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KurdistanObserver.com
Republic of Mehabad 61st Anniversary: Many
lessons to learn
By:
Mufid Abdulla
Jan 23, 2007
Sixty one years ago today on 22 January, Qazi Mohammed, the leader of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and his followers established the first
Kurdistan republic in history. The JK (Jianaway Kurd) party was the forerunner
of the KDP and their intention was to stir the minds of the Kurdish nation at
that time (1942). The main slogan for (J.K) and aim was the independent
Kurdistan however there was much internal conflict about the programme and
processes to be adopted. The main leader, Abdulrahman Elekhanzada, was adamant
that the Independence of Kurdistan should be the minimum demand for the Kurds in
Iran.
The main leaders of JK had regular contact with
the Soviet and Red Army through the Russian Embassy in Tabriz however the army
were reluctant to deal with them. In order to mollify the Russians the JK
changed their name and some of their programmes in order to be acceptable to
them.
In 1944, after a long struggle and with the
help of the Russians the Kurdistan Democratic party in Iran was set up .and the
first Kurdish Republic was born under the brave leadership of Qazi Mohammed.
However the Iranians did not agree with the
movement and outcomes and it was no surprise that only eleven months later the
dream was shattered and destroyed by the son of the Iranian Shah. Not only was
the dream shattered but those who had instigated it, Qazi Mohammed and four
others of the party were sentenced to death. It has to be said that they faced
their deaths with fortitude and pride.
The main reason for the collapse of our eleven months infant republic was that
the KDP placed their entire trust and hope in only the Russian armed forces and
did not look to the Kurdish people for that support. The Russians made provision
in the area when British forces became more dominant in the area and moved from
Iran. Unfortunately we did not have the same opportunities. This has and still
is a much studied area of history for many Kurdish historians and researchers
who seek answers for the future from the past.
Sixty one years gone we are still chasing our own tail.
Sixty one years gone and we are still defeating our own objectives.
Sixty one years gone and we are still feeding our enemies and sheltering them.
Sixty one years gone and our Kurdish leadership appear to understand the need of
massive magnanimity.
Sixty one years gone, and still we don’t appear to understand that devolution is
one thing, and independence a completely a different matter.
Sixty one year gone and we still allowing ourselves to be the bridge for the
most hated people in Iraq.
In the Kurdish government we still have enemies of the people holding positions
of privilege and leadership. It would appear that there is not one modern
Kurdish politician who is as wedded to principle as Qazi Mohammed.
As a patriotic Kurdish man, I keenly look forward to Kurdistan achieving full
independence. I am only one of an ever increasing number of like-minded people
who cannot wait for the end of Iraq.
There are occasional echoes of the great battles between Kurdish people and
their enemies, but something like a consensus has emerged. We should remember
the battles that Qazi Mohammed fought to persuade people that Kurdish people
have the same rights to live in dignity and sovereignty as others but we should
not forget how bitter and bloody they were.
In this age of globalisation, Kurdistan and their leaders have not stepped into
Qazi Mohammed shoes, nor does any one of them look like doing so. With those
leaders gone, it will be a long time before we see another leader of his
stature.
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