This blog is not by Baqi Barzani. This blog has been made up by someone who has been following Baqi Barzani's corruption reports from Kurdistan.
We think that Baqi Barzani has been pressurised by the KDP to remove his reports online.
The reports contained highly sensitive and accurate information detailing Kurdistan's corruption system. We believe that the KDP has forced Mr. Baqi Barzani, possibly through torture or incentives to remove the reports online.
We have gathered the reports and we are publishing them on this blog, as they have been deleted on eKurd.net and KurdishApect.com.
In Kurdistan We Trust.
Monday 14 March 2011
Clarification from Baqi Barzani
Clarification
After having forged my personal identity and attempting to scathe my prestige for unknown motives, an anonymous writer has been posting articles under my name without my prior knowledge or consent since last 2 months.
This is to confirm that the articles entitled” Corruption continues in Iraqi Kurdistan (From part 1 to part 9) were by no means edited by me, nor the views contained therein reflect those of mine. Therefore, I hold the author fully responsible for the published observations.
Yours Sincerely,
Baqi Barzani
March 11, 2011
After having forged my personal identity and attempting to scathe my prestige for unknown motives, an anonymous writer has been posting articles under my name without my prior knowledge or consent since last 2 months.
This is to confirm that the articles entitled” Corruption continues in Iraqi Kurdistan (From part 1 to part 9) were by no means edited by me, nor the views contained therein reflect those of mine. Therefore, I hold the author fully responsible for the published observations.
Yours Sincerely,
Baqi Barzani
March 11, 2011
Petition to hold peaceful demonstration in Erbil turned down
Kurdishaspect.com - By Baqi Barzani
ERBIL-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', - Having earlier announced our goals, we, a set of Kurdish scholars, had submitted an official letter to the Hawler Police Headquarter as well as Ministry of Interior, requesting for permission to hold a totally peaceful pro-democracy protest march in the capital Kurdish city of Hawler [Erbil].
At the inception, we were given full assurances that our petition would be circumspectly considered by the concerned authorities, and we would receive a formal response accordingly.
After remaining in anticipation for days for a response, we decided to reproach them on our own, and try to seek clarification about the status of our petition.
We were ordered by the police chief that given the unstable political status quo, we should abstain from holding such a harmful demonstration, and call off our mind. When we started persisting and arguing with them about our legitimate and constitutional right to Freedom of expression and Assembly, we were threatened to immediately leave the facility, or face legal charges for violating law, creating troubles and inciting mayhem.
Resorting to violence is not and has never been our intentions.
It s very regrettable that our so-called democratic government does not respect the rights of its own citizens even to peaceful demonstration, one of the most inherent and elementary right of every citizen in every nation.
All our telephone conversations are also monitored by KDP intelligences agency, which definitely is another breach of citizens’ rights.
Their denial to grant us the due consent can not and will not in any way and form cause to disillusion, cease or make us abandon our moral objectives. We will firmly stick to our demands.
From the hundreds of support e-mails and phone calls we have received from different cities in Kurdistan, We came to conclusion that the overwhelming majority of Kurdish populace agree with us and strongly support us in our struggle. Reform must take place, corrupt government officials must step down and be replaced, and our rights must be secured from Baghdad.
We will join our fellow citizens and continue our struggle for the betterment of Kurdistan for every one. We stand with our people!
For additional info, please contact:
baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
Phone: 0750-340-1440 ( Hawler)
ERBIL-Hewler, Kurdistan region 'Iraq', - Having earlier announced our goals, we, a set of Kurdish scholars, had submitted an official letter to the Hawler Police Headquarter as well as Ministry of Interior, requesting for permission to hold a totally peaceful pro-democracy protest march in the capital Kurdish city of Hawler [Erbil].
At the inception, we were given full assurances that our petition would be circumspectly considered by the concerned authorities, and we would receive a formal response accordingly.
After remaining in anticipation for days for a response, we decided to reproach them on our own, and try to seek clarification about the status of our petition.
