KNN: Listi Gorran under severe violations

Independent observers report from elections

I am posting a report from independent observers that monitored the Kurdish elections. The report gives crystal clear information of the foul play that occurred during the elections and of the IHEC not being independent. It is also clear that observers were few in Erbil governate, and in Duhok governate they were absent.

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By: The Independent Network for Observing the Parliament and Presidency Elections in the Kurdistan Region: 25-7-2009

The network includes the following Organisations:

KIE - Kurdistan Institute for Elections

DHRD - Democracy and Human Rights Development Centre .

CSI -Civil Society Initiative

WOLA -Women's Law Assistant

On 25th of July 2009, the elections for the Kurdistan parliament and presidency took place in the 3 governorates of the Kurdistan region, Duhok, Sulaymaniya and Erbil. 78% of voters participated in this election.

The Independent Network for Observing the Elections, consists out of four NGOs mentioned above. With the help of 902 monitors, the Network observed the elections during the three stages; a) renewal of the records of voters, b) the election campaign and propaganda activities, and c) the general election’s day itself.

In all three stages the monitors have recorded many breaches by the different parties that participated in the elections. Some of the irregularities are noted below:

1) The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC)

The IHEC in Iraq is one of the important organisers and regulators of the election process. If there are any flaws with the IHEC, this could influence and affect the whole of the election process.

The Independent Network therefore has focussed on the functioning of the IHEC. Underneath a listing of findings and recommendations:

a) The two mobile numbers, which were allocated by the commission for easy communications, were not working properly, in fact, the numbers were inactive during most of the election period.

B) Most of the commission staff showed a lack of information and knowledge in some election stations in order to perform good quality and effective monitoring, and to provide supervision during the process. It was clear that more training would be needed for future election events.

C) Some of the organisers and directors of different election stations were not independent. It was very clear to the observers that they were under the influence of a political party. Some of them they were found to be in a better relationship with the political party than the election commission. It was abundantly clear that this assisted these officials with falsification and illegal activities. Due to these activities there were many illegal votes which will influenced the results of the elections. As an example, in some of the election stations, party members were allowed to observe inside the station, without proper permissions, thereby influencing the voters. This happened especially in Erbil City.

D) The voting station’s staff did not make sure about some of the names of voters, and allowed some to vote without their names being recorded in the station’s voters list.

E) The special elections closed at 6pm and the general election at 7pm. The transport of some of the boxes however, did take place as late as 12pm. Due to a lack of transport vehicles. The budget for the elections however was to the amount of 37 Million US$ Dollars, making the excuse as to the lack of vehicles due to budget shortages doubtful. The extra time in closed voting stations however, could have been used for illegal activities.

F) There was centralism from the commission to the election stations. It was noted that the supervisors of election stations used the form number 111 especially often after 3pm.

G) The elections were prolonged with one hour during the general elections’ day, without presenting proper evidence for the need of this extra hour, thereby putting the independency of the election commission under questioning.

H) While announcing the results, the president of commission mentioned in advance the election results that the elections went ok and there were no reported problems. Again, an event as this adds questions to the independency of the commission. Added to this that he also made a comment that the IHEC had to re-count 300 boxes, how could he have made such a positive comment if no checking had been carried out?

2) Stages of the Election Process:

First: the length of time to compile the electoral lists:

The limited time span of this stage was clear in both the special and general elections. Many of the voters were not recorded and shifting of the names, which were listed under the form 111 to new stations, were not allowed. These are big shortages of the IHEC in Iraq as over the last years this has happened several times, without real solution being found. Problems with registrations happened in both the 2005 elections, and later in the governor’s elections in the 14 Iraqi governorates on 31st of January 2009.

Second: The Election Campaign:

1) The election propaganda started before the scheduled date. Some parties started their meetings and the publishing of mottos and logos in publications in advance of the permitted date.

2) Government positions were used in the election propaganda.

3) “Vote buying” took place as well as pressurising people to change their minds.

4) Some parties used government buildings and departments for the display of election propaganda, e.g. posters and banners.

Third: A special day for voting, July 23, 2009

1- Publication of names of special voters in the recorded list of voters.

