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By Kamal Chomani:
If you ask any Kurdish youths, men, women and politicians about the Independence of Kurdistan, immediately they reply that it is their ultimate dream that will come true, sooner or later. But, only recently, a few journalists and intellectuals have posed the question: which Independence?
There is no doubt, Independence has been the subject of a common, national discourse since the division of Kurdistan after the First World War. Although Kurds were promised full Independence by the Treaty of Sevres, this was soon followed by the Treaty of Lausanne by which Kurds were deprived of their right to Independence.
If we had proper statistics on Kurdistan’s martyrs, we would see that Kurds have sacrificed about a million lives in their freedom struggle. Our freedom struggle’s aim has been Independence. However, the discourse of the political parties in different parts of Kurdistan with regards to Independence has varied.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Mullah Mustafa Barzani, sought self-Autonomy within the borders of Iraq. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by Jalal Talabani, believed in Federalism in Iraq. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), led by Abdullah Ocalan, believed in Independence from Turkey. The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (HDKA), led by Dr Abdul-Rahman Qasimlo, believed in autonomy within the borders of Iran.
The PKK has reviewed its aims in terms of Independence. I think the change from supporting Independence to Democratic Autonomy should be considered a turning-point in the PKK’s history. It is hard to get Independence from Turkey all at once and so the freedom struggle in which they now seek Democratic Autonomy is the most effective route to Independence in the future.
For Kurds in Iraq, the vision for Independence is different. The political parties have already accepted Federalism although they were in a position to insist on adding a clause to the Iraqi Constitution stating that, whenever Kurds want separation, they will have the right to pursue this through a referendum. Unfortunately, the Kurdish politicians in Bagdad didn’t insist on this, even though they could have done since the Iraqi entities at the time of writing the constitution were not enough strong to withstand the Kurds’ wishes.
The one who talks most about Independence today is the president of the Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani. However, he only started talking about it recently. In the KDP’s discourse, independence was not discussed until its last Congress in 2010. In the latest Congress of the KDP, they changed their principles to state that they do believe in Self-Determination. For the PUK, by contrast, Self-Detemination for Kurds has been one of their main mottos and principles since the foundation of the party. Masoud Barzani is misusing the Independence discourse. It is a national principle and the possession of it belongs to all and not to a party or a leader.
The Change Movement, which emerged in 2009 and is supposed to be the second party now in Iraqi Kurdistan, has different views as compared to Barzani. Nawshirwan Mustafa, the Change Movement’s leader, in response to Barzani’s recent speeches about Independence shared the view that Kurdistan should prepare itself for Independence by institutionalizing the government establishments, freedom, democracy, fighting against corruption, strengthening and unifying the Peshmerge forces and so on.
In fact, Barzani is approaching Independence in a way just to invigorate his nationalistic stance in public. In reality, it needs work – hard work – and not only remembering it during conflicts with Baghdad.
Meantime, I have never given my confidence to President Barzani’s discourse because I simply do not want Independence in a Kurdistan in which there is no democracy, freedom of speech, equality, unity amongst the people and the rule of law. We don’t want a country where there is still discrimination between Barzanis and Soranis. Kurdistan cannot enjoy Independence if there is no change in power.
Realistically, if we look at Arab countries, we can understand that there is a big gap between Independence and Freedom. Arab Countries started their revolutions in the last two years not because they didn’t have Independence but because they didn’t have Freedom, democracy, freedom of speech, equality and rule of law.
We will never give up Independence, but we do not want an Independence that people cannot enjoy with full democratic, human, and political rights. Our fight is to establish a full democracy in our region now; and then we can step up to our second goal. If we cannot establish democracy and equality for all, we can never gain the support of the international community.
Our fight against the current status quo must continue so as to reach the aim of Independence sooner. I do believe that, under the reign of the current ruling parties in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Independence is nothing but a dream that never comes true.
All in all, it is time to question what kind of Independence they want, because the Independence we are seeking could be quite different!
Copyright © 2012 Kurdistantribune.com
Your article is not really an analysis of the possibilities of independence. Instead it is an attack on KDP and Kak Masoud. Firstly, I advise you to re-read the history books about the Kurds of Bashur, and read about both KDP and PUK history, before you make claims such as only caring about ‘independence’ recently.
