1 Preamble
1. This is a proposal to form the Kurdistan Democratic Alliance (which shall hereafter be called the Alliance) in order to embrace the emerging Kurdish political demands of the new era for which the dominant political parties in Kurdistan lack modern vision and effective approach to fulfil and to take full advantage of the current and future opportunities for the benefit of the Kurdish nation. Once, established as an emerging democratic force, the Alliance will take part in the next parliamentary and municipal elections in South Kurdistan.
2. This document provides information on the nature of the Alliance, and its pledge to the people of Kurdistan and to the international community.
3. Kurdish people have never had an opportunity to decide their own future at their own free will. This is largely due to the negation of the Allies’ promises during and after the World War I. Sighting Wilson’s Principles for the right of self-determination, the 'League of Nations' specified three countries; Armenia, Kurdistan and Arabia, to attain independence. However, when it came to the Kurds, such promises were not implemented. Since then the Kurds have been suppressed by the states ruling over Kurdistan and have been deprived of their basic human rights.
4. During this painful phase of Kurdish history, massacres and genocide were committed against the Kurdish people. Yet the oppressors of the Kurds continue to ignore and deny the massacres and genocide against the Kurdish people. Hence, a revision of our demands is an imperative task, which concerns our future and the future of our children and grand children.
5. In many resects, the position of Kurdistan Democratic Alliance underlines fundamental differences with the position of the dominant Kurdish political parties who seek to live within the current borders and are content with limited rights for the Kurdish people. We believe that the Kurdish people should determine their own fate on their own free will and without any intimidation. “Self-determination” is the legitimate right of the Kurds, not a favour.
6. Therefore, we, as a group of Kurds and their friends, have proposed these pledges for the Kurdish people as an agenda in order to take part in the forthcoming elections in South Kurdistan. We disagree with the way that the election is proposed to be conducted. We believe it is against the principles of free and fair elections if Kurds in other parts of South Kurdistan, which are outside the Kurdish administration, are not allowed to take part in Kurdistan’s election. This is contrary to the aspiration of the Kurds and the terms of Iraq’s interim constitution.
7. In proposing these pledges, it should not be assumed that we, the contributors of this document, have established a political party. The production of this document is rather stemming from our democratic and patriotic beliefs. In this document, we provide the Kurdish people, people of the region and the international community what we judge to be the real demands of the Kurdish people and how to pave the way for a democratic and stable Kurdistan, Iraq and the region. We firmly believe that Ignoring the real demands of the Kurdish people and the needs of the region for genuine democratic institutions will inevitability lead to the re-emergence and further survival of totalitarian regimes and tyrants.
2 Why Kurdistan Democratic Alliance?
8. We recognise the fact that for decades, the main Kurdish political parties have been struggling for Kurdish rights and they have played a very substantial role in the Kurdish national struggle.
9. However, the situation of Kurdistan has changed and a traditional approach to the Kurdish national struggle and nation building does not suffice any more. The Kurds in all parts of Kurdistan should be given the right to determine their own future without any political party or organization imposing its will on them or influencing their choice. In this respect, there are a substantial number of Kurds who believe that the people of Kurdistan should be allowed to determine their own future. They believe that the current Kurdish political parties and organizations do not represent their desire. The presence of Kurdistan Democratic Alliance in the political scene will strive to give the Kurds the democratic choice they aspire.
10. A substantial part of Kurdistan’s society and Kurdish community in Diaspora will be able to make a positive contribution to the democratic process in Kurdistan. However, they cannot work within the established traditional frameworks. This does not mean that they will work against the current establishment; nonetheless they have a different view, equally valid, to those of the other political parties. The Alliance shall act to absorb and utilize the socio-political and other potentials of these Kurds, and give them the opportunity to contribute to the political process and the socio-economic development of Kurdistan.
11. There is a gap between the current political parties and the Kurdistani society. If it is not bridged by positively integrating these socio-political forces, there may exist the risk of being manipulated by the enemies of the Kurds to the detriment of the Kurdish national interest. That is why the Alliance is determined to engage such currently marginalised sections of the Kurdish society for the benefit of Kurdistan’s security, development and progress.
