North Iraq (AINA) -- Members of the Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK) militia continue to occupy three Assyrian villages in the Nahla
Valley of north Iraq. The occupation began on November 23 (AINA 2015-11-24).
The occupied villages are Rabatke, Upper Hezani and Lower Hezani. In the
village of Rabatke, the house of Oshana Samuel is now occupied by PKK members.
In Upper Hezani PKK members have occupied a house
belonging to the cousin of the wife of Emmanuel Khoshaba Youkhana, the leader
of the Dwekh Nawsha Assyrian fighting force. The village residents have heard
rumors that the PKK plans to build a hospital in Upper Hezani.
In Lower Hezani, PKK members have occupied a house near
the school which has 177 students. The house belongs to Mr. Youkhana. The
school building houses both the Hezani Primary School and the Merga Secondary
School. The primary school has 133 students, the secondary school has 44. The
mayor of Lower Hezani spoke with the female commander of the PKK militia, which
is comprised mostly of women, and expressed concern for the safety of the
students. The commander dismissed his concerns and said nothing will happen.
There are 10 PKK fighters in the village with another 100 camped in a nearby
valley, waiting to come to this and other villages.
When asked by an employee of the school why the PKK is
occupying the village, a PKK fighter said "you [Assyrians] have the
opportunity to leave the country, why are you staying here?"
In the village of Jouleh PKK members asked for a list of
empty houses which they could occupy. PKK members also asked for a list of
empty homes in the other Assyrian villages in the Nahla Valley, including
Belmat, Khalilaneh, Kash Kawa, Kasre, Chameh Chale and Merokeh.
On November 25, the second day of the occupation, the
seven mayors of the Assyrian villages attempted to speak to the PKK commander
but were not allowed to approach her. The Assyrian priest, however, was able to
meet with her and told her that it is dangerous for the PKK to be in the
villages, especially near the school. The commander assured the priest there
was no danger.
According to Mr. Youkhana, the onset of winter very
likely indicates that this occupation will continue until next spring, since
the mountain hideouts of the PKK would be inhospitable during winter.
"It is not right for the PKK to occupy our villages
and use Assyrians as human shields," Mr. Youkhana told AINA in a phone
interview. "It is the duty of the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish
regional government to safeguard its citizens."
The Nahla Valley is a spectacular and picturesque
mountainous farming region that stretches east and north from Duhok toward the
Turkish and Iranian borders. It is inhabited by nearly 20,000 Assyrians.
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