Kurdish politics and democracy  

By: Roza Germian

Sydney  (rezagermian@hotmail.com)

Feb 22, 2005

We hear from the Americans and their allies that the Kurdish experience within Iraq sets an example of democracy for the rest of the country and the region. But did we really experience true democracy in southern Kurdistan in the last decade? Or this experience has only been more democratic in comparison to other regimes in the area are such as the former Ba’athist?

No one can ignore what has been achieved so far in Kurdistan, but the argument is that a lot more could have been done, politically and economically. Even according to Dr. Barham Salih who expressed his believe that more could have been done since the liberation of Iraq for Kirkuk in particular and Kurdistan in general, in an interview on KurdSat television prior to the elections.

Generally speaking, most of us have been proud of the Kurdish achievement in southern Kurdistan yet lately we hear voices of protest, complaining about the situation and its leaders. Though these voices may not be too loud and clear, it is noticeable to some degree. Whether this means that the public is becoming more politically aware or their patience is starting to run-out, the fact is that it exists and yet decides to wait and see what time could do for Kurdistan. This also means that there are oppositions to the situation in southern Kurdistan, and it is a good sign that our people are becoming democratic.

Democracy, unfortunately, is not like mobile phone technology! Today in southern Kurdistan we witness a wide spread of this technology and it is available for everyone, even people who never had the chance of owning a home phone line before. Now we see every family member owns the latest mobile phone, and has become a necessity for all. Therefore, elections cannot bring democracy to a nation; it is democracy that would open the way for a fair election. In other words democracy has to evolve and can not introduced in its full package for a nation use, and that it has to be practiced without being abused in order to be learnt and fairly exercised.

Could the question be that the majority of our people are not used to be dealt with democratically? Do they get confused if they had to make their own political choices for themselves without guidance? This could well be true. It is quite obvious that our nation is not used to critical thinking, and they would prefer that to be done for them by a “leader” who they believe is the “Mr. Know-it-all”. This is even evident in the education system, where there is a set curriculum that all teachers and students go by. Students are not allowed thinking beyond that curriculum, and are not taught to critical analysis.

Another evidence is during the recent elections, we watched all the happy people registering and later voting on our satellite television stations, from all over the world and in Kurdistan. When these people were asked about their believes and messages to others; their way of encouraging voters to go to the polls was through calling those who decided not to participate in the Iraqi elections, traitors, calling them names and swearing at them in a very uncivilized manner, without any respect to views which could still be in Kurdish advantage but different from theirs. These messages were even more disappointing to be heard from Kurds abroad, who have tasted and should be familiar with real democracy, and are generally looked up upon by people in Kurdistan for that reason and others.

But we cannot blame the nation for not being democratic where our leaders, the highly educated and highly political people do not practice it. If our leaders want democracy for their people they should start being democratic with their colleagues. Elections should be held within these parties to give some one else a chance of being the general secretary. But will they ever give up their position, or they will only pass it on to their sons like we most likely expect.

On the other hand, we still have not lost our hopes in them, as they promise us to include Kirkuk and the newly librated Kurdish parts within Kurdistan and grantee our rights within a federal Iraq (though 98 per cent of us voted for an independent Kurdistan), and that they “will not let the martyrs blood be wasted”. Can we believe and trust them? Are they only using our unfortunate past to tease our emotions? Could they turn their backs at their awaiting nation, and break their promises once they gain that higher authority and have reached the top? Would Mr. Talabani wear the Arabic cloths and head piece and sit in the Arab League, representing Iraq? We all hope not.

Our leaders have let us down many times before, but we are ready to give them another chance hoping that this time we will not be faced by disappointment!