3 The nature of the Kurdistan Democratic Alliance
12. Kurdistan Democratic Alliance is an Alliance of Kurdish individuals and political, social and cultural organisations who seek a peaceful solution to the Kurdish grievances through a non-violent political campaign.
13. The Alliance is vital for both the Kurds and also for the international community, as there is currently exist no other organisation working towards the Alliance’s objectives. The Alliance will support and work with any organisation that contributes to achieving any of its objectives and will attempt to build constructive partnerships with them.
14. The Alliance is distinct from other Kurdish organisations in that its primary focus is the promotion and development of the social, political, economic and cultural life of the Kurds. It intends to achieve Kurdish aspirations through a non-violent campaign and it rejects any use of violence to achieve one’s aims.
15. This brings the Alliance into the international arena as it strives to achieve its objectives through a non-violent political campaign. The Alliance shall embrace democracy within its own ranks in the organisation and within a future Kurdistan parliament and government, in order to reinforce democratic principles and contribute to the wellbeing of the international community. The Alliance wishes to be a proactive partner in condemning terror anywhere in the world and in building a prosperous world for all mankind.
4 Strengthen the Kurdistani aspect of the Kurdish issue
16. Alliance will endeavour to achieve self-determination for the Kurds in all parts of Kurdistan. Its vision would be the establishment of a united and independent Kurdish state, by peaceful means, including a referendum conducted by the Kurds in all parts of Kurdistan. The alliance will liaise and work with all Kurdistani political and non-political organisations and will support any positive steps by such organisations to establish a civil society in Kurdistan and achieve Kurdish self-determination.
5 The vision of Kurdistan Democratic Alliance
17. The Kurdistan Democratic Alliance’s vision is to create a democratic civil society for Kurdistan. The Alliance’s top-down approach would be the separation of executive, legislative, and judiciary powers and the creation of a democratic framework for the political system. This will be supported by a bottom-up approach, which would be the establishment of civil society through grassroots organisations to support all aspects of life. At the top, the powers will be divided and at the bottom, the Alliance will support civil, human rights and democratic organisations. This framework will be planned over short, medium and long terms.
6 Issues facing election in Kurdistan
18. It is important to identify and debate the issues that occur in Kurdistan, which will have a direct effect on the elections in Kurdistan. No political party shall intimidate or harass the supporters of other political entities. All Kurdistani people should be able to freely cast their votes, without any outside pressure.
7 The election pledges of Kurdistan Democratic Alliance
19. The Kurdistan Democratic Alliance strives to achieve Kurdish self-determination by advocating on behalf of the Kurds to be given the opportunity to determine their future without interference from external forces. The Alliance believes that only Kurds can and should be able to determine their own fate in whatever way they decide through a democratic referendum and the outcome of this referendum must be respected by the regional states and the international community, particularly the United Nations.
20. The Alliance will strive to abandon the current local and limited policies carried out by the Kurdish parties for one that envisions a policy for South Kurdistan as a whole, in order to better realize Kurdish aspirations for self-determination.
21. The Alliance shall also strive to establish a democratic civil society and the rule of law in Kurdistan.
22. To achieve its objectives, the Alliance shall take part in the next municipal elections in South Kurdistan and the elections for the Kurdistan Federal Government.
23. Below are outlined the pledges of the Alliance after a successful election, wherein a Kurdistan Parliament and Kurdistan Government will be established.
7.1 The right to self determination
24. The right to self-determination is everyone’s birthright.
25. The constitutions of Kurdistan or Iraq shall give the Kurdistan people the right of self-determination via a referendum in Kurdistan, not in Iraq, whenever the people of Kurdistan want to exercise that right.
26. The Kurds shall determine their own future free from coercion and intimidation. The people of South Kurdistan should decide through a referendum if they want to remain as a part of Iraq.
27. The Iraqi government, regional states, and the international community, especially the United Nations, should respect the outcome of such a referendum.
28. Participation in any referendum on the status of South Kurdistan shall be exercised by the Kurds alone not all Iraqi people.
29. Should the Kurds decide not to remain within Iraq, the Alliance will support their decision and advocate on their behalf to the international community.
30. The Alliance shall draw a "Roadmap for the Kurdistan-wide Referendum".
31. Alliance’s recognition of the right to referendum is the response to the latest campaign in which 1.7 million signatures in Kurdistan and another 48 thousand more by Diaspora Kurds has been collected.
