SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Co-leader Lahur Sheikh Jangi on Thursday expressed support for protesters who took to the streets in Sulaimani to demonstrate against unpaid salaries.
Dozens of protesters including public servants gathered in Sara Square in the center of Sulaimani city on Thursday morning in protest of delays in payment.
Security forces including riot police fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, wounding a number of demonstrators.
In a statement on Thursday, the PUK co-leader called on the protesters to demonstrate peacefully and not to allow their activities harm other people’s business.
“I want you to be sure that I am with your rightful and loyal demands and I support you,” Sheikh Jangi said.
“As the PUK leadership, we are aware that it is not possible anymore that the Kurdistan Region’s people become the victim of corruption and political tensions,” he added.
He also called on the security forces to avoid damaging their reputation and should know that the protesters are “our brothers, sisters and relatives”.
“We call on them [security forces] to release those who have been arrested due to their participation in the protests as soon as possible,” he said.
“We reiterate that confronting protesters is not the PUK’s decision and policy and will not be,” he added.
A number of protesters including organizers of the demonstration have been arrested during the protests, according to several organizers.
Earlier on Thursday, the committee to preserve tranquility of the city at the Sulaimani Provincial Council said it would not allow demonstrations 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 delays in payment 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.
The PUK co-leader also said that he had talked with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday night to find a way to resolve the issues.
The prime minister had “promised to find a legal way” to transfer salaries of the Kurdistan Region’s public servants, Sheikh Jangi added.
Kadhimi also suggested that a meeting with the political parties be held on Sunday to find a solution for the issue of salaries of the Region’s public servants, he stated.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (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 April, May, June, July and August.
KRG Spokesman Jotiar Adil said on Wednesday that the government would borrow $205 million to finance its deficit in order to pay salaries of employees for October.
“The Kurdistan Region has a deficit of $355 million for this month,” Adil said.
The KRG would pay back the loan once the federal government transfers 320 billion Iraqi dinars ($265 million) to the Region, he added.