2- There were threats and pressure on voters in order for them to change their minds.

3- Some members of the police or security forces were not able to vote as their names were not recorded in the voters’ list.

4- Some government officials were in the voting stations without valid reasons. It was obvious they weren’t there to take part in the voting.

Third: General Voting Day, July 25, 2009

The independent Network only observed the election in the two cities of Sulaymaniya and Erbil, with its main focus on Sulaymaniya, as there was immense competition between different parties. This why from the total of 902 observers, 877 observed the election activities in Sulaymaniya city and only 25 observers in Erbil, mainly in the city centre.

The general overview from the observation notes, which we received from Sulaymaniya city, tells us that no serious falsifications took place, which influenced the result of the election. The few cases that were recorded in Sulaymaniya were not organised! However, from the reports, which were received from our observers in Erbil city, it clearly shows organised falsification that definitely influenced the result of the election.

3) Sulaymaniya City:

From a total of 887 forms, which the Network received back from Sulaymaniya city, the following breaches were noted:

1- Voting station officials allowed adding of names that were not recorded in the electoral list, thru the use of form (111). This made it possible for voters to vote twice. The Network strongly recommends that the IHEC needs to be very carefully checking the boxes that might contain this kind of double votes, to assure if there were falsifications.

2- The use of the form (111) was a seriously doubted by the observers, as the forms, which were filled out, did not contain important changes especially with regard to the changing of names from one station to another. This allowed the voter to register and place a vote in two stations. The commission needs to carefully check the boxes that contain this kind of fraudulent votes to assure whether or not falsification has taken place.

3- The lack of experience and training by the observers of civil society NGOs. Especially not knowing details about their duty's and rights, made it difficult for the monitoring staff to interfere in the process and the activities of the voting station’s staff. More training of Network and IHEC staff is strongly recommended and needed.

4) Erbil City:

The Network’s 25 observers recorded many breaches and fraudulent activities during the voting. Several of these are listed underneath:

1- During the day of voting, Kurdistani list members, only 30 meters away from the station, carried out propaganda activities. This is against the law. These kind of activities happened on both election days (special- and general election).

2- Several individuals entered polling stations with placards and photos of the Kurdistani list and their candidate for the presidency.

3- Some members of the police-force and party members were moving around inside the voting stations, carrying their weapons, but official permissions. This intimidated the voters and spread fear among them.

4- There were some posters for the kurdistani list and their candidate for presidency inside the election stations.

5- The director(s) of the voting stations voted by him or herself to help the illiterate people, but without asking for their opinion as to whom they would want to vote.

6- Some army officials entered with many armed guards into the voting stations after 6pm. However, members of the army voted during the special election day (July 23); there was no reason for the military staff to enter the buildings in such an intimidating way.

7- After 6pm, several voting station guards made threats to voters, telling people to vote for the Kurdistani list.

8- Some of the organisers and station directors were making clear propaganda for the kurdistani list.

9- Double voting was carried out by supporters from the Kurdistani list with full support from the directors of the stations and party officials.

10- Some “Moqtar”, district supervisor/responsible, entered the voting stations without permission or license from the IHEC commission and asked voters to vote for the Kurdistani list.

11- Threats were made against some Commission members, and pressurised to allow people to place votes, who were not on the voters registration list.

12- Several non-official people entered the room during the counting of the votes and stayed their for some time, clearly trying to influence the counting.

13- Names were added to the registration list; the excuse was made that others mistakenly signed for them, and they needed to place their own votes.

This is a post-election report, based on 902 forms that were received from the Network’s monitors. Each form consisted out of 65 questions, and was prepared by the observers before the election events took place. At a later date a detailed reported will be compiled and published containing all specifics from the questionnaires.

July 31, 2009: Independent Network for Observing the Parliament and Presidency Election.

Program for Change

Now that 25% of the Kurdish people have given us the right to represent them in parliament, they want to know how Gorran is going to proceed from here.

In Gorran head quarter, conferences, meetings and discussions are held every minute since the election. We are planning that Gorran shall continue to work on the basis of a modern and active model instead of the party system that political work is usually based on.

