Evidently, the Kurds have excelled under de-facto autonomy since 2003, whilst the rest of Iraq has been in turmoil and insurgency. However, it is often forgotten that Kurds have been practicing self-rule and increasing prosperity since 1991. Kurds chose to rejoin Iraq under a ‘voluntary’ union, whilst inheriting their pre-2003 status.
Depending on your source of news and political oratory, Kurds may be portrayed as a rather small rebellious group that has consumed more than its entitlement and has made unlawful gains whilst subsequently blocking national reconciliation. Common reference to ‘time for Kurdish realism’, Kurdish unilateralism, overreaching, land grabbing and disproportionate share of power, portrays a rather indifferent, greedy, inconsiderate and outrageous picture of the Kurds.
Perhaps, neighbours, politicians and foreign analysts, simply fail to observe eight decades of Kurdish history let alone the rich-history and culture dating back thousands of years. Admittedly, the rise to prominence is unparalleled in a remarkable short period of time in comparison to their lost and neglected existence for several decades before that. However, by no means should a tale of rags-to-the-riches be perceived as over-ambitious tendencies or overreaching.
The Kurds were harshly treated as second-class citizens and obstacles to the ideals of successive regimes. Neighbours Iran and Turkey and other Kurdish critics with their own agendas, should take note that the real parties in need of a reality check are not the Kurds. Days of denials, systematic persecution and crimes against humanity in the knowledge that the world would turn a blind eye is over.
Clearly the Kurds are reaching a critical conjecture in their history. After enduring decades of pain and sacrifice to rewrite partial wrongs and misfortunes of history, the Kurds must do all they can to patiently safeguard their historical gains and strategic standing. Swaying to the pressure and unjust rhetoric of Arabs, Turks and the like may well set the Kurds back decades more.
This is an opportunity for the Kurds via democratic and diplomatic means, in true contrast to their oppressors, correct the wrongs of the past and stand-up to chauvinism, aggression and belittling by other nationalists in the region.
Kurds must not allow foreign parties to dictate their fortune and destiny once more or be used as pawns in the greater schemes of global powers. This is nothing short of political suicide.
In Iraq, where the Kurds control the only stable, prosperous and peaceful part of the country, Arab Sunnis and Shiites after battling each other relentlessly for years, are now slowly uniting against the Kurds.
With a political memorandum issued by Arabs parties, the aim was clearly to halt Kurdish gains and impede their ‘overreaching’. A normalisation of Kirkuk, jurisdiction over oil, distribution of budget and regional authority had all been key conditions for Kurdish coalitions in government. Baghdad has been dragging its feet for years over Kirkuk and now Baghdad’s self-imposed actions that culminated in the missed referendum in 2007, are been used to annul article 140 of the constitution.
Reversal of past policies and crimes is the first litmus test of whether Arab mentalities really have changed or democracy can really be achieved. However, rather than stick to constitutional principles, Baghdad and their neighbours are simply looking at the unilateral aspect of Kurds inheriting oil in Kirkuk. Oil or no oil, money should not tamper the rights of inhabitants to return to the homes of their fore-fathers and to decide their fate.
The Iraqi flag imposed by Baathist leaders should have been the first to change and not grudgingly in 2008. After all it is the very symbol of a country. Yet more strikingly, the Iraqi national budget continues to remain stalled due yet again to a perception of transgression of boundaries by Kurds.
Disputes over provisional powers and rights of regions to explore oil, are again designed to put a spanner in Kurdish advancement. Clearly, Baghdad is now deflecting the blame for a lack of national reconciliation onto ‘uncompromising’ Kurds.
Ironically, as Kurds should be commended for their hard-fought gains, democracy, economy and a model of religious tolerance, they are been harshly judged as overstepping the mark.
Anywhere else, rectifying wrongs of the past, embarking on economic achievements and prominence against remarkable odds would be applauded, however clearly this would not happen in Iraq or neighbouring countries, only simply because in this instance it is the ‘impudent’ Kurds who stand to endure benefit and prosperity.