Secondly, you do not mention the fact that we are a nation that has no access to any sea so any exports made HAS to be through either Turkey, Syria, Iran or Arab Iraq. This is quite important because so many young Kurds nowadays who live ABROAD keep talking about independence but at what cost? It is the people living INSIDE Kurdistan who will suffer. The current increase in oil and gas being pumped, explored and hopefully exported gives us some hope, but instead of constantly criticising, it would be refreshing if you could write an article explaining ‘how’ you would provide for 4 million plus Kurds if you want to do it ‘independently’…
Best wishes,
Hawar
Independence can only transpire in a country where the perquisites exist ( A self-sustaining country,excellent infrastructure,booming economy, rule of law, institutionalization and centralization of state establishments, meaningful democracy,fair elections, transparency and accountability,basic services etc.)
Very unfortunately,all of the afore-cited are currently absent in S.Kurdistan. The main question that should be posed here is why are they?
The answer is: due to incapacity, weak leadership,and the widespread corruption.
How can that be addressed? Real reforms or complete change of system ( New political party)
Once an independent state comes into being in South Kurdistan, all of the above are of secondary importance. They will automatically take shape.
In the interim, S.Kurdistan should not wait for other parts or the Greater Kurdistan to emerge. It is a wrong strategy and perception.
If S.Kurdistan becomes independent today, it will bear direct impacts on other parts, as well and the Kurds in general. It will raise the level of expectations and prod Turkey, Syria and Iran to be content with granting their Kurdish population minimum form of autonomy.
And the sooner the better since there are no guaranteeing what future will hold?
We must prepare the world psychologically from now.We must talk, write and mention it constantly.
What I can never agree on is the wrong prevalent assumption among many that S. Kurdistan is landlocked and our neighbors will nerve tolerate the emergence of an independent South Kurdistan.
Theses are merely pretexts. First of all, no country or nation should reserve the right to speak,represent or decide on our part. We will and must determine our destiny. Additionally, we are all sensible of the fact that the vast majority of fellow citizens back the notion ( Referendum 99%)
Secondly, lets not be disillusioned.
If we keep on repudiating our own legitimate and inherent rights as President Talabani is accustomed to, what are we expecting from others.
Independence has become a heated debate in the global press on numerous occasions because of its constant citation.
What we chiefly lack in S.Kurdistan is formidable leadership. We need someone astute who can unite the political parties in S.Kurdistan and daring to go for it.
Ankara and the CIA director have concluded that S.Kurdistan is uncontrollably tilting toward that direction, regardless and it is a reality that can loom in any split second.
Damascus is on the verge of collapse.
Ramin Mehmanparast,Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, recently stated that Tehran is opposed to disintegration of South Kurdistan for whatever motives.
Let them bark as much as they want.
Unite the Peshmarga Forces ASAP. That is the first perquisite. The rest will inadvertently ensue.
KURDISTAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT
K.I.M.
There is no real political will in Iraqi Kurdistan for independence,unfortunately the Kurdish people are divided communities with trivial rivaleries between different Kurdish regions or parties like Bahdinan vs. Soran, Kwestan vs.Garmian, Slemani vs.Hawler, PUK vs. KDP, Moslems vs.Ezidis..etc. This craving for independence is only available among Kurdish intellectuals, the general public does not show any real enthusiamus for independent Kurdistan.
The question is will they be better of as a part of Iraq or as an independent country when there is no real economical infrastructure in Kurdistan and we are 100% dependent on the 17% budget share we receive from Baghdad.
I remember very well the period when Saddam Hussein severed his relations with autnomous Kurdistan in 1991 when we as employees has to live months on without any pay, and the bloody civil war errupted between KDP and PUK because of dispute on customs revenues from Ibrahim-Alkhalil border post.
The notion of the Kurdish independence surfaces on the Media belonging to dominant political parties in Kurdistan whenever the private interests of Kurdish politicians are threatened and usually used as a stick to threaten the central government whenever there are obvious irregularities like the dubious oil agreements with some mysterious oil companies or the smuggling of thousands of Tankers of oil from Kurdistan illegally, when nobody even the finance minister of Kurdistan regional government knows anything about where the revenues are going.
