Commenting on the latest atrocities against the Kurds by the Arab terrorists in Kirkuk and Mosul, Barzani and Talabani warned that they will not stay silent while those crimes are unfolding daily

• Deployment of Kurdish Troops In Mosul Alarms Arabs

Now, with Mosul threatening to turn to chaos after most of the city's 4,000 police deserted, the Kurds are again proving staunch allies. "They're well-organised, fierce and get the job done," said Captain Robert Lackey, a company commander with the U.S. Stryker Brigade, which is responsible for northern Iraq. More

• News Snapshot

Talabani, Barzani and have revealed that they have reached an agreement with Iraqi political parties to postpone elections in Kirkuk which was planned to be held next January until the issue of Kurdish settlement resolved.

----------------

Turkish FM Gul criticized Talabani and Barzani for their demand that local elections in Kirkuk be postponed until the issue of Kurdish settlement resolved. "They are not the ones who will decide. They might have some demands as Iraqi citizens; however, they cannot decide when elections will take place. There is a council in Iraq and it will decide on it. That the election is held on a designated date is crucial."

----------------

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan told US Vice President Cheney that the operation against terrorists in Falluja has caused outrage in Turkey and the Muslim world, reported Turkish Daily News yesterday.

Nov 21, 2004

• Election Setback

• Militants Try to Stir Arab-Kurd Violence

• Sunni Arabs Kill Two Kurds In Mosul

• The EU, Turkey and the Kurds - European Parliament Conference

Nov 19, 2004

• In Mosul, Kurdish Peshmarga Helps Keep Order

• In Mosul, Mortar Attacks Continue

Nov 18, 2004

• US And Kurds Attack insurgents In Mosul

American warplanes flew over Arab parts of the city, and some units of the American Task Force Olympia ventured out of their base on patrol. An insurgent unit crossed over to the mainly Kurdish west of Mosul and attacked offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Three of the four attackers were killed, and the fourth was wounded. More

• New Labour Tells Kurds To Return To Torture Or Death

Nov 16, 2004

• Kurdish Interpreter killed in Fallujah

• Kurdish Gov't Blocks Roads to Korean Base Town of Arbil

• Hear NPR's Philip Reeves

Nov 15, 2004

• Kurds' Separatist Ambitions Pose Challenge To Iraq Unity

• Kurds in Iran Cheer Iraqi Neighbors' Efforts for Greater Voice

• 300 Kurdish Families Leave Falluja, Rumadi

Nov 14, 2004

• Peshmerga Prevents Arab Terrorists From Crossing Into Eastern Side Of Mosul

"The Peshmergas captured five and killed eight," Mr Piri said. "The five captured did not carry identity cards, so we do not know yet whether they are Iraqi." The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Saleh, said the rebels were trying "to destabilise Mosul" and "to prevent elections" scheduled for January. More

Nov 13, 2004

• Turkish Generals calls for massive operation into Kurdish region

• U.S. Forces Launch Attacks On Militants In Mosul

• Insurgents Attack Fiercely in North, Storming Police Stations in Mosul

• Dutch Police Raid Kurdish Training Camp, Arrest 38

• Ashcroft's Departure May Help Jailed Kurd

Nov 12, 2004

• Kirkuk Governor Survived Car Bombing

Nov 11, 2004

• Turkey Warns US to Stop Operation in Fallujah

• Political Parties Stir Unrest In Kirkuk

• Barzani Trip To Taiwan Postponed

Nov 10, 2004

• Religious Appeals Have Turned Against The Kurds

• South Korean Bank Inaugurated In Irbil

• The Chairman of KDS Party Congratulates Bush

Nov 8, 2004

• Dutch Court Forbids Extradition Of Kurdish Leader To Turkey

Nov 7, 2004

• Minority Phobia Haunts Turkey

• Along border, Kurds Say, Iran Gives Boost To Uprising

Nov 6, 2004

• Kurdish identity key to Turkey’s EU entry: Roth

• Analysis: Is Mosul The Next Al-Fallujah?

Nov 5, 2004

• Kurds Walk Political Tightrope

• Swedish Delegation: Still Much To Do For Human Rights

• Turkey And EU Speak 'Different Languages' On Minorities, Says Minister

Nov 4, 2004

• Kurdish Politicians Lend Support To Zana's Call For New Party

• Ankara Hosts Kurdish Islamic Party Leader

Nov 2, 2004

• Turkey's Basbug Calls For Clampdown On Ocalan Lawyers

• Human Rights Report Sparks Row In Turkey

KurdistanObserver.com

The Kurdish National Congress of North America

P.O. Box 1663

Lake Forest, CA 92630

USA

Tel/Fax: 949-583-1417 www.kurdishnationalcongress.org

Press Release

Kirkuk and Iraqi Elections

Since the liberation of Iraq in March 2003, the Kurdish people have been looking forward to overturn the injustice committed against them by Saddam and previous Iraqi governments. The Kurds have been the only true ally of the United States in this war, yet this fact has not been acknowledged, as it should be.

