KRG - Sliced off areas (disputed areas)

[alan131210]

KRG vice president to UN: "assist us in implementing article 140"



له‌ته‌وه‌رێكی‌ تری‌ دیداره‌كه‌دا، جێگری‌ سه‌رۆكی‌ هه‌رێمی‌ كوردستان داوای‌ له‌وه‌فدی‌ UN كرد هاوكاری‌ هه‌رێمی‌ كوردستان بكه‌ن له‌جێبه‌جێكردنی‌ مادده‌ی‌ 140ی‌ ده‌ستور‌و سه‌رجه‌م كێشه‌كانی‌ تری‌ هه‌رێمی‌ كوردستان‌و حكومه‌تی‌ عیراق، چونكه‌ هه‌میشه‌ ئێمه‌ی‌ میلله‌تی‌ كورد له‌گه‌ڵ ئه‌وه‌دا بوین كێشه‌كانمان به‌ئاشتی‌ چاره‌سه‌ر بكه‌ین، ئامانجمان برایه‌تی‌و پێكه‌وه‌ ژیانه‌ له‌گه‌ڵ گه‌لانی‌ تری‌ عیراق‌و گه‌لانی‌ ناوچه‌كه‌دا.
وه‌فدی‌ نه‌ته‌وه‌یه‌كگرتووه‌كانیش به‌ڵێنیدا به‌رده‌وام هاوكار‌و پشتیوانی‌ هه‌رێمی‌ كوردستان بن‌و هه‌رچی‌ له‌توانایاندا بێت درێخی‌ نه‌كه‌ن بۆ سه‌رخستی‌ ئه‌م پڕۆسه‌ دیموكراسیه‌ی‌ له‌هه‌رێمی‌ كوردستاندا هه‌یه‌.

In the meeting with a UN delegation, Kurdistan vice president, Kosrat Rasul told the delegation to assist KRG in the implementation of article 140, because kurds believe in settling the disputed areas via peaceful means.

On their part, the UN delegates promised to do all they can in the process of implementation of the article when time comes.

http://knwe.org/DirejeHewal.aspx?Jimare ... Besh=Hewal

[Kurdistano]

Guys forget the article. After the Zumar incident we have already drawn the borders this is why Maliki is not opposed to the idea of article 140 anymore since it might give him some areas.

[alan131210]

بورهان موزهه‌ر عاسی ئه‌ندامی ره‌وتى عه‌ره‌بی له‌ ئه‌نجومه‌نى پارێزگای كه‌ركوك له‌لێدوانێكدا به‌ فرانس پرێسی راگه‌یاند، فشاره‌كانى ئه‌مریكاو هه‌ڕه‌شه‌كانی كورد له‌ نوری مالكی سه‌رۆك وه‌زیر به‌شداربوون له‌ هه‌ڵوه‌شاندنه‌وه‌ى پێكێهنانى عه‌مه‌لیاتى دیجله‌.
وتیشی، جۆ بایدن جێگری سه‌رۆكی ئه‌مریكا به‌ته‌له‌فۆن په‌یوه‌ندی كردووه‌ نوری مالكی سه‌رۆك وه‌زیره‌وه‌و باسی پێكهێنانى عه‌مه‌لیاتى دیجله‌و مه‌ترسیه‌كانیان له‌سه‌ر كورد كردووه‌.
عاسی راشیگه‌یاند، بایدن داواى له‌ مالكی كردووه‌ بڕیاری پێكهێنانى عه‌مه‌لیاتى دیجله‌ له‌ كه‌ركوك دوا بخات و هه‌روه‌ك كوردو عه‌ره‌بیش له‌نێوخۆیاندا له‌سه‌ر ئه‌و جۆره‌ بریارانه‌ رێكبكه‌ون.

Burhan Muzher Assi, a member on Arabic movement in Kirkuk provincial council in a statement told (Frans news) that the pressure from USA and the threats from Kurds were affective in canceling the so called "Dijla operation command".

