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By Michael Rubin: June 1 marked the 37th anniversary of the founding of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). While Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masud Barzani graciously congratulated PUK leader Talabani, bad blood between the two families and their parties is long, deep, and persistent. The schism predates the PUK’s birth; historian David McDowall, whose…
The three opposition parties held a meeting today in Sulaymani over the issue of delayed local elections to councils in the cities and towns of Kurdistan. The original date for the local council elections was January 30 2009: Three years have passed but still no new date has been set. Bookmark on Delicious Recommend on Facebook…
By Kurd Khamkhoor: A lot has changed in the political and social landscape of southern Kurdistan over the past twenty years, but more has changed in the last two years than those twenty years combined. Before getting to the subject in hand, let’s make a quick refreshing trip down memory lane. After the Kurdish uprising…
By Mufid Abdulla: Since 1991 the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leaders have considered themselves bound to an economic model which enables them to monopolise the Kurdish market, especially in Sulaymani and the surrounding areas. The major sectors of the Kurdish economy which today provide a good mark-up and return comprise the telecommunications and construction…
By Veene Sulaivany: It goes without saying that, as Kurds, we are a highly politicized people. What I mean by this is, we are born into politics and become married to it at a very young age. How can we not be this way? And, in particular, how can those who have been and continue…
By Kamal Chomani: PUK and Change Movement members of parliament can save parliament from the passiveness that has infected it and they can also cooperate to increase pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to make reforms more quickly. Last month, the exchanging of positions between the PUK’s Prime Ministry and the KDP’s presidency of…
By Mufid Abdulla: While the president of Kurdistan and his party pursues its disputes with Baghdad – over oil revenues, the budget, Kirkuk and the idea, at least, of a Kurdish state – the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP’s) strategic partner, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), is muted and appears unconcerned about these vital issues….
By Mufid Abdulla: In the eyes of most Sulaymani residents, Zana Hama Salih’s death in custody is highly suspicious. The mayor was visited by his wife, who was with him until Saturday afternoon. She thought he was in a good mood and he told her that he expected to be released the next day. A…
News and Comment by The Kurdistan Tribune: Zana Hama Salih, deputy governor of Sulaymani, was today found dead in his jail cell. Security officials are claiming that he committed suicide but, when Zana’s wife visited him this morning, he seemed well and told her that he was expecting to be released tomorrow. This afternoon, however,…
By Kamal Chomani: The so-called Strategic Agreement between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has become the main obstacle to a thriving Kurdish democracy. It has almost killed all the political and ideological differences between the two ruling parties. It has also silenced all the voices within the parties…
News and Comment by The Kurdistan Tribune: In a rare interview, Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), told Hawlati that he wishes he’d done more to fight corruption. “I regret I couldn’t fight the corruption in the PUK leadership and the entire PUK organisation”, he said. “Many people…
News and Comment by The Kurdistan Tribune: The Kurdistan Region is still without an active government since the resignation of Dr Barham Saleh, former prime minster of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). In line with their strategic agreement, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are sharing power in the…
5 June. By Michael Rubin: Iraqi President and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani has returned to Iraq from a two week sojourn at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he underwent medical tests and treatments. While President Talabani is up and about now, there is always suspicion when a visit is so…
By Ashna Omar: LONDON – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) held a 36th anniversary event at Hammersmith town hall on 28 May. Patriots, loyalists and supporters were invited to celebrate the birthday of the PUK which once stood for ‘Democracy, Equality, Independence and Self-Determination’. Bookmark on Delicious Recommend on Facebook Share on Linkedin Tweet…
