Parties jostle for control in disputed Kirkuk
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Parties are now jostling for positions that will give them the most influence moving forward in Kirkuk that is politically rudderless after it was taken over by Iraqi forces.
The Arab and Turkmen communities want government positions to be distributed in equal thirds among Arabs, Turkmen, and Kurds until elections are held.
“We agreed with the 32 percent rate for post distributions, ranging from high to low positions, providing this would include all,” said Ahmed Askari, Kirkuk provincial council member.
Noting that the rate of Kurdish representation in Kirkuk’s institutions is below 16 percent, Askari asked, “Why don’t they speak about this? They only eye high positions to be distributed among them.”
Former governor Najmaldin Karim, a Kurd, was removed from his post by a court order and has been replaced by interim governor Rakan Saeed al-Jabouri, appointed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
The acting head of the provincial council, Rebwar Talabani, from the Kurdistan Islamic Union, took over the post from former council chief Hasan Turan, a Turkmen. His party has given the green light for Talabani to be replaced since he cannot return to the city to carry out his duties in light of the current situation. He fled the city after Iraqi forces took over on October 16.
Since the Iraqi takeover, Baghdad has been filling positions in the city with Arab and Turkmen officials.
The Turkmen are eyeing the position of governor.
“The provincial council passed many illegal decisions. The time has now come that other communities in Kirkuk participate in governing the city. That’s why the position of governor should be given to the Turkmen,” said Turkmen Front council member Rahd Rushdi.
Sunni Arabs, however, want the interim governor to remain.
“Our perspective is clear,” said Sunni Arab council member Ismael al-Hadidi. “We want the positions to be filled and the problems to cease, provided that the current governor stays in his position because Kirkuk needs much care. This is our condition to refill the positions, whether governmental or security.”
According to a Kurdish-brokered power sharing system in Kirkuk that has been in place for over a decade, Kurds will pick the governor, head of the council is reserved for Turkmen, and Arabs select the deputy governor.
Kurds have recently warned that Iraq has revived the policy of Arabization in the disputed province.
The status of the oil-rich province has been an inextricable problem for the past 12 years.
The Arab and Turkmen communities want government positions to be distributed in equal thirds among Arabs, Turkmen, and Kurds until elections are held.
“We agreed with the 32 percent rate for post distributions, ranging from high to low positions, providing this would include all,” said Ahmed Askari, Kirkuk provincial council member.
Noting that the rate of Kurdish representation in Kirkuk’s institutions is below 16 percent, Askari asked, “Why don’t they speak about this? They only eye high positions to be distributed among them.”
Former governor Najmaldin Karim, a Kurd, was removed from his post by a court order and has been replaced by interim governor Rakan Saeed al-Jabouri, appointed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
The acting head of the provincial council, Rebwar Talabani, from the Kurdistan Islamic Union, took over the post from former council chief Hasan Turan, a Turkmen. His party has given the green light for Talabani to be replaced since he cannot return to the city to carry out his duties in light of the current situation. He fled the city after Iraqi forces took over on October 16.
Since the Iraqi takeover, Baghdad has been filling positions in the city with Arab and Turkmen officials.
The Turkmen are eyeing the position of governor.
“The provincial council passed many illegal decisions. The time has now come that other communities in Kirkuk participate in governing the city. That’s why the position of governor should be given to the Turkmen,” said Turkmen Front council member Rahd Rushdi.
Sunni Arabs, however, want the interim governor to remain.
“Our perspective is clear,” said Sunni Arab council member Ismael al-Hadidi. “We want the positions to be filled and the problems to cease, provided that the current governor stays in his position because Kirkuk needs much care. This is our condition to refill the positions, whether governmental or security.”
According to a Kurdish-brokered power sharing system in Kirkuk that has been in place for over a decade, Kurds will pick the governor, head of the council is reserved for Turkmen, and Arabs select the deputy governor.
Kurds have recently warned that Iraq has revived the policy of Arabization in the disputed province.
The status of the oil-rich province has been an inextricable problem for the past 12 years.