Three HPG (People’s Defence Force) guerrillas were martyred in Şengal (Sinjar). The HPG have asked the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) for an explanation surrounding the circumstances of this tragedy.
HPG commander of Şengal wrote, in an announcement dated 12 July, that three Guerrilla were martyred in what seemed to an event surrounded by suspicious circumstances on Şengal.
The Sinjar HPG commander is asking the KDP to answer four questions to clarify how comrades, who were killed in Gabara village, were killed by ISIS gang members. The ISIS gang members are believed to have ambushed the guerrillas who were going through an area guarded by the KDP.
1. Before beginning any operational movement, KDP forces who were based in Gabara village were forewarned by the HPG that they are going to pass the Gabara village on the appointed time and date. On the appointed time they came. The first question thus arises: how did ISIS ambush our guerrillas at exactly the same time, a time that was supposed to be secret and given by the HPG to the KDP troops stationed in Gabara?
2. Around the area where KDP army forces were based, guerrillas were ambushed at 4:40 AM. A struggle ensued lasting until 5:15 AM. Another question arises: why did KDP army forces never come to the aid of the guerrillas? KDP forces were just a few hundred meters away from the firefight so it should have been entirely clear to see who was who — i.e. who were the HPG members and who was ISIS during the firefight.
3. Near the area there were two villages with guerrillas stationed in them to defend that area. However, the HPG unit who was ambushed and were shot and killed by the unknown enemy (as it is very likely it was ISIS in an ambush position) means, if KDP forces were based in the same area, do they know who has shot at our guerrillas? Can they confirm it was ISIS? Do they have any information concerning its movements during preceding this tragedy?
4. Given the KDP were stationed in Gabara, it would not be too far fetched to say that someone was supposed to stand watch. Why in that early morning was no one on watch? However, if they were on watch, why did they not alert the HPG who were there in the surrounding area (who again announced that they would be in the same area)? Even if KDP forces would realize something strange might occur, or were unable to directly contact the HPG fighters passing through their area, why did they not notify their own commander who could then relay that information to the guerrillas? Or if they were withdrawing from the village, then why they did not inform the HPG if we are going to come into the area?
HPG has notified the KDP command that they would like answers to these questions. Both sides are fighting together against a common enemy, helping one another as brothers-in-arms try to do, so clarification to this issue would help bring the two sides closer together given the tragic circumstances of this case.
In this event three guerrillas were martyred and two guerrilla were wounded. No one is arguing that this was planned by KDP, but any unit logistically and materially supported by the KDP means that this party which oversees them is in someway responsible for actions (or lack thereof) taken on behalf of the KDP.
The HPG added their investigation is continuing, and till this moment some results been achieved. The HPG believes they are responsible for investigating their own first. However, we expect the KDP to investigate the army forces who were based in this area, and we want them to give us all information required.
Rojhelat.info