He says "Joe Biden US vice president has called Nouri Al Maliki and over the phone demanded the cancellation of the Dijla operation command, and its risks and impact it would have on the political process specially the Kurdish situation".

http://knewsdaily.org/Direje.aspx?Jimare=3115

[alan131210]

all Kurdish parties participated in the conference

A delegation from Kurdistan Parliament headed by the parliament Speaker, Arsalan Baiz arrived in Kirkuk on Thursday, official said.

The visit is to support f the city’s people, said Arsalan Baiz in a press conference.

He also noted that they never give up their legitimate rights of the city’s people.

Kurdsat

[alan131210]

impact on the Dijla command if it went through ( it didnt )

http://knwe.org/DirejeHewal.aspx?Jimare ... Besh=Hewal

[alan131210]

Leader of Turkmen Front: Unless We Know the Purpose of Maliki's Dijla Forces, We Won't Support it



Arshad Salehi is the head of the Turkmen Front. In an interview with Rudaw inside his Kirkuk office, he pointed to better relations with the Kurds and said that his group is ready to enter an alliance with “native Arabs [to Kirkuk] and real Kurds” for the next election. But, due to an unclear “map of political alliances,” he refused to comment on whether his front will join the Kurdistan Alliance or not.

Rudaw: Do you think Iraq’s reaction to the Turkish foreign minister’s visit to Kirkuk was appropriate?

Arshad Salehi: It was an official visit to the Kurdistan Region. Two days before the visit, I met with the Iraqi prime minister and he said that Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish FM, would visit the Kurdistan Region and meet with [President] Barzani to discuss the Syrian situation, the PKK and several other issues.

Since the Kurdistan Region is part of Iraq and the Iraqi government was aware of the visit, not to mention the fact that Mr. Davutoglu had expressed his willingness to visit Kirkuk several times, I think the visit was normal.

Moreover, the visit was not a political one, and so the Iraqi government shouldn’t be too sensitive about it. On the contrary, the visit was to support the Iraqi government and Kirkuk’s local government. It was aimed at supporting both governments by strengthening economic relations between Kirkuk and several [Turkish] provinces. Due to the large number of Turkish companies and high trade volume with Turkey, we have almost all been Turkified.

Rudaw: Davutoglu had a meeting with you. Did he make any promises to the Turkmen?

“As the Turkmen Front, we have very good relations with the Arab states, too.”

Arshad Salehi: Davutoglu met with all the ethnic groups in the city. He started by meeting the governor who represents an important segment of this province. He also met with the head of the provincial council, who represents the Turkmen, and the deputy governor who represents the Arabs. He met with all the ethnic groups.

His meeting with the Turkmen Front and the Turkmen is nothing new. We have always said we support establishing good relations with all neighboring countries. As the Turkmen Front, we have very good relations with the Arab states, too. I hope these relations serve Iraqi interests.

Our meeting with Mr. Davutoglu was not a secret meeting. We met in front of TV cameras. He called Kirkuk the backbone of Iraq and clearly pointed to the importance of all ethnic groups in Kirkuk. He did not make any special promises to us.

Rudaw: Why did he visit Kirkuk in particular? Mosul has different ethnic groups too.

Arshad Salehi: In fact, the people of Kirkuk have been waiting for his visit for a long time. Davutoglu has visited Mosul in the past; he has visited other Iraqi provinces like Karbala, Najaf, Baghdad and Erbil, but only when he visits Kirkuk do different interpretations of his visit appear.

Rudaw: Why was the Iraqi government worried about his visit?

Arshad Salehi: I believe that if the Iraqi government had had a good relationship with the Kurdistan Region at the time of the visit, it would not have made such a commotion about it and would not have exaggerated the issue. The crisis in relations between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region greatly influenced the visit.

Rudaw: You said you met with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki two days before the Turkish FM’s visit to Kirkuk. Did Maliki know Davutoglu was going to visit Kirkuk?

Arshad Salehi: No. In his meeting with the political factions, Maliki said that Davutoglu was going to visit Erbil. So they knew he would be visiting there, but his visit to Kirkuk was unexpected.

Rudaw: After Davutoglu’s visit, your group went to Turkey and met with Turkish officials. Did the Turkish officials advise you to build better relations with the Kurds?

