One issue that has bedeviled US foreign policy in the Middle East is the support for authoritarian regimes. All too often, short term stability has trumped support for long term reforms, especially reforms that promote democratic governance. This process is occurring again in Iraqi Kurdistan where the Kurdish leadership is becoming increasingly authoritarian and repressive. Fortunately, there is a breath of fresh air in Iraqi Kurdistan in the form of the Gorran (Change) Movement. Before discussing Gorran's contribution to democracy, we need to understand the context in which it was established
As a strong ally, the US should continue to maintain close ties with the Kurds and the Regional Government (KRG) which rules Iraqi Kurdistan. However, by supporting the current Kurdish political elite which does not reflect the interests of the populace at large, the US is once again making a serious mistake. It is trading short term stability for potential instability in the long term as it becomes identified with a repressive and unpopular elite whose legitimacy is on the decline due to corruption, nepotism and authoritarian rule. In neighboring Iran, support for the repressive and highly unpopular Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi produced the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79 and the disastrous regime that continues to haunt the US and the Middle East to this day.
The two political,parties that control the KRG, the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), claim that the Iraq's Kurds have enjoyed democratic freedoms under their rule since the region acquired semi-autonomous status following the Gulf War of January 1991. There was some progress towards democratization when the US imposed a "no-fly zone" after the war ended which allowed the KRG to break away from the Arab south. However, the KDP and PUK have dominated the political system, judiciary, the military and intelligence services and the economy, which has allowed for systematic abuses. As the dominant employer in the KRG, the KDP and PUK have been able to use the threat of dismissing Kurds from their jobs as an effective form of social control.
The reality is that the KRG government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Attacks on the non-party press have intensified. Newspapers and journals that dare to criticize government corruption are subject to onerous lawsuits that impose heavy fines. At least two young journalists, Soran Mam Hama and Zardasht Osman have been killed for criticizing the KRG leadership.
The KRG has established an amalgam of courts, all of which are populated by judges sympathetic to the two major parties. Thus it is impossible to obtain a fair trial when political issues are involved. Many of the courts are extra-judicial because they were established by either the KDP or PUK and thus have no legal standing. In some instances, Ba'thist era criminal statutes laws are used to prosecute those who criticize the KRG such as the 1969 Iraqi penal code that allows prison terms for journalists
editors, writers, and publishers on defamation and other offenses.
It is within this context of corruption, nepotism and authoritarian rule that a new political movement has appeared on the Kurdish political scene. The Gorran (Change) Movement was formed in the spring of 2009 by a reform group within the PUK, led by one of the party's founding members, Nawshirwan Mustafa. Gorran has grown quickly, beyond the dissidents who joined Nawshiran Mustafa in leaving the PUK. It enjoys widespread support in Iraqi Kurdistan among intellectuals, professionals and the educated middle classes, but increasingly among the broad swath of the Kurdiosh populace that is suffering from lack of jobs and access to education and other public services. Gorran has also received strong support from the Kurdish Diaspora in Europe and the United States.
Gorran was most successful,in the July 2009 KRG parliamentary elections. Of the chamber's 100 elected seats (an additional 1o appointed seats are reserved by the KRG for minorities and are delegated by the KRG president), Gorran won 25 seats. With the 15 seats won by the Services and Reform List, a coalition of Islamist and socialist parties, 40 of the parliament's 110 members are now part of the opposition.
Although the KRG leadership has refused to respond to questions posed by the Gorran and other opposition members about the use of public funds, the July 2009 elections have encouraged more Kurds to question how the KRG is being run. More and more Kurds seem inclined to vote for Gorran, especially in the Suleimaniya area which traditionally has been the PUK voting strength. Even though much of Gorran's initial strength came from PUK dissidents, now support for the party has spread to Arbil, Kirkuk and other Kurdish majority regions and towns.
As Gorran has generated more support, the KDP and faltering PUK have ratcheted up their efforts to suppress the party. During the March 2010 parliamentary elections, members of the peshmerga - the KRG militia - and police and intelligence officers were warned that, if they were suspected of having voted for Gorran, they would be required to swear on a Qur'an that they did not so. If they were found to have lied, their wives would be forced to divorce them for dishonesty. Despite efforts such as these to intimidate voters, Gorran still managed to gain 8 seats in parliament.
While it is still unclear where Gorran is headed, clearly it speaks to the disaffection of large segments of the Kurdish community in Iraq. As Gorran calls for laws to protect the media, an independent judicial system, and oversight of huge government revenues derived from oil production, more and more Kurds see the party that might deliver them from the lack of jobs amidst plenty and create a political culture in whjich freedom of expression acquires rel meaning.
