KNK calls for election of candidates who reject Turkish occupation
The Kurdistan National Congress called on the people of Southern Kurdistan to participate widely in the upcoming elections for the parliament of the Kurdistan region, to commit to transparency in them, to elect national candidates who will put the interests of the Kurdistan region before partisan interests, and to elect candidates who reject the Turkish occupation.
The co-presidency of the Kurdistan National Congress issued a statement regarding the elections for the parliament of the Kurdistan Region, scheduled to be held next October. The text of the statement reads:
"The Kurdistan Region elections are being held under sensitive circumstances, and on the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of self-rule in the region, this is the first time that the elections have witnessed crises and massive chaos, at the internal level between the political parties, through the economic problems that the region is drowning in, the lack of services, the increase in unemployment and poverty among the people, the lack of political freedom for individuals to express their political opinions, the silencing of the voices of free journalists, in addition to the problems of the KRG with the central government in Baghdad, and the extensive Turkish occupation of the country's territories.
The Iraqi central government in Baghdad is always trying to limit the sovereignty of the Kurdistan region by creating crises and chaos, especially after the declaration of federalism in 2017, the Iraqi government occupied a large part of the Kurdistan region, and carried out demographic changes in these areas, as it creates conspiracies with the aim of eliminating Kurdish sovereignty in the region, by signing treaties with the Turkish occupation, division the Kurdish parties, and allowing the entry of Turkish occupation soldiers tens of kilometers into the country's territories.
With the government's insistence The Iraqi government is to conduct a general census next November, without referring to Article 140, which stipulates that no person can register without referring to his original place of registration, with the presence of a large number of Kurds who come from the disputed areas in the Kurdistan region, which paves the way for demographic change in those areas.
In light of the Kurdistan Region elections being held under sensitive circumstances and at a sensitive stage, and the risks that threaten the gains of the Kurdish people, we demand the unity of the Kurdish people and parties, and we also demand commitment to the transparency of the elections by allowing each individual to cast his vote freely without pressure and harassment, with our hopes for a large participation by the Kurdish people in the elections, and the election of national candidates who will put the interests of the Kurdistan region before the partisan interest, and the election of candidates who reject the Turkish occupation.
We also call on all political parties in the region to participate in the elections through their programs aimed at serving the Kurdish community and staying away from the policy of insulting other political parties participating in the elections.
T/ Satt.
ANHA