The Iraqi Governing Council, including major Kurdish and Shiite leaders, signed the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) to bring hope to all Iraqis. Although the new law did not address all of the rights of the Kurds in the newly librated Iraq, the Kurdish leadership signed the document to show their support for the effort of the US to establish a democratic federal government and to keep Iraq united.

The Kurdish people have been disappointed in the limited scope of the TAL from the beginning because it does not address the aspirations and the rights of the Kurdish people for self-determination. Many Shiite Arabs were against the TAL even before it was signed because it gives the Kurds, the right to veto as a safe guard against dictatorship of the majority. We can clearly see that many aspects of the TAL such as a general census and implementation of section 58 have not been implemented, yet the Shiites are pushing for the election while opposing the census because they believe that this is their golden opportunity to rule Iraq for the first time in their history.

According to section 58 of TAL, “The Iraqi Transitional Government, and especially the Iraqi Property Claims Commission and other relevant bodies, shall act expeditiously to take measures to remedy the injustice caused by the previous regime’s practices in altering the demographic character of certain regions, including Kirkuk, by deporting and expelling individuals from their places of residence, forcing migration in and out of the region, settling individuals alien to the region, depriving the inhabitants of work, and correcting nationality”. Clearly, this section of the TAL stipulates that the Arabization of Kirkuk must be reversed and the refugees must return to their original homes, yet this process was never started, as it should have been. This issue is like a time bomb; it could explode any time before or during the election.

We call on all the Kurds to vote in the general election in Iraq; however, when it comes to the local election in the city of Kirkuk, we should not be part of this election unless Article 58 of TAL is implemented fully. After all, the blood that was shed since 1974 was for Kirkuk. If the high commission of the Iraqi election insists on holding elections in Kirkuk before full implementation of section 58 of TAL, then we call on the Kurdish leadership and all the Kurds to:

Withdraw from the Central Government
Withdraw all Kurdish troops from the Iraqi National Guard
Boycott the national Iraqi election
Ask the UN to conduct a referendum on independence in Kurdistan

******************

LAW OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE STATE OF IRAQ – FOR THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

Article 58.

(A) The Iraqi Transitional Government, and especially the Iraqi Property Claims Commission and other relevant bodies, shall act expeditiously to take measures to remedy the injustice caused by the previous regime’s practices in altering the demographic character of certain regions, including Kirkuk, by deporting and expelling individuals from their places of residence, forcing migration in and out of the region, settling individuals alien to the region, depriving the inhabitants of work, and correcting nationality. To remedy this injustice, the Iraqi Transitional Government shall take the following steps:

(1) With regard to residents who were deported, expelled, or who emigrated; it shall, in accordance with the statute of the Iraqi Property Claims Commission and other measures within the law, within a reasonable period of time, restore the residents to their homes and property, or, where this is unfeasible, shall provide just compensation.

(2) With regard to the individuals newly introduced to specific regions and territories, it shall act in accordance with Article 10 of the Iraqi Property Claims Commission statute to ensure that such individuals may be resettled, may receive compensation from the state, may receive new land from the state near their residence in the governorate from which they came, or may receive compensation for the cost of moving to such areas.

(3) With regard to persons deprived of employment or other means of support in order to force migration out of their regions and territories, it shall promote new employment opportunities in the regions and territories.

(4) With regard to nationality correction, it shall repeal all relevant decrees and shall permit affected persons the right to determine their own national identity and ethnic affiliation free from coercion and duress.

(B) The previous regime also manipulated and changed administrative boundaries for political ends. The Presidency Council of the Iraqi Transitional Government shall make recommendations to the National Assembly on remedying these unjust changes in the permanent constitution. In the event the Presidency Council is unable to agree unanimously on a set of recommendations, it shall unanimously appoint a neutral arbitrator to examine the issue and make recommendations. In the event the Presidency Council is unable to agree on an arbitrator, it shall request the Secretary General of the United Nations to appoint a distinguished international person to be the arbitrator.

(C) The permanent resolution of disputed territories, including Kirkuk, shall be deferred until after these measures are completed, a fair and transparent census has been conducted and the permanent constitution has been ratified This resolution shall be consistent with the principle of justice, taking into account the will of the people of those territories.

December 19, 2004

For more information contact KNC at: 949-583-1417

KurdistanObserver.com