32. Upon the successful outcome of the referendum, the Alliance shall put forward a "Roadmap for the devolution of Power in Kurdistan". The roadmap shall be discussed in the ‘then’ elected Kurdistan Parliament with the support of all the civil and democratic institutions.
7.2 Constitution of Kurdistan
33. Kurdistan Parliament should produce a specific constitution distinct from that of Iraq. It will clearly define all the roles and responsibilities of the government of Kurdistan.
7.3 The form of Kurdistan parliament and government
34. Kurdistan parliament shall comprise of two houses, the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). The members of both houses shall be elected by the people of Kurdistan. The system of election shall be based on proportional representation (That is each political entity will represent by a number of MPs according to the percentage of votes they have gained in the election held in Kurdistan). Members of parliament shall be pre-selected by political entities and their names shall be made public in the constituencies they represent. Independent candidates may stand for both houses of parliament. If a candidate resigns from their respective political entity, he/she can continue in the house as an independent.
35. As long as it is proven to be a fair and a clean process, the Alliance shall respect the outcome of the Kurdistan general election.
36. The political parties’ armed forces should be dissolved and be replaced by Kurdistan armed forces.
37. Kurdistan Parliament may share some elements of the Iraqi Penal Code but will establish its own laws and regulations.
38. Diaspora Kurds shall participate in the elections and vote to elect the Kurdistan parliament.
39. There shall be only one parliament and one government in Kurdistan. Hence, the two Kurdish administrations of Arbil and Sulemani shall be united.
7.4 Relationship with central government
40. The federal constitution shall define Kurdistan’s relationship with the central government, including the mandate of the Kurdistan government. If there is a dispute between Kurdistan and the central government on the mandate, Kurdistan parliament, or if necessary a referendum in Kurdistan will determine the final stand of the Kurds in the dispute.
7.5 Separations of powers
41. The judicial, legislative and executive powers shall be separate and independent of each other. Their independence should be enshrined into Kurdistan’s constitution.
7.6 Separation of religion from politics
42. The Alliance shall separate religion from politics. The private and sacred nature of the relationship between man and God and the holiness of religions shall be safeguarded by separating religion from the political realm and the influences of power, position, finance and politics.
43. The current ‘Ministry of Awqaf’, is specific to Islam. In order to deal with all the religions faiths, it shall be renamed to the "Ministry of Religious Affairs". The Alliance in the parliament shall encourage all the sections of the society to register in order to be protected by law.
44. The religious figures shall not be pressured to involve in politics, for example to defend individuals or political parties. Any religious groups shall only be a civil group, not a political one, and shall be subject to legal laws and procedures.
7.7 Historical geographical rights of Kurdistan
45. Kurdistan is a unitary geographical land in its entirety which includes all parts of historical Kurdistan. Kirkuk is an integral part of Kurdistan. Kurdistan has been forcibly divided by the imperial powers and the states ruling over Kurdistan without any consultation with the Kurdistan people. The only just solution to the Kurdish question is that they should be allowed to have their say and decide their future and the status of Kurdistan.
46. The map of Kurdistan shall be designed and the areas that form south Kurdistan shall be identified. This shall be submitted to the UN and the international community for recognition and protection.
7.8 Political accountability & transparency
47. A Kurdistan Democratic Alliance will contribute Kurdistan elections with a clear vision and a doable mission. It will strive to achieve its expressed promises to the people of Kurdistan. Also, it will hold elected Kurdish political parties accountable to their pre-election promises they have made to the Kurdish people. If elected, the representatives of the Alliance will hold Local and Federal Kurdistan governments accountable to the people of Kurdistan.
48. Politicians, public officials and the members of the Kurdistan parliament and the government shall adhere to a code of conduct, designed and passed by Kurdistan parliament.
49. Establishment and operations of all the political parties shall be defined by law and be based on transparency and accountability.
50. All political parties shall be required to declare their assets, resources and the sources of their funds. No political party shall get financial or military support from any power that is hostile to the Kurds and bent on harming their national interests.
7.9 Elimination of corruption in the government
51. The Alliance shall endeavour to eliminate corruption and nepotisms at all levels of governmental and non-governmental institutions.
