A win-win election in southern Kurdistan
- KurdishMedia.com - By Kay Azadabeen
- 27/07/2009 00:00:00
The election is Southern Kurdistan on July 25, 209 was a milestone in democratization of the region. Regardless who loses in the election, all involved parties are winners and deserve congratulations for reaching an important stage of political development.
Congratulations to the Iraqi Arabs for recognizing the right of the Kurdish people to make their own choices. Despite their rich heritage, Arabs often have been criticized by their counterparts for dominating the Middle East and disregarding the national rights of other ethnic groups. This time by being a peaceful and active observer of the election process in Southern Kurdistan, the Iraqi Arabs became an exemplary model of ethnic tolerance. They seem to have overcome the fear of diversity in general and of the Kurdish self determination rights in particular. Their supportive attitude toward the choices of the people in Southern Kurdistan reflects the revival of their heritage, a rich heritage that had been overshadowed by tyranny in the past. Hopefully the dominant ethic groups in other parts of Kurdistan learn form the Iraqi Arabs and encourage their states to peacefully solve the Kurdish conflict in their country.
Congratulations to the Americans and other coalition forces for their partially accomplished mission of promoting democracy in the Middle East. Without the sacrifices of the sons and daughters of the people in the West to end tyranny in Iraq, this historical milestone would not have been achieved. Both the Bush and the Obama administrations deserve the gratitude of the Kurdish people, the former for removing a tyrant and the latter for keeping an eye on the democratization process in Iraq. Hopefully the Iraqi experience has thought other states some lessons and there is no need to use force to end other tyrannies in the Middle East.
Like former Iraqi regime, the governments of Turkey, Iran, and Syria always have been intimidated with any progress of the Kurdish movement and done everything to sabotage it. This time they were a passive observer of the process in Southern Kurdistan and therefore deserve congratulation for their peace of mind. They seem to have overcome their fear of the Kurdish self determination rights at least in one part of Kurdistan. I hope they recognize the importance of cooperating with the Kurds in their own country to repeat the example of Southern Kurdistan in Turkey, Iran, and Syria.
The Kurdish opposition groups in other parts of Kurdistan that had been fighting injustice were in an unofficial cease fire during this transitional time. They too deserve congratulation for their patience and unofficial ceasefire. I hope they learn form the experience of Southern Kurdistan to put the armed struggle aside, cooperate with the free world, and use all available civil and democratic mean to achieve what the Kurds in Southern Kurdistan have achieved.
In comparison to few decades ago, Southern Kurdistan has come along. The Kurdish leaders seem to be overcoming rivalry and tribal mentality and are working together democratically. Not only the two major traditional parties became united and participate in the election as one list, they also allowed their opposition to enjoy their share of democratic participation in the election. This indicates their level of development not to fear each other to prioritize their national interest over tribal and party interests. They deserve congratulations for this stage of their moral development.
Finally the opposition groups and leaders who persistently and peacefully opposed corruption, demanded change, worked very hard, and with minimum resources participated in the election in Southern Kurdistan deserve congratulations. If they have a chance to be part of the government in Southern Kurdistan, I hope they can deliver what is expected form them: peace, liberty, justice, democracy, transparency, secularism, gender equality, and referendums about other major issues so people in Southern Kurdistan can determine their own destiny and become a role model for other stateless people.
- KurdishMedia.com - By Kay Azadabeen
- 27/07/2009 00:00:00