What will referendum bring for Kurds?
IN a land home to members of myriad different faiths and ethnicities, the answer to this question — when a rational, realistic and conscientious assessment is to be made — is actually quite obvious: Every separation brings with it new and greater problems. Iraq’s territorial integrity being compromised will also spell the suffering of the Kurds. What the Middle East needs is not drawing new borders between the peoples, but reinforcing friendships, love and brotherhood. This is why preserving the territorial integrity of Syria and Iraq is crucial.
In a session attended by only 65 of its 111 members, the Northern Iraqi Parliament, which had been closed for almost two years, took the decision to hold an “independence referendum” on Sept 25, 2017. The people of the region were asked “Do you want the Kurdistan region lying outside the authority of the Iraqi central government to become an independent state?” and 92 percent of them voted “Yes”. However, up until a few days before the referendum, the opposition parties, different regional ethnic elements such as the Turkmens and Arabs, the Yazidis in Sinjar and Ninova, and even a substantial portion of Kurds who had voted for the KDP (the party led by Barzani) were widely and openly expressing their disapproval for the referendum. For example, Yusuf Muhammad, the Chairperson of the Parliament, of the Gorran (Change) Movement, which could be considered the main opposition party
of Northern Iraq, stated that the Kurdistan independence referendum scheduled for Sept 25 will not have any “legitimacy” unless it is confirmed by a decision of the parliament. Meanwhile, some Kurdish politicians and NGO’s launched an anti-referendum campaign under the slogan “No for Now”. The common opinion was that the referendum would not bring any new benefit for the region; on the contrary, it would spark tension and conflicts, which in turn would lead to further suffering for the people of the region. How accurate this statement is has already begun to be confirmed.
By advancing deeper into Iraq in 2014 and capturing Mosul, ISIS plunged the Barzani administration directly into war. Apart from that conflict the Barzani administration faced other challenges too, such as the care of refugees coming from Syria and Iraq, being unable to receive their 17 percent oil share of from the central administration, the PKK attempting to declare autonomy in the Sinjar region, the protests sparked by economic stagnation, and internal political disputes. Barzani probably saw the referendum as a way out of these difficulties or a political maneuver; elections are to be held in Northern Iraq in early November, and Barzani wants to enter those elections as “the leader who took a step towards independence”. However, this is an erroneous strategy that does not take the good of the people into consideration at all.
The first autonomy agreement between Baghdad and the Kurds were signed in 1970. Backed by the USA, the Kurds obtained an area under their own control in 1991. In 2005, this area acquired an official status known as the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). The borders were not clearly drawn during this status acquisition, and the oil-rich territories, Kirkuk in particular, remained as disputed areas. Taking advantage of the ISIS offensive in 2014, the KRG took control of Kirkuk. However, Kirkuk and Mosul have always been highly sensitive and controversial areas, in which Turkey also has the right to speak about since World War I. Moreover, these areas are not predominantly Kurdish, contrary to what the KRG claims. Attempting to incorporate Kirkuk, whose population is largely comprised of Turkmens and Arabs, into the KRG through a fait accompli is a highly dangerous step that may lead to a Turkmen-Arab-Kurdish conflict in the future.
As a matter of fact, the Central Iraqi Government called the referendum decision unconstitutional and illegitimate. International organizations, including the UN and countries that are influential in the region such as the USA and Russia, did not express their support for the referendum. Turkey also objected to this referendum, voicing valid concerns. Despite all the warnings from neighboring countries, the central Iraqi government and international organizations, the Barzani administration was insistent upon the referendum decision. This seemingly implacable attitude of Barzani’s prompted consequent measures and decisions that have been taken against the KRG.
First, Iran and Turkey announced that they would close their border gates. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Central Government announced that they had closed Erbil’s airspace to all flights. The Supreme Court of Iraq launched an investigation against those responsible for the referendum under charges of disrupting Iraq’s unity and posing a risk to the security of the country. Nouri al-Maliki, the Vice-President of Iraq, described the illegal referendum held by the KRG as “war against the unity of the people of Iraq.”
