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
Showing posts with label kurdistani list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kurdistani list. Show all posts
July 29, 2009
July 25, 2009
Shameless cheating in Zakho by KDP
The turnout for Zakho will be very high. The votes that will be counted could even exceed 100%. How come? Our observers report that the extended hour are being used for casting votes for all registered that have not voted. The personnel at polling stations are filling in all remaing ballot papers, voting for Kurdistani List. One of our supporters waited until the last minutes to vote. At the door he was asked what he is going to vote for and he said Listi 54 (Kurdistani List) and then he was let in with the words that he could help them and fill in some extra votes... We have also gotten a report that buses of hospital personnel, cleaners, janitors, guards etc have been sent to vote again during the last hours.
Observers from all polling stations in Zakho have all day reported people from KDP been seen voting several times. Arif Ali, Moxtar (chieftain) of Sabaanisan area, have been noted to cast his vote at least six times today.
The KDP have no shame at all. They openly are cheating and depriving their own people their right to vote independently. In room 4 at polling station Rauda the supervisor is not even giving the voters the ballot paper, he just writes the line for them, "helping" them to vote for Listi 54. Of those who are on duty for the IHEC at the polling stations, 99% are KDP members or supporters.
At the polling station Delal school our observers were kicked out in the afternoon. We contacted two international observers and asked them to be present at Delal and observe until the ballot boxes were seeled and sent away. They agreed to do that. These observers also told us that they had witnessed quite a deal of foul play in Zakho today.
We are really sad to say that the election in Zakho did not turn into a celebration of Kurdish freedom and democracy. Many of our adversaries were certainly sceptical to our attempt to hold a democratic and free election. Now the KDP have brought shame on our people by proving the sceptics right.
Observers from all polling stations in Zakho have all day reported people from KDP been seen voting several times. Arif Ali, Moxtar (chieftain) of Sabaanisan area, have been noted to cast his vote at least six times today.
The KDP have no shame at all. They openly are cheating and depriving their own people their right to vote independently. In room 4 at polling station Rauda the supervisor is not even giving the voters the ballot paper, he just writes the line for them, "helping" them to vote for Listi 54. Of those who are on duty for the IHEC at the polling stations, 99% are KDP members or supporters.
At the polling station Delal school our observers were kicked out in the afternoon. We contacted two international observers and asked them to be present at Delal and observe until the ballot boxes were seeled and sent away. They agreed to do that. These observers also told us that they had witnessed quite a deal of foul play in Zakho today.
We are really sad to say that the election in Zakho did not turn into a celebration of Kurdish freedom and democracy. Many of our adversaries were certainly sceptical to our attempt to hold a democratic and free election. Now the KDP have brought shame on our people by proving the sceptics right.
Cheating at polling stations
The Change List observers report foul play in several polling stations in Zakho. Our observer in Delal school in Room 2 observed the room supervisor accompany voters behind the curtains to "help" them to vote. One woman objected, but he said "but you cannot read and write so I will help you" and followed her behind the curtains despite her objections. We told this official that this is illegal and he said he is just helping the illiterate people. The observer were not allowed to go in and observe in room 1 at all. When we went to talk to the IHEC contact for this polling station, Delal Ismael Abdullah, she refused to give us the complaint form for reporting this incident to the IHEC.
From the polling station at Zin shool our observer reported that the room officials at the doors and the supervisors in the rooms urge people to vote for the Kurdistani List no.54.
From the polling stations at Jwan school and Zagruss school observers report seeing the same people vote several times and that others are turned back because they are not on the lists. Also from several polling stations observers notice that elder people accompany their young ones behind the curtains to "help" them vote.
We will file complaint on all incidents we see to the IHEC. We need to do this for the Kurdish people who deserve a fair election and in order to develop the democracy of Kurdistan. We were hoping to get the eyes of the world from international observers to help us, but here in Zakho they are absent.
From the polling station at Zin shool our observer reported that the room officials at the doors and the supervisors in the rooms urge people to vote for the Kurdistani List no.54.
From the polling stations at Jwan school and Zagruss school observers report seeing the same people vote several times and that others are turned back because they are not on the lists. Also from several polling stations observers notice that elder people accompany their young ones behind the curtains to "help" them vote.
We will file complaint on all incidents we see to the IHEC. We need to do this for the Kurdish people who deserve a fair election and in order to develop the democracy of Kurdistan. We were hoping to get the eyes of the world from international observers to help us, but here in Zakho they are absent.
July 23, 2009
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.
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.
July 20, 2009
Change on its way in Zakho
Today we in the Change List notice a different attitude in people. More people are taking contact with us and they appear less frightened.They have heard that hundreds of people are abandoning the Kurdistani List parties.It seems that the Kurdistani List tactics are turning on themselves. People do not like what they see and hear. People are showing interest in our program and they actively take contact with us instead of the other way around. And they find us though we do not have an office in Zakho. We have made our own homes to offices and there are no flags and posters on our houses.
