Kurdistan
Regional Government: the challenges ahead
By: Mufid Abdulla
Nov 12, 2007
Recently, at the
end of August this year, I returned to Erbil, the capital of KRG where I noticed
considerable changes and movement since my last visit two years ago. The power
of institutions appears much better and the many building projects are doing
well.
The KRG have
recognised their duties and have realised that the tasks require the Kurdish
people to take some of the responsibility. There is evidence of renewal and
renovation everywhere. The airports function perfectly making it possible to fly
out to almost anywhere in the world through two international airports whilst
yet another is planned.
Other things I
noted were the installation of many new roads and a new water plant. The
problems of ensuring that electricity will be widely available has been
addressed and targets have been set: the intention that these problems will be
solved in two years.
Having witnessed
this and so much more, it does not surprise me that one American journalist
described the newly built ‘Dream City’, an exciting new conurbation within Erbil,
where apartments exchange for approximately $1m, as comparable to those of
Dubai. He continued that, in just a matter of five to ten year, it will rival
Dubai if they continue with the plans they have made.
According to some
reliable resources the KRG many American and British lawyers and political
advisers have been consulted in the planning of the future realm of Kurdistan.
The reason for the Turkey to concerned is perhaps understandable and they watch
the steady growth of the region which far exceeds their own potential. Turkey is
not after the PKK: it is jealous of KRG.
It was not so long ago that we
cannot remember Halabja and Anfal: when Saddam’s thugs left this country in 1991
and we took a deep breath as we realised the gift and the value of peace and
freedom.
Recent threats
from Turkey to invade Kurdistan met with resolute resistance in a non-violent
way. The non- violent campaign is paramount for survival of the Kurdish nation.
There is a long list of examples of peaceful
demonstration and civil resistance: Ghandi; Martin Luther King;
Lech Wałęsa
of Polish Solidarity; the ‘Velvet Revolution’ in Czechoslovakia; the list
continues even longer: Africa, Serbia and Ukraine. Most recently we have all
witnessed the peaceful protests of the Buddhist monks in Burma which again
demonstrate that peaceful demonstration gains much more sympathy and approval
from the outside world. Even more recently the lawyers of Pakistan began their
protests. Again they demonstrated peacefully and this revolt is worth comparing
and studying as it can also be regarded as a model for Kurdistan. By studying
the above and analysing the results of civil resistance we can hopefully
discover why the Kurdish people, who are a peaceful people, have not yet been
successful in their revolution.
In different
ways, each and all of the event referred to briefly above, point to the
importance of calm in response to the terrorist and the aggressor. I am not
advocating that we do nothing, far from it, but surely world attention to a
resolute and peaceful response to antagonists would bring our case for freedom
and independence forward and, ultimately, help create a more speedy and cohesive
solution. Whilst I realise that this is not the easy option, we have to find
that balance in our response to our aggressors.
The KRG must move
forward with consensus in solving the threats coming from the Turkish state.
This does not mean that we should accept the banning of local parties because
they empathise or share the sentiment of Kurdish nationalism. That sense of
nationalism is not the property of the PKK only, NO!, the call for nationalism
is the dream of all Kurds but we would gain it only in a peaceful way and we
should not have to accept the responsibility of the over zealous actions of a
group of nationalist people.
The majority of
Kurds would rather invite their enemies to dinner for converse and find
solutions rather than fight with anger and venom. Surely this is the better way?