It seems that this decision that was taken without even consulting or paying any heed to criticisms from Turkey, who offers financial support to the KRG so that the salaries of the Peshmerga and government officials could be paid, provides military training and equipment to the Peshmerga, and takes measures for the protection of the government and Barzani himself, will drive the KRG into an even more challenging situation. Contrary to what people have been led to believe, the referendum will not bring independence: On the contrary, it will result in the loss of the already existent achievements on the Northern Iraq’s part, and what’s worse, it may well pave the way for new conflicts in the ever-tumultuous Middle East. The Islamic world is certainly not in need of new conflicts; it needs to cease the ongoing bloodshed in various regions as soon as possible and to do so, it needs to achieve unity.
The easiest way to establish control over these lands is to divide it into smaller pieces and set these territories upon each other in perpetual conflict, thus having them waste their energy on internecine conflict. This is what has been done in the Middle East for almost a century. Under the current circumstances, the Barzani administration does not hold sufficient political power. The tensions that will most likely escalate in the wake of the referendum may provide a favorable ground for overthrowing the Barzani government. After Barzani is overthrown, the rule of the region may conceivably pass to the PKK terrorist organization, just as it did in the Northern Syria. A commu- ism scheme.
I repeat that the culture of these nations, if it gets implemented the way it was nurtured — through consultations and direct meetings between the ruler and the ruled, justice which these countries were based on would have been achieved.
The open door policy is what the late King Abdullah stood for. Because of that, everyone — whether from Saudi Arabia or the other Gulf countries — hopes for opening of more doors to convey their issues to you, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, without any add-ons which the retinues put as we do not want them to distance you from us.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, you were close to the voice of the people when you distanced those who were attempting to impose norms and traditions not inspired by our religion or faith.
You were close to the voice of the people when you took the responsibility of standing up against the masqueraded Iranian invasion by the Houthis and the coups in Yemen; and through that, came the “decisive storm” to crush the Persian scheme.
It was the same when you listened to the voices of half of the community in granting women the right to drive, something that resonated positively in the region and the entire world. Here, I mention the reaction of Saudi’s Consultation Council member Dr Latifa Al-Sha’lan who spoke on one of the satellite televisions about the decree; to an extent that she shed tears in a scene which affected everyone — the viewers and presenters.
Pumping young blood into the veins of the country is considered as an action that is more in response to the aspirations of the people. This is because it stands on the wisdom that always prevails over traditions using which its patrons strive to restrain the society in manner that will keep them in charge. Such often control leads to distortion of the reality related to the nature of the society, hampering the development of this great nation, which is adorned by future cloak of prosperity.
This is seen in the implementation of vital decisions and mega projects both inside and outside that country as well as expansion of international alliances and relations that was crowned by the recent historic visit to the Russian Federation.
It was the first visit by the Saudi king to this major country since the unification of the kingdom. This visit to Russia also serves as the foundation stone in the new Arab world, which you are working on for navigating it to safer grounds away from the series of political and security quakes and storms that have been hitting it for the past six years.
All of these have been achieved in a short period of time through well studied decisions and quick responses that we seldom witnessed in the past. This means we are currently seeing the unfolding of the new Saudi Arabia. While it is preserving its principles, it is, at the same time, renewing its vision and giving itself futuristic insight. Undoubtedly, that necessitates all the voices to be heard and the doors to be opened “further, further and further”.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, pardon us for many of our problems with you. The kingdom represents us. As we previously mentioned, the kingdom is the direction which other directions follow.
The love you show us, your people, your country, the Gulf and its people is the same love everyone has towards you. It is what is pushing us to say that we are eager to see your doors being opened “further, further and further” and for your telephone to ring “often, often and often” so as to have direct meetings between you and your people by your orders and without barriers.