Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations

Here are some of the stories we are tracking in relation to the Kirkuk Referendum. Here you'll find press releases, news clips dealing with security, elections, and negotiations, as well as upcoming events. News here is vetted as much as is possible, but unless it is explicitly listed as our in-house research, please consider contacting source authors for verification.
 

2011-06-25

"The Constitution is more than Simply a Piece of Paper"

The Kurdish Globe has today published an editorial by Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel that offers a viewpoint into much of the tension in Kirkuk, and indeed Iraq, today. The piece laments the deadlock, and makes clear the many pitfalls facing the region.

The piece is available on the Kurdish Globe's website, here.
 

2011-06-20

Kirkuk Governor: Foreign Troops Should Remain

Kirkuk's Governor Najmaddin Karim formally requested today that coalition troops remain stationed near Kirkuk to help with training troops and supporting the region's checkpoint system. Hallo Najat, the chief of security in Kirkuk also expressed concerns that the security situation will worsen once US troops withdraw.

Read AFP reports of the request here and the public reactions here.

2011-06-14

Kirkuk Infrastructure: Power Outages

Multiple news sources have reported rolling blackouts throughout Kirkuk for the past few days. The central government in Baghdad is currently considering a plan to allow Kirkuk governorate to purchase excess electricity from the KRG. More on this story as it develops.

2011-06-11

KRG President: Kirkuk an Inseparable from Kurdistan

In an interview with the Kurdish Globe, the President of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Massoud Barzani, has stated publically that his position is that Kirkuk is an inseparable part of Kurdistan. "If Article 140 dies, the constitution would die, and if the constitution dies, Iraq's unity would die as well" he said. The interview is extensive and covers everything from his relationship with the PUK to his views on economic growth, and the political future of the region.

To read the full interview at the Kurdish Globe, click here.

2011-06-05

New Broadcast Station Launches in Kirkuk

The Kirkuk Channel has begun transmitting across the governorate with the slogan "voice and color of coexistence." Unlike most media in Iraq which is target to a specific demographic, the Kirkuk Channel will be broadcast in Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen, and Syriac. The channel employs people from all these ethnic groups to help create content.

Their website is available here, or in English here.

2011-06-04

Kirkuk Governor: Elections and Increased Autonomy Urgent

In an interview with the Kurdish Globe, Kirkuk's Governor Najmaddin Karim has stressed the importance of carving out increased autonomy for the governorate. "It is urgent we have an election in Kirkuk to increase the powers of the governorate and the governing council," he said. The Governor also hinted that elements within the central government were trying to prevent such acts from taking place, displaying a distrust of Baghdad often held by elected officials in the semi-autonomous area.

Hallo Najat, the chief of security in Kirkuk, lamented the dipolar influences of the central government and the KRG. "We have become victims between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government." He said. Citizens of Kirkuk "have lost faith in the government in Baghdad. We want the KRG to resolve [their issues] with Baghdad as soon as possible; the sooner that happens, the better off the citizens of the city will be." He also shared other concerns with the Globe, especially dealing with the checkpoint system for the city.

The full interview and related coverage are available through the Kurdish Globe by clicking here.

2011-06-01

Muslims and Christians in Iraq Together to Pray for Peace

The AFP is reporting today that 1,500 Arabs, Kurds, and Turkmen from different religions and sects gathered at a Cathedral in Kirkuk in a show of solidarity. Recent weeks have seen an uptick in violence in the city of Kirkuk, but the groups gathered today to show peacefully their desire to prevent such attacks in the future.

Read the full story, courtesy of Google News by clicking here.

2011-05-23

Kirkuk Security: Policy Convoy Hit by Car Bomb

Al Jazeera is reporting today that two were killed and ten to fifteen were wounded today when a car bomb exploded as a security convoy passed. The attack was apparently targeting the motorcade which was carrying an Iraqi police chief.

2011-05-21

Proposed Demilitarization of Disputed Territories Taken Off the Table

Elected officials in Iraq are responding to the publication of an ICG report that CKRO reported on in late March and early April of this year. Contrary to some of the recommendations in that report, several officials are contending that military presence is necessary, Rudaw has reported.

