- By Mufid Abdulla
- 07/03/2010
The fighting in this election has become unpleasant and distasteful between the two leading parties, especially when you consider the nature of the PUK’s campaign which shows clear similarities of and advocating of the former ruling Ba’athist Party. The style of the PUK’s campaign is completely obstructive to democracy.
We only have to consider the example on the 2nd March when the main headlines in the local newspaper, acting as the main voice for the PUK party, informed the reader that they were writing the newspaper with their blood not by ink. This is reminiscent of the film about Saddam pre-2003 in which he was shown writing the words of the Quran by his own blood. Much of what is happening at this time with regards to the PUK is evocative of that time and that struggle. The PUK declares itself to be a member of international socialism. Yet, if this was the case they should be demonstrating such ideas through effective campaigning which advocates peace, reconciliation and harmony. What we have instead is the PUK party which is the most bankrupted party and organisation in the south of Kurdistan. They have failed to manage the people properly, failed to manage the economy and destroyed all bridges between their party and the people of Kurdistan.
Furthermore, the PUK have tried to influence the views of the public in the name of the Gorran Movement by telling them that they have made a protocol with ex-groups in Kirkuk and Mosul. To summarise, the PUK are an old-fashioned party whose ideas belong to the old ideologies under Ba’athism.
This election is a test for all the ruling parties and opposition groups in the south of Kurdistan. The Gorran Movement must be well presented in their actions and in their presentation to their followers in this election. They must maintain their dignity and patience and not react to these negative attitudes and actions form the PUK which does nothing other than indicate the PUK’s desperation and inevitable eventual termination of their thoughts and organisation.
Finally, the movement of democracy and the followers of justice and equality in the south of Kurdistan indicate a very slow process at present but in the long term this process will prevail as well as an overall common sense attitude which should give us hope; it is a time to turn negatives into positives for the prospects of our Kurdish nation.