Gorran is not a political party in the old meaning of the word. The word "party" has in Kurdistan taken the meaning of cheating, thieving and injustice. We will not form a politicical party with party members and hierarchy of a politburo. We are an organisation, an association of people that work for the same goal. We will work according to our program which will be based on the political platform we presented for the elections.

We will work actively among people, with the people. Our offices will be open for anyone. We want people to see us who work for Gorran as people working for the program - for the benefit of the people, not as party members working for a party and for the benefit of party members only. When people go to vote in the next election, they will vote for the program, not for a party.

We called ourselves Listi Gorran, the Change List, for the elections, and now we are in fact lacking a name for our organisation. We still are the Gorran, we still work for change in our program, so maybe we will call the organisation Program for Change.

Forming parliament

On Friday the IHEC (Independent High Electoral Commision of Iraq) announced the final results of the election: Kurdistani List, KDP/PUK, 59 seats in parliament, Change List, Gorran, 25 seats, Service and Reform List 13 seats, The Islamic Movement 2 seats and Freedom and Social Justice 1 seat.

The IHEC also stated that ballots from 40 polling stations were discarded due to irregularities.

The precidency election was won by Massoud Barzani 69.57% followed by Kamal Mirawdeli 25.32%.

If the participating lists accept the results the parliament will open for its first session within the next 10 days. The lists also have to decide whether they will join the winning Kurdistani List in forming the government or stay in opposition. The KDP and PUK have made it clear that they will not accept criticism from parties that join the government.

The Change List will stay in opposition and are hoping the 4PartyList to join us. That would jointly make us an opposition that has the possibility to prevent the government from passing important laws that demand acceptance from 2/3 of the parliament, in case we object to their propositions.

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.

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.

Mixed feelings about Kurdish election

Tonight after final results being announced, I was walking the streets of Sulaymaniya. My heart was filled with joy when I saw Gorran supporters celebrating side by side with Kurdistani List supporters and no conflicts are anywhere to be seen. People in Sulaymaniya are experiencing democracy and freedom for the first time and they are happy. They respect the opinion of each other and understand that we are going to work together as brothers for the people of Kurdistan.

On the other side my heart hurts for the Behdinan. There the KDP celebrate by attacking the opposition parties. Even last night the offices of Gorran and 4partylist were attacked by armed KDP supporters though they had all left two days ago in fear for their lives. The governing parties, the KDP and PUK, have committed a crime against our people in Duhok governate, Behdinan. They have systematically cheated our people of their democratic rights. They have used violence, harrased, threatened, intimidated, bribed, cheated, their own people. Why? When are they going to enjoy the same freedom as their brothers in Sulaymaniya?

The result of the election is unfair due to foul play. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) have broken everyone of their own rules in Behdinan. Yet, the head of IHEC Farij al-Haidari in his speech today talks about a successful, democratic and transparent election. The IHEC saw the fraud, participated in it, and disregarded our complaints.

We in the Behdinan area will set our hope to our brothers in the other provinces that they will include us in their work building our society and in their achieving a democratic and free Kurdistan.

Idris Sheranshi

IHEC announcing results

The head of the Independent High Electoral Commision of Iraq (IHEC), Farij Al-Haidari announced the results of the Kurdish election, speaking in arabic, in a press conference in Erbil at 4.30 PM today.

The presidential election: Massoud Barzani 69.7%, Dr Kamal Mirawdeli 25.3%, Dr. Halo Ibrahim Ahmad 3.49%, Ahmed Mohammed Rasul 1.4%, Hussein Germiani 0.59%.

According to 98% of the votes: Kurdistani List 57.34%, Change List (Gorran) 23.75%, Service and Reform List (4PartyList) 12.8%, Islamic Movement of Kurdistan 1.45%, Turkmen List 0.99% and Communists 0.82%.

Al-Haidari said that he wanted to congratulate the people of Kurdistan for executing a successful and democratic election which was carried out according to the rules of the IHEC. The results of the election therefore show the choice ot the Kurdish people.

Al-Haidari also said that 300 polling stations out of 5300 will be investigated due to the complaints of the opposition, but that will not affect the number of the Parliament seats. The opposition that complained about IHEC not being neutral have the possibility to take their complaints to the international court.
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Please also read Presidential candidate Dr. Kamal Mirawdelis "Open letter to President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Gordon Brown" published today. Klick this link.

