News and Comment by The Kurdistan Tribune:
In a rare interview, Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), told Hawlati that he wishes he’d done more to fight corruption. “I regret I couldn’t fight the corruption in the PUK leadership and the entire PUK organisation”, he said. “Many people know I am the main decision-maker and that is the reason I will take the responsibility”.
Talabani also spoke about the PUK’s relationship with the Gorran party, led by his one-time close ally, Nawshirwan Mustafa. “Gorran and the PUK are subjectively very close and the unification between the two parties will be a long process”, claimed Talabani.
Many observers will treat these statements with scepticism. The background is a grassroots revolt inside the PUK that is unlikely to end until the current leadership resigns or is dismissed. Without significant change, the PUK faces a big challenge in the next elections and it will be hard for the party to retain any seats in the Sulaymani area.
Talabani has decided that now is the time to tell the public bad news about the PUK organisation. For years he has refused to listen to anyone within his party about these problems. But his latest ruse might not work. “If you deliver bad news, you’re disempowering yourself”, says professor David Sims of the Cass Business School. “You’re less likely to be listened to in the future”.
Copyright © 2012 Kurdistantribune.com
Mr Talabani,
You are saying it now when your party is at it’s lowest in terms of public perception and political legitimacy? A man is respected when he accepts mistakes during times of power when he can actually afford to stay quiet, but now that the carpet is being pulled from underneath your party and all the other corrupted officials, I am afraid it’s too late for change. People have no reason to trust you and you will find the results of your party’s corruption in the next election. Long live Kurdistan free from the hands and pockets of the greedy corrupted so-called leaders.
I am very delighted that President Talabani is touching on the principal challenge facing Kurdistan Region, which is corruption. The Wikileaks documents quoted President Talabani speaking to Jeff Feltman in Baghadad, saying that Goran is the result of public dissatisfaction on the status quo. Of course, he is very accurate, but unfortunately, he never publicly acknowledged the fact. In other words, he could have done much more to push forward Kurdistan’s democracy and fight corruption, actions that could’ve prevented the fissure of Goran from the PUK.
At this point, I cannot envisage, the PUK withdrawing its alliance with the KDP and become an opposition party. The best course of action for President Talbani is to engage in, not necessarily but perhaps public, discussions with other PUK leaders about the future of the party. They must sketch a plan for a peaceful transfer of power within the PUK to maintain the integrity of the party–similar to Egypt and Tunisia. Of course, in those two countries, the presidents were ousted by the military, but in the case of the PUK, President Talabani will score an important point for himself and will help in pushing forward the prospect of democracy in Kurdistan. He will be the first Kurdish leader to have resigned from a powerful party for the sake of maintaining the integrity of the party.
I think Talabani is imploring for public sympathy but I guess its too late. Yet, he still has the power to change things but I highly doubt him to change anything at all. Kurdistan Tribune depicted him right in its last paragraph.
By the way, when he gets old as he promised the public, he will reside in Istanbul and write his biography. Come on guys! He has only been in politics for a half century and he’s only 82 year old. You already got tired of him?
Acknowledging ones blunders is the first step onto identifying and subsequently remedying deficiencies.
President Talabanis confession is a good indication. It is never too late to right the wrongs. What we all are seeking is a more corruption-free, more prosperous and more self-sustaining Kurdistan.
It is time for Mam Jalal and his alike to relax and retire. That does not imply his valuables political and military experiences and contributions will not be essential. As a veteran, he can still advise KRG on numerous vital national affairs.
Perhaps DR. Barham or a qualified member of KNCNA can substitute him.
At the moment, Kurdistan’s priorities differ. They mainly consist of: 1) A united Peshmarga forces that can protect KRG 2) Determination and annexation of Kirkuk and all disputed territories back into KRG 3) Formation of a national unity government including the opposition to circumspect any discord or schism 4) And an umbrella to shelter homeless Kurds, the main one.
What a hypocrite this Talabani?
I told everyone who wanted to listen back in 2009 that the whole issue of Gorran’s separation from PUK is nothing but a big show to deceive the public.
There has never been any separation between those 2 groups.
Gorran IS just another part of PUK.
It is a well set up plan to create a “Gorran of Change” to gather around itself all those people who are rightly angry at the KRG.
In the same time keeping the OLD PUK which receives the votes of those who are still with the traditional PUK & Talabani.
If you take the parliament seats that Gorran & PUK have together you will see that they have almost 50% against some 30-35% for PDK although PDK has far more support among the ordinary Kurds!
And that is exactly the plan which was constructed not only by Talabani & Newshirwan but it had great support by OUTSIDE powers from the beginning, far before 2009.
