Elections in Iraq and the Kurds
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The elections, which took place on 30 January in Iraq, were an attempt to legitimise the US aggression and occupation. The exposure of occupant and colonialist USA, the increase of anti-USA feelings among the Muslim peoples, the plunder of Iraqi oil and historical values, the false arguments of connection with Al Kaide and chemical weapons which were made as the pretext to war and the pictures of torture and rape in Abu Ghraib prison have isolated the USA and led it to loneliness in the world. The quagmire in Iraq, where it has stuck into, has led USA to make new searches, initiatives and moves. The attempt by the USA to involve military and political organisations such as UN, EU and NATO in the Iraqi quagmire was unsuccessful. Now it wants to succeed in this through the trick of election.

The Iraqi elections, which was carried out under the shadow of the occupant forces and the announced martial law, has defined the members of temporary assembly with 275 seats though it is not clear when they will come together. The task of this assembly is to prepare a constitution of Iraq within one year. The alliances formed during the elections participated in the election as religious sects, tribes and ethnic communities rather than in the form of parties, political movements or tendencies. The election was held without public appearance of the candidates and making propaganda. As a result, the Shiite alliance gained 140 seats, the Kurdish alliance (KDP, PUK etc.) had 77, and Allawi (Secular Shiites, supported by CIA) got 40 seats.

The imperialists such as the EU, Russia and Japan evaluated the elections as "a step forward". The statements made before, during and after the elections by the USA, Turkey and KDP-PUK (collaborator Kurdish parties in South Kurdistan) have drawn attentions.

Turkey increased its objections and made "strong" statements mixed with reproaches on the resettlement of the Kurdish population, those who were exiled during Saddam period, to Kerkuk, the announcement of Kerkuk as a Kurdish city, the USA's attitude not to target Kongra-Gel ( PKK ) militarily and the participation of two parties close to the Kongra-Gel in the elections in Iraqi Kurdistan (South Kurdistan).

Whilst the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, A. Gul, said that they will not be audience to the change of the demographic structure of Kerkuk, the Prime Minister T. Erdogan said that Turkey has fulfilled its liabilities on Afghanistan and Iraq, but USA has not developed military operations against the PKK, therefore they begin to take their own measures. He continued saying 82% of the people in Turkey consider USA as a threat, and added that some of the coalition countries have withdrawn their troops and the elections were not democratic. The deputy president of general staff breathed out threats saying that they will not allow a fait accompli.

But what were the facts?

The red-lines determined by the colonialist Turkish State regarding the South Kurdistan have become colourless. Because, the USA became its new neighbour. The Turkish bourgeois army, who occupied Iraq (South Kurdistan) on numerous occasions before the US occupation, has come to a position of not being able to occupy it again following the US statements and the event of putting sacks on to the heads of its soldiers. Every time, while stating that it respects the Iraq's national borders, on the other hand, it threatened with interfering into Kerkuk, and carried its dream of Kerkuk to the agenda again and again. The chauvinist Bulent Ecevit, who was the Prime Minister about two years ago and also during the occupation of Cyprus in 1974, stressed out that M. Kemal and I. Inonu (founders of the Republic of Turkey) has got testament to involve Kerkuk and Mosul to the national pact. And he added that they have watched for this opportunity when he was the Prime Minister but could not find it.

During the election, Turkey has also developed some diplomatic attacks in order to increase its power for negotiations with USA. The meetings between T. Erdogan and Putin, the EU and Turkey, Turkey- Iran and Syria; the late approval of the US demands regarding the Incirlik base can be counted as examples of this. But the US authorities were not late in giving a response. Rumsfeld pointed out that US troops were not able to enter Iraq from the north because of the refusal of the bill dated 1 March 2003 in Turkish Assembly, and therefore, the resistance is organised and drawn out. They stated that Kerkuk was an internal problem of Iraq and that they did not demand any interference from Turkey.

In South Kurdistan, M. Barzani (President of KDP) and C. Talabani (President of PUK) also stated that Kerkuk was a Kurdish city and they received written guaranty from the USA and Iraqi government regarding Kerkuk is a Kurdish city.

The Kongra-Gel (PKK) has also considered "the elections as a positive step" and stated that they "support a federal democratic Iraq".

The Possible Developments after the Elections

The Shiite alliance is going to be active in the new puppet government. The Government's stance in collaboration with the USA against the resistance is a must condition for its existence. It cannot be expected from Iran and resister Shiites to welcome this situation.

The debates on the new constitution whether with Muslim religious law or secularism, the question of Kerkuk and distribution of oil incomes, the division of posts on the management of the State and the government, and the conflicts between the Sunni Iraqis, who did not participate in the elections, and the Shiites could be the main developments.

Iraq could become another Lebanon. In Iraq, the distrust and enmities based on national, ethnical and religious contradictions will grow. The people of South Kurdistan have achieved some positions, but the future of these rights is unclear.

