SLEMANI — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Monday marked the 30th anniversary of the August 31, 1996 events, saying the episode deepened Kurdish divisions and resulted in the deaths of many people, while calling for a “balanced and responsible” government in the Kurdistan Region.
In a statement, the PUK Political Bureau described August 31 as a “national tragedy,” saying that Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, was reoccupied by the forces of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime in support of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), six years after the 1991 Kurdish uprising.
The statement said the events “deepened internal divisions” and led to the deaths of many Kurds.
The August 31, 1996 offensive took place during the Kurdistan civil war between the KDP and PUK. The KDP, which was fighting PUK forces in and around Erbil, requested military assistance from the Iraqi government. Iraqi forces subsequently entered Erbil and helped the KDP retake the city from the PUK.
The PUK had earlier sought Iranian support in its fighting against the KDP, bringing regional powers directly into the Kurdish conflict.
Reflecting on the aftermath, the PUK said its late leader Jalal Talabani, known as “Mam Jalal,” adopted a policy aimed at turning the page on the conflict in the interest of the Kurdish people and the future of Kurdistan.
“Out of its national and ethnic responsibilities—and within the framework of Mam Jalal’s wise policy, who instructed us to turn a new page for the sake of our people and Kurdistan’s future—the PUK left past suffering to history’s assessment and fair judgment,” the statement said.
The party said this approach subsequently contributed to a period of “development, stability, and coexistence” in the Kurdistan Region.
On the anniversary, the PUK also called for a permanent resolution to internal Kurdish conflicts, saying the experience of August 31 demonstrated the consequences of seeking support from outside forces in domestic disputes.
“Despite deep national sorrow, the PUK emphasizes a permanent resolution to internal conflicts that led to the bad choice of resorting to opponent forces,” the statement said.
The PUK further linked the anniversary to the current political situation in the Kurdistan Region, calling for reforms in governance and the formation of a new administration based on political balance and partnership.
“Today, in order to correct the course of governance, Kurdistan needs the formation of a balanced and responsible government that compensates for past hardships through unity, partnership, and fair service,” the statement said.
It added that such a government would help establish a “strong and stable region” capable of confronting future challenges in Iraq and the wider region.
The anniversary comes amid continued political competition between the KDP and PUK, which have dominated Kurdistan Region politics since the end of the civil war.