We were ordered by the police chief that given the unstable political status quo, we should abstain from holding such a harmful demonstration, and call off our mind. When we started persisting and arguing with them about our legitimate and constitutional right to Freedom of expression and Assembly, we were threatened to immediately leave the facility, or face legal charges for violating law, creating troubles and inciting mayhem.
Resorting to violence is not and has never been our intentions.
It s very regrettable that our so-called democratic government does not respect the rights of its own citizens even to peaceful demonstration, one of the most inherent and elementary right of every citizen in every nation.
All our telephone conversations are also monitored by KDP intelligences agency, which definitely is another breach of citizens’ rights.
Their denial to grant us the due consent can not and will not in any way and form cause to disillusion, cease or make us abandon our moral objectives. We will firmly stick to our demands.
From the hundreds of support e-mails and phone calls we have received from different cities in Kurdistan, We came to conclusion that the overwhelming majority of Kurdish populace agree with us and strongly support us in our struggle. Reform must take place, corrupt government officials must step down and be replaced, and our rights must be secured from Baghdad.
We will join our fellow citizens and continue our struggle for the betterment of Kurdistan for every one. We stand with our people!
For additional info, please contact:
baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
Phone: 0750-340-1440 ( Hawler)
Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan continues - Part IX 5.3.2011
arch 5, 2011
Barzani Charity Foundation, directly funded by Masrour Barzani, KDP intelligence chief and President Barzani’s most likely successor, is one of the hundred sham humanitarian organizations deeply involved in embezzlement, fraud and corruption.
Founded years ago and run currently by Shaikh Zana, the organization holds a budget of more than 1 million dollar per annual exclusive of receiving hundreds of thousands from international donor agencies on the name of the disadvantaged Kurds. Apart from for a few projects, enticement from hardly any foreign visitors, and some multicolored pictures,www.ekurd.netwhich are deliberately posted on its website to bear out its credentials, in reality, it has gained nothing valuable so far. The director of this charity foundation retains in his possessions four mansions and hundreds of thousand of public funds.
Among other biased, party-run agencies receiving each tens of million of public funds are: Peyamner, Hawolati, Khabat, Gulan, Chawdir, Kurdsat, KTV, PUK Media, Al-Itehad, Kurdistani New, and the lists goes on.
Peyamner, one of KDP main new agencies, is solely believed to have more than 400 employees. Its yearly expenses exceed 25 million US dollars. Kurdsat, PUK’s main TV station, bears an annual budget of 55 million, whereas KDP-run KTV budget exceed 35 million per annual.
There are hundreds of other smaller party-owned press and media outlets. All these so-called non-profits agencies, organizations and groups are the mouth piece of political parties, deeply drawn in in state corruption, receiving tens of millions of dollars, with their senior mangers and directors subsisting in the most lavish lifestyle.
Our media outlets have opted for silence. In stead of attempting to take part in mirroring and resolving public issues, they have become accomplice in many unethical, debauched actions against their own citizens.
Until, every one be held accountable for their mishandling of government and public properties, be brought in front of a panel to account for their spedings, million dollar worth of illegal assets, corruption issues can not so simply be unraveled in Kurdistan.
Baqi Barzani is a Kurdish citizen of Sought Kurdistan [Iraq]. He advocates the notion of " establishing an independent Kurdish state". He contributes to various Kurdish media outlets, especially ekurd.net. You may reach the author via email at: baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net. All rights reserved
Barzani Charity Foundation, directly funded by Masrour Barzani, KDP intelligence chief and President Barzani’s most likely successor, is one of the hundred sham humanitarian organizations deeply involved in embezzlement, fraud and corruption.
Founded years ago and run currently by Shaikh Zana, the organization holds a budget of more than 1 million dollar per annual exclusive of receiving hundreds of thousands from international donor agencies on the name of the disadvantaged Kurds. Apart from for a few projects, enticement from hardly any foreign visitors, and some multicolored pictures,www.ekurd.netwhich are deliberately posted on its website to bear out its credentials, in reality, it has gained nothing valuable so far. The director of this charity foundation retains in his possessions four mansions and hundreds of thousand of public funds.
