Arresting several farmers
Iraqi Army prevents Kurdish farmers from delivering crops to Kirkuk silos
KIRKUK — The Iraqi Army is preventing Kurdish farmers in several areas of Kirkuk from delivering their produce to silos, seizing nine trucks loaded with wheat and arresting five Kurdish farmers.
The controversial measure against Kurdish farmers follows recent actions by the Iraqi Army preventing Kurdish farmers from harvesting crops, citing land ownership disputes between Arab and Kurdish farmers.
For several days, Kurdish farmers from the Shwan, Altun Kupri, and Qarahanjir districts of northern Kirkuk have been blocked by the Iraqi Army from transporting their crops to the Kirkuk silo. Farmers were told the reason was that their lands fell within disputed areas covered by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.
Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution aims to resolve the status of regions contested by Kurds and the Iraqi government through demographic normalization and a public referendum. However, the deadline for this referendum, set for December 31, 2007, has long passed.
Diler Abdulbaki, a farmer from Gogja village in northern Kirkuk, told 964media, “All the silos are located south of Kirkuk, and there are no silos in northern Kirkuk.”
Farmer Osman Ahmed told 964media, “Iraqi army soldiers are patrolling the streets of Hasar, Saqzli, and Daraman to seize the farmers’ trucks.”
Zuhair Ali, head of agriculture in Kirkuk, told 964media, “The issue is beyond the jurisdiction of the Kirkuk Operations Command. We have spoken with the joint operations command, security forces, and silos to seek cooperation.” He added, “We have alerted the agricultural authorities in our districts and will send them written notices starting Wednesday to avoid any issues at the silos.”
According to 964media, this year’s wheat production in Kirkuk is expected to reach 500,000 tons, with over 100,000 tons coming from the Qarahanjir, Altun Kupri, and Shwan districts alone.
Kirkuk's Kurdish farmers prevented from harvesting crops
