WhiteFeather
03-14-2011, 10:54 AM
KRG Prime Minister responds to protesters’ demands
Monday, March 14th 2011 5:00 PM
Erbil, March 14 (AKnews) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region has finally responded to the demands of the protesters in Sulaimaniyah province who have been demonstrating for about a month in the city’s Azadi Square for reforms.
Mr Barham Salih’s response came in an announcement posted on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s official website. He writes in the announcement that he agrees to all the demands handed over by the protesters to the government.
Since Feb. 17, demonstrators in Sulaimaniyah have been calling for political reforms, improved services and better living conditions. Eight people have died in the clashes between security forces and the demonstrators and over 100 have been wounded.
The demonstrators had handed over a paper detailing 26 demands divided into two parts; 11 urgent demands in addition to 15 other essential demands to be implemented later without defining a timeframe.
The Prime Minister clearly points out the 11 demands of the protesters in the paper and says he agrees to all of them.
Some of the urgent demands include the immediate release of those detained during the demonstrations, the interrogation of the interior and Peshmarga forces in parliament and trying those responsible for the killings.
In addition to a formal apology by the government to the people of the Kurdistan Region for the clashes and their casualties.
Mr Salih apologizes in the paper for "any shortcomings in my cabinet"
The demonstrators also called for a pledge, as part of the urgent demands that, the Peshmarga forces will not be used to resolve any political conflict and authorities should be prevented from imposing a state of emergency on a particular area of Kurdistan to which Mr. Salih has also agreed.
During the early days of the demonstrations, the ministry of Peshmarga affairs stationed security forces from Erbil near Sulaimaniyah in case the protests descended into acts of violence against government buildings.
This move angered the people of Sulaimaniyah saying there are thousands of security forces in the city, why bring forces from Erbil and why impose the state of emergency on the city?
The Prime Minister’s statement comes only days after reports circulated that the demonstrators would move the protests to Erbil where the parliament and government are located.
A member of the demonstrators’ council however denied that such a move would be initiated by the demonstrators. She said it was just an idea but later dropped by the council of protesters.
As for the rest of the demands of the demonstrators, Mr Salih says a committee will be formed to implement those demands as well.
"As far as the essential demands are concerned, I have no doubt about their fairness, and I hope our joint committee can work to set plans to implement them" the statement reads.
The fundamental demands include the reconsideration of the constitution of Kurdistan, the reformation of the government, and the independence of the judiciary.
The constitution of Kurdistan was criticized by the opposition forces in parliament for being passed by the majority formed by the ruling parties and sidelining the views of the opposition.
Also they have declared that the KRG is no longer a legitimate government because it has failed to control the developments in Sulaimaniyah, in particular failing to protect the lives of demonstrators.
The demonstrators also want the ministries of the interior and the Peshmarga forces be held by independent technocratic politicians as well as the dissolution of the “militia” forces.
The opposition says the security forces and the Peshmarga forces are militia forces because they are controlled by the ruling parties rather than the government and usually used for their own interests.
And they want officials to disclose their financial assets in addition to the disclosure of how the resources of Kurdistan are spent.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/225103/
Monday, March 14th 2011 5:00 PM
Erbil, March 14 (AKnews) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region has finally responded to the demands of the protesters in Sulaimaniyah province who have been demonstrating for about a month in the city’s Azadi Square for reforms.
Mr Barham Salih’s response came in an announcement posted on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s official website. He writes in the announcement that he agrees to all the demands handed over by the protesters to the government.
Since Feb. 17, demonstrators in Sulaimaniyah have been calling for political reforms, improved services and better living conditions. Eight people have died in the clashes between security forces and the demonstrators and over 100 have been wounded.
The demonstrators had handed over a paper detailing 26 demands divided into two parts; 11 urgent demands in addition to 15 other essential demands to be implemented later without defining a timeframe.
The Prime Minister clearly points out the 11 demands of the protesters in the paper and says he agrees to all of them.
Some of the urgent demands include the immediate release of those detained during the demonstrations, the interrogation of the interior and Peshmarga forces in parliament and trying those responsible for the killings.
In addition to a formal apology by the government to the people of the Kurdistan Region for the clashes and their casualties.
Mr Salih apologizes in the paper for "any shortcomings in my cabinet"
The demonstrators also called for a pledge, as part of the urgent demands that, the Peshmarga forces will not be used to resolve any political conflict and authorities should be prevented from imposing a state of emergency on a particular area of Kurdistan to which Mr. Salih has also agreed.
During the early days of the demonstrations, the ministry of Peshmarga affairs stationed security forces from Erbil near Sulaimaniyah in case the protests descended into acts of violence against government buildings.
This move angered the people of Sulaimaniyah saying there are thousands of security forces in the city, why bring forces from Erbil and why impose the state of emergency on the city?
The Prime Minister’s statement comes only days after reports circulated that the demonstrators would move the protests to Erbil where the parliament and government are located.
A member of the demonstrators’ council however denied that such a move would be initiated by the demonstrators. She said it was just an idea but later dropped by the council of protesters.
As for the rest of the demands of the demonstrators, Mr Salih says a committee will be formed to implement those demands as well.
"As far as the essential demands are concerned, I have no doubt about their fairness, and I hope our joint committee can work to set plans to implement them" the statement reads.
The fundamental demands include the reconsideration of the constitution of Kurdistan, the reformation of the government, and the independence of the judiciary.
The constitution of Kurdistan was criticized by the opposition forces in parliament for being passed by the majority formed by the ruling parties and sidelining the views of the opposition.
Also they have declared that the KRG is no longer a legitimate government because it has failed to control the developments in Sulaimaniyah, in particular failing to protect the lives of demonstrators.
The demonstrators also want the ministries of the interior and the Peshmarga forces be held by independent technocratic politicians as well as the dissolution of the “militia” forces.
The opposition says the security forces and the Peshmarga forces are militia forces because they are controlled by the ruling parties rather than the government and usually used for their own interests.
And they want officials to disclose their financial assets in addition to the disclosure of how the resources of Kurdistan are spent.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/225103/