07-02-2010
Chamchamal - Kurdish officials send additional forces to a town that threatened to take into the streets if authorities will not act to round up dozens of fugitives who have taken shelter in the area. Last week, a group of journalists in Chamchamal, west of Sulaimaniya, threatened to organize protests if officials will not put an end what they called "an increase in shootouts, killings," in the town in recent weeks. At least five people have been killed in January and not a single suspect has been arrested, according to statistics provided by police and published in local papers. However, local residents said that the figure is higher. Judge Omar Saleh, head of investigative court in Chamchamal, said that the district courts have summoned around 180 people in the past three years but they are still at large. "(The list) has all types of charges, some of them are murder suspects, some are theft," he said. The group, called the Campaign to Defend the Stability and Security of Chamchamal, gave a week ultimatum to Kurdish officials to visit the town and listen to the concerns of the resident otherwise they will organize protests. "The lives of all (residents) of the area are under the (mercy) of bullets," the statement said. "Some of the people who are wanted by court are being supported and sheltered by the political parties in Kurdistan." Latif Fahet Faraj, of the campaign, said that Kurdistan Regional Government officials have promised to immediately act, "The security and police forces in town are competent but the social situation might create obstacles (for them) to take actions," he said adding that the government will send additional security forces to the area in order to arrest suspects and fugitives. Sources told Rudaw that dozens of additional police forces were deployed in the downtown today. Last week, Prime Minister Barham Saleh and Minister of Interior Kareem Sinjari respectively met with a delegation of the group. On Tuesday, deputy Interior Minister visited the town to talk with the local authorities on how to address the issues. Last year, a delegation of the town met with President Massoud Barzani asking him to make sure that fugitives are brought to justice, but local residents say that no practical steps were taken to arrest suspects. Ako Shwani, who has signed the campaign statement, said that family problems and social issues are the main factors for violence in the area. More than 150,000 people live in Chamchamal district, which include five sub-districts and more than 200 villages. The area was the scene of a major military campaign against Kurds in the Anfal operations that was carried out by the Baath regime in 1980s in which thousands of Kurds were taken to unknown destiny. "We hope that people will help us with information (on fugitives) and political parties will stop supporting people who are being summoned to appear in courts," said judge Omar (Photo: Rudaw). © Rudaw
