Statement supported by 200 organisations and individuals:
To:
- Kurdistan Parliament Presidency
- All parliamentary blocs
- Head of Council of Ministers
- All political parties
- Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission
- Consular representatives of all countries in KRG
Your Excellencies: it is the duty of all sides we should select a date for the election; please stop this silence and lagging towards the law in the region:
First, Legally:
1. According to paragraph (1) in Article (1) of the distribution of power of Kurdistan region presidency and in compliance with paragraph (2) in Article (10) in Kurdistan presidency law, the Council of Ministers in the region should select a date for election. (1)
2. According to a law issued by the Kurdistan parliament it extended its the term of per number (1) in 2017 from 6/11/2017 to 6/11/2018 of which less than 8 months remains.
3. According to the law, the election must be held before 6/9/2018.
Second: The electoral commission and the electoral register:
According to the election commission regulation 180 days are needed for election preparation, while up until now we don’t have a clean electoral register and all the parties demand the register to be cleaned and some of the parties make this as a prerequisite for holding a free and fair election. It is worth noting that they haven’t started the process of cleaning it. For those political parties that show their readiness for the election, they should have taken all means to clean the electoral register before selecting a date for an election as well as allocating a budget for that end.
According to law no. (2) of 2017, the power of Kurdistan region presidency is given to the prime minister.
According to the law, therefore, the date of election should have been set on 6/3/2018 and a budget must have been allocated to that end.
The speaker submitted his resignation according to parliament by-law and right after the approval of the resignation a new speaker should have been elected. Therefore, currently the sessions are baseless. Apart from this the speaker of the parliament is a candidate for the Iraqi parliamentary elections; this obliges the parliament to approve his resignation, and consequently this will bring forth the paralysis of parliament once again.
Third: Politically:
On 12/5/2018, Iraqi parliamentary elections will be held and after that a new government will be formed through which Kurds should try to get Kurds’ rights, whereas Kurds have a government from which most political parties withdrew except for the PUK, PDK and the Turkmens. Approximately, 13 acting ministers are running their ministries after the resignation of the ministers.
While the date of an election is set for Iraqi parliamentary election, if the date of an election is not set in Kurdistan region for the Kurdistan parliament alongside the Iraqi parliamentary election, there is a high possibility that the parties’ votes will decrease dramatically in the upcoming election. If they don’t set an election date, there is a chance that political disputes will be palpable among the political parties.
If the Kurds are not unified, the interest of Kurds in the Iraqi parliament will be jeopardized, since out of 329 seats only 56 seats are allotted to Kurds, including Kirkuk. To get these 56 seats, 20 political parties are competing and the situation is not in favor of the people of Kurdistan.
PDK is holding the parliament presidency, head of government, election commission and according to a law it has been given the power of the Kurdistan presidency, through which has the power to set the date for an election. After they sent official letter to the parliament twice and they have convened with the parliament and the election commission twice, a question come to our mind: why hasn’t he allocated a budget for an election? Why he hasn’t set a date for an election?
PUK has announced that to have a free and fair election there must be a clean electoral register; while they participate in the parliament presidency, government headship, and election commission presidency, they haven’t taken any practical step to allocate a budget and a date for an election.
The Gorran Movement, Islamic Union and Islamic Group each announced that they are ready for an election on condition of having a clean electoral register and they have representatives in parliament and on the election commission but they also didn’t take any practical steps which they should have done to set a date for election on 6/3/2018.
Other political parties in the political arena have prepared themselves to have a list in the future parliament of Kurdistan, such as the Coalition for Democracy and Justice, New Generation, other political parties like the Communist Party, Islamic Movement, Toilers Party, Socialist Party, etc.
Political parties that entered the political arena and who attended to have electoral lists in the next parliament in the region, such as the Alliance for Democracy and Justice, the New Generation, and other political parties such as the Communist Party, the Islamic Movement, the Labor Party, the Social Democratic Party and other parties, also haven’t taken any practical steps and did not have any positions for the holding a free and fair elections on time.
The electoral law has not been amended, the budget has not been allocated for the elections, no date has been set for the elections, and if there is no date for the elections to be held a month ago and no allocation the special budget for its actions and these measures have not been taken. It is certain that the legal period of Parliament will be extended again by the influential parties and the date of the elections will be postponed or elections are not in accordance with the required criteria which caused the creation of problems and crises for the citizens of the region and cut off their livelihood and created dozens of other crises, and as a result, this government will not be able to protect the rights of citizens in the face of the Iraqi government.
As we are civil society organizations, intellectuals and academics in the Kurdistan region, we declare that the current situation, which is witnessing the postponement of the elections and the non-organization of party conferences and the end of the legal period, the institutions of legitimacy and the existence of large corruption and the economic crisis and poor economic conditions of the citizens of the Kurdistan region, which are not consistent with the course of international policies and that the international community supports The changes are in line with the wishes of the Kurdish people. Therefore, we call for speeding up the date of the elections in order to respect the laws, cleanse the voters register, form a new government in the region and allocate the required budget for the elections so that the electoral commission can begin its practical procedures and monitor and hold accountable the work of the Commission. And that this task lies with the five main parties, which formed the Electoral Commission and constitute a majority in Parliament in particular, being the only option to overcome the crises and the holding of fair and legal elections, and in this sense, we draw this note formally to all parties and we are waiting for a response from them and to know all the citizens of the region, which parties are keen to carry out reforms and solutions, with the holding of elections in real, and what parties do not want to hold elections and find solutions to the problems and crises in the region.