Pre-election information from IHEC was false

We have talked to IHEC representatives today about our complaints and wanted information about what actions they are going to take. IHEC had before the election given us the information that we had three days to file our complaints after the election and that the votes will be sorted and counted at polling stations, then be taken to Dohuk where the results would be registered over a computor system. Then the ballots were to be flown to Bagdad where IHEC would recount the votes and check with the registered counts in Duhok.

Now they told us that the complaints had to be in Baghdad by 6 PM today if they were to be reviewed! But that is not the information we had and our complaints sent today will not be there in time. We called head quarters in Sulaymaniya and they reasoned with IHEC. They referred to the IHEC rules, which say 3 days after election. Then they gave us time until tomorrow 6 PM.

We then asked about the recounting in Baghdad. We were told that they are not going to recount any votes or check any bundles of votes! Why? "It costs us time and personnel and we do not need to according to our rules." But we need you to check because not any of our observers were allowed to be present when they sorted and counted the votes in any of the polling stations in Zakho! IHEC then said we should choose a few polling stations and they will recount only those ballots. We in Gorran (Change List) and the 4partylist (Service and Reform List) are asking IHEC to recount all votes from Dohuk Governate, 550 000 registered voters. This because of the massive fraud we have witnessed during the election. The complaints made by both Gorran and 4partylist should point to the need to recount.

Among our complaints besides what we previously have told you about, are also that those who voted on the special vote before the election day have been allowed to vote again. Also dead people and people living abroad have casted their votes.

The extended hour on election day also was not needed for the voters. There were no lines at all at any of the polling stations in Zakho at 5 PM when they said they were going to extend one hour. All party observers said we do not need to extend and this have also been reported to the IHEC. IHEC should check with people who did not go to vote if their votes have been casted without them being there.

KDP have influence over all who were working at the polling stations. That is why we needed all the observers. In my private opinion KDP have systematically cheated through this election in every way they could think of.

Waiting for official results

While waiting for official results we can give you the preliminary results on participation ratio: For Kurdistan 78%. In the three provinces: Sulaymaniya 74.5%, Duhok 85.2% and Erbil 79%.

Preliminary counts on votes for Gorran (Change List) in Behdinan area: 14600 in Duhok province. Of these Zakho, with 115 000 registered voters, Gorran counts for 2605.

We are very disappointed of the results in Duhok governate, Behdinan area. We are collecting all complaints which are being sent to IHEC. We are then going to wait for IHEC to analyze these and also wait for official results of the polls. In my personal view, not speaking for Gorran, I belive that Gorran would have reached 65-75% if the election would have been executed free and in democratic order. This I say through experiencing this election from the inside and through seeing what I have seen.

We are happy for the preliminary results in Sulaymaniya which will be 54-60% giving Gorran 25-30 seats in parliament. Preliminary results for Kurdistan from KurdistanOnLine: 50% for the Kurdistani List, 28% for Gorran and 21% for the 4 Party List. We in the Change List are now in the position of making a change for Kurdistan.

More cheating at polling stations in Zakho

The Change List are receiving more reports from our observers at the polling stations. At Brifka camp in Kanimase the observer have seen several whole families cast their vote twice. They are voting in the names of other families that are abroad, showing up their Food-for-oil cards.

At the polling station Nehren school in Sabanisan the observer reports seeing same persons cast their votes several times. They have been seen going to the KDP office in Sabanisan where the ink on their fingers has been washed away.

At Ermen school the observer also report that same people are voting several times. And in all polling stations our observers report seeing the supervisors and officials urging people to vote for List 54 (Kurdistani List). They also report from most of the polling stations that the supervisors are "helping" people vote behind the curtains. When we complain about this, they say "we have the right to help the illiterate and others who need help".

Kerim Haji, Moxtar (chieftain of his street) was brutally prevented to cast his vote at Jwan school. The IHEC contact at this polling station, Helagord, took his voting card out of his hands and put an X for Kurdistani List and then dropped it in the ballot box. This subsequently lead to a harsh discussion between them...