“Turkey advises us to build better relations with everyone; they do not insist on any particular party or group.”

Arshad Salehi: Frankly, the Turks, and I hope everyone else, will always try to move closer to all Iraqi ethnic groups equally. I have criticized them and told them that I believe they should build better relations with us. I have told them that they have to look at the Iraqi Turkmen’s situation -- they are facing extinction. But they remain within the same distance as they are with all Iraqi ethnic groups.

In my meetings with the Iranians, I have often told them that Turkey stays the same distance from every ethnic group and that I wished they would do the same. If all the regional states treated Iraq as Turkey does, then everyone could relax.

As for your question, Turkey advises us to build better relations with everyone; they do not insist on any particular party or group. When I assumed the leadership position of the Turkmen Front, some conflicts emerged between us and the Kurdistan Region. There are still some unresolved issues. But these will not hinder building better relations. This is normal in politics. Our Kurdish brothers have a different view on important issues like Kirkuk, and Article 140, and this is normal.

When Mr. Massoud Barzani came to Kirkuk, the leaders of the Turkmen Front met several times to discuss what to speak to him about and whether to meet with him or not. We concluded that whatever the conflicts were, we needed to meet and discuss the issues. When he visited Kirkuk, I was abroad, but he met with the Turkmen Front’s leadership who handed him a letter with their demands. Prior to this visit, there was a lack of frankness between us. [The visit] was positive in strengthening relations.

Rudaw: How is your relationship with the Kurdistan Region now?

Arshad Salehi: We are waiting for positive steps from them. We do not want words without action. In some areas, trust building is necessary. Our people have suffered at the hand of Kurdish parties. From 2003 until recently, the city’s administration was run by one political party. Kurdish political parties imposed their hegemony on government offices in the city. We were afraid of the security agencies that report to the political parties. There were some assaults on Turkmen land in Kirkuk. Mr. Barzani promised to solve that problem. We showed many documents that proved our side of the story when it came to those lands.

Rudaw: What Kurdish political party do you have the most problems with?

“We do not have to form an alliance with the Kurds.”

Arshad Salehi: Frankly, since the establishment of the Turkmen Front, we have had good relations with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). We have never cut off relations with the PUK. But when we were based in Erbil, we had many issues with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). However, now our brothers in the KDP are also opening up to the Turkmen Front.

Rudaw: What is your reaction to Prime Minister Maliki’s order for the formation of an armed forces division in Kirkuk, the Dijla Operations Command?

Arshad Salehi: If this case was two years ago, we would have had a different reaction, but now we look at it in a different way. Unless we know who is going to be leading the division, what its tasks are, the basis on which it operates and who its soldiers will be, we will not support it. Will the commanders and officers of the division be from Kirkuk?

Kirkuk cannot afford being the arena for political disputes. If the disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region transform into conflict between the Peshmerga and Dijla forces, Turkmen will suffer. That is why the Turkmen group in Kirkuk’s provincial council did not support the formation of the division.

Rudaw: Is it true that you might enter an alliance with the Kurds for the next election?

Arshad Salehi: The map of political alliances for the next election is not clear yet. Now a radical nationalist Arab group is cooperating with a radical religious group -- they may form an alliance in Baghdad and middle Iraq -- for the next election. Also the Sunni tribes and a religious incumbent party are getting closer. However, the map is not clear yet.

As for us, we do not have to form an alliance with the Kurds. We will be very glad to form an alliance in Kirkuk with the real Kurds and native Arabs [to Kirkuk].

Rudaw: What does “real Kurds” mean?

Arshad Salehi: Real Kurds are those who have not moved to Kirkuk with fake documents, those who have been living with us since the ‘50s and are originally from Kirkuk.

Rudaw: Recently, in a case related to the Ministry of Education, Kurds and Turkmen raised their voice together. Both said their rights had been violated in the employment ratio. In many other issues, Kurds support you, but you lean more and more towards the Arabs. Why?

