As the political crisis in South Kurdistan continues, a determined will for the solution of the problem has not emerged yet. Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Co-President Cemil Bayık has proposed mediation between the parties for the development of a solution.

The crisis escalated in South Kurdistan after public workers went on strike and took to the streets on October 4 in protest at non-payment of their salaries for three months. The strikes and demonstrations soon later turned into a political crisis in the region.

At least four people including a child lost their lives during the armed intervention of the KDP and peshmerga forces against demonstrators. While a KDP building was burned down, many journalists and representatives of civil society organisations were forced to leave the settlements dominated by KDP in Hewler (Erbil).

In the meantime, Kurdistan Regional Parliament President Yusif Mihamed from Goran movement was denied entry into Hewler, while Necirvan Barzani said that Mihemed will not be allowed entry into Hewler until a new president is elected. Four ministries held by members of Goran movement have also been seized and two of them were replaced by KDP officers; Ministry of Peshmerga and Ministry of Finance.

KDP HOLDS GORAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRISIS

While KDP holds Goran movement responsible for the crisis, Goran defines KDP’s attitude as a “coup against democracy”.

As protests continue in the region, teachers took to the streets in Sulaymaniya and Halabja on Wednesday morning to protest the non-payment of their salaries for the last four months and demand a solution to the budget crisis.

KCK PROPOSED MEDIATION

In another development, KCK Co-President Cemil Bayık proposed mediation in an interview with RojNews saying; “The concerned parties must treat the problems of South Kurdistan as the problems of their own and they must gather and discuss the ways for a solution jointly. By seeking a solution to the problems all together, the parties can get stronger and improve among the people. (…) If the parties of the South accept, we can play a mediating role in order for the solution of the problems faced in the South. It gets clearer every day that they are not able to find a way out. The problem deepens each day and people see it”.

The proposal of Bayık has received positive response from many parties and politicians in the South. Kurdistan Islamic Society (Komela Islami) Party executive Şiwan Raber said Bayık’s proposals must be treated positively, while member of Goran Movement’s Diplomatic Relations Commission Hoşyar Ömer said: “Goran Movement embraces KCK’s attitude and approach. There is basically a political crisis. The unity will be ensured when the KDP accepts that a change in the region is essential, that there exists no democracy and that the country is being ruined because they cannot leave their seats.”