Kurdishaspect.com -By Baqi Barzani
KRG.s incapacity to ensure protection of Kurdish citizens rights in Kirkuk, to have pressed on the implementation of due referendums and ultimately to incorporate Kirkuk back into Kurdistan geography is the key basis for increasingly growing Arabization and Turkification policies.
I had to hit the road toward Kirkuk and Mosul governorates in order to be able to better weigh up the current circumstances. Just hearing and arguing did not suffice to retort to my questions. I assumed it would be the best to directly converse to the actual Kurdish residents and citizens of Kirkuk, and inquire about their honest varying views on our government, developments, and demands. Below is my conclusion:
Kurdish Kirkuk is facing the immense threat of Kurdish de-population, economic marginalization, urban underdevelopment, and domination by other ethnic minorities. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk are totally overlooked, increasingly discriminated against and most ominously, with every passing day, KRG is losing its hegemony.
Most Kurds I had the opportunity to talk to were complaining about the lack of physical security, equal access to employment, education opportunities, and water and electricity shortage.
KRG’s indifference and constant intimidations by empowered Arabs and Turkomans minorities resulted in many fellow Kurds to relinquish their belongings, and try to resettle in other major stable parts of Kurdistan such as: Hawler and Sulaymaniyah.
Rapid Turkification of Kirkuk is supplanting old Saddam’s Arabization policy to an extent that most trivial Turkomans groups do not even recognize the legitimacy of KRG, with some radicals even going further by demanding complete self-rule and some arguing that neither KRG, nor federal Iraq, reserve any governance rights over their jurisdiction.
Turkish diplomatic and trade centers, educational institutions, military outposts can be noticed all over. Kurdish and Arabic language instructions at schools, Kurdish culture, and Kurdish mores are gradually waning. Turkish is regarded the official spoken language in most government departments. One can hardly find a Kurdish magazine or newspaper on the streets. Almost eighty percent of the press is circulated in Arabic and Turkish languages. Kurdish citizens of Kirkuk have to refer to Arab and Turkomans Mokhtars’ ( local leaders) for their administrative and municipal concerns. Arabs and Turkmen colonies are getting secluded from Kurdish settlements.
There is no doubt that Turkomans are under the auspice of the Turkish government. While KRG has turned a blind eye to the afflictions of Kurdish citizens, the gap has been filled by foreign states, mainly Turkey making the welfare, safety and preservation of the rights of Turkomas a foreign policy priority.
Discerning that the U.S. troops will soon depart under a Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government that requires that their withdrawal be completed by the end of 2011, armed by regional powers, Turkomans and Arabs groups have already prepared themselves in advance for any possible forceful takeover scenario by Kurdish security forces. Strong alliance has been forged by non-Kurd groups, aimed at utterly eliminating Kurdish diminishing position. In Kirkuk, Turkomans and Arab ethnic groups hold parallel defense capability to Kurdish Peshmarga forces if not surpassing. Ankara and Baghdad hold full control over oil production and exports. Turkish private and state refinery companies have inked long-term agreements with Baghdad to ransack Kurdish national oil. KRG had long given up its reconstruction and integration efforts and the city does not bear any resemblance to any part of Kurdistan at all.
A surge in the population of other nationalities is also perceptible, including Palestinians, Jordanians and Iranians.
The overall situation is worsening and if the current balance holds, it is anticipated that no referendum will ever be held and the reality of incorporating Kurdish oil-rich Kirkuk into KRG will again turn into another 1974-5 reverie.
What are KRG’s strategies to recoup Kirkuk back and what would be its reaction if once more, the referendum is deferred? Has this crucial subject ever been discussed in Kurdistan parliament? Or..
Special thanks to Ekurd.net and Kurdish Aspect for posting my views!
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