One of the most outspoken critics of the plan was Khasro Gorran, a former deputy governor of Mosul and an occasionally controversial figure in the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan. He insisted that the areas of Kirkuk or Mosul under Peshmerga control were more peaceful than areas outside of its control. For his part, the Peshmerga defense minister Jaafar Mustafa concurred, arguing that more Kurdish troops were needed, saying “the police cannot control the regions outside of the city of Kirkuk. The police are only within the city.”

Read more courtesy of Rudaw here.

2011-05-20

Kirkuk Security: Multiple Car Bombs Kill 29

Multiple news sources are reporting today that several car bombs struck across the city of Kirkuk today, killing 29 and wounding nearly 100. After the first bombs detonated the subsequent devices were timed to explode once emergency responders arrived. Many of the bombs were apparently placed in booby-trapped vehicles.

2011-05-15

Kirkuk Security: Car Bombs Diffused

Aswat al-Iraq is reporting that three car bombs were successfully diffused in Kirkuk yesterday.

2011-05-03

Tareq Aziz Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Kurds

Tareq Aziz, former Iraqi Foreign Minister and longtime advisor to President Saddam Hussein, has been given a lifetime prison sentence by the Supreme Court of Iraq. This sentence results from his involvement in the displacement and killing of Kurds starting during the Iran-Iraq war, and continuing until the late 1990s.

To learn more, visit Aswat al-Iraq or News Amen by clicking here.

2011-05-01

Kirkuk Security: Political Assassination

Colonel Nouzad Talabani of the PUK was assassinated by gunmen outside his home in Kirkuk. Though violence is down substantially this year, bombings and assassination attempts against members of the military and political organizations remain high.

2011-04-28

Provincial Council Elections to be Held Soon

Ad Melkert, UN Special Representative to Iraq, was in Kirkuk today to announce that the parties involved had agreed to schedule provincial elections soon. Also discussed was the area's security situation. According to the UNAMI chief, there was agreement among those in attendance that a UN peacekeeping detachment would not be necessary in the disputed areas after US troops depart. CKRO will publish additional news as it becomes available.

More information is available courtesy of Aswat al-Iraq, by clicking here.

2011-04-28

Kirkuk Security Update

Three bomb blasts are being reported today in the city of Kirkuk. At least one person has died and nineteen other injured. Seven of the wounded were security personnel; six were Kurdish security forces, and one a policeman.

2011-04-18

News Kirkuk News Site Launches

The news site Kirkuk Now has officially launched in English. Stories they are covering include the recent protests in the city, the security situation in Kirkuk, the Committee for the Implementation of Article 140, and news from Kirkuk University, among others. The site is offered in English, Kurdish, Arabic, and Turkmen. To visit the main news page, click here.

2011-04-17

Kirkuk Census in the News

Al Jazeera recently aired a short segment on the delayed Kirkuk census. To watch the Al Jazeera story via YouTube, click here.

2011-04-15

Kirkuk Security: Update

Rudaw is reporting that two additional attacks took place in Kirkuk yesterday, one apparently targeting a public official. The deputy police chief of one of Kirkuk's districts was targeted by a remotely-detonated bomb. He survived the attack and is being treated for his injuries. A member of the Sahwa, a Sunni militia loyal to the central government, was killed in a separate attack.

Full coverage is available courtesy of Rudaw, by clicking here.

2011-04-14

Kirkuk Security: Car Bombing

The Associated Press is reporting today that a car bomb exploded in Kirkuk today killing one and wounding another 18.

2011-03-30

International Crisis Group: Kirkuk Disagreements Could Trigger Iraq Break-up

A report issued this week by the International Crisis Group (ICG), warned about the possible consequences of a stand-off occurring between the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Turkomen parties in particular have voiced their growing displeasure with the situation in Kirkuk, which is increasingly being referred to as an occupation. The central government remains at an impasse regarding what step to take next. Prime Minister al-Maliki would no doubt like to see the Peshmerga forces withdrawn, although he must retain the confidence of Kurdish MPs, many of whom support the deployment. This situation is difficult for both al-Maliki and the remaining American forces in the country.

In an interview with Rudaw, Joost Hiltermann, the deputy director of the International Crisis Group's Middle East program, said that “unless either a political deal is reached…or a workable alternative arrangement to the combined security mechanism is created without a direct US troop presence,” the chances of conflict in the ethnically-mixed areas of northern Iraq will increase. It appears that the United States too is becoming impatient with the deployment which officials fear may complicate the final drawdown of American military in the country.

