Gorran Accuses Ruling Parties of Surrendering Kirkuk for Pol

[Aslan]

SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – The Kurdistan Region’s opposition Change Movement (Gorran) has accused leaders of the autonomous enclave’s two ruling parties of surrendering an opportunity” to incorporate oil-rich Kirkuk province into the autonomous Iraqi enclave in 2003 for political gain.

“We had a golden opportunity to reincorporate the disputed territories but the Kurdish leadership did not seize the opportunity,” Gorran leader Nawshirwan Mustafa told a party conference in Suleimani this week.

He accused Massoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) who is also president of the Kurdistan Region, and Jalal Talabani, who leads the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and is president of Iraq, for “letting go of Kirkuk for their own party interests.”

“One of them decided to do so to preserve the political balance in the Region in favor of his party and to solidify his power as president of the Kurdistan Region,” Mustafa claimed. “The other decided to secure Iraq’s presidency through pleasing Arabs, Turkey and Iran,” he added, making serious accusations over what is a very sensitive issue in Kurdistan’s politics.

Energy-rich and multiethnic Kirkuk in northern Iraq, as well as parts of Diayala and Mosul, are regarded by the Kurds as historic and cultural parts of Kurdistan, but are also claimed by the Arab central government in Baghdad as inseparable parts of Iraq.

Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution stipulates that demographic changes made in the province by the former regime of Saddam Hussein have to be reversed before the people themselves decide in a referendum if they want to stay with Iraq or be attached to the autonomous Kurdistan Region.

“The fate of the disputed territories now is related to implementing Article 140, which is not very promising,” said Mustafa, whose party is the largest opposition.

He added that Kirkuk is at the heart of his party’s agenda and that “Gorran will do its best to secure reincorporation of the disputed territories,” his comments coming at a time when all political parties are jockeying for position in anticipation of local elections, for which no final date has been officially announced so far.

His accusations provoked angry reactions from the KDP and PUK, which run the Kurdistan Region through a coalition government.

“Mr. Mustafa shouldn’t have said those things,” KDP spokesman Jaafar Ibrahim told the media. “On a historical issue like this, one has to speak objectively and not according to one’s mood,” he cautioned.

The PUK, meanwhile, described Mustafa’s speech as propaganda aimed at bolstering his party’s standing among the Kurdish population in the lead-up to polls.

Following the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam, Kurdish Peshmarga forces moved in to control Kirkuk, which was seen by many as an opportunity for the Kurds to annex it to their self-ruled region.

However, under pressure from American forces in Iraq, the Kurds had to withdraw their fighters and limit their presence in the disputed territories.

Mustafa further attacked the ruling parties for drafting a constitution that he claimed only ensures their stay in power. He likened Kurdistan’s draft constitution to that of Egypt under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

“We don’t want a constitution that grants limitless power to one person,” Mustafa told his supporters from Kirkuk. “We want a constitution that is modern and guarantees freedom and human rights.”

[Anthea]

I do know that America offered the Kurds help in becoming independent - the leaders decided to remain part of Iraq because they did not at that time has the political or economic capabilities to stand alone - especially with the prospect of a civil war in the rest of Iraq - they thought that by remaining as part of Iraq they would be a calming influence - obviously it did not work - proving that the arabs are mindless savages who just want to kill each other

As for the constitution - I have not read it - surprise surprise - but we all know about the in-fighting between the 2 main parties in Kurdistan - that they have pulled together to form a strong leadership is actually incredible - that they have given the top jobs to those within their intimidate families is not really surprising - the leaders had to put their faith in people they could trust - like it or hate it - Barzani and Talabani were right and under their guidance Kurdistan has become a peaceful and prosperous country

Personally I like the Gorran movement and am very much in favour of opening up the political arena - but I fear that some of those less experienced in politics may well cause more harm than good to such a fledgling country