A week after the elections

The IHEC (Independent High Electoral Commision) states today that final election results will be announced Thursday next week. Obviously they have not yet investigated all the fraud complaints or decided what to do about them. We hope they will discard those ballots we have marked. Because we know that there were stuffed ballots on several of our polling stations. We also suspect they made votes to Change List invalid by marking double votes on them. Also our observers were not allowed to observe their sorting and counting the votes.

We hope the IHEC really take their commision seriously and do what they are supposed to do. How will we accept the results if they do not?

The Change List are now discussing plans and strategies to implement our program. We will take our opportunity as opposition in parliament to make the voice of our people heard, the voice of whom we represent, the voice of our voters.

IHEC gave false information on election monitoring

The IHEC (Independent High Electoral Commision) of Iraq falsely stated that the IRI (International Republican Institute) was monitoring the elections in Kurdistan.

The IRI immediately denied that was the case:

For Immediate Release
July 24, 2009

Clarification on Media Reports Stating that IRI is Monitoring the Kurdistan Regional Elections

“There have been recent media reports that cite Hamdiya al-Husseini, the chairwoman of the Kurdish region's electoral commission, as saying that the International Republican Institute (IRI) will be sending international monitors to observe the Kurdistan Regional elections scheduled for Saturday, July 25.

“According to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observers and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers, which IRI endorses, an election observation mission is ‘the systematic, comprehensive and accurate gathering of information concerning the laws, processes and institutions related to the conduct of elections and other factors concerning the overall electoral environment; the impartial and professional analysis of such information; and the drawing of conclusions about the character of electoral processes based on the highest standards for accuracy of information and impartiality of analysis.’

“As such, IRI will not be monitoring the Kurdistan Regional elections. Rather, a small number of IRI staff will conduct a program assessment on Election Day of the Institute’s voter education and voter turnout programs.

“IRI will not be issuing any findings on the elections itself.”

Link to this statement on IRI website.

Comment on KDP - where is the money?

One of the readers left a comment on my previous post about KDP not using KRG money for the purposes they were allocated for.

Pushdaree said...

What KDP got to do with government affairs, monies allocated and given to government officials not KDP members and officials. If the KDP officials saved the treasury of the city by asking businesses to pay for the expenses that is a good thing. Businesses should have the civic duty to contribute to such expenses. So before starting to accuse others of embezzlement, ask city officials if the city has received the funding and whether it will use the saved monies for other purposes.

May I pose a question for you, since you identify with the "change" list, how is it possible for a person that never held a real job nor inherited wealth to establish giant media company? The person I am referring to is the leader of your list. BTW I have no political affiliation in case you are wondering.

My answer:
First of all. if you read my post, I am asking the questions before I accuse anyone. Secondly, I really wish that there were a difference between government officials and KDP members, but there is not. And I really wish that the government thought like you obviously think they do, and used the money as they are supposed to, for their people. I would have been proud of that government and been the first one to vote for them. Here in Zakho all city officials are KDP members. In fact you will not get any job at all if you are not a member. If you want to start a business you will have to give 51% of the money to the KDP. The KDP controls everything. Also, the businessmen did not pay for these things by their own free will. They were forced to by the KDP, and people did not know about this.

Instead of telling me that I am making unjust accusations why don't you ask the government to be transparent about where all the money goes. From 2003 to 2009, in six years the KRG have received 31 billion dollars from Iraq. If you are neutral, as you say you are, ask the people why they are lacking water, electricity, health care, medicins, schools etc. There are 1002 villages in Kurdistan without a school. In those schools that exist, a pupil gets 2 hours and 40 minutes of school time. In every class room there are 40 pupils. Where did all those bilions of dollars go?

About Nashirwan. Jalal Talabani gave him 6 million dollars to start the media company. Nashirwan, who had worked for years trying to change things from the inside saw his opportunity to do something. In a country where all media and all armed forces are controlled by the governing parties, this could mean a chance to make the voice of people heard. Ask Jalal Talabani where he took the money to give to Nashirwan? Jalal Talabani has himself said that he is glad they left PUK, "they were our main problem and our main headaches for years and years". Link to interview.

They have shared the 31 billion dollars between KDP and PUK and used it to make themselves and family members into millionaires. They own all large companies in Kurdistan and several companies in Europe and US. Did they all enherit money or have earned it themselves before they formed the government? The parties, KDP and PUK, are each given 30 million dollars a month. Is that not enough for them? Do they in addition need to take the money of the people? They need to separate the parties from the government. As it has been uptil now, there was no government, only the KDP/PUK governing Kurdistan.

If you are Kurd and you want to continue to support the Kurdish government, you should tell them that it is enough. In 1991 we were all happy to get rid of Saddam and saw a bright future for the Kurdish people. Instead we got civil war on who is going to get the power and money. And then they took all the power and money for themselves. And now people live in graver misery than they did under Saddam. The only ones that have made a bright future for themselves are the leaders of KDP and PUK. The families of our war martyrs have been given nothing.

I am proud over the people in Gorran that are trying to make a change. You should be proud too, that there are people in your country that think of, and feel solidarity with others than themselves.

KDP in Zakho - where is the money?

In Zakho, the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) has asked the businessmen to pay for the refreshments for the voters and the workers at the polling stations . This is for all of the polling stations. Most of them have had four businessmen that paid 280$-350$ each, but some of the richest have had to pay for a polling station on their own, 1100$-1400$. There was around 50-60 polling stations in Zakho.

We know the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) allocated money for this in all other cities. Did the KRG just forget to allocate money for Zakho? Or have the KDP just kept the money?

This is not the first time this has happened. After Newroz celebrations this year in Zakho, the businessmen were all called to the KDP headquarters and asked to pay for the fireworks that had been used during the celebrations. Every company in Zakho paid 1000$ dollars each for these.

The businessmen are not in the position to refuse to abide. They are afraid that it will affect their business. They all paid up.

Has the KRG been allocating money for these things? Is the KRG allocating money for the Zakho area that is not been used for the benefit of the people? Or are they just neglecting Zakho? Before I accuse the KDP for embezzlement I would like to have these questions answered.

If the KRG pays for these things - who is it that takes this money? I want to ask Dr. Rizgar, head of the KDP in Zakho this question.