Party demands explanation over its members' interrogation by Kurdistan ruling party's intelligence
The PÇDK which has strong links with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey issued a statement yesterday demanding clarification from Asayish (security) and Parastin (intelligence), the two organs of the ruling KDP in the Kurdistan Region.
The statement said though the party has been operating in Kurdistan for 10 years but since it does not have a license its members face obstacles in the checkpoints while moving around.
"Many times they [party members] are arrested for several days for investigation," the statement said.
It exemplified two cases.
Yesterday three party members (mentioned only by their first names Leyla, Nalin and Lawko) intended to enter Makhmur Camp in Erbil for visiting the refugees and some organizational business.
The PÇDK agents were stopped at Makhmur checkpoint and after waiting for one hour under sun, they were not allowed to enter the camp. The checkpoint officials also confiscated their identity cards and registered their names, according to the statement.
Makhmur Camp houses the PKK refugees who fled Turkey.
The other case concerns two policemen who have connections with PÇDK.
The statement said a few days ago, the two policemen (also mentioned by their first names, Farhad and Gardi) were called by Parastin for investigation.
The statement demanded "General Asayish to clarify such positions for the public and follow up and investigate such obstacles.
"If these are not Asayish decisions, then the officials of the checkpoints should be punished …
"If these are their [Asayish] decisions and positions against PÇDK …. we deem this an inappropriate act, not in favor of our relations.
"They should stop doing this or we will have another position."
This week the security and intelligence organizations of the Kurdistan government allies, KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), united in the Kurdistan Security Council.
The opposition criticized the new council, saying it best serves a "unilateral ruling" in favor of the major parties. It vowed it will take all measures to abolish the new council.
AKnews