Together with the Islamist parties they have far beyond 50-60% of the parliament.
PDK is already cornered and is under control.
The trouble is they don’t know it yet as usual!
They only get it when they are already hit directly on their heads and in most cases it is then too late.
Sooner or later PUK & Gorran will re-unite but:
1- for such a step the public must be prepared psychologically.
You can’t tell the people for years that Talabani & PUK are corrupt and evil and then re-unite 3 years later.
2- it is far more effective for Gorran & PUK to continue this show because that maximizes their reach & votes.
Gorran takes the opposition voices & PUK the traditional ones.
Those who have followed the developments have seen many occasions of cooperation between official PUK parliament members with Gorran such as in the case of Ibrahim Khalil, many law suits, Mustafa Barzani’s portrait case etc.
Let aside all the other flirt between PUK& Gorran outside the parliament.
This kind of talk from Talabani is a step in a chain of steps that we have seen from PUK & Newshirwan.
They have worked continuously in the recent months to talk about the idea of cooperation etc.
It’s obvious that PUK & Gorran are trying to let the people get used to any future coalition between both.
There is a psychological gap between many Gorran & opposition supporters on one side and PUK on the other side.
That’s why they need to minimize this gap before they can start an open cooperation.
Talabani’s & Jelali’s betrayal in the 1966 has been a deadly strike against the liberation movement of Kurdistan.
It is the same in other clothes this time if the kurdish public this time is not more intelligent and vigilant than they were in the 1960’s.
Slaw u rez
Dilshad Xoshnaw
I must say I almost see eye to eye with Kaka Khoshnaw’s logical and honest views.
PUK and KDP have in the past set up and funded myriad smaller size political parties to merely placate angry and dissatisfied citizens. One can bluntly perceive the burgeoning behind-the-scene ties between Goran and PUK. Nawshirvan and Mama share plenty of memoires together! There might be trivial discrepancies, but that does not imply they no longer talk. In politics, loyalties, relationships, treaties can change in split second. Allies can turn into foes and vice versa. It is not something unheard of or unexpected.
That is why KDP is struggling hard to mend its shattered relations with Islamists to counterpoise its might.
What is the solution? Under these circumstances, a new political party can be established in Kurdistan, especially short of adequate financial backing.
Therefore, it is better for all these political parties to coexist as long as there are no more conflicts and discords.
Kak Baqi,
thanks for your remarks.
To start with the last part of your message. Nothing against coexistence of the political parties but the BIG trouble is this:
Gorran started by telling people that Kurds were in a mess because of the evil KRG = PDK & PUK.
They told people that they are honest and clean and have the cure for Kurdistan.
But if it turns out that this very Gorran was based on a BIG lie and that it was a PUK plan to diminish PDK & the Barzanis then the whole issue is started on the basis of a BIG deception of the kurdish public.
How can you be right for your people if your first step is deception and you don’t hesitate to double cross your own people and exploit the naive young supporters of Gorran?
The first disastrous outcome is that millions will be left disappointed at the end.
AND even worse than that this deception from Gorran has led to keeping the angry youth busy and prevented their energy from being channeled and routed to have the positive outcome they wished.
It is already a reality now that you can find many many people who are disappointed from Gorran & the islamist opposition and they will have no motivation next time to engage in any social & political movement because they would have the feeling that “no one” is honest and it is all just political games.
Beside all of this it is the biggest crime anyone can commit in Kurdistan if they try to repeat 1966 in the name of progressive ideologies but their real intention is to fight the Barzanis & the PDK but at the end achieving nothing but wasting energies and almost destroying the
liberation movement of Kurdistan.
It is not Gorran to blame alone. It is PUK & Talabani himself as well.
The funny thing is, just today I read in Hawlati that he is regretting his actions in 1966.
Do we want to repeat the same today in another shape and sit down in 50 years to say:
“Oh that was a big mistake in 2011-2012?”
Slaw u rez
PS:
you can’t deny that there is so much wrong in Kurdistan to be remedied but there must be other ways to do that than the destructive manner of Gorran & the Islamists which reminds me very much of the events in 1966.
Im astonished that an intellectual like you Kak Dilshad see the difference between KDP and PUK and even one sided. Im even more astonished to read that you repeat 1966 twice but never mentioned 1996. I believe the atrocities KDP has committed throughout its history can’t be compared to all other parties’ wrongdoing.
besides, why we have to go back 50 years? Can’t we talk about what have happened for the last 15 years?
can you tell me who brought the Iraqi army back to Hawler and changed the Kurdistan flag with the Iraqi one on KRG parliament building?
Kak Dilshad, you seem forgot who killed Sardasht Osman in front of his college in your city.