Arshad Salehi: Let me be frank. Since 2003, we have been in agreement with the Arabs on strategic issues such as Article 140 and some other issues. But now we have reached the conclusion that we will not be siding with any particular group against any other group. We want to keep the balance. If we support the Arabs, then we have to stand against the other party, and this does not serve the interests of our nation.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/interview/5195.html

[alan131210]

Six Years Later, Questions Linger About Effectiveness of Article 140 Committee



KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region—In 2006, a parliamentary committee was established to oversee the implementation of Article 140, which addresses the disputed territories.

The committee has 17 members; three are Kurds, including the chair of the committee.

Chair Muhsin Sadun claims that the committee is crucial to issues surrounding the disputed territories, but some political factions have criticized the committee.

Arab Sunnis have called it “Illegitimate.” Kurdish opposition groups have also criticized the structure of the committee.

While Iraqi Parliament approved the establishment of the committee six years ago, it still operates on a temporary basis.

Sadun told Rudaw that when the committee was formed, 37 lawmakers registered to become members and the large number interfered in the committee’s performance.

He added, “Some parliamentary factions have openly opposed the establishment of the committee, because they knew it is very important for the Kurds.”

The current political situation and troubled relationships between parties in Iraq have contributed to the delay in the committee’s work, Sadun said, adding, “If we work relentlessly we can still do something for those who fall under the category of the article.”

Omer Jibury, a member of the committee, criticizes its structure. According to the law issued in 2011, he says the committee must include 34 members, but that number has been reduced.

Jibury, a Sunni Arab from Kirkuk, also believes that Kirkuk provincial council members oppose the establishment of the committee because they see it as a political agreement.

Several Kurds expressed disappointment over how few Kurds were in the committee. However, Sadun insisted that membership was based on the size of elected factions in parliament. For example, the National Coalition, which is the largest bloc in parliament, has eight members, while the Iraqiya List has six members and the Kurdistan Alliance has three.

The Change Movement (Gorran), the largest Kurdish opposition group, dismissed the claims that membership in the committee was based on the size of elected blocs in parliament, saying that if that was true they would have had one member.

Sheikh Latif, a Gorran MP, said that his party requested having one member in the committee.

Although the province of Kirkuk is at the center of discussions about the disputed territories, the committee doesn’t have any members from the area despite the province having six representatives in Iraqi Parliament.

Burhan Faraj, an MP from the Kurdistan Alliance, strongly criticized the committee for this reason, saying, “We consider Kirkuk to be the symbol of Article 140. It is a big mistake that the committee has no Kurdish members from Kirkuk.”

He added, “Those who negotiated on behalf of the Kurds must be held accountable. It is not acceptable that they turn a blind eye to mistakes every time.”

Sirwan Ahmad, a representative of Kirkuk in Iraqi Parliament, maintained that the three Kurdish representatives in the committee are really representatives of the Kurdistan Alliance, not of Kirkuk.

“They are not aware of the issues in Kirkuk and the disputed territories,” he said.

Sadun admitted that a representative from Kirkuk was necessary in the committee. “We have tried to solve this issue in the Kurdistan Alliance,” he said.

However, Muhammad said that so far the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have not reached an agreement on the appointment of a committee representative from Kirkuk.

The KDP has only one representative from Kirkuk in Iraqi Parliament. The other representatives from Kirkuk are from the PUK, Kurdistan Islamic League (Komal), Gorran and Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU).

Faraj values the importance of the committee. “The task of this parliamentary committee is to monitor the work of the committee implementing Article 140,” he said, emphasizing its importance in finding a solution to the disputed territories.

However, Ahmad is disappointed in the committee, saying its only task is “supervising.”

Muhammad confirmed that the committee will have a direct contact with those implementing Article 140 and its role will be crucial.

Sadun said, “We will follow up on the issues in the Article 140 offices in different cities, request funds from the government for implementing the article and investigate delays wherever they happen.”

http://www.rudaw.net/english/kurds/5193.html

[alan131210]

The Acting Committee of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution will begin its works soon, said the chair for the acting committee.

The acting committee voted on Sept.3 to elect Mohsen Saadun from the Kurdistan Blocs Coalition as its chair and Mushreq Naji for Ahrar Bloc in the Sadr Current as Saadun's deputy.

The Kurdish Gorran (Change) Movement Bloc recently demanded to re-elect the committee of article 140, saying the new committee was formed unconstitutionally.

