KDP Asayish forces stopped the march of representatives from the KNK and political parties to Sêmalka Border Gate in order to protest the Sykes-Picot Agreement and closure of the border crossing.

Representatives of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) and political parties tried to protest the 100th year anniversary of the Sykes-Picot Agreement by marching to the border that separates West and South Kurdistan. KDP forces stopped the protestors on Derbine road located between Duhok and Sêmalka, and prevented them from marching to Sêmalka Boder gate.

KNK Co-President Nilüfer Koç spoke to ANF and said that the KDP forces’ were implementing the policies of colonial powers by stopping the march to Sêmalka. Koç emphasized that the closure of Sêmalka was the decision of the KDP, not the parliament.

'KDP’S ROLE IN THE CLOSURE OF THE BORDER EXPOSED'

Koç stated that KDP’s role in the closure of the border was exposed when Asayish forces prevented members of KNK, Goran movement, PUK, Yekgırtu, Free Society Movement, Hızbi Zehmetkêşan, Ayinde Party, REPAK and several non-governmental organizations from marching to Sêmalka border gate. Koç noted that special operations forces and police officers formed three extra checkpoints and took an aggressive stance to prevent the protest from happening, and tried to silence the call for the removal of artificial borders in Kurdistan.

'OUR STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL UNITY WILL CONTINUE'

Koç emphasized that they would continue to struggle for national unity despite the prevention, and recalled the massacre of 63 injured and sick guerrillas at the hands of KDP peshmergas in Hêwler massacre. Lastly, Koç condemned the Skyes-Picot agreement dividing Kurdistan, and called upon Kurdish parties carrying out the policies of colonialist forces to abandon this policy.