Ceremonies to mark the anniversary began in the morning at the monument in Raniya. Bouquets of flowers were laid by the people and political parties to pay tribute to those whose lost their lives during the March 5, 1991 uprising.
A ceremony was held on Monday at the Raparin Monument in Raniya by party officials and ordinary citizens to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the popular uprising of March 5. Video: Rudaw TV
“Throughout the day we will have activities many of which are artistic and environmental,” the organizer of the activities, told Rudaw.
He explained 71 saplings in memory of the “71 martyrs from the uprising day” are being planted in Raniya.
Raparin University is also hosting activities.
“An art and photography exhibition has been launched at the Raparin University,” added the organizer.
The initial uprising began on March 5, 1991 in the town of Raniya, but it soon spread to Sulaimani on March 7, Erbil on the 11th , Duhok on the 14th, culminating in Kirkuk on the 21st, to time with the Newroz festival.
During the two-week Peshmerga campaign, Saddam Hussein's regime forces were ousted from Kurdistan.
Rudaw’s Bakhtyar Qadir reported that a handful of political officials attended the events, although no party offices exist in the city.
Anti-government protesters took to the streets across Sulaimani province in late December 2017, turning violent. They protested against reduced salaries and delayed payments for teachers. The KRG Ministry of Health and local officials put the death count at two.
No activities were held at public schools in Raniya as teachers continue to strike for their salaries.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) council of ministers issued a statement on Sunday.
The uprising was the exhibition of the wish and will of the Kurdistan nation for rejecting oppression and dictatorship,” read the statement published on Sunday by the KRG cabinet.
The statement read all uprisings and revolutions against authoritarian Iraqi regimes in the past testify to the fact that no one can “neglect” the wish and will of the people of Kurdistan for life, liberty, and dignity.
“Your legitimate demands in a federal Iraq are a natural right and just. Peaceful coexistence, real partnership, consensus, and respecting the constitution is the bases on which the new Iraq has been found,” the statement added.