Names of participating organizations:
1. Pay Institute for Education and Development (PAY)
2. Kurdistan Legal Development Institute (ILDK)
3. Reform Institute for Development (RID)
4. Center for Democratic Development and Human Rights (DHRD)
5. Women’s Legal Cooperation Organization (WOLA)
6. Kurdish Institute for Elections (KIE)
7. Standard Media Foundation.
8. NGO Coalition Network (which includes 27 organizations)
9. Halabja Organization Network (comprising 25 organizations)
10. START Network (which includes 3 organizations)
11. Leader Leadership Development Network (which includes five organizations)
12. The Peace Generation Network (which includes 10 organizations)
13. The constructive network of Garmian organizations (which includes seven organizations)
14. The Justice Network for Detainees (which includes 40 organizations)
15. Idea Organization for Democracy and Community Awareness
16 – Kurdish-English academia for Education and Training
17. Halwest Organization
18- Kurdistan for All (KEODD)
19. Organization of the Capital of Peace
20. STOP to combat corruption
21. Gayandan Organization for Democratic Activities and Human Rights
22. Mali-Sarkoten Organization for Capacity Development
23. NAWIN International Relations (NIIR)
24.Dang Radio
25. The National Center for Human Rights
26. Scala Organization for Women’s Affairs
27. Deeman Organization for Social Issues
28. Bradost Institute for Development (BID)
29. Chawi Zanko Organization
30. Kordo Zanst Organization for Democracy and Human Rights
31. Kurdistan Economic Development Organization (KEDO)
32. Mediterranean Institute for Regional Research
33. Ronia Awareness and Health Organization
34- Wise organization for education
35. Lisa Human Development Organization
36. Bradstead Tourism Organization
37- Srouri Organization in Halabja
38. Nuwa Organization for the Protection of the Environment and Women’s Rights
39.Future Organization
40 General Geography Organization in Kurdistan
41. Bidari Organization
42. HEWA Organization
43. Nishtemani Kurd Organization
44- Representatives of Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan Nature Organization
45. Youth Development Center
46. Cord-Mad Organization for Cultural and Democratic Development
47 – the group of the lost
48. The Aristotelian Organization
49. Pekoizian Organization
50. Enough Organization
51.Educational Development Organization
52.Merouf Dust for Cultural Development
53. Organization for community education
54. Cozain Development Organization
55. Daou Organization for Freedoms and Human Rights
56. Lopi Institute for Democratic Development
57. Youth and Students Club (SYEO)
58. Organization for Environmental Protection
59. AMC for the Anfal
60. Community Culture Organization
61. Dabeen Organization for Democratic Development and Human Rights
62. Dawaruz organization for the preparation of women leaders
63 – Barbadian organization of youth capabilities
64. Azmun Organization AOCD
65. Sina Research and Development Organization
66. Bwar Center for Political and Strategic Research
67. Free Press Organization for Defense, Innovation and Training in the Field of Media
68.Silv Health Development and Education
69.Dostaiti Development and Human Support Organization
70. Elham organization for the development of children’s abilities
71. Organization visited to defend freedoms
72. Raile Organization for Training and Human Development
73. Organization for the pursuit of justice
74. Alon Karafi Group
75. Organization of donors of bodies in the Kurdistan region
76. Union of Muslim Sisters
77. Defense of Universities and Institutes
78. Political and political development
79. Friends of Environment in Karamian
80. Peace and Rights Organization
81. Sarez Charitable Organization
82. Jawakee-Honri Organization
83. An organization dedicated to the development of the environment
84.Schiller Environmental Tourism Development
85. Youth Education Organization
86. HEWA Health Organization
87. Organization for Humanitarian Cooperation
88. Cat Center for Culture and Youth Training
89. Organization for the Protection of the Environment
90. Dahinan Organization for All
91. MAP Organization
92. Organization of Human Rights in Kurdistan
93. Transparency organization to fight corruption
