Islamic Union.
Koya Mayor, Sarkawt Rasul, claimed that they did not use force to prevent protesters from attacking the affected buildings.
Video: Protesters set fire to the mayor building of Koya city on December 19, 2017
Koya, about 56 km southeast of Erbil, is officially within the administration of Erbil province, but the city falls within the so-called Green Zone under the control of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) whose strongholds are Sulaimani and Halabja provinces.
No protest has been reported in Erbil or Duhok provinces, called otherwise the Yellow Zone, under the control of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Both the PUK and the KDP have large control over the security forces and the Peshmerga in their zones.
Map of the Kurdistan Region: Confirmed protests marked with red colour. Click to enlarge the map