Among other biased, party-run agencies receiving each tens of million of public funds are: Peyamner, Hawolati, Khabat, Gulan, Chawdir, Kurdsat, KTV, PUK Media, Al-Itehad, Kurdistani New, and the lists goes on.
Peyamner, one of KDP main new agencies, is solely believed to have more than 400 employees. Its yearly expenses exceed 25 million US dollars. Kurdsat, PUK’s main TV station, bears an annual budget of 55 million, whereas KDP-run KTV budget exceed 35 million per annual.
There are hundreds of other smaller party-owned press and media outlets. All these so-called non-profits agencies, organizations and groups are the mouth piece of political parties, deeply drawn in in state corruption, receiving tens of millions of dollars, with their senior mangers and directors subsisting in the most lavish lifestyle.
Our media outlets have opted for silence. In stead of attempting to take part in mirroring and resolving public issues, they have become accomplice in many unethical, debauched actions against their own citizens.
Until, every one be held accountable for their mishandling of government and public properties, be brought in front of a panel to account for their spedings, million dollar worth of illegal assets, corruption issues can not so simply be unraveled in Kurdistan.
Baqi Barzani is a Kurdish citizen of Sought Kurdistan [Iraq]. He advocates the notion of " establishing an independent Kurdish state". He contributes to various Kurdish media outlets, especially ekurd.net. You may reach the author via email at: baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 ekurd.net. All rights reserved
Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan continues - Part VIII 5.3.2011
Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan continues - Part VIII 5.3.2011
By Baqi Barzani - ekurd.net
Not much is tolerated to be known to the public in Kurdistan, but knowing what is already known to very one should suffice to establish the fact that what people state about our government and leadership hold nothing, but truth.
The number of fancy malls, gigantic shopping centers, and elevated skyscrapers are noticeably on the rise in Iraqi Kurdistan. Such evolutions bode well! Modernizing our infrastructure should constantly be hailed, but lets take an unfathomable and a closer glance and dig out who actually have possession of them and more significantly, having put them so superbly together, where all the essential finances emanate from? Plus can not these public funds be better capitalized on more vital priorities such as: delivery of more enhanced basic services for the destitute, a superior health care system for the daily succumbing sick, and a more highly developed education system for our youth?
Out of the hundred of underground and family-owned lucrative business projects, every one in Kurdistanand overseas must by now have got wind of some common names, being : Family Fun Mall situated on 100 meter in Hawler [Erbil], Korek Telecom based in Masif Salladin, Daringroup having branches all over, Nishtiman Mall being constructed in Erbil and said to be one of the largest shopping mall in the world with more than 8,000 shops, Mega Mall (modeled after the renowned Sharjah,www.ekurd.neta United Arab Emirates mall); Tablo Mall (near Erbil's Francois Hariri International Stadium); Sofya Mall on celebrated Gulan Road, Arina Shopping Mall, and tens of more. Each of these malls costs at least a minimum of 50 million US dollar to construct.
Situated on 100 meter in Hawler city, Kurdistan, attached to the celebrated Family Park, is a newly-built mall called “Family Fun Mall”. Prime Minister Bahram Salih was the special guest invited for the inauguration ceremony in Dec 15th 2010. This, one of the hundreds of projects run by KDP behind-the-scene, is estimated to have cost 75-80 million US dollar. The project was launched few years ago by a company named “Darin Company”.
Founded and financed by KDP in 1998, Darin Company specializes in three major fields: contracting, Construction & internal project management and General Trade and marketing. With over 200 KDP-appointed employees, Darin is a 500 million dollar worth of Assets Company. At the present time, Darin holds more than 10 construction projects in progress, building thousands of apartments and houses all over Kurdistan. Is this a privately owned company? Can an affluent Kurdish capitalist meet the expense of it and if so, who is he?
