DATE=1/8/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42320
TITLE=IRAQ/KURDS/DEPORTATIONS
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=SULAYMANIYAH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ IS CONTINUING TO DEPORT HUNDREDS OF ETHNIC KURDS AND
OTHER NON-ARAB MINORITIES TO KURDISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ,
DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS FROM U-N OFFICIALS TO STOP THE POLICY
DESCRIBED BY KURDS AS "ETHNIC CLEANSING." AMBERIN ZAMAN HAS THE
DETAILS FROM THE IRAQI-KURDISH CITY OF SULAYMANIYAH.
TEXT: IN A DAMP, SQUALID, CANDLE-LIT ROOM, JALAL AMIN ALI,
SHAKES WITH ANGER AS HE DESCRIBES HOW HE AND HIS FAMILY WERE
FORCED BY IRAQI SECURITY FORCES TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.
A FARMER FROM THE OIL RICH KIRKUK REGION IN IRAQI
GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED TERRITORY, MR. ALI SAYS HE WAS NOT AT HOME
WHEN THE IRAQI POLICE CAME TO ORDER THEM OUT. SO THEY TOOK HIS
WIFE AND BABY TO PRISON AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVEN ANY FOOD
UNTIL HE SHOWED UP AND THEY LEFT KIRKUK FOR GOOD.
/// AMIN ALI ACT IN KURDISH ESTABLISH FADE UNDER. ///
MR. ALI SAYS THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER, NO HEAT, AND NO
ELECTRICITY IN THIS DERELICT HOTEL, WHICH HE NOW CALLS HOME. HE
SAYS WITH NO JOB HE CAN BARELY FEED HIS FAMILY AND HAS LITTLE
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
FELLOW DEPORTEES FROM 120 FAMILIES SHELTERED HERE TELL MUCH THE
SAME STORY.
JALAL TALABANI, THE LEADER OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN,
ONE OF THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS THAT CONTROLS
SULAYMANIYAH, SAYS THE EXPULSIONS ARE INTENDED TO REMOVE
NON-ARABS FROM THE OIL-RICH REGIONS OF MOSUL AND KIRKUK.
/// TALABANI ACT IN ENGLISH ///
THERE IS THE POLICY OF ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE AREA,
KURDISTAN AREA, WHICH IS STILL UNDER THE CONTROL OF
IRAQI ARMY OF IRAQI GOVERNMENT, LIKE MANDALI, KHANAQIN,
KIRKUK, MAHMOUR AREA. IN THESE PLACES, THE IRAQIS ARE
CONTINUING THE POLICY OF ARABIZATION OF DEPORTATION AND
BRINGING ARAB FAMILIES AND OBLIGING THEM TO SETTLE
THERE, INSTEAD OF KURDS AND TURKOMENS WHO ARE DEPORTED.
/// END TALABANI ACT ////
MR. TALABANI SAYS HE RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE DEPORTATIONS WITH
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS WITH
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT. BUT THERE ARE NO SIGNS
SADDAM HUSSEIN IS ABANDONING WHAT MR. TALABANI TERMS HIS
ARABIZATION CAMPAIGN, DESPITE REPEATED WARNINGS FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
ACCORDING TO KURDISH OFFICIALS, ABOUT 250-THOUSAND ETHNIC KURDS
HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY EVICTED FROM AREAS UNDER IRAQI GOVERNMENT
CONTROL SINCE THE KURDS' FAILED UPRISING AGAINST BAGHDAD
FOLLOWING THE 1991 PERSIAN GULF WAR.
SADI PIRA, PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR
HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, SAYS EXPULSIONS, WHICH ALSO TARGET ETHNIC
TURKS AND ASSYRIAN CHRISTIAN ARABS, OCCUR ALMOST DAILY. HE SAYS
LOCAL KURDISH OFFICIALS HAVE A HARD TIME PROVIDING SHELTER FOR
ALL OF THEM.
MANY DEPORTEES ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN PLASTIC TENTS AND MOST HAVE
THEIR U-N RATION CARDS FOR THE OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAM SEIZED BEFORE
THEY ARE KICKED OUT. SO WHEN THEY COME TO NORTHERN IRAQ THEY
ARE UNABLE TO CLAIM THEIR DAILY RATIONS OF FOOD FROM THE UNITED
NATIONS.
/// BEGIN PIRA ACT ///
WE HAVE TO SPEAK ABOUT REGISTERING THEM AGAIN AND IT IS
A LONG PROCESS. OF COURSE THEY TRY TO SPEED THIS
PROCESS, BUT IT TAKES TIME. FOOD, RATION [CARDS] AND
SOME CLOTHES FOR EXAMPLE, HEATING FOR WINTER. YOU
CANNOT WAIT IT IS NOT LIKE BUILDING A SCHOOL OR A
BRIDGE.
/// END PIRA ACT ///
JALAL TALABANI'S ORGANIZATION AND ITS RIVAL, MASSOUD BARZANI'S
KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, HAVE CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE
APRIL 1991 WHEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES DECLARED A
NO-FLY ZONE THERE. THE SO-CALLED KURDISH SAFE HAVEN IS PROTECTED
BY U-S, BRITISH, AND TURKISH WARPLANES BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY.
(SIGNED)
LON/AZ/RAE/GE
08-Jan-99 11:46 AM EST (1646 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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