Resistance in Makhmour forces Iraq to negotiate

The 3-day resistance of the people living in Makhmour refugee camp against the Iraqi army trying to surround the camp with wire fences and concrete blocks has led the Iraqi government to negotiate.

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  • Tuesday, 23 May 2023, 11:39

Makhmour- On May 20, the Iraqi army besieged the Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) to surround the camp with wire fences and concrete blocks. The people of the camp have resisted for three days by keeping watch at night. Their resistance has led the Iraqi government to negotiate. A delegation from the camp had a meeting with the Iraqi army. The delegation released a press statement yesterday about the meeting.

 Filiz Budak, Co-chair of the People's Assembly in Makhmour refugee camp, read the statement on behalf of the people of Makhmour refugee camp. “We have been resisting for three days. Thanks to our resistance, we had several talks with the Iraqi army. We cannot say that everything is over yet. Today, the people resisting the Iraqi army have forced the government to sit at the negotiating table,” Filiz Budak said.

 ‘Some of our requests have been accepted’

Noting that the Iraqi army was not open to dialogue on the first day, Filiz Budak said, “The 3-day resistance of the people forced them to sit at the negotiating table. They did their best to surround the camp with wire fences and concrete blocks but they failed. They will stop digging trenches. We have conveyed our requests to them. We told them that we do not accept the camp to be surrounded with wire fences and concrete blocks. Some of our requests have been accepted. They will convey our requests to Baghdad. Then, we will have a meeting with them. They will announce their final decision tomorrow.”

 ‘We will keep watch’

Emphasizing that the power of the people have brought the government to this stage, Filiz Budak added:

“No one should think that the power of governments and states is stronger than the power of the people. The people of the camp have no tanks and artillery, but they have a strong will and organization. We will keep watch at night. They will stop digging trenches around the camp. Long live the organized people, long live the ideology and the philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan)!”

 

The Iraqi government will announce its final decision today.