All incidents we are telling you about are being reported to the IHEC with names of witnesses and written statements.

The turnout for Zakho is 60% as of right now at 2 PM. It looks like we are seeing a high level of participation in the elections. The Kurdish people are eager to practice their right to vote in what we perceive as "the first real Kurdish election".

Change List got 61.7% of the votes in Sulaymaniya

We have just heard the results of yesterdays voting of the security personnel, hospitals, prisons etc. in Sulaymaniya. The Change List - Gorran - received 61.7% of the votes. We have not yet heard results from the other districts. These results fill our hearts with optimism before the coming election day tomorrow.

We in the Change List in Zakho are prepared for the elections tomorrow. There will be observers in all the polling stations. We hope that the election will procede in a calm, respectful and democratic way. We hope this day will be a day full of joy for all the people of Kurdistan and that we will show the world that we are able to hold an election that is democratic and free.

Verbal assault on Gorran official by the illiterate general Osman Qasem

The Change List election poll observers have reported the voting today the 23 of July as being calm and with no signs of foul play. But there will be several complaints filed on voters being armed, carrying weapons openly. This has been reported from most of the polling stations.

We are also filing a complaint to the Independent High Electoral Commision (IHEC) on behalf of Dindar Yusef, the Change List official in Zakho. At 5.40 PM today when he was in the polling station at Raman school, general Osman Qasem, the head of peshmerga (Supa), Zakho, threatened him. He told him to "remain calm or else...". He answered "you be calm" and then Qasems guards showered him with curses as they passed him. Osman Qasem did not answer them to avoid a conflict. He also feared that they were armed, although he did not see any visible weapons.

The Change List in Kurdistan have filed hundreds of complaints on the Kurdistani List breaking the IHEC rules during the campaign period. Some of them have already been fined. In order to develop a democratic procedure for future elections we need to report all incidents and all breaching of rules. We will learn this way, and hopefully the attitudes of all will grow into the democratic way of thinking eventually.

Preparing for the elections

The last two days here in Zakho there has been a hugh increase in the number of people that are coming to us at the Change List office or are calling us by telephone, telling us they will vote for us. But most of them ask us not to mention their names to anybody. They are afraid to loose their paycheck from the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) if they find out that they renounced the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party). This is widespread because in Kurdistan 1 of 4 has a job with a wage from the KRG. Most of these people are poor and they are disappointed in the KRG for neglecting their needs. But there are also some that enthusiasticly offer to work with us openly.

Today we also held a conference and discussed how our election observers should be organized. We will have an observer in every polling station during the elections. We will supervise the registration, voting, counting of votes until they leave in seeled boxes to Baghdad where the IHEC (Independent High Electoral Commision) will recount the votes. We hope that the international independent observers are present in as many polling stations as possible.

Wednesday 22 of July was the last of the campaigning days and now the election starts. No campaigning is allowed from now until election day. Thursday 23 of July all personnel within security, the police, the fire department, hospitals etc. will vote so that they can maintain preparedness over the elections. Hopefully this means that the Asayish (Kurdish security police) will leave us alone this day or will they follow us around anyway...

Low-key Change List campaigning

The Change List have no other option than to act low-key and continue to spread its message in a very quiet way. To receive a permit for a public meeting is out of the question, our posters are being torn down, and people are afraid to approach our campaign office. Halima A. Othman, Senior Architect Engineer, Duhok, listed on the Change List and Idris Sheranshi, campaign manager and coordinator for the Change List in Zakho, are trying to keep the election campaign going on despite the obstructions of the Kurdistani List.

Yesterday we spent the whole day paying villages and other areas around Zakho a visit and talked to people door-to-door.
People were mainly positive to our arguments but were reluctant to say anything about their voting preferences openly. The fear for consequences is widely spread among the people. All we could do is to tell people to follow their hearts and their conscience on election day.

As we see it here in the Behdinan areas is that although we have our difficulties in campaigning freely we are full of hope. The Kurdistani List are actually doing most of the campaigning for the Change List. They are showing the people that we are right in what we say about them.


Idris Sheranshi and Halima A. Othman


Idris Sheranshi

Will Change List voters burn in hell?