Established in the year 2000 under the No Fly zone, Korek Telcom, the largest telephone communication company in the KDP-administered region, stepped into Kurdistan free market. Korek Telcom assets exceeds a billion US dollar. Its annul net income was estimated at 100 million US dollar just in the year 2010. With trivial competition from Asia Cell, which is owned by PUK, it has occupied and monopolized the entire telephone communication market in Kurdistan for more than a decade.
New building complexes and villages analogous to Zakaria apartments, British, Italian and German villages are mutely under construction in assorted Kurdish cities such as: Hawler, Sulaimaniyah, Duhok, Shaqlawa and Zakho, as well, each being worth hundreds of million of US dollars.
Who is behind all the above-indicated business projects along with hundreds of more clouded ones, which sooner or later will come to light?
Shaikh Sirwan, Massoud Barzani's son-in-law, runs all these projects. Owned directly by MassoudBarzani KDP, he is commissioned with the responsibility of overseeing and multiplying the party financial assets. Albeit trying to refute it, if him and KDP does no bear possession of these billion dollar projects in reality, who else does and could? And if so, why not to conduct an investigation to let the public know how and by whom all these business projects are funded?
Reform is important, but so is accountability.
In stead of Masroor Barzani, chief of KDP intelligence, conveying me a message via Kak Sabah Mizouri blustering me to stop criticizing KDP or face the consequences, Nihad Barzani menacing me in a mourning of a next of kin , KDP offering me employment opportunity working for Khabat newspaper or KDP intelligence to spy on my own fellow-citizens , proposing me complimentary lodging in an apartment in Zakari complex , my conscious would me more at ease when a probing is launched into the belongings of all KRG ministers, members of parliament, senior government officials, finances of such colossal projects be accounted for, poverty, inflation and corruption is minimized, socio-economic injustice eradicated, the Peshmarga forces unified, role of law, transparency, good governance, true democracy, respect for freedom of speech, women rights are promoted, our obsolete education and health care system in Kurdistan is renovated, implementation of article 140 is expedited, the upshot of elapsed investigation into the murder of innocent Sardasht Osman and Soran Mama Hama be promulgated and those accessories stand for trial in the court of law, if any, a visit to be paid to the Maidany Azady to meet protesters demands, jobs opportunities be created for tens of thousand of unwaged youths, agonizing families of Anfal, Barzanis, victims of Halabja be subsidized, radical, swift reforms be implemented, otherwise, it is not far to foresee the second wave of uprisings to sweep across Kurdistan in any moment.
Baqi Barzani is a Kurdish citizen of Sought Kurdistan [Iraq]. He advocates the notion of " establishing an independent Kurdish state". He contributes to various Kurdish media outlets, especially ekurd.net. You may reach the author via email at: baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
By Baqi Barzani - ekurd.net
Not much is tolerated to be known to the public in Kurdistan, but knowing what is already known to very one should suffice to establish the fact that what people state about our government and leadership hold nothing, but truth.
The number of fancy malls, gigantic shopping centers, and elevated skyscrapers are noticeably on the rise in Iraqi Kurdistan. Such evolutions bode well! Modernizing our infrastructure should constantly be hailed, but lets take an unfathomable and a closer glance and dig out who actually have possession of them and more significantly, having put them so superbly together, where all the essential finances emanate from? Plus can not these public funds be better capitalized on more vital priorities such as: delivery of more enhanced basic services for the destitute, a superior health care system for the daily succumbing sick, and a more highly developed education system for our youth?
Out of the hundred of underground and family-owned lucrative business projects, every one in Kurdistanand overseas must by now have got wind of some common names, being : Family Fun Mall situated on 100 meter in Hawler [Erbil], Korek Telecom based in Masif Salladin, Daringroup having branches all over, Nishtiman Mall being constructed in Erbil and said to be one of the largest shopping mall in the world with more than 8,000 shops, Mega Mall (modeled after the renowned Sharjah,www.ekurd.neta United Arab Emirates mall); Tablo Mall (near Erbil's Francois Hariri International Stadium); Sofya Mall on celebrated Gulan Road, Arina Shopping Mall, and tens of more. Each of these malls costs at least a minimum of 50 million US dollar to construct.
