130 Kurdish Artists are on hunger strike

130 Kurdish Artists are on hunger strike

Sunday, October 01, 2006
KurdishMedia.com - By Rzgar Said
London – Over 130 artists have been on hunger strike in Suleymania in front of the Kurdish Artists Union headquarters since last week to raise many issues that are important for the Kurdish artists.

They went on hunger strike in protest to corruption and discriminatory policies of the general secretary and the top officials of the Kurdish Artists Union. The strikers have been calling for a conference of the Union.

Kurdish Artists Union should guarantee equality for all members in terms of education and training, health and safety, legal and insurance services, job finding, etc. The Union has been seen as a corrupt organization by the protesting artists, because it provides no support to a wider circle of artists, e.g. free-lances and independent artists, but members of political parties enjoy full range of the Union services. This discrimination is against the principles of a union and unionism.

Kurdish union strength comes from its members and the Union should do its very best for its members. The protesters demand to hold a conference as soon as possible to change the policies to treat all members equally.

In addition, the protesting artists state that it was not right that the political parties to appoint the General Secretary and his deputy without prior democratic voting by the artists. Trade unionism dose not work like that and the union leader has to be elected by the 3rd of the members.

The artists that have been on hunger strike are simply asking for a change and equality for all members. Unfortunately, the general board of the Kurdish union called the police to deal with the hunger strike, instead of having a democratic discussion with the protesting artists.

In the name of the Kurdish Artists in exile I call upon both side to have a democratic dialogue to ensure that members are properly rewarded by reasonable and fair services.

Rzgar Said is a Kurdish actor, film maker and critique writer lives in London.