MEXMÛR – Since May 20, the Iraqi army has been trying to dig trenches, fence and build towers around the Martyr Rustem Cudi Refugee Camp (Mexmûr). From the first day until now, that is 16 days, the refugees of Mexmûr have stood against this attempt and for 16 days they have been resisting the siege day and night. Many meetings with the Iraqi authorities were held by the diplomatic committee and the Mexmûr People’s Assembly. As a result of these meetings, an agreement was reached and the Iraqi soldiers withdrew from around the camp and the people of Mexmûrr ended their protest.
Democratic People’s Assembly of Mexmûr camp: “The encirclement of the camp was the desire of the Turkish state and the KDP and they wanted to implement it with the help of Iraq.” As a result of the agreement, the Iraqi forces withdrew from the area of the camp and the people of Mexmûr ended their protest. No force or attack will be able to seize the will of the people of Mexmûr.” A statement was made by the Democratic People’s Assembly of Mexmûr ward regarding this matter. The announcement was made at the Organization of Martyrs’ Families by the Co-Chairman of the People’s Assembly, Yusif Kara.
The statement is as follows:
“For these 16 days, our people are resisting the siege of Iraq. This attempt to surround the camp is not on our agenda now, it has been on our agenda for two years. Because they wanted to surround us in 2021. This siege was done under the pressure of the Turkish state and local forces such as Mala Barzan. This fence is part of the concept of the Turkish state. The Turkish state and the PDK want to disperse the Mexmûr camp. That is why they are putting more pressure on Iraq. Until now, as a camp, we have not violated any laws of Iraq. Iraq also knows this. In our meetings, we have repeatedly expressed that they should not follow the wishes of the Turkish state and the KDP and not surround us. On the 20th of this month, they wanted to fence around us and dig trenches, they surrounded the camp with armored cars and guns. On this, our people showed their resistance to Iraq as always.
We have held many meetings on this issue and the last meeting was held in Baghdad. As a result of the meetings, an agreement was reached through dialogues. Iraq withdrew its additional forces that had come to surround the camp, and we ended our democratic activities such as the convention. But let everyone know that when there is an attack on the camp and they want to seize the will of the people of Makhmur, they will see the struggle and resistance of the people of the camp. We know that this siege is the desire of the Turkish state and the KDP and they wanted to implement it with the help of Iraq. From the first day until now, we wanted to solve this issue through dialogue and it happened.
As the people of Mexmûr, we thank all institutions, parties and people who stood up for us. Mexmûr is an example of resistance and the Kurds must create their own unity in every issue.”
