Document #1125045
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
General information on this subject is
available in the attached documents.
The following information was provided
during a 19 August 1997 telephone interview with the director of
Kurdish Human Rights Watch (KHRW) in Fairfax, Virginia, an
organization that monitors human rights abuses in the Kurdish areas
and assists Kurdish refugee claimants in the United States. The
information provided by the source comes from Kurdish refugee
claimants in the USA and from independent reports from northern
Iraq.
The source stated that non-militant Kurds
living in cities under the control of one of the Kurdish factions
would face difficulties if they choose to remain neutral or refused
a request to take out membership. Refusal to join would raise the
suspicion of the faction that controls the city and could affect
their employment status, education and freedom of movement.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Kurdish Human Rights Watch (KHRW),
Fairfax, Virginia. 19 August 1997. Telephone interview.
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 15 November
1996. "In Additon to the Two Kurdish Groups, the United States and
Turkey, Britain." (NEXIS)
_____. 25 October 1996. "Ceasefire in
Northern Iraq Holding: UN" (NEXIS)
_____. 31 August 1996. "UN Officials in
Arbil Said the Outskirts of the City had been Hit." (NEXIS)
The Associated Press (AP). 15 October
1996. AM Cycle. Waiel Faleh. "Kurdish Rebels Claim Advance on
Irbil." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 September 1996. Waiel Faleh.
"Iraqi Army Promises to Withdraw; More Clashes Reported."
(NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 15 January
1997. BC Cycle. "Iraqi Kurds Agree on the Ceasefire Line as
Demarcation Line." (NEXIS)
_____. 22 October 1996. "Rival Kurdish
Forces Ready to Sign Ceasefire, U.S. Officials Says Eds Updating,
Adding Quotes from Pelletreau." (NEXIS)
IRNA [Tehran, in Persian]. 28 December
1996. "KDP Reportedly Accuses Rival PUK of Cease-Fire Violation."
(BBC Summary 30 Dec. 1996/Nexis)
Mideast Mirror [London]. 18 November
1996. "Kurdish Talks May Broaden to Include Amman-Based Iraqi
Opposition Group." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 4 April 1997. BC Cycle.
"Kurdish Rival Groups Agree to Resume Peace Talks." (NEXIS)
_____. 17 January 1997. BC Cycle. "Iraqi
Kurd Leader Asks Turkey to Help Aid Groups." (NEXIS)
_____. 16 January 1997. BC Cycle.
"Turkey Seeks Iraqi Kurd Support Against Rebels." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 October 1996. BC Cycle. Osman
Senkul. "Iraqi Kurds Take Town from Rival Group." (NEXIS)
_____. 18 October 1996. "Reuters Middle
East Highlights." (NEXIS)
TRT TV [Ankara, in Turkish]. 31 October
1996. "Agreement Reached at Ankara Talks on Cease-Fire, Political
Conciliation in Northern Iraq." (BBC Summary 2 Nov. 1996/NEXIS)
Xinhua News Agency (XNA). 1 November
1996. "Iraqi Kurdish Peace Deal Hailed." (NEXIS)
_____. 30 October 1996. "Iraqi Kurdish
Factions Start Talks in Turkey." (NEXIS)
_____. 28 October 1996. "Kurdish Faction
in Iraq Welcomes Iran's Mediation." (NEXIS)