Irakian Kurdistan
IRAKIAN
KURDISTAN |
| The
Kurds from Irak represent 20% of the 20 millions of Kurds who
also live in Turkey in Iran and in Syria. In 1988, more than 120 000 of them had flee from the chemical bombing of Saddam Hussein to Turkey. three years later, just at the end of the gulf war, more than 2 millions Kurds run away from the iraki repression and urged the occidental allies to settle zone of aerial exclusion and a king of autonomy. The Irakian kurdistan is one of the most mined territories in the world. Victims of Saddam and the ambargo, his inhabitants emigrate en masse. |
Regional pressures
REGIONAL
PRESSURES |
| Besides
a change of the iraki regime, the PUK hopes to recover a part
of the oil of Kirkouk at about, 40 kilometers from the front
line of Chamchamal. The Iranian band Syrians neighbors have
a lot to lose with an american intervention and put the Kurdistan
under pressure. They make the crossing of their frontiers harder
and harder every day in the zones controled by PUK. Souleymanie is accusing Teheran the official godfather of PUK, to play a double game in supporting the attacks against the peshmergas by 4000 "guerilleros" of the PUK and the islamist extremist Ansar-Al-Islam refuge in the mountains beside Iran. The peshmergas of PUK threaten in two fronts, are not able to mobilize themselves only against Iraki forces. The goal of Teheran and Syria is to maintain an instability in the Irakian Kurdistan in order to limit the potential power of a pro-us government in Bagdad. Shared between the anxiety facing the prospect of a new war synonymous of pain and the hope of a federal Irak where they would have their place at last. The 3 millions 600 000 Kurds of Irak are waiting for Washington to decide the time when the arms will thunder. |
Peshmergas
PESHMERGA
: IRAKIAN KURDISTAN WARRIORS "The one who face the death" literal translation IRAKIAN KURDISTAN |
Under
the protection of the American and English aviation, the
42 000 km² of the Irakian Kurdistan that stay out of
Saddam Hussein control never have felt such a taste of independence
and freedom. All kind of business and smuggling are growing
up. Because of the agreement that the Kurds obtain with their
neighbors, they have received 13% of the Iraki oil incomes;
a beginning of prosperity appears. On the front line, 50
000 peshmergas (literaly, "The one who face the death"),
are ready for war.
In Erbil, the capital of the west part of Iraki Kurdistan under the power of Massoud Barzani, the uncertainty still reigns. Iraki tanks are at 10 kilometers. When the American are going to hit Saddam ? What kind of risks and hopes for the Kurds ? Historical chance to obtain autonomy or strategic error to collaborate with GW Bush ? In this complex east, where Kurds have been many time victims of changing alliances, the Iraki Kurdistan get involve with no choice in a war in which they have no control. In the office of Massoud Barzani messenger, a map in the wall describes the new Kurdistan frontiers including all the region of Mossoul still occupied by Irak. In the south the Iraki forces equiped with powerfull arms. In the north, Turkey strategic allie of Washington, had closed her frontier since february. Turks have stated to settle down 50 000 tents in their frontier with Irak to face an exode of Irakian Kurds refugees in case of an american attack. In april 1981, 500 000 Kurds from the north of Irak were taken refuge in Turkey and one more million in Iran. Oppressed by the regime of Saddam Hussein which used chemical arms in 1988 against the civilians, dropped by the american in 1981 after G Bush father had urged them to stir-up, the Irakian Kurds are the witness of the turning point in their own destiny. Amid Fandi, chief of the peshmergas, is waiting for the american decision. A Mountain range which reach its highest point at 3000 meters stands between Barzani and his ex rival Jalal talabani who is in charge of the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) in Souleymanieh . The peace between the two Kurds chiefs has just been signed under the aegis of the US. With a view of US intervention, American and British officers are doing locations in the territories of the PUK. "We are living a historic moment" explains Ahmed Bamarni, a collaborator of Talabani. "Saddam Hussein possess chemical and bacteriologic arms. He is ready to use them against us and we don't have any parade. However, we won't be able to stay neutral in the battle field. All the more, the future of Kurdistan will depend on our aptitude during the conflict to assert our independence. |
Map of Kurdistan
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