94. Holh Organization for the Investigation of Crimes
95. Jaumeer Organization for Democracy and Human Rights
96. Adan Organization for Community Development
97. KODDHR (Dog for Democracy and Human Rights)
98. Hazeri King Foundation for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights (HGODHRD)
99 Organization of the individual site
100.Darijah Organization for Environmental Protection and Water Resources
Names of Individuals:
- Paiman Azaddin- Lawyer
- Masud Abdul Khaliq- Head of Standard Organization
- Dr. Sarwar Abdul-Rahman Omer- Lecturer
- Kamal Rauf-Journalist
- Kardo Muhammad- Former MP
- Dr. Khamosh Omer-Lecturer
- Jawad Saeed- Parliament Advisor
- Dr. Dler Ahmed Hamad- Parliament Advisor
- Muhamd Sharazoori-Former MP
- JUtiar Majeed-Former MP
- Dr. Dana Saeed Sofi-Former MP
- Khaman Zrar- Former MP
- Razaw Mahmud Faraj- Former MP
- Shawnm Muhamad Gharib- Former MP
- Adnan Osman- Former MP
- Kamal Chomani-Writer and journalist
- Shwan Sabir Mustafa- Lawyer and Civil Activist
- Hiwa Ali- Civil Activist
- Shilan Ali- Civil Activist
- Hemn Anwar Jawhar- Civil Activist
- Shokhan Raza- Civil Activist
- Omed Qaradaxi- researcher and lecturer
- Bahra Hama Rash- Civil Activist and journalist
- Arez Dara- Media employee and Civil Activist
- Farman Rashad- Civil Activist
- Dastan Jahfar- Civil Activist
- Aram Sardar- journalist and Civil Activist
- Rebin Fatah-Journalist
- Younis Hamad- Civil Activist
- Darun Najeeb- Civil Activist
- Deren Ali- Civil Activist
- Ibrahim Abbas- Civil Activist
- Sewa Fatih- Civil Activist
- Aso Qadir Abdullah- Civil Activist
- Jiahd Hawez- Civil Activist
- Ahmed jamil- lawyer and Civil Activist
- Ako Abdulmajeed-teacher
- Dr. Ismail Najmaddin- lecturer
- Asoso Namiq Brakhas-lecturer
- Faris Murad hamasheen- teacher and Civil Activist
- Bakhan Jahfar- Civil Activist
- Fatah Hassan Qalani-teacher and Civil Activist
- Kakaziad Hamad Abdullah- Civil Activist
- Hogir Abdulrahman Saeed- Civil Activist
- Hissam Barzinji- Civil Activist
- Hemn Mamand-journalist Civil Activist
- Majid Khalil- lecturer
- Jegir Bradosti- Civil Activist
- Qaraman Khoshnaw- Civil Activist
- Sakar Aziz Rashid-lecturer
- Bahroz Jahfar- Civil Activist
- Ahmed Kawani- lawyer
- Sardar Ali- lawyer
- Saeed Maulud- lecturer
- Naji Omer Ismail- Civil Activist
- Lezan Abubakir- Civil Activist
- Fareed Farhad-Lawyer and Civil Activist
- Rezhna Majeed- Civil Activist
- Baban Jahfar- Civil Activist
- Rebeen Sabah- Lawyer and Civil Activist
- Sarteep Khalis-lecturer
- Khoshi Osman- lecturer
- Dr. Tahseen Shafeeq Hissein-lecturer
- Rebeen Ghareeb Nuri-lecturer
- Shwan Assad Qadir- lecturer
- Chro Osman- lecturer
- Dr. Kawan Salahaddin Osman- lecturer
- Gona Osman faris- lecturer
- Shakir Mahmud Ahmed- lecturer
- Banaz Hama Rasheed- lecturer
- Aras Masud Ismail- lecturer
- Dr. Sabah Muhamad Barzinji- Former MP and lecturer
- Nizar Lateef- lecturer
- Lana Abdulhamid Muhamad- lecturer
- Rebaz Kamal Ghareeb- Civil Activist
- Sarwat Muhamad Abdulkarim- Civil Activist
- Qaisar Rahman- Civil Activist
- Iqbal Ghafar- Civil Activist
- Farhad Qadir- Civil Activist
- Juuhaf Aziz- Civil Activist
- Mahdi Omer Salih- lecturer
- Hemen Hassan Muhamad- lecturer
- Halat Rasheed Abdullah- lecturer
- Deman Ahmed Saeed- lecturer
- Dilan Jamal Qadir- lecturer
- Frial Maruf Muhamad-Lawyer
- Dr. Qaraman Nadir- lecturer
- Zana Taifur- lecturer
- Dr. Hoshmand Ali- lecturer
- Dr. Ari Anwar ZUbair- lecturer
- Ali Ilinjaghi- Veteran Peshmerga
- Hakim Peshraw Said Brain- Veteran Peshmerga
- Dr. Akram Khamosh- lecturer
- Hunar Fazil Rasheed-teacher
- Sarkawt Hadi Hama Karim-Veteran Peshmerga
- Afan Mahmud Ahmed-teacher
- Hawre Muhamad Rasul- lecturer
- Zainab Omer Hama Ahmed- lecturer
- Shakar Nuri-journalist
- Khelan Hussein-Civil Activist
- Nian Hakim Akram- lecturer
- Shilan Aram Akram lecturer
- Jaafar Hama Amin- Veteran Peshmerga
(1) In paragraph (2) Article (10) states: “issuing an order for holding a general election of Kurdistan Parliament and setting a date for election within 15 days from the date of disbanding the parliament or at least 60 days before ending the term of the parliament on condition the date of election should not exceed 60 days after the end term of the election or do not exceed 60 days before the election date.