A delegation consisting of top Iraqi officials, including the Iraqi army chief-of-staff arrived in Sinjar (Shengal) on Monday.
The Yazidi town in northern Iraq has been a matter of dispute after an agreement was signed between the Iraq government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), on 9 October. The agreement, which includes the deployment of more than 8,000 soldiers to Sinjar provoked strong reactions. At the same time, tension in the region soared after an attempt to remove Yazidi Asayish Centres (Yazidi public security forces).
Whilst the protests are ongoing in Sinjar, organized by the local people, who are mostly the Yazidi people, a delegation of top Iraqi officials met with the officials from the Autonomous Administration of Sinjar, according to Yeni Özgür Politika.
The delegation included Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, General Abdul Amir Yarallah, Deputy Commander of Joint Operations, Abdul Amir Shamari, Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, and several other military officials.
The Autonomous Administration of Sinjar shared their demands regarding the fate of Sinjar with the delegation.
The Sinjar Autonomous Administration reportedly shared its suggestions and demands to the Iraqi delegation under three headings which include the Sinjar Agreement, the return of the migrants and other proposals for a solution in Sinjar.
Agreement on Sinjar
The Sinjar Agreement between the Iraqi Government and the KDP should be canceled, the Autonomous Administration demanded as they stressed that “this agreement was signed against the will of the Yazidi people who are the locals of the town.”
Return of the migrants
The Autonomous Administration reportedly shared the following demand with the delegation:
“The return of the locals of Sinjar, who had to migrate should be evaluated independent of the political issues. Their return must be ensured and the procedures for their return must be eased. A family has to apply to seven authorities to return back to Sinjar whilst they have to wait for at least two months before they are able to return. This intentional delay breaks the hope of returnees and oblige people to live in camps.
The roads between Dihok, Sinjar and Mousul Dam shall be opened.
Emergency aid shall be prepared as quickly as possible and provide adequate support for families, who return to Sinjar. No aid has yet been sent for the 18 thousand families, who returned to Sinjar.
Sinjar is in a devestated situation as the town was torn apart with war, which caused thousands of people either to lose their lives, to be left injured or to be kidnapped. None of the governments in Iraq have put a single stone onto another to re-build the town as they have never listened to the voices of the families of the dead and injured.”
Other proposals for solution
According to Yeni Özgür Politika, the Autonomous Administration listed many articles of the Constitution of Iraq and stated that the Constitution of Iraqi Republic states that İraq is governed by a “federal” system.
The Sinjar Autonomous Administration reportedly listed the following issues which could also be included in proposals for a solution in Sinjar:
“The airspace of Sinjar should be closed to prevent airstrikes.
Asayîşa Êzdîxanê (The Yazidi Security forces in Sinjar), which was established for the internal security of Sinjarand consists of 700 people, should be recognized and given a legal status.
The people of Sinjar expect the continued support and defence of Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS).
Sinjar is under a type of siege. The traffic between Sinjar and Federal Kurdistan, Sinjar and Mosul and Mosul and Dihok is problematic. Therefore, we need an urgent solution. The doors to North East Syria shall be opened so that humanitarian and medical aid can be transferred to Sinjar from there.
The elections in Federal Kurdistan should be conducted in a transparent and auditable manner so that the citizens are not left compeled to vote for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).”
