Human Rights Commission requests ceasefire within region

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s Independent Commission for Human Rights has called the international community, foreign missions in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to put in place a ceasefire,  following the events of Kirkuk and other disputed areas. 

 

“We call for the Security Council to meet at its earliest convenience and pass a resolution to enforce a ceasefire, stopping the attacks and the war in all areas," the rights Commision stated.

"It is civilians who are the victims as well as the destruction of cities and the country, and to mediate between the Iraqi and Regional government to commence dialogue and materialize the rights of the Kurdistan Region, and committing both parties to the constitution because war doesn't solve any problems,” the statement released on Saturday added. 

The United Nations had received allegations of the burning of roughly 150 homes in Tuz Khurmatu, south of Kirkuk, on Monday and Tuesday by armed groups. 

There were also reports that up to 11 houses which belonged to Kurdish families and officials of Kurdish political parties were destroyed by explosives within the city. 

It was also reported that attacks were carried out against political offices of Turkmen parties in the Kirkuk Governorate.

Human Rights Watch reported on Friday that indiscriminate firing between Peshmerga and Iraqi troops supported by Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shaabi forces killed five civilians and injured at least 51 in Tuz Khurmatu.

The Kurdish Commission  expressed its concerns over the use of weapons in the clashes between the two sides. 

 

“We call for the formation of an international committee to investigate the use of the weapons given to the Iraqi, Peshmerga and the Hashd al-Shaabi forces by the International Coalition to defeat ISIS in order to fight terrorism in the fight against ISIS, while they were used against each other in the attacks,” the statement added.

 

Dozens of people from Kirkuk staged a protest in front of the US Consulate General in Erbil on Thursday afternoon demanding the US speak up, saying they are being attacked by Iranian-backed Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi using American weapons.

“We call for an investigation by an international committee into the violations and crimes committed by some of the forces of the Hashd al-Shaabi and the army against civilians. According to the Iraqi constitution, the army shouldn't be used to settle internal problems. On the contrary, the duty of the army is to protect civilians, whereas in these wars, a variety of crimes have been committed ranging from murder and assault on civilians’ properties. The people to whom damage was done should be compensated and facilitations should be made to ensure guarantees for their protection and return to their places,” the statement stressed.

 

Iraqi forces, which include the US-trained Counter Terrorism Service and the Iranian-backed mainly Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi, began an attack on Peshmerga-controlled areas south and west of Kirkuk on Sunday at midnight. By Monday afternoon, Iraqi forces had entered the city of Kirkuk and Prime Minister al-Abadi ordered Iraqi forces to take down the Kurdistan flag in the disputed areas and hoist only the Iraqi banner.

Iraqi forces have since taken control of the K-1 military base, Baba Gurgur oil field, the governor's office, the airport, and key infrastructure and roads within Kirkuk, Tuz Kharmatu, the Shingal region, and several other disputed towns surrounding Kirkuk, causing dozens of casualties on both sides.

The attack by the Iraqi forces  and Hashd al-Shaabi ordered by Abadi follows weeks of punitive measures taken by Baghdad against Kurdistan in response to the September 25 independence referendum that saw 92.7 percent of people voting to leave Iraq, despite Iraqi opposition.