Iraqi Kurdistan VOTES CONTENTS
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2009 Iraqi Kurdistan VOTES CONTENTS Feature IRAQI KURDISTAN VOTES page 4 Chief Editor OIL IN KURDISTAN: Goran Sadjadi A black curse or new power? page 7 by Delovan Barwari REMEMBERANCE AND REBUILDING KUWAIT page 9 19 years after the invasion Editorial Board by Jeff Alan Natsumi Ajiki TURKEY AND THE PKK: EDGING Jeff Allan CLOSER TO PEACE OR ROAD page 14 MAP GOING NOWHERE? Editorial Manager by Thomas James Vahal A. Abdulrahman TURKEY: HOW THE KURDISH STRUGGLE IS PLAYING OUT Design Editor AT THE EUROPEAN COURT OF page 16 Chira Bamarni HUMAN RIGHTS by Sayran Sulevani TESEV - RE-CONCEPTUALIZING INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT Copyright © Kurdish Herald IN TURKEY:“OBLIGATORY page 19 2009 MIGRATION” VS. “FORCED All Rights Reserved MIGRATION by Natsumi Ajiki Please subscribe to our publication at COMBATING FEMALE GENITAL www.kurdishherald.com MUTILATION IN IRAQI page 21 San Francisco, California KURDISTAN Boston, Massachusetts by Haje Keli London, UK IN MEMORY OF ARAM TIGRAN. page 23 You Will Be Missed by Jeff Allan and Mehmet Fidan LETTERS OF THE DIASPORA: WWW.KURDISHHERALD.COM Aspiring Kurdish Linguist, Dentz Ekici page 24 by Vahal A. Abdulrahman POETRY & ART: Voice of a Kurdish Girl page 25 Dengê Keça Kurd by Perwer Shushi Cover Photo Courtesy Vladimir wan Wilgenburg for Kurdish Herald FEATURE democracy. About 79% of all eligible voters turned out to vote on Election Day in Iraqi Kurdistan’s three provinces: Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. Faraj al-Haidari of the Iraqi Indepen- dent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) stated in a post-election press conference that these recent elections were the cleanest elections in the history of Iraq. In the parliamentary elections, Iraqi Kurdistan’s two historically dominant political parties – the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) – ran on a united coalition slate: The Kurdistan List. A number of tradi- tional opposition parties, consisting of Islamists and leftists, ran IRAQI on their own united slate under the name of the Services and Reform List. The most significant and publicized new develop- ment was the formation of a new political organization under the leadership of Newshirwan Mustafa, formerly a deputy of Iraqi President and PUK Secretary General, Jalal Talabani. Mr. Mustafa, accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Tawfiq and other former PUK members, formed a group that ran for parliament as the List for Change, which attempted to present itself as an KURDISTAN alternative to the region’s dominant political establishment. The KDP and PUK, who have dominated Iraqi Kurdistan’s political scene for decades and have held the overwhelming majority of seats in the region’s parliament since its found- Photo Courtesy Vladimir van WIlgenburg © Kurdish Herald 2009 Photo Courtesy Vladimir van WIlgenburg © Kurdish ing, lost a substantial number of seats in the elections but still secured 59 of the 111 seats. Their losses occurred at the expense discussions with the Iraqi central government. At the same time, of the strong performance from the List for Change, which won Iraq’s national parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 25 seats, mostly from the governorate of Sulaymaniyah. Coming 2010, are just around the corner. in third was the Services and Reform List, which collectively had VOTES For the first time, the President of the Kurdistan Region was 19 seats in the previous Parliament but earned only 13 seats this chosen via a direct election, as opposed to being selected by time around. Two seats were won by the once powerful Islamic parliament. Five individuals ran for the post of the president, Movement, and one seat was earned by another leftist coalition, including the incumbent President Massoud Barzani. While running as the Freedom and Equality List. President Barzani was reelected, winning over 1.2 million votes, The Kurdistan List won just enough votes to be able to form the runner-up Dr. Kamal Mirawdeli – a previously London-based next government without a partner. However, if they choose to Kurdish writer and activist – had a surprisingly strong showing, do so, the strengthened opposition can make it more difficult for winning over 460,000 votes. Dr. Mirawdeli, who campaigned legislation to pass as than in years past. This emboldened op- primarily in his home province of Sulaymaniyah seems to have position bloc, led by the List for Change, will assume its role in been endorsed, albeit not publicly, by the List for Change. Iraqi Kurdistan’s governance at a pivotal moment in the region’s n a recent article for the Washington Institute for bers, formed a group that ran for parliament as the List for The future of the List for Change is perhaps the most interesting history, as a number of serious outstanding issues need to be ad- Near Eastern Policy, Michael Knights wrote that the Change, which attempted to present itself as an alternative issue following these elections. It remains to be seen whether dressed including the