Kurdistan Independence Referendum and the Future of Iraqi Kurds

Kurdistan Independence Referendum and the Future of Iraqi Kurds

The Kurds are the world's largest ethnic minority who has no state. They have suffered more than one hundred years under the governments of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Relatively the Kurds in Syria did not suffer like Kurds in Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Kurdish people are a long-oppressed people. They have been abused, tortured, bombed, imprisoned, murdered, victimized and mistreated by those countries.

The Kurds have been divided mainly into four different countries by Sykes-Picot Agreement (Asia Minor Agreement), which was a secret agreement between British and France in 1916 and that eventually led the creation of modern Turkey, Iraq and Syria. The Kurdish people about 30 million were left stateless when the Ottoman Empire collapsed one century ago.

Therefore, the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan fought against the British government for independence since the end of World War I. And their struggles for independence movement is on going movement until today. During all these years, Turkey bombed the Kurds whenever they want. Iraq tanks and

Iraqi Kurdistan people cast their vote for the first time for their independence on September 25, 3017. This is a historic vote for the Kurdish people and their land. Iraqi Kurds have voiced and voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Iraq. It is a historic vote and also controversial that could change the political landscape in the Middle East.

Almost 93% of those who took part in the referendum support for Kurdistan independence from Iraq. Voters turn out had been very high, with about 72% of the 8.4 million population taking part in the referendum. The referendum peacefully ended without any major accident. Many thousands of Kurds including women, children and older people rejoiced this vote because it is the beginning of their freedom and is the beginning of their self-determination and their fate. It is the day that they have the right to express who they are and what they are for. It is not only a historic moment for them but a historic moment for all the ethnic minorities around the world who are politically, socially, economically, emotionally, culturally, militarily and physically oppressed and discriminated. Their struggles and success of  independence and freedom is a symbol of struggles and success for all minorities around the world. The strong wills and resilience of the Kurdish people brought them to this critical point in the world's history. The world's history will never forget this referendum.

Kurds show Israeli and Kurdish flag in Erbil on Sept 25

Independence for ethnic minority group is not an easy one. It is harsh and difficult. Now the ruthless countries-Iraq, Turkey and Iran-threatened the small Kurdistan state for economic sanction and military actions. Turkey threatened to close border with Kurdistan and also to cut the oil flow from Kurdistan region to make hardship in Kurdistan.  Iran suspended flights to Kurdistan. Iraq asked to turn the airports in Kurdistan to Iraq. UN, EU and US opposed this independence referendum vote. No country is stood by with Kurdistan except Israel.

UN warns Kurdistan independence as "counterproductive" and "destabilizing the region" and US said "It is illegitimate and deeply disappointed" and Iraq said "unconstitutional and dangerous" and Turkey said "unacceptable and option on the table to invade" and Iran said "it is the wrong choice" and Syria said "we do not recognize it (Kurdistan referendum).' The question is what would Iraqi Kurds say about their independence and how far they can go and stand for it? This question is very crucial in this point since no country is standing for them including UN?

Turkey and Iraq, both were enemies in the past, became friends and conducted joint military drills near the border of Turkey and Kurdistan and sent a strong message to President Massoud Barzani against the referendum. They threatened him with wars. Iran sends their sophisticated missiles systems and tanks near the border of Kurdistan which can be seen from Kurdistan's side and threatening Kurds on their vote of independence. Turkey's regime Pre. Erdogan threatened military actions against Kurds if necessary. He said "Military action is on the table." All of them against Kurdistan independence referendum?

It is clear that neighboring countries-Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq- were angered by the Kurdistan independence referendum vote. They are worry for the future of their countries. Turkey, Iran and Iran continuously threaten the Kurdistan by military action, economic embargo and border closing. In fact, the Iraq-Turkey joint military drills near the Kurdistan border is to show their military power to intimidate the Kurdistan people. Iran, Iraq and Turkey never pursued peace and reconciliation, instead they always choose military actions and wars and fighting so solve the crisis. Their approach is too aggressive. They bullied the Kurdish people for one century and they are trying to bully them in the future. The Kurdish people should not be intimidated by all these military threats around them.

Dangerous Iran Missile System in Kurdistan Borders

In fact, the leaders of Turkey, Iraq and Iran are ruthless regimes in their own words. Especially Turkey President Erdogan's policies are based on fears, intimidation, pressures and hate to the Kurdish people. He is socially and politically blind. He is perhaps the worst leader in the middle East who has been using "scare tactic" in his own country and neighboring countries. He is, in fact, a "flip-flop leader" between US and Russia. He changes his position to either those countries often times. He even accused US for supporting "terrorists" in Syria. He was good friend for US sometimes but not all the times. Pre. Erdogan hates anybody including Israel who supports the Kurdish independence referendum and said this: "Israeli flags won't save you" and  threatened Kurdistan people with "famine and starvation" by economic embargo. What a terrible leader he is in the region. He indeed needs restraint as a leader in the region now. Unless he will fall sooner or later.