Can you tell me who burned Gorran’s office in Hawler and Shaqlawa in the last election?
Can you tell me who burned 27 offices of KUI in Badinan area!
Yes, KDP is cornered alone and it should be because KDPs don’t respect others’ opinions and differences.
Arsalan Bayz did a right thing to bring down the Barzani Picture in his room because KDP has made Barzani as a symbol of KDP than the Kurds. Im afraid that you would try to compare him to Gandhi, Mandela and Washington..etc. My brother, those leaders all succeeded in their revolution but our was not. However, if tomorrow Masoud Barzani declares independent and he’s successful, then he will become national symbol.
i beleive that KDPs and PUKs are bunch of thugs stealing public money for their personal interest and killing ordinary people under the name of Kurdayeti and other names. What KRG has done to revitalize the economic infrastructure of Kurdistan? We still don’t have electricity for god’s sake. Why don’t you look at agriculture sector, which is dead now?
Please Kak Dilshad be unprejudiced and objective when criticizing Kurdish political parties
and please Kak Baqi don’t hide your last name, which is Barzani, because with all due respect, you are just another wolf in sheep’s clothing
Thank you
Kak Halmet thanks very much for letting us know about your thoughts.
You have some very valid questions. The problem is answering those as thoroughly as they deserve wouldn’t just fit in this limited space as it is about almost the whole story of South Kurdistan in the last 50 years!
I would be happy to discuss with you about these very important issues that many people have also on their minds nowadays.
But you can’t do that here.. may be on a discussion forum.
Just one last word regarding my comments.
It was not about “I did this and you did that” and weighing the bads of all the involved parties.
It was about Talabani’s interview and his relationship with Gorran. My comments were targeting only one aspect which is what is the true story behind Gorran?
As they started by promoting themselves as the pure and progressive alternative to KRG.
As there is an urgent need to improve the situation in Kurdistan and many people expect Gorran to be that alternative it is important to all of us, specially the young people with little experience, to understand the truth of the matter.
Slaw u Rez
Kaka Dilshad,
Expanding on a couple of points real brief:
1- Goranisits exploited corruption battling slogan to crank up but ended up getting contaminated deeply in corruption like everyone else. KRG’s president set off to Sulaimania to convene with Goran’s leaders for some motives????
When Mustafa allegedly bade farewell to PUK, he was busy cooking up his own notions in UK. He was closely monitoring every developments looming in Kurdistan. He was impatiently looking forward to his moments to come. And he struck on the right time, using the rights tools. Now whether the whole scenario was sham or not, it is vague but what is clear-crystal is it is feasible for Goran and PUK to merge their forces back together in near future. Goran will never trade PUK for the sake of KDP or Islamists. And of course, at the end, every leader is greedy.
2) KIU’s existence was not even noticeable. KDP committed the biggest blunder by setting their buildings ablaze. As the matter of fact, KDP helped boost up Islamists’ popularity both nationally and internationally. Islamic groups do not enjoy broad public support.
Who should be blamed? All
Who can resolve the conundrum and make sure they are not replicated again? ALL
To counterbalance strong partisan rivalry and influence, I suggest more independent voices be injected into KRG if allowed. Please read Dr. Mahmood Osman’s views with KTV.
Real reform will ultimately materialize. Perhaps a little bit more patience is needed. Many positives changes are taking place now! It is mostly the people demanding reforms and changes, not Goran, PUK, KIU, PDK.
Everyone is also aware who is honest or dishonest! Every single view is being read and heard, as well. And in the long run, the truth will surface and prevail!
Regards
BB
Kak Baqi regarding your first point to be precise Gorran didn’t get contaminated after they started.
Most of their top staff was stuck in corruption up to their noses even before they started.
By the way the fact that Newshirwan was given a 16 million $$ present from Talabani to set up his Wisha Company.. What could we call that other than severest form of corruption?
And regarding your second point as to who is to blame in all this:
I don’t really think that ALL are equally responsible.
There is probably no single party that you can wash of all guilt although on very different levels but regarding the responsibility of the general public I don’t think that ALL are responsible.
There is probably a majority among Kurds that bear a lot of responsibility that those developments in Kurdistan were possible at all but there is also a large minority of 10-20-30% that doesn’t belong to the first group but thinking about the level of responsibility of the ordinary Kurds is a good and important matter because until now it is fashionable to bash parties, mainly PDK & PUK, but only few ask about the individual responsibility of the citizens in Kurdistan.
Few ask what we as individuals do wrong and what can we and must do to make a change.
We can’t find any reasonable diagnosis of our situation if we disregard this side of the matter.
Slaw u Rez