Iran Resumes Bombing Kurdish Villages
March 28th, 2008On Thursday evening, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards resumed bombarding the Kurdish border villages of Rizgah, Shinawa, Spigle, Maraud and Arke in Pishder district, and Sulaimani province as reported to PUKmedia correspondents from the scene. The shells are aimed at bases of the Kurdish rebel group PJAK (Party of Free Life of Kurdistan) which is a breakaway faction of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) which aspires to establish a semi-autonomous Kurdish regional entity in Iran, similar to the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. PJAK is accused by Tehran of launching deadly attacks on security forces in northwestern Iran.
6 villages were de-populated in the shelling, 4 houses were demolished, and dozens of families were moved to areas far from the border, fortunately, no casualties were reported according to private sources. A Japanese organization, the UNHCR, and the IRC opened a refugee camp to the displaced people of the areas, PUKmedia correspondent said as well.
Meanwhile, Reports from Foundation for Democracy in Iran (FDI) sources inside Iran and from northern Iraq confirmed that the Revolutionary Guards aircraft have been conducting surveillance flights inside northern Iraq this since the begginf of March in areas controlled by PJAK guerillas. September was the first time that Iranian government aircraft were known to have violated Iraqi airspace in recent years, saying the local authorities had heeded its warnings.
The shelling, in August, sent hundreds of Iraqi Kurds fleeing remote mountain villages near Iraq’s eastern frontier. Earlier this month, Iraq and Turkey pledged to take measures against PKK and PJAK rebels in northern Iraq during talks to soothe tensions following a Turkish cross-border offensive against the militants. Turkey charges that more than 2,000 PKK militants use northern Iraq as a base for their separatist campaign against Ankara and accuses Iraqi Kurds of tolerating the rebels.
Kurdistan Regional Government Coordinator of the United Nations, Dr. Dindar Zebari expressed his displeasure of Iranian artillery shelling and called on the Iraqi government to exert more efforts to stop the bombing as soon as possible. Zebari called on the United Nations agencies, humanitarian and charities organizations to support and assist civilians affected by the bombing.
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Dear Niroj, this is an incredibly important post. The issues you highlight affects the whole region, so I am both saddened and surprised to see that no one has commented on this yet. It keeps me wondering whether people are silent due to the shock or if they are careless about what millions of Kurds in the Middle East are being put through. Please keep up your good and necessary work. I have subscribed to your posts’ feeds and will be following your posts closely from now on to keep myself aware of what the media tends to overlook.
Thank you very much Murad. It means a lot to hear those generous words coming from a non-Kurd. It is a great tragedy to see anyone experience the anguish and suffering that the Kurds have endured for so many years. It is up to us as responsible citizens of the world to make sure these crimes against Kurds don’t go on unreported as is often the case, unfortunately. I will do my best to shed some much needed light onto the often overlooked human rights abuses of the Kurds around the world, especially in the Middle East.
Dear Niroj,
As a human being, as an Iranian, and as a Middle-Eastern I condemn the savage behaviour of bombming Kurdish villages, inside or outside Iranian Territory. I hope for a day that the Real people, the Real children of Iran take over and show their good intentions toward all Middle Easterns and all the world. Amen.
Your Sister in Iran
Elinor
Sigh
Iran has the right to fight against terrorism also you know.
I wonder if some people would have opposed Iran’s near-invasion of Afghanistan 10 years ago after the Taliban killed 10-13 Iranian diplomats in Mazar-i-Sharif.
Jina,
I agree with you, but, it is always disqusting how fighting terrorism results in killing of innocent people and harming lives and villages of the ones who had no part in terrorism. I think instead of fighting terrorism that way, it is better to look for the reasons behind it, our Kurdish people deserve much better life, I am sure if governemt cares a bit more and honestly work for meeting the rightful demands of people of kurdistan, we will not be faced by a phenomenon called terrorism. There are thousand of young Kurdish girls and boys who have the potential to boost their region in all aspects imaginable, if… they are halped by the government which claims to represent them as well as all other iranians..
Jina, please think about what you say before you say it. Or at least, listen to Elinour.
These Kurds are not terrorists, they are fighting terrorists states like your ruthless dictatorship government of iran.
Kurds are fighting for their basic national rights and your government has taken this basic rights away from them. Now, who is the terrorist? An honest judgement confirms that Iran is the real terrorist.
Indeed, iran is going wrong because of the support of the people like you.
The word terrorist is used very unfairly. Kurds are freedom fighters.
Indeed, you and your government should first stop killing innocent people, and then listen to people’s concern.
Your using of the word “terrorist” for kurds is an absolute nonesense. Maybe you should read some books and get out of that mentality of fanatism. This way, you would then appreciate that others have legitimate rights.
Michael
Hi Michael
Because i am I know what you mean. As an Iranian what I can do is backing my Kurdish brethren, the way i can. it is hard to confront a government of militarists. But it is significant to oppsoe the ways possible, the non-violent methods of opposition. I am sure G-d will back us with his army of angels 
Jina is not Iranian dear, I am