Situated on 100 meter in Hawler city, Kurdistan, attached to the celebrated Family Park, is a newly-built mall called “Family Fun Mall”. Prime Minister Bahram Salih was the special guest invited for the inauguration ceremony in Dec 15th 2010. This, one of the hundreds of projects run by KDP behind-the-scene, is estimated to have cost 75-80 million US dollar. The project was launched few years ago by a company named “Darin Company”.
Founded and financed by KDP in 1998, Darin Company specializes in three major fields: contracting, Construction & internal project management and General Trade and marketing. With over 200 KDP-appointed employees, Darin is a 500 million dollar worth of Assets Company. At the present time, Darin holds more than 10 construction projects in progress, building thousands of apartments and houses all over Kurdistan. Is this a privately owned company? Can an affluent Kurdish capitalist meet the expense of it and if so, who is he?
Established in the year 2000 under the No Fly zone, Korek Telcom, the largest telephone communication company in the KDP-administered region, stepped into Kurdistan free market. Korek Telcom assets exceeds a billion US dollar. Its annul net income was estimated at 100 million US dollar just in the year 2010. With trivial competition from Asia Cell, which is owned by PUK, it has occupied and monopolized the entire telephone communication market in Kurdistan for more than a decade.
New building complexes and villages analogous to Zakaria apartments, British, Italian and German villages are mutely under construction in assorted Kurdish cities such as: Hawler, Sulaimaniyah, Duhok, Shaqlawa and Zakho, as well, each being worth hundreds of million of US dollars.
Who is behind all the above-indicated business projects along with hundreds of more clouded ones, which sooner or later will come to light?
Shaikh Sirwan, Massoud Barzani's son-in-law, runs all these projects. Owned directly by MassoudBarzani KDP, he is commissioned with the responsibility of overseeing and multiplying the party financial assets. Albeit trying to refute it, if him and KDP does no bear possession of these billion dollar projects in reality, who else does and could? And if so, why not to conduct an investigation to let the public know how and by whom all these business projects are funded?
Reform is important, but so is accountability.
In stead of Masroor Barzani, chief of KDP intelligence, conveying me a message via Kak Sabah Mizouri blustering me to stop criticizing KDP or face the consequences, Nihad Barzani menacing me in a mourning of a next of kin , KDP offering me employment opportunity working for Khabat newspaper or KDP intelligence to spy on my own fellow-citizens , proposing me complimentary lodging in an apartment in Zakari complex , my conscious would me more at ease when a probing is launched into the belongings of all KRG ministers, members of parliament, senior government officials, finances of such colossal projects be accounted for, poverty, inflation and corruption is minimized, socio-economic injustice eradicated, the Peshmarga forces unified, role of law, transparency, good governance, true democracy, respect for freedom of speech, women rights are promoted, our obsolete education and health care system in Kurdistan is renovated, implementation of article 140 is expedited, the upshot of elapsed investigation into the murder of innocent Sardasht Osman and Soran Mama Hama be promulgated and those accessories stand for trial in the court of law, if any, a visit to be paid to the Maidany Azady to meet protesters demands, jobs opportunities be created for tens of thousand of unwaged youths, agonizing families of Anfal, Barzanis, victims of Halabja be subsidized, radical, swift reforms be implemented, otherwise, it is not far to foresee the second wave of uprisings to sweep across Kurdistan in any moment.
Baqi Barzani is a Kurdish citizen of Sought Kurdistan [Iraq]. He advocates the notion of " establishing an independent Kurdish state". He contributes to various Kurdish media outlets, especially ekurd.net. You may reach the author via email at: baqi.barzani@yahoo.com
Corruption continues in Iraqi Kurdistan (Part VII)
Kurdishaspect.com -By Baqi Barzani
KRG.s incapacity to ensure protection of Kurdish citizens rights in Kirkuk, to have pressed on the implementation of due referendums and ultimately to incorporate Kirkuk back into Kurdistan geography is the key basis for increasingly growing Arabization and Turkification policies.