Will the US support this expression of the Kurd's desire for democracy, and put pressure on the KRG leadership to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk" of democracy? Or will it drop the ball, thereby becoming identified with suipportiung a stolid and repressive regime? The risks of the continued status quo are the possible rise of radicalism in the KRG alomh islamist lines. To assure that Iraq's Kurds live in a stable and truly democratic state, the US and other nations committed t democracy need to move from spectators on the sidelines to active participants in helping the Kurds acquire and exercise the rights that so many of us in the West take for granted
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7 comments:
Great Article with a lot of useful and accurate information regarding the new phenomena in the Iraqi Kurdistan political discourse ,which is the fast spread and rise of Goran "Change" movement. Goran is a grass-root movement of a very diverse group of Kurds individuals whom understand that the current status quote is no longer acceptable and sustainable because the 2 political parties have secretly agreed to share power, wealth, and all government positions among their loyal and corrupt members. Democracy is under a direct threat, free speech is jeopardised and the future is uncertain as the result. There is no hope for any real reform within the political structure of the 2 major parties; therefore, the only realistic and successful reform is the formation of such group which will play by the democratic principles and the rule of law; using non-violence tactics; practicing the civil engagement of dialogue and resistance to the authority; empowering the youth and intellectuals through social media; creating a strong and stable opposition the current political establishment. It's not an easy job, but it's also not impossible. Therefore, it's imperative for the West and US to closely monitor the KRG authoritarian approaches to deal with such movement by preventing any threat and use of violence against the Goran movement supporters and foundations. It's true that United States foreign policy played negative role when is coming to the Middle East politic' as US supported status quote governments and powers in favor of short stability and balance of power in which in result human rights abuses and violations have been sacrificed. And at the end more authoritarian fractions emerged withing such regimes the support of Shah regime in Iran is an explicit example of this discussion. So, it's time for a fresh approach and a prudent policy decision regarding the Iraqi Kurdistan politic and how US should see and deal with it. I believe that Goran is a real alternative and viable solution to a real reform in Middle East because it's a true reflection of the public interest and desire to be free and live in harmony. It's not a Utopian dream, but it's a real step towards a better and a promise future which is truly different from yesterday's oppressions and today's threats. Thank Dr. Eric for the thoughtful and useful article
Great Article with a lot of useful and accurate information regarding the new phenomena in the Iraqi Kurdistan political discourse ,which is the fast spread and rise of Goran "Change" movement. Goran is a grass-root movement of a very diverse group of Kurds individuals whom understand that the current status quote is no longer acceptable and sustainable because the 2 political parties have secretly agreed to share power, wealth, and all government positions among their loyal and corrupt members. Democracy is under a direct threat, free speech is jeopardised and the future is uncertain as the result. There is no hope for any real reform within the political structure of the 2 major parties; therefore, the only realistic and successful reform is the formation of such group which will play by the democratic principles and the rule of law; using non-violence tactics; practicing the civil engagement of dialogue and resistance to the authority; empowering the youth and intellectuals through social media; creating a strong and stable opposition the current political establishment. It's not an easy job, but it's also not impossible. Therefore, it's imperative for the West and US to closely monitor the KRG authoritarian approaches to deal with such movement by preventing any threat and use of violence against the Goran movement supporters and foundations. It's true that United States foreign policy played negative role when is coming to the Middle East politic' as US supported status quote governments and powers in favor of short stability and balance of power in which in result human rights abuses and violations have been sacrificed. And at the end more authoritarian fractions emerged withing such regimes the support of Shah regime in Iran is an explicit example of this discussion. So, it's time for a fresh approach and a prudent policy decision regarding the Iraqi Kurdistan politic and how US should see and deal with it. I believe that Goran is a real alternative and viable solution to a real reform in Middle East because it's a true reflection of the public interest and desire to be free and live in harmony. It's not a Utopian dream, but it's a real step towards a better and a promise future which is truly different from yesterday's oppressions and today's threats. Thank Dr. Eric for the thoughtful and useful article
We at Goran do really believe in freedom, functioning democracy and meritocracy. We also believe and work toward elitism and transparent also bringing change into Middle East and Kurdistan. The question is what kind of change do we need? We want to reform Kurdish mentality and rebuild Kurds personality. It's not an easy task and it required concrete planning with prudent decision.
