SULAYMANIYAH — The Change Movement (Gorran) is reportedly working to establish its own armed forces for which it is closely working with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a source said.

Members of Gorran as well as some MPs of the party have recently been stepping up a demand to establish an armed group within the party so as to stand against Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) more effectively.

The source, speaking to BasNews on condition of anonymity, revealed that a group of Gorran officials have called on the leadership of the party to hold an early congress and discuss the beginning of recruiting armed forces for the party.

Shi’ite leader and former Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki is supporting the idea, with Gorran MPs in Baghdad working on an agreement to include the future armed forces within the structure of the Shi’ite militia groups of Hashd al-Shaabi, the source continued, noting that this is an attempt to legalize any armed group affiliated with Gorran, and secure a source of fund for them.

According to the source, Gorran and PKK have already launched discussions over the issue, with PKK showing support to the idea.

BasNews previously reported that a number of leaders from Gorran decided in a meeting on December 6th to continue their efforts against corruption in the Kurdistan Region even if it requires armed interventions.

Abdullah Kwekha Mubarak, one of the leaders that participated in the meeting of Gorran leaders in Chamchamal city in southern Sulaymaniyah province, posted on his social media then that they have pledged to counter corruption in the Kurdistan Region using every means, including the armed ones.

Burhan Rashid, a Gorran official and former member of parliament, told BasNews that Gorran leadership received similar proposals by its leading members specially after party’s ministers were sacked and speaker of Kurdistan Region parliament was prevented entering Erbil late in 2015. “However, the proposals were refused then, and I am not aware of recent attempts,” Rashid told BasNews.

He believes that even if Gorran forms an armed force it should be considered as a “reaction” because KDP and PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) have their own armed forces with militia groups operating in other areas of Iraq.


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