Pre. Erdogan believes that closing the oil pipelines and the borders with Turkey and Kurdistan would make the Kurdish people to starvation. That is really a very sick thought. He needs to realize that his idea will not work or will not block Kurdistan independence because Kurdistan independence is imminent, reality and the truth to come. Pre. Erdogan's words of war and famine rhetorical tones are not relevant for educated leader. This kind of rhetorical tones showed how wicked and weak Pre. Erdogan is. His actions and words will not deter Kurdistan people who are formidable people and who successfully resisted even the ruthless Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein for decades. Kurdish people should not scare his threatening words and actions. They should ignore it.

Iraq-Turkey Military Drills near Iraq-Turkey Border

The world leaders need to know today that leaders of Turkey, Iraq and Iran are problem makers for decades not only in their own countries but also in in neighboring countries. Leaders in those countries including Syria are always fighting wars within their own countries and neighboring countries. They dragged all parties to wars including rebels groups like FSA, Al Nusra Front, Hezabollah and many other warlords to political games. The leaders in this region know how to fight but don't know how to end it, and establish peace, security and stability in those regions. UNO has been facing many problems and issues around those four countries for decades. Leaders in those countries need to go to "Peace Institutions" and learn peace making strategies, unless they will not know how to end fighting and making peace in the future.

The problem is not the land or the people but the problems are the mentality and psychology of the leaders in those countries. Their biggest mistake is that leaders in those four countries always to try to solve the political crisis by means of violence, fighting, wars, military actions and human right abuses etc, which are the lowest form of solving problems and crisis. They don't realize that violence begets violence and history repeats itself.

Regarding Kurdistan independence referendum, leaders in Turkey, Iran and Iraq don't want a political dialogue with Kurdistan. They just tried to find the solution by "war and military action and economic embargo." They don't make any rooms for peace and negotiation. It is too bad for 21st century. The leaders in those countries are too evil because they don't want peaceful negotiation and political dialogue. Instead they all are talking wars against Kurdistan. These three countries are the "Evil Alliances." They misuse their military powers upon a small ethnic minority group-the Kurdish people, which has no helper or supporter.

They have abused and discriminated Kurdistan in their countries politically, militarily, economically psychologically and culturally for many decades. The whole world need to know the sufferings of the Kurdish people in the hands of Turkey, Iraq and Iran for a century. Turkey bombed them. Iraq bombed them. Saddam Hussein, the worst dictator, gassed many thousand Kurdish people in 1988 at Halabja city. The whole world knew about it. Iraqi government could not hide it. The world will never forget this mascre. No countries stood for Kurdistan people against Iraq in that time.

This should never happen again in a Free Democratic Kurdistan Country

Saddam Hussein gassed the Kurds. It should not happen again!

Iraq armies put down the Kurdish uprising in 1991 using helicopters and tanks and killed many Kurdish fighters and civilians under the eyes of American pilots who flied around them. Kurds died like rats in the hands of Saddam Hussien. UN did not protect the Kurds from the atrocities of Iraqi armies. US did not protect them either. No western countries stepped up against Saddam Hussein, the mad man and the killer of Kurds. Kurdish people were very helpless and they suffered terrible losses. They lost not only the Kurdish freedom fighters but also civilian lives, cattle, properties, even crops, homes, businesses and everything they have.

Today, the whole world through the leadership of United Nations need to stand by with Kurdistan people and face and solve the political crisis in Iraq and surrounding regions. The UN needs to understand and realize the political truth in the region and stand by for it. The reality and the truth is Kurdistan people need a free, peaceful, stable and democratic homeland for them, which will solve many problems including terrorism, human right abuses, wars, famines, refugee crisis and the one like the rise of the evil ISIS' movement in that region, because Kurdish people are the most strong, trust worthy, faithful and sincere people in those regions. The West and the United Nations can trust them. In fact they can't trust Iraq, Iran and Turkey because the whole world know the past behavior of their leaders.

Kurds should never forget the suffering of their people in 1991

Kurds  should never forget this tragedy (Ref. flickr.com)

The world needs to know that the Kurds have suffered enough for about 100 years. After long-suffering of 100 years they still showed their quality of lives and ability of solving crisis to crisis in Iraq. They love peace, freedom and self-determination. They do not threatened other neighboring countries. The Kurds know when and how to end fighting and make peace which Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria do not know. Kurds know well how to fight corruptions and how establish a peaceful, educated, modern and egalitarian society in Iraq which is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Kurds have strength, powers and ability to guard and secure their land even though Iraq has been facing many political turmoils in their land for almost four decades in Iran-Iraq Wars. Many historian and economists know that the Iraqi Kurdistan is the most secure, safe, peaceful, developed and educated in the region for decades now. Economy is booming until today even though Iraq government helped very little, almost nothing.

Kurds are able to build like this modern Eibil

The Kurds even saved many thousands of Yazidis people and made safe-haven for them in the Kurdistan areas who were left unprotected in the arms of evil ISIS terrorists by the Iraqi leaders and armies in 2014. The Peshmerga armies came and fought and died for the Yazidi. Many thousands of Yazidis are rescued by Peshmerga forces. They are truly the saviors for them. The Peshmerga are brave and strong and they sacrificed their lives for their people, homeland for other minorities like Yazidis during the uprising of ISIS the evils. Many Peshmerga fighters gave their lives in actions against the evil ISIS terrorists. KRG supports many thousand of Yazidis refugees and other internal displaced people in Iraq and saved and helped them as their protectors.