In Zakho the Kurdistan Democratic Party has a firm grip on influential people.Today, Friday, the religious council head Mullah Ahmed Shernaki had an unusual message in his sermon. He told the several hundreds of listeners at the Haji Ibrahim mosque that he who lays his vote for others than the Kurdistani List on the election day are devils and will burn in hell. Mullah Ahmed Shernaki has clearly been rewarded in advance for these words. Anyone who is not blind can see his new Land Cruiser Prado on the streets...

Sad to say, this makes it clear that a fair election process in the Behdinan areas is not possible. Bribes, threats, harassment, obstruction, persecution, spreading of false information, namecalling, provocations to conflict, police brutality et cetera is not enough for the Kurdistani List. Now they use the name of Allah to scare people into submission.

More dirty tricks from Kurdistani List

The Kurdistani List will not stop harassing our supporters. One of them who works for us in Zakho appeared on KNN, the TV network of the Change List, voicing his opinions on the KRG's (Kurdish Regional Government) injust treatment of the Behdinan areas. His eldest brother was immediately called from Dohuk to Zakho to meet with The Kurdistani List. They told him that his brother because of his links with the Change List now stands alone. They wanted him to understand that his brother now was at risk for anything (violence, accidents, murder...). So if he had any influence on his brother he should ask him to renounce his support for the Change List.

The Kurdistani List also puts in strong effort to spread the word that it is risky on the election day to vote for the Change List. There will be hiddden cameras monitoring even though you vote behind curtains. Also it will be meaningless to vote for the Change List because the votes will not be counted anyway.

The Change List are trying to assure the people that their vote is not dangerous or meaningless. We put our trust in the independent observers and media that will be present during the election process. We hope that EU and USA will help the kurdish people experience a fair election. But we understand the fear of the Behdinan people. Threats, arrests without reason, no trials, torture, murder is what we have been used to see all our lives...

Dirty tricks in the Kurdish Election

The Change List here in the Behdinan areas, Duhok and Zakho, are not experiencing that people are feeling the same kind of excitement over the election as in Sulemaniya. People here are afraid. The Change List will not accept that people get hurt or loose their livelihoods in showing us their support. We are forced to work in diffrent ways. Instead of normal election campaigning our work is focused on spreading our message in a more quiet way than rallies and direct konfrontation with the Kurdistani List supporters.

The Change List are also trying to avoid being provoked by the Kurdistani List. We see that the Kurdistani List are using every dirty trick in the book. Not only are they trying to threat or bribe our supporters, they also are following us around, "spying" on us to see what we are up to and who are speaking to us. Another dirty trick is to provoke us in to making mistakes. When tomato throwing children were sent out to attack our caravan of cars July 13 large numbers of police were also waiting there for us. We have heard from a reliable source that the police were waiting for us to be provoked by these children. They were hoping that some of us should have jumped out of our cars. And they would have had us arrested on the spot.

But people are also getting angry now. The provocations of the Kurdistani List are not invisible for the people on the streets. When the Kurdistani List are trying to stop the Change List from campaigning in every way they can, they probably are digging their own graves...

Disillusioned people in kurdish elections

We in the Change List want to plead to the people not to loose their hope. During our campaigning here in the Behdinan areas we notice the bitterness and disillusion of the people. It seems as some of them have lost all hope for the future. Many see the Kurdistan Regional Government as just a new form of dictatorship. People tell us at the Change List that it is useless to try to work for a change. Also people express that they are afraid to voice their opinions and that they are not willing to put their family at risk. They are afraid of consequences like loosing their jobs.

But we in the Change List know that our people in their hearts are brave and proud. We know that our people have come through all our hardships with our souls intact and kurdish spirit unchanged. The Change List would like to address the people with this humble plea: Please use your vote.Which list is to get your vote is just between you and God.

The Change List aim at going through our campaign and the election without violence and dirty tricks. We strive for mutual respect and dialogue with our opponents. Let us show the world that the kurdish people are able to hold an election which is open, transparent and democratic.

Political platform for the Change List

For those who are interested - the political platform of the Change List can be found here: http://www.gorran.org/Content.aspx?LinkID=9&Action=3