The ICG report advises renewed negotiations over the status of disputed territories, as well other key issues such as the census and the stalled hydrocarbons law. The report also encourages UNAMI to release a report drafted in 2009 which included potential solutions to the Kirkuk dispute outside of what is currently being pursued.

To read the full ICG report, click here. For the executive summary and press release, click here. Ongoing news coverage is also available courtesy of Rudaw, available here.

 

2011-03-29

Members of Kirkuk Provincial Council Mediate Ethnic Quarrel

Students at the Technical Institute of Kirkuk were involved in heated disputes earlier this week which resulted in an armed melee and as many as 16 injuries. Of the four members of the Kirkuk Provincial Council who visited the school and intervened, two stepped in to jumpstart talks between the Kurdish and Turkomen student groups involved. A peaceful agreement was reached and each party agreed to hold their own belligerents to account.

To read the full story, courtesy of the Kurdistan News Agency, click here.

 

2011-03-29

Kirkuk: New Provincial Council Leader, Governor

Georgetown University's Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations has learned that Najmaldin Karim (of the PUK) has taken the post of Governor and Hassan Turhan (of the Iraqi Turcoman Front) has been selected as head of the Provincial Council. CKRO will provide additional information as it becomes available.
 

2011-03-18

Tension in Central Government Coalitions Resulting from Peshmerga in Kirkuk

The Kurdish Peshmerga forces deployed around the city of Kirkuk are drawing increased criticism from the Al-Iraqiyah bloc in Council of Representatives. The deployment, which began in early February, was apparently undertaken to protect ethnic Kurds from bombings and other attacks during general unrest in the area. The ongoing presence of troops, which now numbers around 5,000, has tried the patience of local political leaders, and is increasingly straining relations between the parties in Baghdad.

Parliament deputies and members of several political parties are laying the blame for the situation on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and American military advisors. The political situation is becoming increasingly tense now that members of the Al-Iraqiyah bloc have started condemning the deployment as an "occupation." Yesterday, MP Hamid al-Mutlaq, of Al-Iraqiyah bloc, spoke to Radio Free Iraq and said that "the Peshmerga forces should pull out sooner rather than later, as their deployment is illegal."

Though Al-Iraqiyah holds the largest number of seats in the Council of Representatives with 91, al-Maliki's holds the position of Prime Minister, his own State of Law Coalition commanding 89 seats. Because of the delicate nature of the coalition government, al-Maliki must retain the confidence both of Al-Iraqiyah MPs and those from the Kurdistan Alliance.

Read continuing coverage, courtesy of Radio Free Europe, by clicking here.

2011-03-17

Protests Prompting Talk of Early Elections

Massud Barzani, President of Iraqi Kurdistan, is indicating openness to holding early elections in the autonomous region following sustained protests and discontent. "I ask the parliament to consult political parties to study the possibility of early elections, because the people should decide and give their opinion and judgment," he said to reporters.

Read the entire article, courtesy of the Jakarta Globe, by clicking here.

2011-03-16

Kirkuk Security: Car Bombing

Reuters is reporting today that a car bomb exploded in Kirkuk today killing three and wounding another 25. This is the second such bombing in a week.

2011-03-15

NYT: Delays in Iraq Complicate US Drawdown

Jack Healy and Michael S. Schmidt of New York Times are reporting today that Iraq's delays last year in forming a coalition government has complicated the situation for removing American troops from that country. For example, the lack of confirmed ministers in posts dealing security has policymakers questioning whether the planned contingent of State Department staffers, support staff, and contractors who will remain in Iraq after the last troops leave will be sufficient to address ongoing challenges. Work is being done to prepare consulates in the Kurdistan region and in Iraq's south, as well as American embassies in places like Kirkuk. Not only are the lack of appointments in Iraq problematic, but the budget process in the US is also causing headaches. Without a clear idea of how much Congress is willing to spend for ongoing support, the scope of future work to be done in Iraq is far from certain. So the question remains, what is the US's role in Iraq going to look like? To what extent will the Iraqi government request support? And will the planned contingent to be left in the country be able to provide that support, especially in complex cases like Kirkuk?

Read the news article, courtesy of the New York Times, by clicking here.

