Iraqi Kurdish party pushes PKK aside
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has placed restrictions on the activities of the Kurdistan Workers Party in the areas it controls.
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraqi Kurdistan — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the largest Kurdish parties in Iraqi Kurdistan, has increased the pressure on outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) following Washington’s decision to authorize bounties on its three leaders.
“The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is putting heavy pressure on us. I think we may soon have to leave entire Sulaimaniyah area,” said an official from Tevgera Azadi (Freedom Movement) that is, according to the PUK, the political wing of the outlawed PKK in Sulaimaniyah, where the PUK is in political control.
Immediately after his remarks, the Kurdistan Regional Goverment's security forces launched a series of operations at Sulaimaniyah and some of its townships targeting Tevgera Azadi. The true target of the operations was the PKK's presence in the city.
In 2014, Tevgera Azadi had 10 offices in the region, eight in Sulaimaniyah and Garmiyan governorates and one each at Kirkuk and Tuz Khormato.