In the conditions when the occupant USA would withdraw, the South Kurdistan will become a target to be attacked by Turkey, Iran, Syria and the Shiites in Iraq. For the Kurdish question is a Middle East question. It is an oil question at the same time.

Kurds unfortunately have become the USA's closest ally after Israel in the Middle East during the occupation period. This situation causes anger among the peoples of the region, and deepens the contradiction of Kurd-Arab, Kurd-Persian and Kurd-Turk.

In S. Kurdistan, the KDP and PUK may insist on continuation of the peshmerges during the talks on new government. Because Kurds are seeing the armed forces, which includes more than 100 thousand soldiers, police and peshmerges, as a guaranty.

Kurdish nation, which was divided into four parts in the Middle East by Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Syria and with the support of imperialists, has always stated its desire and demand for having a State owned by them selves. What is putting the colonialist ruling States into a great fear is the Kurds desire for a United Kurdistan. Therefore, the colonialist States will not hesitate in interfering the developments not only in their own "Kurds" but also in national developments of other parts. For that reason, the anti-Kurd front in the Middle East is very wide.

Talabani-Barzani alliance has gained "achievements" on the basis of becoming a "State" in collaboration with the USA and putting "the right of self-determination" on the contrary to the interests of other peoples of the region. Under the shadow of the occupant USA, S. Kurdistan becomes a centre of attraction for other parts. It effects other parts for both becoming a State and economic improvement by getting a share from the oil incomes.

The attraction of becoming a "State" under guidance and the level of relatively economic welfare is the real fear of the colonialist Iran, Turkey and Syria. Kongra-Gel is also exposing its national-narrowmindness by being seized with the centre of attraction. It considers the election results as "a historical opportunity" for the formation of Kurdish State and closes its eyes to the imperialist occupation and aggression. Thus, the attempt of "legitimizing" the USA imperialism's occupation and aggression is being considered as a step "for construction of the free and democratic Iraq" by the PKK.

In today's situation, the faith of the peoples in Iraq have been tightly connected to each other. The fact of occupation and controlled accord cannot bring the liberation of peoples. The liberation and brotherhood of the peoples in Iraq and the Middle East is depending on the organisation and development of the regional anti-imperialist united struggle. And the immediate establishment of a regional anti-imperialist coordination to struggle and supporting the resistance in Iraq and Palestine is the concrete tasks of the day.

If so, let us go forward to participate in the actions organised on 20 March 2005, the new anniversary of the occupation, with more strength and in a more organised manner.
 

 

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Elections in Iraq and the Kurds
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The elections, which took place on 30 January in Iraq, were an attempt to legitimise the US aggression and occupation. The exposure of occupant and colonialist USA, the increase of anti-USA feelings among the Muslim peoples, the plunder of Iraqi oil and historical values, the false arguments of connection with Al Kaide and chemical weapons which were made as the pretext to war and the pictures of torture and rape in Abu Ghraib prison have isolated the USA and led it to loneliness in the world. The quagmire in Iraq, where it has stuck into, has led USA to make new searches, initiatives and moves. The attempt by the USA to involve military and political organisations such as UN, EU and NATO in the Iraqi quagmire was unsuccessful. Now it wants to succeed in this through the trick of election.

The Iraqi elections, which was carried out under the shadow of the occupant forces and the announced martial law, has defined the members of temporary assembly with 275 seats though it is not clear when they will come together. The task of this assembly is to prepare a constitution of Iraq within one year. The alliances formed during the elections participated in the election as religious sects, tribes and ethnic communities rather than in the form of parties, political movements or tendencies. The election was held without public appearance of the candidates and making propaganda. As a result, the Shiite alliance gained 140 seats, the Kurdish alliance (KDP, PUK etc.) had 77, and Allawi (Secular Shiites, supported by CIA) got 40 seats.

The imperialists such as the EU, Russia and Japan evaluated the elections as "a step forward". The statements made before, during and after the elections by the USA, Turkey and KDP-PUK (collaborator Kurdish parties in South Kurdistan) have drawn attentions.

Turkey increased its objections and made "strong" statements mixed with reproaches on the resettlement of the Kurdish population, those who were exiled during Saddam period, to Kerkuk, the announcement of Kerkuk as a Kurdish city, the USA's attitude not to target Kongra-Gel ( PKK ) militarily and the participation of two parties close to the Kongra-Gel in the elections in Iraqi Kurdistan (South Kurdistan).

Whilst the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, A. Gul, said that they will not be audience to the change of the demographic structure of Kerkuk, the Prime Minister T. Erdogan said that Turkey has fulfilled its liabilities on Afghanistan and Iraq, but USA has not developed military operations against the PKK, therefore they begin to take their own measures. He continued saying 82% of the people in Turkey consider USA as a threat, and added that some of the coalition countries have withdrawn their troops and the elections were not democratic. The deputy president of general staff breathed out threats saying that they will not allow a fait accompli.

But what were the facts?