I had to hit the road toward Kirkuk and Mosul governorates in order to be able to better weigh up the current circumstances. Just hearing and arguing did not suffice to retort to my questions. I assumed it would be the best to directly converse to the actual Kurdish residents and citizens of Kirkuk, and inquire about their honest varying views on our government, developments, and demands. Below is my conclusion:
Kurdish Kirkuk is facing the immense threat of Kurdish de-population, economic marginalization, urban underdevelopment, and domination by other ethnic minorities. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk are totally overlooked, increasingly discriminated against and most ominously, with every passing day, KRG is losing its hegemony.
Most Kurds I had the opportunity to talk to were complaining about the lack of physical security, equal access to employment, education opportunities, and water and electricity shortage.
KRG’s indifference and constant intimidations by empowered Arabs and Turkomans minorities resulted in many fellow Kurds to relinquish their belongings, and try to resettle in other major stable parts of Kurdistan such as: Hawler and Sulaymaniyah.
Rapid Turkification of Kirkuk is supplanting old Saddam’s Arabization policy to an extent that most trivial Turkomans groups do not even recognize the legitimacy of KRG, with some radicals even going further by demanding complete self-rule and some arguing that neither KRG, nor federal Iraq, reserve any governance rights over their jurisdiction.
Turkish diplomatic and trade centers, educational institutions, military outposts can be noticed all over. Kurdish and Arabic language instructions at schools, Kurdish culture, and Kurdish mores are gradually waning. Turkish is regarded the official spoken language in most government departments. One can hardly find a Kurdish magazine or newspaper on the streets. Almost eighty percent of the press is circulated in Arabic and Turkish languages. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk have to refer to Arab and Turkomans Mokhtars’ ( local leaders) for their administrative and municipal concerns. Arabs and Turkmen colonies are getting secluded from Kurdish settlements.
There is no doubt that Turkomans are under the auspice of the Turkish government. While KRG has turned a blind eye to the afflictions of Kurdish citizens, the gap has been filled by foreign states, mainly Turkey making the welfare, safety and preservation of the rights of Turkomas a foreign policy priority.
Discerning that the U.S. troops will soon depart under a Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government that requires that their withdrawal be completed by the end of 2011, armed by regional powers, Turkomans and Arabs groups have already prepared themselves in advance for any possible forceful takeover scenario by Kurdish security forces. Strong alliance has been forged by non-Kurd groups, aimed at utterly eliminating Kurdish diminishing position. In Kirkuk, Turkomans and Arab ethnic groups hold parallel defense capability to Kurdish Peshmarga forces if not surpassing. Ankara and Baghdad hold full control over oil production and exports. Turkish private and state refinery companies have inked long-term agreements with Baghdad to ransack Kurdish national oil. KRG had long given up its reconstruction and integration efforts and the city does not bear any resemblance to any part of Kurdistan at all.
A surge in the population of other nationalities is also perceptible, including Palestinians, Jordanians and Iranians.
The overall situation is worsening and if the current balance holds, it is anticipated that no referendum will ever be held and the reality of incorporating Kurdish oil-rich Kirkuk into KRG will again turn into another 1974-5 reverie.
What are KRG’s strategies to recoup Kirkuk back and what would be its reaction if once more, the referendum is deferred? Has this crucial subject ever been discussed in Kurdistan parliament? Or..
Special thanks to Ekurd.net and Kurdish Aspect for posting my views!
KRG.s incapacity to ensure protection of Kurdish citizens rights in Kirkuk, to have pressed on the implementation of due referendums and ultimately to incorporate Kirkuk back into Kurdistan geography is the key basis for increasingly growing Arabization and Turkification policies.
