PROTESTING public-sector workers were attacked by police as they demanded the resignation of the government in Slemani today.

Hundreds of teachers, health workers and civil servants gathered in the northern Iraqi city’s Bakhi Gshti Park to vent their anger at government corruption. Many of them have not been paid since March.

When they marched to Azadi Square, security services personnel waded in to break up the crowd, firing tear gas and projectiles at the peaceful demonstrators.

The protesters warned that thousands face dismissal under the latest deal struck between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad.

Speaking to NRT TV, Shalaw Tuba said: “There are two options [for the KRG], whether to resign or to hold early elections so that we choose our representatives in the [Kurdistan] parliament.”

KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced yesterday that government workers’ salaries will be paid from today, but with an eye-watering 21 per cent cut. 

The government blames Baghdad for causing the current crisis by  halting budget transfers to the region in April after the KRG failed to send any of the 250,000 barrels of oil it is required to provide under a 2019 agreement.

A temporary deal was reached in August after the KRG accepted that the customs procedures at its international borders would come under federal control. 

But that arrangement broke down and further talks to resolve the dispute planned for yesterday were postponed.

Public-sector workers, including teachers and health workers, have been on strike since the beginning of October in protest at the government’s handling of the economy amid rising unemployment and a lack of basic services.

Last week, the KRG said that it had written to the central government demanding payment of its budget share for May, June, July, and October.

An English teacher from the Sarchinar district of Slemani told the Star that public-sector workers are at breaking point.

“This is not about pay. This is about the government. People have had enough. Thousands of us haven’t had money since March. The economy is a mess and it is because of government corruption,” he said.

The teacher explained that he had to work evening and weekend shifts in a local pizza restaurant in order to support his family, with his wife expecting their third child next year.

Hawre Othman, secretary of the Communist Party of Kurdistan’s Slemani region, said that Kurdistan was abundant with natural resources, including massive oil reserves and water. 

He insisted that it should be wealthy, instead of suffering deepening poverty and shortages of basics, including electricity.

Workers are set to gather again tomorrow, despite the oppression, and say that they will continue to do so until the deadlock is broken.