The word is however that many fear that the last days of the election campaign will be violent. But we are telling all supporters to keep calm. We will not seek conflict and will not provoke the Kurdistani List supporters by envolving ourselves in discussions with them. People do not see this as weakness. They see that we are strong and that we will not be intimidated. They see that we are here not for ourselves but for them. We are here because our people need a change.
The word is however that many fear that the last days of the election campaign will be violent. But we are telling all supporters to keep calm. We will not seek conflict and will not provoke the Kurdistani List supporters by envolving ourselves in discussions with them. People do not see this as weakness. They see that we are strong and that we will not be intimidated. They see that we are here not for ourselves but for them. We are here because our people need a change.
July 19, 2009
The KDP/Kurdistani List fear the Change List
The Change List would like to respond to a rumour the KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) spreads about us. Or actually they personally confront friends and relatives to our supporters here in Zakho and Dohuk with these statements of "truth" in the warnings and threats they personally present.
According to the KDP we all are agents for Iran, Syria and Turkey. And we are being paid by these countries through Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of Iraq.
There are no evidence of any of the Change List high officials having connections with these countries. Nashirwan Mustafa cannot travel anywhere, he cannot even step outside his door without being watched by the KDP. Actually we are all being watched by the KDP in evey step we take. We suspect that they want people to turn on us and hurt us or even kill us by trying to undermine the trust people have in us. Or that they will use these accusations as being confirmed when someone of us has been arrested or killed. And if we were paid by anyone, how come we do not own any buildings to set up our campaign offices everywhere? Why do not all posted on the Change List and officials drive luxury cars and live like kings?
According to the KDP is everything we say in public media slander and the only reason for us to do this is to harass or provoke them. Our posters or flags are put up only to taunt them. Obviously the Kurdistani List has no understanding of the democratic framework. They do not know that if these elections should ever be viewed as democratic all sides must be allowed to voice their opinions publicly and without interventions or obstructions. There should be an open dialogue and mutual respect for each other's right to have different opinions and have their own candidates and representatives. The people have the right to hear all sides and then decide independently. But the KDP is doing everything to prevent the Change List from being heard or seen. This attitude explain though why you never see any of our posters or flags anywhere in the Behdinan area. They have been torn down as soon as we have put them up. They must really sting their eyes...
The Kurdistani List are exposing their fear of the Change List. By all the dirty tricks they pull they reveal that they really see the Change List as a threat to them keeping the power. They are showing the people that they are desperate and that they do not have any real arguments to counter with when we accuse them of corruption, nepotism and cronyism. How can you defend that you own everything in Kurdistan when people do not have jobs and food on their table? How can you defend that you and your family use the KRG money as your own and the people does not have electricity, water, roads, schools, hospitals, medicin? No, you cannot. That explains their fear and their exasperated attitude towards the Change List.
Change List flags torn down
According to the KDP we all are agents for Iran, Syria and Turkey. And we are being paid by these countries through Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of Iraq.
There are no evidence of any of the Change List high officials having connections with these countries. Nashirwan Mustafa cannot travel anywhere, he cannot even step outside his door without being watched by the KDP. Actually we are all being watched by the KDP in evey step we take. We suspect that they want people to turn on us and hurt us or even kill us by trying to undermine the trust people have in us. Or that they will use these accusations as being confirmed when someone of us has been arrested or killed. And if we were paid by anyone, how come we do not own any buildings to set up our campaign offices everywhere? Why do not all posted on the Change List and officials drive luxury cars and live like kings?
According to the KDP is everything we say in public media slander and the only reason for us to do this is to harass or provoke them. Our posters or flags are put up only to taunt them. Obviously the Kurdistani List has no understanding of the democratic framework. They do not know that if these elections should ever be viewed as democratic all sides must be allowed to voice their opinions publicly and without interventions or obstructions. There should be an open dialogue and mutual respect for each other's right to have different opinions and have their own candidates and representatives. The people have the right to hear all sides and then decide independently. But the KDP is doing everything to prevent the Change List from being heard or seen. This attitude explain though why you never see any of our posters or flags anywhere in the Behdinan area. They have been torn down as soon as we have put them up. They must really sting their eyes...
The Kurdistani List are exposing their fear of the Change List. By all the dirty tricks they pull they reveal that they really see the Change List as a threat to them keeping the power. They are showing the people that they are desperate and that they do not have any real arguments to counter with when we accuse them of corruption, nepotism and cronyism. How can you defend that you own everything in Kurdistan when people do not have jobs and food on their table? How can you defend that you and your family use the KRG money as your own and the people does not have electricity, water, roads, schools, hospitals, medicin? No, you cannot. That explains their fear and their exasperated attitude towards the Change List.
Change List flags torn down
July 17, 2009
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.
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.
July 16, 2009
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...
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...
July 15, 2009
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...
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...
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