The change must come
from within
Dr. N.Hawramany.  May 23, 
2002 

Kurdistan Observer
May28, 2002

In an article published by the London Daily telegraph on 24-05-02, the writer Amberin Zaman  quotes “ Mr Barham Salih- a High official of the PUK” , in reply to a question on the city of KIRKUK, you are quoted as saying: 

“ We cannot say it is a Kurdish city, Arabs, Turcomens and Assyrians have lived there for centuries too”. 

I, like many others welcomed the news when you were appointed by Mr Jalal Talabany as Prime Minister of his administration in Sulaimany, Here was an intelligent young man, we thought, Western educated, Bright, Tolerant, Unaffected by ancient rivalries and fractious   politics that has plagued our national movement for decades, Above all a man who had an Easy ride to the pinnacle of power on the basis of his total loyalty to his leader, and his grasp of the art of public relations and American political machinations – and would henceforth work for the creation of a common foreign relations campaign with the rival KDP to present a unified platform to the western world, essential  at these crucial times. 

I’m sure you agree, that no free and patriotic Kurd would say,” I’m not sure if Kirkuk is a Kurdish city”, your own party’s organ Kurdistan-e-New, in an article to prove the Kurdishness of the city printed extracts from the 19th century Ottoman Encyclopaedia in its 21st May issue that states, 75% of the city is Kurdish, I can only assume therefore that your flatulent statement was for political expediency to please the Turks and score some points against your rivals who are not at the best of terms with the Turks at the moment. 

Politics Dr Salih, is not entertainment, and politicians are not entertainers, as some leading figures in the Pan Kurdish movement believe and to the detriment of our people, practice, You can change your name to Salih Oglu, and offer Sulaimany as the capital of Turcomen-istan, you can wear a black turban and a beard, convert to Shi’isim and commit the bloodiest self flagellation, or you could tie a kiffiya round your head, jump on the back of the tallest camel in Arabia and rail against Zionism , imperialism, And still my friend no Turk, Persian or Arab nationalist is going to change his mind and …Be fair to the Kurd!, We are” a sub-human curse upon their homeland, without   civilisation or history, we have never had a state of our own, and never likely to if they can help it”, 
At best they like to assimilate us, but usually they prefer to eliminate us from existence, the few” concessions “given by these “ nation states” have been few and far in between –in times of their weakness and our strength and unity. 

KIRKUK, is Kurdish and shall remain so as long as there are two Kurds remaining alive on this planet, it is the geographical, historical and spiritual factors that determine its ethnicity, Saddam can deport all its Kurdish inhabitants- But it shall always be part of Kurdistan, We will share it with Arabs, Chaldians,Turcomen, we will administer it jointly, and partake of its bounty with the citizens of a democratic and unified  Federal  Iraq , when the present nightmare is over, But we shall never forget the tens of thousands who died defending Kirkuk’s Kurdishness, and so you shouldn’t, as you and every other Kurd, in our liberated homeland or outside, owes them a debt of gratitude that can only be discharged if we keep true to the cause they gave their life for. 

The ruling Turkish military would be far more impressed and amenable to our right to existence if we were unified , strong  and determined and speak with one voice. We must make it clear that although we seek their understanding  and friendship for the mutual benefit of both our peoples, we are no push-over for their “mighty army”. Like some others. 

More than any other time in our modern history, we must stop scoring against other Kurdish parties; the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, particularly with regard to the Kurdish situation, This is no time for juggling and bending over…!,Compromise does not mean forgoing principles, You know that at this very moment when victory seems within sight , our vindictive common enemies are most active, Allow me then ,an impartial exile , to advise increased vigilance and caution over what our politicians  say . 

I pray to god that KDP &PUK will finally unite in bringing the ship of KORDAYETI from the turbulent sea to the safety shore. 
 

Beji Kurd        Awa be Kurdistan 

Amin M. Barzanji.