Look at the history of Kurdistan at every turning point, its marked by indecisiveness of Kurdish leaders and their readiness to give away Kurdish rights for their own personal interests.
Mr.Dr.Nazad KhasrawGhafoor
There is strong, irrefutable, burgeoning tendency for independence in South Kurdistan.
As regard: ” the Kurdish people are divided communities with trivial rivalries:” That is why we necessitate someone less partisan and more nationalist who can work for the commonwealth of nation and strengthen Kurdish national cohesion.
2 upbeat pieces of News:
1) In an all-party conference held in Hawler yesterday, President Barzani announced: 1) The recognition of ” Peshmarga Day” as a national day 2)Merge of all Peshmarga Forces” by the end of this year.
No 3 should be the merge and formation of KIS ( Kurdistan Intelligence Services), a required national agency to collect and share intelligence on all Iraqi political parties which is key to KRG’s survival.
To my mind the writer of this article should have observed the following points:
Firstly, The writer brought in an extremely crucial topic in today’s Kurdish politics which can take a lot of talk or even writing books. “However” I do not see a strong analytical points in terms of the writer’s view to the topic, and it was quite surprising that he suddenly reached a conclusion of which I think it was extremely difficult to convince me as a reader how he came about this conclusion and why?
Secondly, The writer can only see the negative side of the issue and narrowly critics the political parties in Kurdistan. “In my view” writing such articles will only go in the interest of Kurdish Political parties instead of weakening them because it appears that the writer either has a little knowledge about this subject or he did not prepare for it.
Thirdly, Words such as No democracy, No human rights, No…should be avoided in an analytical manner as it will not be appropriate politically to critisize in an extreme way because you can even find democracy under a dictatorship regime. It is proportionate from one system to another. I want to make it clear that I am not in favor of the Kurdish political system at all and not even a single political system in the middle east in todays time “however” I am not sure about tomorrow. “Being in the opposition” will require to work under rules otherwise the same mistakes of corrupted politicians will be repeated. I hope the writer of this article consider my critics as being a positive one as my intention was not to belittle his article. I said at the beginning writing an article like this, is crucial to the Kurdish case as it can open a door for other people to write more about this topic.
Getting back to the topic, Independency is a natural right for Kurdish people like any other nations on earth. It is not in breach of the international law if Kurdish people desire to have their own independency. Kurdistan has got all 4 elements of any recognised states under the UN charter. However, there are obstacles and challenges, and it is not going to be easy. I think we need new Politics for Kurdistan, new brians & new approach, new faces who can play the political games with the Kurdish enemies well wisely. This is a highly sensitive issue for Kurdistan as all the surrounding countries of Kurdistan, are against Kurdish dream for independency despite having political changes in arab spring for most of the political systems in the region. Kurdish idea for an Independent state must never be abolished.
If Kurdistan state is not yet to be born whether for political, economical or internal reasons,It is important for the idea to be kept alive and exist. It will push the case forward through encouraging unity among Kurdish people in order to work under one umbrella towards one destiny “which has been ubsent in the Kurdish political manifesto for many years”.
NICHIRVAN BARZANI MET WITH CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN HAWLER TODAY APPARENTLY IN A BID TO FURTHER BOLSTER KRG-MOSCOW BILATERAL TIES.
NOT A GOOD OMEN FOR KURDS. ONCE AGAIN, KDP INTENDS TO RELY ON AN UNRELIABLE PARTNER( RUSSIANS).
THIS COULD BE INTERPRETED AS ” EXPRESSION OF INGRATITUDE” BY OUR AMERICAN ALLIES.
LETS NOT FORGET THAT IT WAS THE US THAT LIBERATED S. KURDISTAN.
KRG MUST SEVER ITS RELATIONS WITH IRAN, AS WELL.
ITS BECAUSE OF SUCH RECURRING BLUNDERS THAT S.KURDISTAN IS LOSING MANY OF ITS POWERFUL FRIENDS.
KURDISTAN INDEPENDECE MOVEMENT
K.I.M.
you should not expect anything from the ruling parties. if you are going to get independence through such undemocratic betrayal parties, you are doing a defeated game from the beginning.
KDP cannot say anything against Iran, and still the two ruling parties r under Iran’s control. this belongs to 1980s then the beginning of civil war when they were competing to be the traitors of Iran and Saddam.