Saadun said the acting committee will begin its work soon to decide about holding its meetings in the Council of Representatives, meeting with the government committee and following up the performance of government agencies in relations to implementation of article 140.

"The objections to the formation of the committee will not have any legal effect. All objections are illegal and unconstitutional," Saadun said.

Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution sets a roadmap for ending the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil governments over the ownership of the ethnically diverse areas like Kirkuk province and parts of Diyala, Salahaddin and Nineveh provinces.

The article had to be fully implemented by end of 2007 but the related officials have failed in finishing the first stage of the three stages the article has set forward.

The article proposes resettling the original residents of the disputed areas and reimbursing their damages as well as resettling the Arab settlers in their original areas, conducting a public census and finally conducting a public referendum for people to decide on being run by Baghdad or Erbil governments.

Saadun urged the authorities in disputed area, especially in Kirkuk province, to not allow for the Arab settlers who have been compensated to return to the disputed areas for residence.

Each family of the Arab settlers who were led to the disputed areas in 1968 or earlier have been issued 20m IQD after it was proved through their records of the food ration cards that they were non-native citizens to Kirkuk.

"They are supposed to return to their areas as they have nothing in Kirkuk….", Saadun said.

In a statement the mayor of Kirkuk Kamel Sala Baho warned about the return of the Arab families to Kirkuk who benefited from the compensation provided by Article 140.

He added "we addressed Committee of Article 140 in Kirkuk Provincial Council in this regard and did not get any answer."

Saadun said although the Iraqi constitution allows for movement of Iraqis in all provinces of the country and for their purchase of real estate wherever they wish, the situation of Kirkuk is different.

He added "Kirkuk and other [disputed] areas are covered by Article 140 because of the demographic changes that have occurred during the era of the former regime.

"The law prevents them [Arab settlers] from returning to Kirkuk after they received their compensation and the local authorities and the Provincial Council must observe the law and the Constitution and not to allow for the transfer of their [Arab settlers'] records or their ration cards to Kirkuk again."

Gulan-media

[alan131210]

Security forces have arrested 141 people, all Arabs, without returning to court according to Muhamad Khalil, a member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council.

On Thursday, the Arab faction in the KPC held a press conference on the arrest of 141 Arab ethnic people after the explosions of September 9 in Kirkuk. Khalil said, “We have received a lot of complaints from the families of the arrestees; they were arrested on the decision of the head of the security committee of the Kirkuk governorate by police forces with an illegal black costume.”

Khalil said the arrestees were arrested without returning to court or intelligence agencies, which concerns them. He urged the Iraqi government and parliament to help them in releasing the arrestees, stating that “What happens against Arabs in Kirkuk, has never happened anywhere else.”

http://kirkuknow.com/english/index.php/ ... -decision/

[Cewlik]

Khalil said the arrestees were arrested without returning to court or intelligence agencies, which concerns them. He urged the Iraqi government and parliament to help them in releasing the arrestees, stating that “What happens against Arabs in Kirkuk, has never happened anywhere else.”

These sons of whores who kill Kurds and try to arabize Kirkuk, call the arresting of terrorists racisim. They should execute all terrtorists.

[Kurdistano]

The article proposes resettling the original residents of the disputed areas and reimbursing their damages as well as resettling the Arab settlers in their original areas, conducting a public census and finally conducting a public referendum for people to decide on being run by Baghdad or Erbil governments.

How many Arabs and Kurds live in Kerkuk? And are the Kurds the majority?

~75-80% of Kirkuk is Kurdish ~10-15% Arab (mostly living in Hawija) and ~10% Turkmen.

[alan131210]

The article proposes resettling the original residents of the disputed areas and reimbursing their damages as well as resettling the Arab settlers in their original areas, conducting a public census and finally conducting a public referendum for people to decide on being run by Baghdad or Erbil governments.