2011-03-14

Update: Peshmerga Deployment Near Kirkuk

The Al Sumaria television network reports that the Peshmerga continue to remain deployed around the city of Kirkuk. Mohsen Al Saadun, a member of the Kurdistan Alliance, is defending the deployment saying that Article 140 renders such acts legal. The government in Baghdad has been guarded in their response to the unfolding situation. Al-Maliki is certainly feeling pressure from his core constituency to force out the troops, but at the same time he must try to preserve friendly relations with the Kurdish bloc which is a critical ally in his coalition.

News available from Iraq's Al Sumaria, KN, and Iran's PressTV.

2011-03-12

Kirkuk Security: Car Bomb

A car bomb exploded in Kirkuk today wounding 20 people. A second bomb was discovered and diffused.

2011-03-01

Breaking News: Peshmerga Security Forces Deployed to Kirkuk

The Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations has learned that Kurdish Peshmerga forces numbering approximately 4,200 have been deployed around the city of Kirkuk during ongoing protests in the area. Presently, there are conflicting reports as to the nature of and rationale for the deployments as the Kurdish, Turkoman, and Arab blocs in the Kirkuk Provincial Council voice divergent positions. The Arab and Turkoman groups are concerned that the deployment is occupational in nature and will further fray strained relations. The Kurdish bloc contends that the troops are necessary to prevent bomb attacks on the city. Although a curfew has been imposed throughout the area, observers believe the Peshmerga will only remain around the city for a short time before pulling back. 

Update: related news stories can be found on Rudaw and Radio Free Europe.

2011-02-19

Deputy Speaker: Arabization Continues in Kirkuk

The Aswat al-Iraq news agency is reporting today that Arif Tayfour, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, is concerned that the process of "Arabization" is continuing in and around Kirkuk. Part of a statement released today read "there are still some lackeys of the former regime that try to create problems, shake stability and security in disputed areas and scupper Article 140 of the Constitution, voted over by most Iraqis."

The Ba'ath Party, which ruled Iraq from 1968-2003, engaged in numerous ethnic cleansing policies to change the demographics of Kirkuk. Many forced relocations displaced ethnic Kurds and Turkomen from Kirkuk while increasing the Arab population of the area, these programs are frequently referred to as Arabization.

Read the full statement and related news, courtesy of Aswat al-Iraq by clicking here.

2011-02-17

Security Update: Turkish Nationals Kidnapped in Kirkuk

The Associated Press is reporting today that three Turkish nationals have been kidnapped in Kirkuk. Those kidnapped were apparently employed by a mechanical servicing company specializing in the construction and maintenance of elevators and air conditioning systems. Kirkuk's Chief of Police, Jamal Tahir, explained that there were at least two other Turkish citizens working for the same company who witnessed the kidnapping, but were not taken. Tahir said that the victims were not authorized to be in the country and that additional security would have been provided for them had they made their presence known.

Although kidnappings for ransom or political reasons have been troublingly high in Iraq over the past few years, Kirkuk has seen a steady decline in such crimes over the short-term. This is the second high-profile kidnapping in Kirkuk since the start of the year.

2011-02-16

al-Iraqiya Lawmaker: Support Kirkuk Referendum

Maysun Damaluji, a senior lawmaker in the al-Iraqiya List, has declared her support, and that of her party for implementation of Article 140 and the eventual referendum in Kirkuk. Speaking to the media, Ms Damaluji said "we say Kirkuk’s identity is Iraqi, as is the identity of the Kurdistan region. The fate of Kirkuk is in the hands of its population. It’s only them who can decide on it, not anybody else. Kirkuk is not our property to give to the Kurds or any other party."

Al-Iraqiya and the Kurdistani Alliance posted similar levels of support in Kirkuk during the 2010 parliamentary election, and Iraqiya considers the area important to their political future. 

Read the news article courtesy of Rudaw by clicking here.

2011-02-15

Demonstrations in Kirkuk

Around 200 protestors turned out today in Kirkuk, calling for jobs, government reform, more autonomy, better service delivery, and lower fuel prices – to name a few.  The protests in Kirkuk follow weeks increasing unrest throughout the Middle East characterized by large-scale street demonstrations.  

Read today's news courtesy of AFP by clicking here.

The views expressed through news articles herein do not necessarily reflect those of Georgetown University or of Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations.  While we try to keep the summaries of daily news on this page as impartial as possible, it is not always possible to do so.  The stories to which we provide links do not always make such efforts; nonetheless, their content remains of great importance to the future of the Referendum.  If you would like to learn more about our research, please contact us.