|
ARBIL, Iraq, Oct 10 (AFP) - In Iraqi Kurdistan,
no-one questions the usefulness of voting 'Yes' in
Saturday's referendum on a new constitution, seen as
the best way to reinforce their northern region's de
facto autonomy.
The mobilisation of voters to say 'Yes' in the
provinces of Arbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniyah is
unparalleled in the rest of Iraq. With one voice,
political parties, officials and media sing the
draft text's praises.
"The Iraqi state in general and the Kurdish people
in particular will (on October 15) take a huge step
forward and enter a more advanced era in their
social, political and economic history," said Arbil
governor Nuzad Hadi of the Kurdistan Democratic
Party (KDP).
Another official from the KDP, headed by Iraqi
Kurdistan's regional president Massud Barzani,
underlined the importance of Kurds' "taking part en
masse in the referendum and saying yes to the
constitution".
Mahmud Mahmud is in charge of educating the
population about the necessity of going to the polls
and his workers have inundated Kurdistan with
slogans and explanations in a bid to inspire people
of the virtues of the draft basic law.
Banners stretched across city streets inform
residents that "a Yes vote is the same as supporting
autonomy" or that it "guarantees keeping the
peshmerga," the Kurdish militia which fought the
forces of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein for
decades.
During the long and laborious birth of the
constitutional text, Kurdish negotiators fought
fiercely to enshrine Iraq's federal nature, although
the right to self-determination that could have led
to secession was left out.
Kurdish representatives in the regional parliament
were quick to notice the "omission" while reading
the final text but nevertheless called for Kurds to
vote yes.
"I will vote yes because I feel like I have an
historic responsibility," said 35-year-old teacher
Shilan Mulod. "I want to add my voice, that of a
woman, to the voice of the Kurds who, united, will
help our people's cause."
Kurdish public opinion has been worked on by the
media, in particular local television stations that
broadcast an increasing number of roundtable
discussions on the matter.
Local channels have organised debates with themes
such as "Why should you vote Yes?" and "With the
constitution". Another programme called "The school
of the constitution" invites viewers to call in with
questions for a panel of experts.
The television stations of both the KDP and the
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Iraqi President
Jalal Talabani have a permanent logo in the corner
of the screen saying "Yes to the constitution".
The United Nations began Saturday to distribute a
million copies of the draft law's text in Kurdish,
starting with the most isolated hamlets and villages
before moving to the cities.
The Chaldean, Assyrian and Turkmen minorities will
also have copies printed in their respective
languages, set to be handed out beyond the three
strictly Kurdish provinces and into cities such as
Kirkuk and Mosul, home to significant Kurdish
minorities.
During the bitter wrangling over the constitution's
make-up, Kurds temporarily dropped their claims on
the oil-rich but ethnically tense city of Kirkuk,
which was significantly Arabised under Saddam.
Nevertheless, Kurds say, the new document promises
somewhat ambiguously to "normalise the situation" in
Kirkuk after fresh elections set for December 15.
AFP
Top |
® 