.jpg)
According to the latest statement by Nawshirwan Mustafa, leader of the Gorran Party, in an interview with the London-based ‘Sharqawsat’ newspaper, the priority for Gorran is to change the system, not to participate in it. “We don’t care how the government is run so much as the system”, he said.
He went on to tell the paper that, if Gorran were to take cabinet posts without any structural changes, that would mean nothing and have no real value for the party.
Nawshirwan Mustafa is in favour of social revolution. That is a revolution which brings fundamental change to the way in which the country or state manages daily lives. An example of this is what happened in eastern Europe in 1991, where the whole system of communism collapsed and the mode of production changed to a free market economy. Social revolution is never easy but it reshapes the way political systems work. What has happened in Egypt is at this stage a political revolution. Some faces have changed but nothing else. There could bigger consequences for Egyptian society in the near future but not at the moment: the country is still being run in essentially the same way as it has been for so many years.
If the leader of Gorran is in favour of social revolution, how can this be achieved and by whom?
His party’s unity is in question. It lacks first-hand experience of governing. We all know that the the party managed to win 25 seats in July 2009 but, up to now, it has been incapable of holding a congress to put the party’s programme to a vote for approval by its followers.
So Gorran’s leader can see that the party has to defeat the existing system in order to achieve real change. But how?
I would like to ask readers to contribute to this debate:
- Do we need a national conference among our intellectuals to deliberate on this?
- Do you believe the two ruling parties can learn the lessons of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and leave power peacefully?
What Nawshirwan is asking for is impossible without mass participation.
As a UK-based journalist, I don’t think what Mustafa is calling for is impossible. Whether it will happen is a moot point.
We should be realistic and not burden the Change Movement (Gorran) with too high an objective. This does not mean accepting complacency but acknowledging that it doesn’t hold the magical wand.
It is a new party, and what it has done so far is good, especially if it can build on that.
I see this party as a mix of the old and the new — evident from the faces of its leading people, but also from some of its practices — and either one day a truly modern party needs to replace it, or it should evolve into that.
That Gorran is largely a secular party and it does not have a militia are huge pluses. Its biggest task is to break into Kirkuk, Hawler and Duhok voter base and make more significant inroads.
But setting up another party with similar ambitions is the worse thing Kurds can do right now. That will further diminish the pool of the disenchanted voters, and only make the KDP and the PUK stronger.
We must, however, continue to evaluate and criticize its actions and do everything we can to stop it from seeing itself as infallible and larger than life.
Dear Mr. Nawshirwan Mustafa,
If your party is really serious about making headway and be taken seriously, you NEED the support of the US government. With out them, you will surly fail!!
I say that because the current leaders are in power because they have the US blessings. The KRG has also bought too many US politicians and Lobbyists in Washington,DC and you or any new party will not be able to make a difference in Kurdistan unless you too manage to find some friends in the US government!!
The first step is for your organisation to open an office in Washington,DC and take it from there. Make your voice heard that way or you will not succeed even if you have 90% of the Kurdish votes in the up coming elections. From what I am reading, you do have many Kurds that believe in you and if I was in your position, I would take advantage of this and not wait.
If you would like for me to give you more information, you can ask Kurdish Tribune for my e-mail and write me. I authorize Kurdish tribune to provide you with my e-mail address.
Believe me, I have spent the last 14 years working very closely directly and indirectly with Barzani and the KRG and I know how they succeeded in the US!
Also, if you would like to know more about me, you can also go to http://www.ekurd.net and read my articles. From there, you can also go to my newly created facebook which is Iraqi Kurdish issues, Rizgar Xoshnaw.
Sincerely,
Rizgar Khoshnaw
Obviously, Mustafa and like-minded personalities are not projected to seek/ favor a political revolution that could categorically imperil their fiscal rewards. Goran is in cahoots with the ruling parties in myriad wrong practices, as well.
Without triggering a political revolution, how can a socio- economic and intellectual Renaissance transpire?
I sincerely suggest that the incumbent elites abdicate from power.
Let there be fresh elections to reflect the true will of vast majority.
In the interim, political parties should no longer maintain their own military forces, including “Gorran”. What is urged is the merge of all existing partisan militaries and immediate formation of a united national armed Force (KDF).
Setting up a new party in Kurdistan? Well, does not sound like a bad idea, however, for it to prevail, its motto must be self-rule for South Kurdistan; otherwise, it will not weather among the current resourceful, formidable factions, nor would the populace embrace it.
Another solution: A national unity government that truly represent all voices and colors and sincerely toil for citizens.
Kaka Rizgar Khoshnaw,
While I utterly see eye to eye with you on the subject of our necessity to hinge on foreign powers, especially the US administration to prosper, I also believe that overreliance is counterproductive and a great Achilles’ heel of ours. The US mushrooming manipulation into our internal affairs is an undeniable fact. KRG must learn how to stand on its feet.
Regard,
BB
Kak Baqi,
I am 100% with you when it comes to encourage the Kurds to take their own path and be independent, but that is not what the leaders are doing. The leaders are being controlled and manipulated by mainly the United States of America and we all know that.
I am sure the Kurdish leaders reached this point after relying so much on the US to do everything for them and to protect them. We are now at a point that the KRG does not move on any issues unless they come to Washington,DC and consult with the US government. I am sure you have been reading how many times the Kurdish leaders have been coming/visiting the US for consultations!
This is the fact and we must tell it like it is.
Any change has to come from within the society itself. It is the public that has been directly and indirectly giving the corrupt politicians a chance to prosper and survive in the current status quo. If PUK and KDP were to hold arms against each other again (God forbid) you would still see thousands of ignorant people taking weapons and fighting for their rotten sake, just like they did in 1995 and 96…and what happened? the old Peshmarga have been neglected like old dying animals with no rights or rewards. There is still bribery, cheating, and hypocricy within our Kurdish communities, and we can’t ask our politicians to change before each individual starts changing as well, because these politicians and leaders are the product of their society. Trust me, with the current society set up, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the current opposition leaders (if given power) end up doing the same corrupt actions that the current politicians are doing, because it is the mental make up of our society, something the Baa’th regime instilled in it and has been reenforced by the current ruling system. Change from within. Change before you ask something to change. Change for all and from all to the whole.
Money ,pride ,power , fame and name is the ultimate goal of all politicians.