Starting with 17% of KRG budget, this money will transfer directly to the KRG Ministry of Finance, and we all know who is controlling KRG and its Ministries!! KDP and PUK share the revenue together and give some to the small political parties. We have to remember that money plays a huge role in Kurdistan political power; who has the money will have the power also and at the end will control the society. PUK and KDP fought a civil war from 1994 to 1998 mainly was on money. Gorran knows that PUK and KDP has only 2 things to control Kurdish society which are money and lie. They slaved the people by making them employer of the government in which whenever election will come up, people have to vote for their source of money and food. In the last summer election of Kurdistan Parliament were Gorran got 25 seats out of 100, PUK got 29 and KDP around 33 and the rest for other political parties and adding 11 seats reserved for the minority groups. After the election result PUK and KDP fired all the Gorran supporters in the government positions as a clear retaliation of the people decedent. Gorran tried to raise the issue in the media and Parliament also put pressure on KDP and PUK to return these people and not uses the government as a tool of repression and silences the political descendant. Second, Gorran tried hard to discover and bring the KRG budget into the Parliament floor in order to discuss it publicly. It happened for the first time in which KDP and PUK forced to bring the budget into Parliament. It was also Gorran that raised the issue of illegal oil smuggling into Iran through the borders which are trusted into the hands of KDP and PUK. This awareness made the ministry of oil, Ashti Hawrami, to appear in front of Parliament for inquiry. They (KDP & PUK ) know that Gorran will have great impact and plays an effective role in the enhancement of democratic principles in Kurdistan; therefore, they try hard to eliminate such movement which created an important phenomena in the political discourse. KDP and PUK started the campaign of shutting down the independent media that are criticizing the government malfunction and corruption. These independent newspapers have been the main sources and platform for the political descendants of Kurdistan. Opposition, Gorran, movement was born within these news papers context and papers. Free press in Kurdistan is the main source of society reform; it's also the backbone of democracy and the civil society. There are more than 1000 mediums in Kurdistan that are directly controlled and supported by KDP and PUK and they have been used as tools of oppression, spreading fears and threat and doubt among the people. There are very few independent media such as Awene, Hawlati, Living and Wesha which are truly free and neutral, but KDP has recently filed several sues to these newspapers in order to bankrupt them and shut them down completely. That's why it's very important for us and you to work together in this respect because if they success in this step, there will be disaster consequences for the free thinkers and opposition supporters to express their ideas, criticize government officials and getting the right news to the public. We do need to raise this issue within the international community and in the US in order to put pressure on KDP and PUK to stop such totalitarian conducts. We know that external pressure work better and have a positive impact internally at Kurdistan.
Thank you for the wonderfull article.
We at Goran do really believe in freedom, functioning democracy and meritocracy. We also believe and work toward elitism and transparent also bringing change into Middle East and Kurdistan. The question is what kind of change do we need? We want to reform Kurdish mentality and rebuild Kurds personality. It's not an easy task and it required concrete planning with prudent decision.
Starting with 17% of KRG budget, this money will transfer directly to the KRG Ministry of Finance, and we all know who is controlling KRG and its Ministries!! KDP and PUK share the revenue together and give some to the small political parties. We have to remember that money plays a huge role in Kurdistan political power; who has the money will have the power also and at the end will control the society. PUK and KDP fought a civil war from 1994 to 1998 mainly was on money. Gorran knows that PUK and KDP has only 2 things to control Kurdish society which are money and lie. They slaved the people by making them employer of the government in which whenever election will come up, people have to vote for their source of money and food. In the last summer election of Kurdistan Parliament were Gorran got 25 seats out of 100, PUK got 29 and KDP around 33 and the rest for other political parties and adding 11 seats reserved for the minority groups. After the election result PUK and KDP fired all the Gorran supporters in the government positions as a clear retaliation of the people decedent. Gorran tried to raise the issue in the media and Parliament also put pressure on KDP and PUK to return these people and not uses the government as a tool of repression and silences the political descendant. Second, Gorran tried hard to discover and bring the KRG budget into the Parliament floor in order to discuss it publicly. It happened for the first time in which KDP and PUK forced to bring the budget into Parliament. It was also Gorran that raised the issue of illegal oil smuggling into Iran through the borders which are trusted into the hands of KDP and PUK. This awareness made the ministry of oil, Ashti Hawrami, to appear in front of Parliament for inquiry. They (KDP & PUK ) know that Gorran will have great impact and plays an effective role in the enhancement of democratic principles in Kurdistan; therefore, they try hard to eliminate such movement which created an important phenomena in the political discourse. KDP and PUK started the campaign of shutting down the independent media that are criticizing the government malfunction and corruption. These independent newspapers have been the main sources and platform for the political descendants of Kurdistan. Opposition, Gorran, movement was born within these news papers context and papers. Free press in Kurdistan is the main source of society reform; it's also the backbone of democracy and the civil society. There are more than 1000 mediums in Kurdistan that are directly controlled and supported by KDP and PUK and they have been used as tools of oppression, spreading fears and threat and doubt among the people. There are very few independent media such as Awene, Hawlati, Living and Wesha which are truly free and neutral, but KDP has recently filed several sues to these newspapers in order to bankrupt them and shut them down completely. That's why it's very important for us and you to work together in this respect because if they success in this step, there will be disaster consequences for the free thinkers and opposition supporters to express their ideas, criticize government officials and getting the right news to the public. We do need to raise this issue within the international community and in the US in order to put pressure on KDP and PUK to stop such totalitarian conducts. We know that external pressure work better and have a positive impact internally at Kurdistan.