I had to hit the road toward Kirkuk and Mosul governorates in order to be able to better weigh up the current circumstances. Just hearing and arguing did not suffice to retort to my questions. I assumed it would be the best to directly converse to the actual Kurdish residents and citizens of Kirkuk, and inquire about their honest varying views on our government, developments, and demands. Below is my conclusion:
Kurdish Kirkuk is facing the immense threat of Kurdish de-population, economic marginalization, urban underdevelopment, and domination by other ethnic minorities. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk are totally overlooked, increasingly discriminated against and most ominously, with every passing day, KRG is losing its hegemony.
Most Kurds I had the opportunity to talk to were complaining about the lack of physical security, equal access to employment, education opportunities, and water and electricity shortage.
KRG’s indifference and constant intimidations by empowered Arabs and Turkomans minorities resulted in many fellow Kurds to relinquish their belongings, and try to resettle in other major stable parts of Kurdistan such as: Hawler and Sulaymaniyah.
Rapid Turkification of Kirkuk is supplanting old Saddam’s Arabization policy to an extent that most trivial Turkomans groups do not even recognize the legitimacy of KRG, with some radicals even going further by demanding complete self-rule and some arguing that neither KRG, nor federal Iraq, reserve any governance rights over their jurisdiction.
Turkish diplomatic and trade centers, educational institutions, military outposts can be noticed all over. Kurdish and Arabic language instructions at schools, Kurdish culture, and Kurdish mores are gradually waning. Turkish is regarded the official spoken language in most government departments. One can hardly find a Kurdish magazine or newspaper on the streets. Almost eighty percent of the press is circulated in Arabic and Turkish languages. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk have to refer to Arab and Turkomans Mokhtars’ ( local leaders) for their administrative and municipal concerns. Arabs and Turkmen colonies are getting secluded from Kurdish settlements.
There is no doubt that Turkomans are under the auspice of the Turkish government. While KRG has turned a blind eye to the afflictions of Kurdish citizens, the gap has been filled by foreign states, mainly Turkey making the welfare, safety and preservation of the rights of Turkomas a foreign policy priority.
Discerning that the U.S. troops will soon depart under a Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government that requires that their withdrawal be completed by the end of 2011, armed by regional powers, Turkomans and Arabs groups have already prepared themselves in advance for any possible forceful takeover scenario by Kurdish security forces. Strong alliance has been forged by non-Kurd groups, aimed at utterly eliminating Kurdish diminishing position. In Kirkuk, Turkomans and Arab ethnic groups hold parallel defense capability to Kurdish Peshmarga forces if not surpassing. Ankara and Baghdad hold full control over oil production and exports. Turkish private and state refinery companies have inked long-term agreements with Baghdad to ransack Kurdish national oil. KRG had long given up its reconstruction and integration efforts and the city does not bear any resemblance to any part of Kurdistan at all.
A surge in the population of other nationalities is also perceptible, including Palestinians, Jordanians and Iranians.
The overall situation is worsening and if the current balance holds, it is anticipated that no referendum will ever be held and the reality of incorporating Kurdish oil-rich Kirkuk into KRG will again turn into another 1974-5 reverie.
What are KRG’s strategies to recoup Kirkuk back and what would be its reaction if once more, the referendum is deferred? Has this crucial subject ever been discussed in Kurdistan parliament? Or..
Special thanks to Ekurd.net and Kurdish Aspect for posting my views!
Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan continues (VI)
Kurdishaspect.com - By Baqi Barzani
Veiled from most of the international community and more vitally from our own Kurdish citizens are some top secret detention facilities currently operating in Kurdistan Autonomous Region under the direct executive of the two major ruling parties (PUK, KDP). These secret facilities are known to only a handful of top officials at the party level. They have existed for years without being proclaimed to the general public.
Without any regard to the right of informing the acquaintance of detainees, legally turning over cases to law enforcement authorities to handle, and ultimately leaving it to judiciary branch of our government to deliver a verdict on case basis, both PUK and KDP continue to act like the only absolute powers in the state by detaining, arresting, interrogating, disappearing and in same rare cases even resorting to excessive use of illegal force to stifle political opponents considered threat to their respective security and economic interests.
