26/04/2012 17:31
GARMIYAN, April (AKnews) - Diyala Council's Security Committee has said it holds evidence which proves that in parts of the province, Kurds are being threatened with death, unless they leave their homes.
Yesterday Abdul-Amir al-Zaidi, chief for Diyala Operations Command, described Saadaiya and Jalwala as the most stable towns in the province and refuted reports that Kurdish residents of these towns were forced to leave their homes behind.
However, Dler Hassan al-Saya, a deputy for the head of the security committee at Diyala council. said there are hundreds of Kurdish families from the two towns who have taken refuge in other areas.
"We have their names and contact numbers of those who have fled the threats of the extremist groups," the official said.
Commenting on Zaidi's remarks, Saya said the chief "regards himself responsible for the security of Diyala, therefore, he makes such statements."
On August 16, 2011, Jabbar al-Yawar, the spokesperson for Kurdistan Region Ministry of Peshmarga (border guards) revealed the changing figures in population of Kurds and Arabs in some areas in Diyala.
Yawar told a press conference that in 2003 the Arab population in Jalawal was 49%, which rose to 77% after eight years. Meanwhile, the Kurdish population density dropped from 33% to 18%.
In Saadiya the rate for Arab residents rose dramatically from 37% to 82% but for Kurds it shrunk from 31% to just 7% .
In the other towns, such as Qaratapa, the Arab population increased from 52% to 66% and Kurdish population fell to 16% from 27%.
Yawar added, since 2003 some 679 Kurdish families from Jalawla, 610 from Saadiya and 64 from Qatatapa were forced to flee their hometowns after they were threatened with death by "terrorists." Most of them settled in Kalar or nearby cities.
The town mentioned in this report are but a few of the areas whose ownership is disputed between Baghdad and Erbil governments.
Some of these areas, like Kirkuk province, rest on rich oil reserves which has set hurdles for any decisive demarcation.
By Bryar MohammedAKnews