The red-lines determined by the colonialist Turkish State regarding the South Kurdistan have become colourless. Because, the USA became its new neighbour. The Turkish bourgeois army, who occupied Iraq (South Kurdistan) on numerous occasions before the US occupation, has come to a position of not being able to occupy it again following the US statements and the event of putting sacks on to the heads of its soldiers. Every time, while stating that it respects the Iraq's national borders, on the other hand, it threatened with interfering into Kerkuk, and carried its dream of Kerkuk to the agenda again and again. The chauvinist Bulent Ecevit, who was the Prime Minister about two years ago and also during the occupation of Cyprus in 1974, stressed out that M. Kemal and I. Inonu (founders of the Republic of Turkey) has got testament to involve Kerkuk and Mosul to the national pact. And he added that they have watched for this opportunity when he was the Prime Minister but could not find it.

During the election, Turkey has also developed some diplomatic attacks in order to increase its power for negotiations with USA. The meetings between T. Erdogan and Putin, the EU and Turkey, Turkey- Iran and Syria; the late approval of the US demands regarding the Incirlik base can be counted as examples of this. But the US authorities were not late in giving a response. Rumsfeld pointed out that US troops were not able to enter Iraq from the north because of the refusal of the bill dated 1 March 2003 in Turkish Assembly, and therefore, the resistance is organised and drawn out. They stated that Kerkuk was an internal problem of Iraq and that they did not demand any interference from Turkey.

In South Kurdistan, M. Barzani (President of KDP) and C. Talabani (President of PUK) also stated that Kerkuk was a Kurdish city and they received written guaranty from the USA and Iraqi government regarding Kerkuk is a Kurdish city.

The Kongra-Gel (PKK) has also considered "the elections as a positive step" and stated that they "support a federal democratic Iraq".

The Possible Developments after the Elections

The Shiite alliance is going to be active in the new puppet government. The Government's stance in collaboration with the USA against the resistance is a must condition for its existence. It cannot be expected from Iran and resister Shiites to welcome this situation.

The debates on the new constitution whether with Muslim religious law or secularism, the question of Kerkuk and distribution of oil incomes, the division of posts on the management of the State and the government, and the conflicts between the Sunni Iraqis, who did not participate in the elections, and the Shiites could be the main developments.

Iraq could become another Lebanon. In Iraq, the distrust and enmities based on national, ethnical and religious contradictions will grow. The people of South Kurdistan have achieved some positions, but the future of these rights is unclear.

In the conditions when the occupant USA would withdraw, the South Kurdistan will become a target to be attacked by Turkey, Iran, Syria and the Shiites in Iraq. For the Kurdish question is a Middle East question. It is an oil question at the same time.

Kurds unfortunately have become the USA's closest ally after Israel in the Middle East during the occupation period. This situation causes anger among the peoples of the region, and deepens the contradiction of Kurd-Arab, Kurd-Persian and Kurd-Turk.

In S. Kurdistan, the KDP and PUK may insist on continuation of the peshmerges during the talks on new government. Because Kurds are seeing the armed forces, which includes more than 100 thousand soldiers, police and peshmerges, as a guaranty.

Kurdish nation, which was divided into four parts in the Middle East by Iran, Turkey, Iraq and Syria and with the support of imperialists, has always stated its desire and demand for having a State owned by them selves. What is putting the colonialist ruling States into a great fear is the Kurds desire for a United Kurdistan. Therefore, the colonialist States will not hesitate in interfering the developments not only in their own "Kurds" but also in national developments of other parts. For that reason, the anti-Kurd front in the Middle East is very wide.

Talabani-Barzani alliance has gained "achievements" on the basis of becoming a "State" in collaboration with the USA and putting "the right of self-determination" on the contrary to the interests of other peoples of the region. Under the shadow of the occupant USA, S. Kurdistan becomes a centre of attraction for other parts. It effects other parts for both becoming a State and economic improvement by getting a share from the oil incomes.

The attraction of becoming a "State" under guidance and the level of relatively economic welfare is the real fear of the colonialist Iran, Turkey and Syria. Kongra-Gel is also exposing its national-narrowmindness by being seized with the centre of attraction. It considers the election results as "a historical opportunity" for the formation of Kurdish State and closes its eyes to the imperialist occupation and aggression. Thus, the attempt of "legitimizing" the USA imperialism's occupation and aggression is being considered as a step "for construction of the free and democratic Iraq" by the PKK.

In today's situation, the faith of the peoples in Iraq have been tightly connected to each other. The fact of occupation and controlled accord cannot bring the liberation of peoples. The liberation and brotherhood of the peoples in Iraq and the Middle East is depending on the organisation and development of the regional anti-imperialist united struggle. And the immediate establishment of a regional anti-imperialist coordination to struggle and supporting the resistance in Iraq and Palestine is the concrete tasks of the day.

If so, let us go forward to participate in the actions organised on 20 March 2005, the new anniversary of the occupation, with more strength and in a more organised manner.