Myriad such cases abound in Kurdistan. During the elapsed years, individuals were apprehended for dissimilar reasons from dissimilar parts of Kurdistan, held in captivity for months, some disappeared for years and forever, some were released on only condition of not citing or leaking any sensitive particulars, and almost all were threatened to ward off their political activities.
Just like Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office were holding prisoners at a secret jail and torturing inmates at another facility, both Kurdish political parties have been following the same path.
PUK and KDP have also been collaborating with the intelligence services of neighboring Iran, Syria, and Turkey in handing over foreign suspects crossing Kurdistan borders back to their host countries to obtain political credit. Many foreign fighters crossed Kurdistan borders. They were never ceded to government to face prosecution, but rather, their fates were ruled by party leaders.
Party officials will certainly defend their approach, arguing that the successful defense of the country requires that their intelligence services be empowered to hold and interrogate citizens under the false pretext of terrorism, sabotage, unrest incitement for as long as necessary and without restrictions.
The existence of powerful intelligence services is key to survival of every country and protection of populace. However, it does imply that political parties will be so empowered to persecute and breach their own citizen’s rights. These matters are by no means of national security concerns, but rather they pose great menace to bipartisan continuation of monopolistic manipulation of every government branch, contravention of state laws and exploitation of public resources.
It is illegal for PUK and KDP to hold prisoners in such isolation in secret prisons in Kurdistan. These facilities need to be shut down immediately before it turns into another “Abu Garib” humiliation.
The more one investigates the wrongdoings of our government, the more scandals and truths surface.
Veiled from most of the international community and more vitally from our own Kurdish citizens are some top secret detention facilities currently operating in Kurdistan Autonomous Region under the direct executive of the two major ruling parties (PUK, KDP). These secret facilities are known to only a handful of top officials at the party level. They have existed for years without being proclaimed to the general public.
Without any regard to the right of informing the acquaintance of detainees, legally turning over cases to law enforcement authorities to handle, and ultimately leaving it to judiciary branch of our government to deliver a verdict on case basis, both PUK and KDP continue to act like the only absolute powers in the state by detaining, arresting, interrogating, disappearing and in same rare cases even resorting to excessive use of illegal force to stifle political opponents considered threat to their respective security and economic interests.
Myriad such cases abound in Kurdistan. During the elapsed years, individuals were apprehended for dissimilar reasons from dissimilar parts of Kurdistan, held in captivity for months, some disappeared for years and forever, some were released on only condition of not citing or leaking any sensitive particulars, and almost all were threatened to ward off their political activities.
Just like Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office were holding prisoners at a secret jail and torturing inmates at another facility, both Kurdish political parties have been following the same path.
PUK and KDP have also been collaborating with the intelligence services of neighboring Iran, Syria, and Turkey in handing over foreign suspects crossing Kurdistan borders back to their host countries to obtain political credit. Many foreign fighters crossed Kurdistan borders. They were never ceded to government to face prosecution, but rather, their fates were ruled by party leaders.
Party officials will certainly defend their approach, arguing that the successful defense of the country requires that their intelligence services be empowered to hold and interrogate citizens under the false pretext of terrorism, sabotage, unrest incitement for as long as necessary and without restrictions.
The existence of powerful intelligence services is key to survival of every country and protection of populace. However, it does imply that political parties will be so empowered to persecute and breach their own citizen’s rights. These matters are by no means of national security concerns, but rather they pose great menace to bipartisan continuation of monopolistic manipulation of every government branch, contravention of state laws and exploitation of public resources.
It is illegal for PUK and KDP to hold prisoners in such isolation in secret prisons in Kurdistan. These facilities need to be shut down immediately before it turns into another “Abu Garib” humiliation.
The more one investigates the wrongdoings of our government, the more scandals and truths surface.
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