Iraqi President calls for accountability of abusers of environment of Kurdistan

Iraq 11:41 AM - 2021-06-05

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The President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Barham Salih, considered cutting down forest trees in the Kurdistan Region an environmental crime, calling for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

 

The President of the Republic said in a tweet on his Twitter account: "The abuse of sovereignty, violence and displacement of civilians from their homes, cutting down forest trees in Harur, Bativa and other border areas in the Kurdistan Region, are inhumane practices and an environmental crime that must not be overlooked."

 

"It is our duty to coordinate practically between the authorities of the federal government and the region to stop abuses and hold the defendants accountable."

 

The Turkish army cut down trees and burned thousands of acres of land in the borders areas of the Kurdistan Region claiming that these forests are hideouts for the PKK.

 

The Turkish army began military operations inside the Kurdistan Region more than 40 days ago. The Turkish army's operations in Duhok's Mount Metin continue despite local and official appeals to Ankara to stop its aggression, which resulted in civilian casualties and emptying dozens of villages of their residents. read more

 

In April, the Turkish army launched a new ground and air offensive allegedly against militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) dubbed Operation Claw Lightning. 

 

Turkey has carried out cross-border offensives of varying magnitude allegedly against the PKK for decades. However, in recent years, it's begun to establish more of a sustained presence in a growing number of bases and checkpoints dotting the mountains of the Kurdistan Region despite calls from Iraqi authorities to stop these actions. 

 

Earlier in May, the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar made an illegal visit to the Turkish soldiers at a military base in the Kurdistan Region without informing the Iraqi side which prompted the Iraqi Foreign Ministry to summon the Turkish embassy’s chargé d'affaires and hand him a memorandum which noted “strong dissatisfaction and condemnation of Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi’s presence on Iraqi territory without coordination or prior approval from relative authorities, as well his meeting with Turkish forces who are there illegally.”

 

Thousands of acres of land have been burnt and many villages have been evacuated due to Turkish bombings, and even civilian casualties have fallen due to the continuous Turkish operations in the Kurdistan Region. read more

 

According to Al-Monitor, Arzu Yilmaz, a Middle East scholar and visiting fellow at Hamburg University reckons that there are more than 5,000 Turkish forces currently deployed in Iraqi Kurdistan and Bashiqa, an area under Iraqi central government control lying east of Mosul.

 

KRG leaders have warned that the wave of Turkish incursions, which have caused dozens of civilian deaths has made advances, deploying troops within three kilometers of Duhok's Kesta village. Heavy clashes have terrified villagers and forced families to flee their homes. The Iraqi government frequently condemns Turkey’s operations but appears powerless to stop them. 

 

 

 

PUKmedia