‘Regional states reject Kurd secession’

Iraq, Iran, Turkey on same page

“AS EXPECTED, more than 92 percent of Kurds agreed on Monday to separate their autonomous region from Iraq with more than 72 percent of eligible voters taking part in the franchise according to a statement by the Election Commission,” columnist Ibrahim Al-Awadhi wrote for Al-Rai daily.

“As a matter of fact, this development was not an ordinary or exceptional issue. The vote for secession, though illegal and unconstitutional, has opened another gate to the successive and repeated calls for secession of this region, which comprises about 12 to 18 percent of the country’s total population of about 38 million.

“Earlier the former Kurdistan region was subjected to the British occupation after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I and the people began to get the feeling of injustice and persecution and this can be attributed to the fact that they had not been allowed to found their own independent state like the Arabs, for instance, following the end of the British occupation.

“Such being the case, they had found themselves distributed in many countries including Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan and some parts of Armenia and since then, they had launched campaigns for the establishment of their own independent state, although they constituted the fourth biggest race in the region.

“We all remember the genocide and ethnic cleansing campaigns which reached the peak in 1988 when the city of Halabja was attacked with chemical weapons by the Iraqi regime in full view of the entire world.

“For example, the mere fact of speaking Kurdish in Turkey is a crime punishable by law. This was until 1991. We do not forget the ongoing armed conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdish Labor Party, the armed revolutionary group calling for the establishment of a separate and independent Kurdish state.

“All this and other evidence that is undoubtedly a serious reality and a fundamental factor of the importance of the outcome of the last referendum that was conducted recently in Kurdistan province of north Iraq, but the question here is: what is the important thing for us with regard to the said referendum?

“The first and last fear of the second Iraq-US war, which witnessed the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein and the dismantling of Iraq into sectarian and doctrinal basis, which the United States and the coalition countries sought to prevent motivated by their keenness to maintain the stability and the security of the region.

“Such being the case, once we talk about the independence of the Kurdistan region, this will certainly open the door to calls for the establishment of a Shiite state in southern Iraq and Sunni in the center of Iraq, and this development shall indeed constitute a real threat to the Arab countries.

“This shall eventually result in the increase in the Iranian influence and instability in the region where Iran will come closer to Kuwait and other neighboring countries.

“Although we note the extent to which Iran controls the decision-making centers currently in Iraq, it will become more powerful and strong in the event of the establishment of a Shiite state in the south.

“However, the establishment of a separate Kurdish state in Iraq may also pose a threat to Iran itself. The number of Kurds living in Iran is almost five million, who are suffering from economic deprivation and ill-treatment and have been forcibly subjected to forego their rights and their demands are encountered by force.

“Therefore, the separation of Kurdistan province of Iraq may be a catalyst for some of the Kurds of Iran to work on their secession as well and this may also encourage some other minorities

Al-Awadhi

in Iran, to follow their example and do the same. Therefore, Iran also stands with Iraq against the separation of the territory.

“With regard to the Turkish attitude, this is not different from Iran. The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo€an described the referendum as treason and threatened to take economic and military measures in case of the founding of an independent state in Iraq because it will encourage the Kurds of Turkey and the entire region will see the aggravation of tension.”

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“The danger caused by the desire of the Kurdish leader Masoud Al-Barzani – friend of the Zionist former minister of defense Moshe Dayan to secede the province Kurdistan from Iraq in addition to taking necessary measures to achieve this objective by all means will constitute a danger not only to Turkey or Iraq or its ally Iran, but conflict is likely to lead to World War III that shall burn down everything,” columnist Dr Humoud Al-Hattab wrote for Al-Seyassah daily.

“Turkey, has deployed its troops along the border with North Iraq and is militarily prepared for any joint military action to be carried out in cooperation with Iraq and Iran against Masoud Al-Barzani who has the support of Israel and this was evident when the Kurds raised the Israeli flag along with the Kurdish flag in one of the streets to destabilize North Iraq.

“As a matter of fact, the situation looks too complicated from various aspects. We see how the sisterly country of Turkey is currently working hand in hand with both Iran and Iraq to deal with the situations which currently prevail in North Iraq.

“This happens although there is no confidence between these two allies – Iraq and Iran -- in view of their previous tainted intentions towards Turkey as well as towards the future of the entire region and their plan to intervene in Kurdistan.