How many Arabs and Kurds live in Kerkuk? And are the Kurds the majority?

the last census was carried out before the arabization process was in 1957 which showed an outcome of 52 % kurds with Arabs and Turkmen both getting 35 % and 12% respectively.

and today after all kurds well most have returned to kirkuk, iraq knows in case of any referendum kurds will win thus they delayed the referendum in 2007.

the governor now knows how many kurds, turkmen and arabs live in the province as they conducted a census for identity check (look below) not long ago, so they know we are a majority once again with even arabs and turkmen combined against us, that is why we want 140 implemented all of a sudden.

Population census running in Kirkuk



12/06/2012

KIRKUK, June 12 (AKnews)- A population census in central Kirkuk is running and the initial outcomes show that 400 families of Arab settlers who received compensation have not returned to their homes in other Iraqi provinces.

The headmen for each neighborhood are conducting the census which will run until July 1, said Kirkuk Mayor Kamil Salayee.

Salayee said the items on the form which the 127 headmen distribute are intended to distinguish the aboriginal residents of the city from the settlers and illegal refugees.

He added the form includes information on the family and its members but it avoids questions as ethnicity or religion "due to the sensitive situation in Kirkuk."

The ownership of the multiethnic oil rich Kirkuk is disputed mainly by Kurdish government and Baghdad. Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which was due to be fully implemented by end of 2007, is set to end the dispute.

The article, which many regard as annulled, sets forth a three stage process for indicating the owner of the province as well as some other multiethnic areas in Nineveh, Salahaddin and Diyala provinces.

The first stage is normalization, whereby the Arab settlers will be paid compensation to return to their homes in southern and Iraqi provinces and expelled Kurds to Kirkuk after receiving the damages. The second phase is conducting a population census and the third a public referendum on whether the population prefers to be ruled by Baghdad or Erbil.

Unofficial figures set the population in central Kirkuk at 1,400,000.

Kirkuk mayor said that so far it has become clear that 400 Arab families who have already been allotted the compensation have not left Kirkuk.

These families were brought to Kirkuk during the Arabization process, in order to change the demography of the province.

The families will face court, Salayi said.

The official added the current figures also show that more than 1,000 families have settled in Kirkuk illegally.

They also will face investigation, according to Salayee.

AKnews

[alan131210]

Great to know that we're the majority, even with the Arabs and Turkmen combined. 5 years has passed and Article 140 has still not been implemented yet. Do you think it will ever be done?

turkey use to oppose it, that has ended now with Oglu's visit to Kirkuk. US is neutral, iran is weaker iraq cant delay it any further so yes with the newly elected Kurdish leader for the committee it is possible now, he even said "now the 2nd stage begins which is referendum and census".

[alan131210]

Tigris Operations Command Formed by PM Maliki Criticized as Unconstitutional

KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region -- The Iraqi Ministry of Defense formed the Tigris Operations Command in July.

This military command was established under direct orders from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the general command of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

At the time, officials from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) confirmed the existence of the order to form this command, while officials from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) dismissed the claim.

Jamal Tahir, a major general and Kirkuk police chief, spoke to Rudaw when the command was formed. "This operations command will consist of military divisions No.12 and No.5 and will have nothing to do with the police. They will not carry out police duties," he said.

But on Aug. 30, Baghdad announced that this command would begin operations and that their base would be located in region K1, west of Kirkuk near the airport.

In the latest meeting of the PUK political bureau, this military command was mentioned. Maliki had previously promised Iraqi President Jalal Talabani that such military groups would not be formed.

But after the support Maliki received from Talabani in the face of the demands that he be removed from office, and after the calls to subject the Iraqi PM to a non-confidence vote subsided, it became clear that Maliki had already assembled these forces and formed the Tigris Operations Command.

Galib Attiya, a Diyala police spokesperson, told Rudaw, "This operations command began its duties on Sept. 3. Its duties consist of coordinating and supervising the activities of the police, security forces and army in Diyala and Kirkuk provinces."

In 2008, a joint force which consisted of the U.S. Army, Iraqi Army and the Peshmerga operated in the disputed regions. After the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the Iraqi Army has been avoiding any cooperation with the Kurdish forces.

Halo Najat, a KDP Asayish (security) chief in Kirkuk, said, "According to the existing agreement, the security file was managed by a joint operation made up of members from the army, police and the Asayish of Kirkuk."