postponed constitutional referendum and US should start treating post-2009 Iraqi Kurdistan to the region’s dominant political establishment. this group, which began as a splinter movement from the PUK, various discussions with the Iraqi central government. At the as a member of the top tier of Middle Eastern democ- The KDP and PUK, who have dominated Iraqi Kurdistan’s can evolve into a political movement in its own right, perma- same time, Iraq’s national parliamentary elections, scheduled for racies. Indeed, on 25 July 2009, the parliamentary and political scene for decades and have held the overwhelming nently altering the Iraqi Kurdish political landscape. For now January 2010, are just around the corner. presidential elections in Iraqi Kurdistan did represent a majority of seats in the region’s parliament since its found- what is certain is the existence of a credible opposition inside For the first time, the President of the Kurdistan Region was significant step forward in the region’s experiment with ing, lost a substantial number of seats in the elections but the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament. Those voters drawn by the List chosen via a direct election, as opposed to being selected by democracy. About 79% of all eligible voters turned out to still secured 59 of the 111 seats. Their losses occurred at the for Change’s slogans of reform will indeed feel that their votes parliament. Five individuals ran for the post of the president, vote on Election Day in Iraqi Kurdistan’s three provinces: expense of the strong performance from the List for Change, counted following the strong showing of this list; a result that including the incumbent President Massoud Barzani. While Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. Faraj al-Haidari of the which won 25 seats, mostly from the governorate of Su- surprised many observers of Iraqi Kurdistan. Certainly those President Barzani was reelected, winning over 1.2 million votes, Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) laymaniyah. Coming in third was the Services and Reform who voted for the List for Change will be closely watching the runner-up Dr. Kamal Mirawdeli – a previously London-based stated in a post-election press conference that these recent List, which collectively had 19 seats in the previous Parlia- list’s parliamentarians and other officials to see if they are able to Kurdish writer and activist – had a surprisingly strong showing, elections were the cleanest elections in the history of Iraq. ment but earned only 13 seats this time around. Two seats deliver on their slogans of reform. winning over 460,000 votes. Dr. Mirawdeli, who campaigned In the parliamentary elections, Iraqi Kurdistan’s two histori- were won by the once powerful Islamic Movement, and one The ramifications of the List for Change’s strong performance primarily in his home province of Sulaymaniyah seems to have cally dominant political parties – the Kurdistan Democratic seat was earned by another leftist coalition, running as the are indeed significant and far-reaching. The Kurdish politi- been endorsed, albeit not publicly, by the List for Change. Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) – Freedom and Equality List. cal earthquake had its epicenter in Sulaymaniyah, the former The future of the List for Change is perhaps the most interesting ran on a united coalition slate: The Kurdistan List. A num- The Kurdistan List won just enough votes to be able to strong-hold of the PUK. Residents of this province seemingly issue following these elections. It remains to be seen whether ber of traditional opposition parties, consisting of Islamists form the next government without a partner. However, rejected n a recent article for the Washington Institute for Near this group, which began as a splinter movement from the PUK, and leftists, ran on their own united slate under the name if they choose to do so, the strengthened opposition can Eastern Policy, Michael Knights wrote that the US should start can evolve into a political movement in its own right, perma- of the Services and Reform List. The most significant and make it more difficult for legislation to pass as than in years treating post-2009 Iraqi Kurdistan as a member of the top tier of nently altering the Iraqi Kurdish political landscape. For now publicized new development was the formation of a new past. This emboldened opposition bloc, led by the List for Middle Eastern democracies. Indeed, on 25 July 2009, the par- what is certain is the existence of a credible opposition inside political organization under the leadership of Newshirwan Change, will assume its role in Iraqi Kurdistan’s governance liamentary and presidential elections in Iraqi Kurdistan did rep- the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament. Those voters drawn by the List Mustafa, formerly a deputy of Iraqi President and PUK Sec- at a pivotal moment in the region’s history, as a number of resent a significant step forward in the region’s experiment with for Change’s slogans of reform will indeed feel that their votes retary General, Jalal Talabani.