Thank you for the wonderful article.
We at Goran do really believe in freedom, functioning democracy and meritocracy. We also believe and work toward elitism and transparent also bringing change into Middle East and Kurdistan. The question is what kind of change do we need? We want to reform Kurdish mentality and rebuild Kurds personality. It's not an easy task and it required concrete planning with prudent decision.
Starting with 17% of KRG budget, this money will transfer directly to the KRG Ministry of Finance, and we all know who is controlling KRG and its Ministries!! KDP and PUK share the revenue together and give some to the small political parties. We have to remember that money plays a huge role in Kurdistan political power; who has the money will have the power also and at the end will control the society. PUK and KDP fought a civil war from 1994 to 1998 mainly was on money. Gorran knows that PUK and KDP has only 2 things to control Kurdish society which are money and lie. They slaved the people by making them employer of the government in which whenever election will come up, people have to vote for their source of money and food. In the last summer election of Kurdistan Parliament were Gorran got 25 seats out of 100, PUK got 29 and KDP around 33 and the rest for other political parties and adding 11 seats reserved for the minority groups. After the election result PUK and KDP fired all the Gorran supporters in the government positions as a clear retaliation of the people decedent. Gorran tried to raise the issue in the media and Parliament also put pressure on KDP and PUK to return these people and not uses the government as a tool of repression and silences the political descendant. Second, Gorran tried hard to discover and bring the KRG budget into the Parliament floor in order to discuss it publicly. It happened for the first time in which KDP and PUK forced to bring the budget into Parliament. It was also Gorran that raised the issue of illegal oil smuggling into Iran through the borders which are trusted into the hands of KDP and PUK. This awareness made the ministry of oil, Ashti Hawrami, to appear in front of Parliament for inquiry. They (KDP & PUK ) know that Gorran will have great impact and plays an effective role in the enhancement of democratic principles in Kurdistan; therefore, they try hard to eliminate such movement which created an important phenomena in the political discourse. KDP and PUK started the campaign of shutting down the independent media that are criticizing the government malfunction and corruption. These independent newspapers have been the main sources and platform for the political descendants of Kurdistan. Opposition, Gorran, movement was born within these news papers context and papers. Free press in Kurdistan is the main source of society reform; it's also the backbone of democracy and the civil society. There are more than 1000 mediums in Kurdistan that are directly controlled and supported by KDP and PUK and they have been used as tools of oppression, spreading fears and threat and doubt among the people. There are very few independent media such as Awene, Hawlati, Living and Wesha which are truly free and neutral, but KDP has recently filed several sues to these newspapers in order to bankrupt them and shut them down completely. That's why it's very important for us and you to work together in this respect because if they success in this step, there will be disaster consequences for the free thinkers and opposition supporters to express their ideas, criticize government officials and getting the right news to the public. We do need to raise this issue within the international community and in the US in order to put pressure on KDP and PUK to stop such totalitarian conducts. We know that external pressure work better and have a positive impact internally at Kurdistan.
Gorran is a hope of new generation in kurdistan. Candle of Gorran 's flage is a symbol of lighty future in South kurdistan (north iraq).
Kurds need freedom & peace. They want end of clan system. End of Barzani's oligarch system.
Kurds need to liberate themself from old clan system .
Alan
Thank you for this great article. I do write on this subject for over two years unfortunately the US Government does not want to hear out Kurdish people. I hope they do to safeguard the US interest in the region. Please read my articles in ekurd.net for farther information’s on Barzani and Talabani family members’ unjust practice in KRG area of Iraq.
Hamma Mirwaisi
Author of the "Return of the Medes" book about the Kurd and Iranian nation
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