The Peshmerga forces even saved and protected the people and Kirkurk region from the destruction of the evil ISIS after the Iraqi army deserted the areas. The Kurds dared to die and sacrificed their lives for their nomeland, Kirkuk, because it is their homeland. They fought and died for it. The world need to think why they died for Kirkuk because that was originally their homeland before the creation of Modern Iraq.

Angelina Julie visited Khanke Refugee camp

Khenke Refugee camp in Kurdistan region

For these many reasons, therefore, the West, the United Nations, the EU and the Yazidis people should not forget and always remembered the braved Kurdish people for their love of peace and justices for all. Now, the Kurds need to be recognized, remembered, embraced, supported and justified for their struggles for their independence, by the whole world. All the minority groups around the world need to stand up with the Kurdish people. All ethnic minorities around the world need to stand by for Kurdish people for their fights and struggles for their independence movement in Iraq. It is the best time and the right time and is the golden chance for the Iraqi Kurds to get independence.

The Kurdish people in Iraq should not fear and scare for the intimidation of the leaders of Turkey, Iraq and Iran to deter their independence and all the people including Peshmerga forces and all fighters and civilians in Kurdistan need to "unite" under the leadership of Pre, Massoud Barzani and his government in this time. That is the most important thing and the only thing they need in right now in their country for independence.

Iraqi Kurds need to understand that the Iraqi government and their "constitution" will never allow the Kurds for independence. Therefore the Kurds must take it for themselves from Iraq. They need to foresee the difficulties and challenges during their struggles for their independence. It is clear they will encounter enormous challenges ahead economically, morally, psychologically, militarily and even food scarcity and face them with unity and moral strength because their victory is near. They should not rely on the West or the UN who did not really put their interests on the Kurdish people right now. They are busy with their own agenda in the region. Now is the time for the Kurdish people to ask question themselves and determine and choose their own fate. They need self-determination now and forever. They need to realize and accept the fact that "Independence is not be given but taken" in human history. The Kurdish people will not get independence freely and easily. It is expensive and they need to pay the price by hardship, difficulties, challenges and even many human crisis. They need to remember and never forget the Halabja Massacre and say "Halabja Massacre will never happen again."

They may face many difficulties and challenges ahead and may be death or massacre by Iraq, Iran and Turkey. But they need faith and hope that they will get freedom no matter whatever hardship they may face- "victory is in the end" for them. Nothing-military actions or economic embargo of other countries-can deter their victory and independence any more. Victory, justice, peace and independence is forever for them now on. Iraqi Kurdish people will get independence in any means sooner or later. This is God's predestination for them. They may face many hardships and obstacles but their the future of Kurdistan people and their land is as bright as the snow on the mountain tops of their beautiful Kurdistan land.

Therefore, the United States, the EU, the United Nations and the NATO need to help Kurdistan people for their struggles of peaceful independence and solve the political crisis in the region as soon as possible so that the region will be more stabilize and peaceful. If UN does not involve in finding peaceful solution Kurdish independence movement, they need to realize they are facing imminent political crisis and turmoils in that region in the near future. It will cost more human lives and more unstable situations and destruction in the region soon then the uprising of ISIS the evil. UN needs to prevent those destruction before it happen and looking for a peaceful solution. The Kurdish independence movement can explode the region in a very chaotic situation like in the time of Saddam Hussein, the mad man.

Now, the neighboring countries of Iraqi Kurdistan need "restraints." They need to think and choose a better solution by doing peaceful dialogue and negotiation rather than wars and fighting to establish a more peaceful neighboring countries. Especially Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his governments need to abandon Saddam' Hussein's policy of wars, torture, human right abuses, imprisonments and all forms of violence to deter the wish and determination of the Iraqi Kurds and choose a peaceful dialogue to find the better answer and solution for the future of Iraq itself. Mr. al-Abadi should not act like Saddam Hussein did in the past. Then he will be remembered as a true leader of the modern world.

Moreover all leaders in the region need to realize the importance of establishing a more secure, peaceful an prosper world for their future generations. If Iraq, Turkey and Iran choose wars against Kurdistan people it will be a very bad choice and strategy for the region, the Middle East and beyond and it will be more troubles than ISIS crisis in the future. Avoiding wars and military actions is important for all. Solving crisis to crisis and problems to problems peacefully is the most important thing for the world in the 21st Century.

All leaders in the region must understand that truth, peace, love and non-violence prevail in the end and are the best ideas for the leaders. All leaders need to realized that hates, intimidation, oppression, wars, fighting, arms and violence always make scars in human history. One of the wise leaders in the world and the most popular non-violent leaders of all times, Mahatama Gandhi, said:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall-thik.__think of it always!"

All leaders in Iraq, Turkey and Iran think of Gandhis's words always, unless they will bring their region into wars and chaos which will make great destruction in there for decades.

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Note:  http://archives.forusa.org/blogs/for/peace-quotes-mahatma-gandhi/10229