“With regard to Russia, a strong ally of Turkey striving to boost its relations with Ankara from various aspects topped by selling Turkey T-400 modern Russian missile system, we have observed how Moscow has expressed no enthusiasm towards the Kurdish referendum and the cession of Kurdistan province from the Iraqi state.

“In this context, the coalitions that have been woven by Russia in the region look fragile. This happens although Moscow is at the moment looking forward to play a global role, and it seems Russia has yet to decide what it exactly wants, while some others believe that there is no difference in the thinking of Putin and Barzani.”

“The statistics of the Ministry of Justice on the rate of divorce in Kuwait is astonishing. Divorce rate in the country is very high and the main culprit behind the issue is material. Amid the low monthly income, rents are very high, and prices of goods and services are left at the mercy of traders,” columnist Muhammad Hassan wrote for Al-Shahid daily.

“Lately, income of the main breadwinner in a family is comparatively low in Kuwait compared to those in our neighboring countries, while some traders are here to empty the pockets of the common people. Unfortunately, the Parliament or rather some parliamentarians are doing nothing about the issue, and anyone who dares touch some of the traders will dance to the music.

“Accommodation is another issue, which the government has failed to put in order and allowing traders to infest the sector. The traders are given prime land and animal pens, which they end up selling to ordinary citizens exorbitantly. For those who are lucky to be allocated land, they usually find themselves with land on paper only. It takes ages for such land to be developed in a way that people may build their dream houses.

“To cut a long story short, families are breaking apart due to the fact that government or rather the State has failed to fulfill some of the constitutional rights of citizens, such as providing housing care or monitoring and controlling traders. Until when will this continue?”

“The suspension of Kuwaiti sports continues regionally and globally despite the efforts rendered by relevant government bodies and the Parliament, and it seems the crisis has no foreseeable end,” columnist Abdul-Rahman Al-Awad wrote for Al-Sabah daily.

“Just a few days ago, the 23rd edition of the biennial football competition of GCC conducted its draw that would determine the destiny of our national team as to their participation. Previously, the draw for Moscow 2018 World Cup was held without the participation of Kuwait, and it was enough for the national team fans to just followup results of the draw, and to lament the situation of their country’s sports.

“Kuwaiti sports fans no longer know whom to blame for the crisis, and what is supposed to be done to lift the ban imposed on the country — although, the popular solution to lifting the ban lies on amendment to Kuwaiti sports laws to be in harmony with the international regulations. There are some people who believe that global sports establishments are being harsh towards Kuwait.”

“It seems the issuance of the ministerial decision implemented by Ministry of Interior as of Oct 1, 2017 to increase the charges of health services offered to expatriates was not based on adequate studies from all aspects including epidemic diseases, which need to be addressed so that infected people are tested with the aim of protecting the society from the associated dangers,” Dr Hind Al-Shoumar wrote for Al-Anba daily.

“These epidemic diseases include AIDS, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, meningitis and food poisoning diseases. For detection of these diseases, the patients are usually sent to the Infected Diseases Hospital from regular hospitals after undergoing examinations.

“However, due to the new charges, it will be more difficult to control the spread of such cases especially among the low-income expatriates who will not be able to conduct tests or resort to the Infectious Diseases Hospital due to financial reasons. This will in turn lead to spread of epidemic diseases and infections within the society. And it will cost a lot of money to treat patients suffering from these diseases.”

“Has the Ministry of Education failed in the last 20 years to create awareness and educate individuals who are capable of contributing positively to the society? This is an important question concerning the development of Kuwaiti citizens,” Dr Ali Al-Za’abi wrote for Al-Shahed daily.

“How can we create citizens who are active both in mind and profession especially with the current weakness of social values?

“Firstly, we have to admit that tackling the issue related to education is not limited to just Ministry of Education. It has to be tackled with by the entire society with the participation of everyone including schools, families, media, the executive authority, the Parliament, the private sector, civil society organizations and all individuals. All their participation represents the core of developing education. Ignoring any of the aforementioned factors is like placing a stick into a wheel, as it will serve as an obstacle to the entire mission.

“We are in need of catalytic education that is based on high examples and adoption of basic human values. Such type of education helps the student to not only analyze well but also establish his career that is relevant to his own mental abilities and human nature.

“Of course, the education that is offered at present by both public and private educational institutions has nothing to do with what I just mentioned.”

— Compiled by Zaki Taleb