Najat described the formation of the Tigris Operations Command as destructive to the military balance of power in Kirkuk "because Kirkuk is a disputed region between Baghdad and Erbil.”

Regarding the threats from this new operations command, Najat said, "Using Kirkuk airport to transport weapons and planes is dangerous. They might secretly bring more forces into the city under the cover of this new command."

He added, "The second threat is the violation of the treaty with the Kurdistan Region, because they should not have made these moves without consulting the Kurdish government."

The Tigris Operations Command will unite the military division of Kirkuk No.12, the police directorate and security units of Kirkuk and the military division No.5 of Diyala province.

This will be done without any inclusion of Peshmerga or Asayish forces from these two provinces, which means the Iraqi military is taking control of security from the police in these areas and giving it to a military commander, Abdulameer Zaidi of Diyala division No.5.

Ahmed Askary, the security committee chairman in Kirkuk provincial council, said that his committee is against the formation of this military command.

"We rejected it because it is against the constitutional principles,” Askary said. “The Iraqi constitution says that the security file shall be controlled by the governor. The Iraqi Army is free to make changes in their military units, but if the military hijacked the security control in the provinces, it would be considered a coup against the constitution of Iraq."

Rebwar Talabani, deputy to the president of Kirkuk provincial council, said that the council has rejected the presence of this military command because "it cannot be done without coordination with the provincial council of Kirkuk. This move also requires cooperation with the Kurdish government since it is a disputed region."

In a voting session last week, the majority of members in the provincial council of Kirkuk rejected the presence of the Tigris Operations Command in their city. Legally, this vote is not binding because the constitution gives the authority of mobilizing army units to the central government.

Nevertheless, there are security treaties between the Kurdistan Region and Iraqi government regarding Kirkuk province.

"All of Iraq is being ruled by treaties," said Najat.

In a press release announced at the end of a meeting between the president of the Kurdistan Region and political parties held last Saturday, the stance of the Kirkuk provincial council was supported.

The press release also described the formation of this operations command as a "political game" which will jeopardize the security, military and political stability in the disputed regions, and demanded “disbanding this military operations command."

The Turkmen Front, like the Kurds, rejects the formation of the military command. Ali Mahdi, the group’s spokesperson, explained their stance by saying "Kirkuk is supposed to be protected by its own people," and called on the provincial council to reject all the military units from “either north or south Iraq” that want to come to Kirkuk.

Sheikh Burhan Muzhar Asi, a provincial council member from the Arabic Republic, said that there are no other alternatives to this military command.

Asi told Rudaw, "The Iraqi Army has the duty of protecting security and their coming to Kirkuk is to fill the security vacuum in the city created by the withdrawal of U.S. forces."

Najat attributed the security vacuum to the lack of action by security forces, and the vast borders with Hawijah, Rashad and Hamrin that have become "hotbeds of terrorists."

http://www.rudaw.net/english/news/iraq/5202.html

[alan131210]

A member of the Security Council of the Iraqi Council of Representatives announced that Nouri Al-Maliki, Iraqi Prime minister, has cancelled the formation of the Tigris ops.

Security forces in action

Hassan Jihad, a member on behalf of the Kurdish Alliance List told Kirkuk Now that: “Nouri Al-Maliki has decided to cancel the formation of the Tigris operations, as he told the Iraqi President about his decision as well.”

“He told Jalal Al-Talabani about the decision as he and a delegate of the Council of Ministers have recently visited Sulaymaniah, the decision was formerly demanded by the president,” Jihad explained.

The Tigris operations formation was commanded by Nouri Al-Maliki from both the fifth and twelfth divisions of the Iraqi army to be settled in Kaiwan, but its announcement was postponed last week for an unknown time.

The Kirkuk Provincial Council previously has rejected the formation of the operations with a majority of the votes, but the Arab members boycotted the council and didn’t accept the council’s decision.

Muhammad Khdr Jburi, a member of the Arabic fraction in the KPC stated “the Tigris operation is not cancelled by any means because so far, we haven’t received official documents regarding its cancellation from the fifth division.”

Zanyr Daquqi – Kirkuk Now