‘Kurdistani Alliance’ chief to campaign on co-existence, solving disputed territories

Kurdish parties have agreed to run in Iraq’s disputed territories on a joint list called the ‘Kurdistani Alliance’ when provincial elections take place on April 1, 2020.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU), the Change Movement (Gorran), and the Islamic Group (Komal) agreed to run jointly.   

On Tuesday the parties voted unanimously for Abdul Rahman Mustafa, a former governor of Kirkuk province (2003-2011), to head the joint list.

Mustafa says he will campaign on the principals of ethnic co-existence and the implementation of Article 140 of the 2005 Iraqi constitution. 

Article 140 was drafted to address the disputed territories – areas contested by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil and the federal government in Baghdad. 

It calls for a referendum to determine whether these areas should join the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region or remain under direct rule from Baghdad.

According to the constitution, Article 140 should have been implemented by the end of 2007, yet a referendum has never taken place.

In an interview with Rudaw’s Hiwa Jamal, Mustafa said the list will act as an umbrella for all Kurdish and non-Kurdish parties and communities of Kirkuk, which has long been haunted by ethnic tensions.

Rudaw: I would like to start off by asking what is your opinion of the protests taking place in large parts of Iraq – including Kirkuk?

Abdul Rahman Mustafa: From what we hear, these protests that have been ongoing across many cities of Iraq started due to corruption, injustice, and an extreme lack of services.

Are these the only reasons behind the protests? It is said it stemmed from public outcry at the removal of Lt. Gen. Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, commander of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Forces (ICTS), by the Iraqi government.

It is another factor. But the big problem is the question of the lack of services. You know that torching provincial buildings has nothing to do with the removal of Saadi. The protests are targeting local governments.

Do you think the demonstrations will get larger in Kirkuk and that all the communities will get involved, including Kurds, Turkmen, Arabs, and Christians?

I cannot predict whether there will be a large protest in Kirkuk. However, it depends to what extent the communities are united for such a move. Naturally, the people of Kirkuk, like the rest of Iraq, are angry at the lack of services, but in the end it is up to them to decide whether they need to protest the lack of services, which has not been the case so far.

You are now the head of the Kurdistani Alliance for the April provincial elections in the disputed areas. All parties agreed for you to lead the Kurdish list. In your campaign agenda you talk about providing services. What is the state of services in Kirkuk right now?

First of all, I would like to make something clear. I am just the head of the Kurdish list. The post I am given is not connected to the matter of governorship or any other related administrative subject. Once the election process has finished, my job too will finish. I am far from getting the post of Kirkuk governor... I am not willing to assume the post of governor of Kirkuk at all.

You did not receive much backing and support from the KDP or PUK during your governorship, as you were not member of either party. Once again, you appear to be neutral. Do you think you will be supported as head of the Kurdistani Alliance by these parties?

I do not hide it from you that when they reached out to me for this post, I initially turned it down. But all the 15 parties insisted that I must agree to head the list and carry out this duty... And yesterday [Tuesday] all the parties gathered at the Gorran Movement headquarters in Sulaimani where I told them my plans. They all agreed with what I said. And I thanked them for the big support they were willing to throw behind me. I am grateful to them for having faith in me. We will all work to make the list successful. It feels great when you see all these parties mobilizing and getting together to run on a single joint list for the elections.

Your house is located in the Imam Qasim neighborhood in Kirkuk. Are you going to stay there during the election campaign?

Yes. Even when I was the governor I did not move.

Who nominated you for the post?

I do not know who did it. All I know is that all 15 parties unanimously asked to me to become head of the list. It is a source of pride for me to play this role and I appreciate those parties who suggested me.

After you resigned as governor in 2011, the first person who received you was Mr. Masoud Barzani. Did you see Masoud Barzani before becoming the head of the Kurdistani Alliance?

No.

Have you heard anything on his stance?

All the political parties, the KDP, PUK, Gorran, and other political parties supported me. And therefore, the top leaders of the parties must be aware of that. Mr. Masoud Barzani has always been supportive to me, praising me on several occasions in different places. I am grateful to him and other party leaders, to all those who liked my performance, my stances.

What slogans will you run under to secure votes for the list?

My slogan is that of the list, which calls for coexistence and the implementation of Article 140. Naturally it is a peaceful slogan as there are various components living in Kirkuk, whether we like it or not. We are the people of this city; Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Chadians, Christians, and others. We have entitlements and rights and enjoy good relations with one another. We have social relations and economic interests and... these cannot be damaged by minor political differences between the parties.

How will you strike a balance between all the communities of Kirkuk if your list represents only the Kurdistani parties?

Concerning keeping a balance, thankfully I have long experience during my tenure as governor for eight years. All sides witnessed my performance during my leadership during which I kept balance between the communities. I had a balanced relationship with the political parties and the groups. I still maintain good relations with all of them. They respect me, as do I them. I attend all their occasions and events. I am pleased to have built such relations with them. Having maintained such ties means I continue to enjoy good relations with them.

As this list represents all Kurdish parties, who has the authority to decide on party candidates and the distribution of seats?

Concerning the candidates, the political parties will themselves nominate candidates and they will agree on a mechanism to distribute the seats. But in the end it is the number of votes which decides who will win a seat.

Then what will be your role in rejecting or accepting some of the candidates? Maybe there will be a candidate whose performance you do not like. In other words, are you given the authority to reject a candidate?

One of the things which I pointed out yesterday [Tuesday] in the meeting was that the parties will have to nominate those people who are good people, known figures, very preferable among people and have good standing among the pubic so that they can be successful and gain votes. They must be responsible to be able to serve people so eventually we can achieve objectives that we have planned for. 

The Kurdistan Alliance logo and colors replicate the Kurdistan Flag. So it bears questioning, what is this alliance planning to do in order to garner support among non-Kurdish people in the disputed areas?

As a matter of fact, although this is a Kurdistani Alliance, there are non-Kurdish sides in it, including Turkmen and Yezidis. Happily, we were informed yesterday [Tuesday] that Yezidis too have decided to join us. Our door is open for any group or party wishing to join. As I said our coalition represents all sides and community groups serving all the components. Our slogan is coexistence and the implementation of the constitution. This motto serves the interests of the people of Kirkuk and other areas including Mosul, Diyala, and Saladin.

Outside the Kurdistan Region’s borders, other groups including Turkmen and Arabs do not want to live under the Kurdistan Flag. Do not you think that having the Kurdistan Flag as the logo of the alliance will discourage Arab and Turkmen groups from joining your list?

The logo does not clearly show it is only the Kurdistan Flag. It is more a symbol for all groups living in Kirkuk and other areas. The colors in it do not represent the Kurdistan Flag alone. Groups joining the list and already in it understand that it will serve all sides. People are after a list which assures and secures prosperity for them.