SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Security forces in Sulaimani fired tear gas to disperse protesters gathered in Sara Square to demonstrate against delays in payment.
Esta Media Network reporters said dozens of people protested in Sulaimani’s Sara Square for the second day in a row, despite the government’s decision to distribute salaries from Thursday.
Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters, demanding the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to pay salaries to public servants.
Lawmaker Shireen Amin supporting the protesters’ demands was slightly wounded by tear gas.
KRG has yet to pay salaries of October and November to its employees, saying Baghdad is the reason for delays in payments. The KRG has already cut off employees’ salaries for the months of April, May, June, July and August.
KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Wednesday that the government would start distributing salaries of public servants from Thursday.
Security Committee at the Sulaimani Provincial Council said in a statement that it would not allow protests or gathering without permit.
“The disruption of the city’s security and the suspension of market in this economic crisis are not in the interest of community,” the committee said in a statement.
“Civil and peaceful protests are one of the rights of people,” it added.
A protester told Esta Media Network that the demonstrators had gathered in Sara Square to peacefully protest against unpaid salaries but the security forces had started to fire tear gas against the protesters.
“There was no violence, but the security forces fired tear gas and water cannons. They used violence against us,” the protester said.
“People have come to call for their rights. They haven’t come to call for stealing. They [the security forces] respond with bullets and tear gas,” another protester said.
Lawmaker Sirwan Baban said the security forces had insulted him and kicked him during the protests.
Authorities have deployed a large number of security forces to the center of Sulaimani city to prevent protests in the city.
*This story was updated at 01:53 p.m. EBL time
