The land with ancient stone walls is becoming a house on frail ice

The strong people of Kurdistan standing up to their enemies and oppressors for centuries have become weak under its own ruling. Day by day since 1991 the ruling parties, KDP and PUK, have been destroying our country. If anyone would say that what I am saying is unfair or untrue, I would tell them to judge for themselves after hearing me out.

When the Kurds did not have enemies to fight after 1991 when our lands came under the protection of the UN, the ruling parties started to fight each other for the power and the money. They became obsessed in fighting each other and did nothing for the people. During those years between 1991 and 2003, what did they do for the people and the country?

In the year of 2003 when the US rid Iraq from Saddam Hussein, the Kurdish people were the strongest of all the Iraqis. We were strong because we had our own land areas under our own control and we had our armed peshmerga who under the protection of the UN had built up a solid organization. Then, when we were strongest, we had all the possibilities to set the terms after our own demands. But what did we demand, what have we gained? Not one square mile of our occupied land, the disputed areas such as Kirkuk or Mosel. Then when we were strongest we did nothing – so what can we do now?

The ruling parties, what have they done for Kurdistan? They have taught the people how to sell themselves and become thieves. They gave their own people, party members, posts with government salaries. They bought people by offering them such posts, many only to hinder them from going over to the other party. They did not mind who they were. Many of these with high posts and salaries are people who sold their souls to Saddam (jeshek). But the strange thing is not that they have the jobs, it is that they all are filthy rich. How? They all line their own pockets through corruption. With the salary they have it is impossible to acquire such wealth. Why does not anyone ask where the money comes from? Because they are all members of the Club of thieves.

I among others saw the elections a year ago as progress in Kurdistan becoming a democracy. But the elections were just a show for the ruling parties. These elections were just the ruling parties giving the people a lesson in how to maintain power by cheating. I saw with my own eyes the cheating, bribing, threatening, harassing, that occurred during not only the Kurdish elections but also again during the Iraqi elections. They did it openly for all to see. They did it to once and for all show the people that no matter what they do, vote or not, protest or be quiet, they will keep the power to rule. The people lost their belief in democracy, lost their hopes for the future and lost their faith in themselves.

The proud people of Kurdistan, who through centuries were willing to sacrifice their lives for their country – who are they now? Are they willing to once again defend this land, sacrifice their lives, for the two thieving families that rule Kurdistan? This new Kurdistan is becoming a house built on frail ice. Why? Because we have a government that does not care for our future. They are focusing on getting rich instead of building the country.

The dream of a land called Kurdistan is fading

My last entry on this blog was exactly a year ago. I wrote during the elections last summer and was planning to continue writing. My health forced me to take a break from everything and I wasn't sure I would be back here on the blog.

Now, I feel the need to share my thoughts on what I feel is happening to my home country. I fear the dream of a Kurdistan is just that, a dream. And even the dream of a Kurdistan is fading.

The Bahdinan needs Gorran

Change has a lot going on now after the elections. But it seems as if the Bahdinan has been left out in the equation. I wish that those who care about the Bahdinan put pressure on Gorran leadership to remember to include us too.

Gorran need to actively engage in a long-term commitment to the Bahdinan area and allocate resources, both human and financial. We need to work close to the people. But we also need to understand that to achieve progress in this area may take a long time. It is a special area, with special people, in a very special situation.

In Bahdinan, the KDP controls everything. It will be very difficult to break their firm grip on people. People are in the hands of the KDP just to get by in their daily lives.

The KDP use their party membership as a mean to control every aspect in life. If you are going to apply for a job, you need to go to the KDP and get a written affidavit of your membership to go with your application. Without being a KDP member you cannot get an employment, you cannot keep your job, you cannot start or keep a business, your children will not make progress in school, you cannot put food on your table... If you want to become a member of another political party, you will get sacked and your food-for-oil card will be taken away from you.

The KDP have in the Zakho area 142 offices. The rexsten, KDP party workers, see eveyone and hear everything. News travel faster between the rexsten than through TV and radio... The rexsten are on a constant watch on people and immediately intervene if they see anything that goes against being a lojal KDP member.

This is why Gorran need to have a long-term plan on how we shall help people out of this situation. The first step is to show the Bahdinan people that we are here to stay and that we are also in the Bahdinan to make a change.