|
Corruption in Southern Kurdistan, its origin, how to challenge
it! |
|
The opinions
expressed in this commentary are solely those of the
author |
|
Corruption in Southern Kurdistan, its
origin, how to challenge it!
30.7.2012
By Kaiwan Bahroz
—
Ekurd.net |
|
|
|
Kaiwan Bahroz, a political analyst, human rights
activist, an active member of the Norwegian SV
party, currently Studying Political Science in
Norway. •
See Related Links
July 30, 2012
There are a variety of crimes against humanity and
lack of basic human rights in Iraqi Kurdistan. One
other concern which has been affecting civil people
and has become a significant obstacle to
democratization is corruption. Corruption is an
issue that creates a major burden to economic growth
and social development and insecurity. In Iraqi
Kurdistan it has indeed done the damage; it has
become a hindrance to economic growth in the region.
It has indeed affected social development and on top
of all, it has caused insecurity amongst the civil
people in the region.
In addition to corruption, there are other problems
like the lack of freedom of speech in media and
journalism. One of the most infamous case is the
unsolved
murder of the
Kurdish journalist Sardasht Osman who
wrote about the
corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan and of the Kurdish
government officials in Iraqi Kurdistan. This has
resulted in his murder. Another Journalist was Soran
Mama Hama whom he too underwent the same fate and
his
murder is still
unsolved. Murdering people only because they he
system in Iraqi Kurdistan can get away with murder,
murdering civil people. These types of crimes are
described as inhumane. It represents what can be
done in Kurdistan without justice. The assassins are
still free and will not be brought to justice.
Unfortunately, those other types of crimes have an
effect on corruption and corruption has a bad
influence on strengthening those types of crimes.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) uses its forces
in the army to combat anyone who raises their voice
to tell the truth. The usage of the
army forces was
evident in the
uprising of the
19th February 2011. This outcome of this led to the
murdering of
tens of young civil people including
school children.
The level of the brutality of the Kurdish
administration and the security forces is a fact in
Iraqi Kurdistan. University students are threatened;
their lecturers are detained simply because they
want to express their antipathy of the current
system and
corruption.
Educated
people,
doctors,
lawyers are mistreated and
threatened.
Those people have endured and tolerated insecurity
and brutality under the regime of Saddam Hussain.
Now, they feel the same insecurity at the hands of
the governmental authority in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Corruption has significantly increased in Iraqi
Kurdistan; this has become a very severe problem
posing a serious issue that is affecting many
aspects of civil do not have a plan or a strategy in
place to dampen down this serious problem. Combating
corruption has to be done through a systematic
method that is not contradictory to democracy. The
outcome should make gaining a democracy state
reachable and not a dream as it is now.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, the KRG and its administration
are dominated by the two major political parties,
the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The members of
these two parties have been the main players in
making and creating corruption so apparent in the
region, this problem is in an increasing trend in
Iraqi Kurdistan. Public funds have been wasted by
this serious issue. People are aware of it,
journalist are desperate to write about it, they
want to express views and feelings about it. The
lack of freedom of speech has been daunting. It has
been an intimidating period for them.
Public funds and resources are misused by
individuals in the governmental authority working on
the growth of their own private wealth rather than
using it for the public services. That is abusing of
public resources for private wealth.
Political power in Iraqi Kurdistan controls every
aspects of life of the civil people. It has been
affecting basic necessities in life. Thus,
corruption occurs because political power is used to
pursue strengthening personal wealth.
Large amounts of Kurdistan Regional Government funds
and resources are moved to the two parties accounts;
this has been giving them more power and wealth. A
Wealth that cannot be defined as it is all done
secretly. This serious problem has been affecting
junior members of the political parties too,www.ekurd.net
as this has created a strong dependency of funds to
gain private wealth. Thus, giving them the capacity
and the power to provide services for money. These
services are usually provided by the government
funds in countries where corruption is not an issue.
Those services can be simple needs of living. People
are made and manipulated in to work on the basis of
giving bribes. This in its own is redirection of
public funds to serve individuals in the authorities
in Iraqi Kurdistan.
To deal with corruption problem and eradicate it we
need to get to the roots of the problem. As this is
causing a big economic problem in the region and
this has been leading to the monopolization of the
economy there. In Iraqi Kurdistan, the major
political parties own almost all of the financial
deals. Whether those financial deals are legal or
illegal, they still own them. The presence of black
market has been dominating the financial business.
As those deals or making deals involve a politician,
so people need to use the method of bribing or
corruption to be able to sign any business deal.
Thus, without having a political connection,
business owners struggle with every day business
management. This has been affecting the growth of
public funds and investments in the region.
The root of Corruption is very deep in Iraqi
Kurdistan where people will continue to suffer
because of power of political parties and their
corruption.
Some of the minor political parties and independent
civil organizations hope in having a designated
committee to investigate this issue and find a
solution for it. But unfortunately, the power of the
two major parties is an obstacle and the impact of
this will be creating a society that lacks respect
and trust and lack of accountability. In addition,
this will be leading to low level of a democratic
culture and mistrust within the community.
To tackle this problem and in order to end
corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan, Change and Reform
should be the only aim in government sectors. This
change is necessary to enhance a strong sense of
belonging to the society. People should be able to
get their own basic human rights. An effort has to
be made by everyone who suffers from corruption in
Iraqi Kurdistan. With this approach and with the
trust that the change in the system will bring back
the Kurdistan people fought for. The land that
suffered from oppression and suppression in the
hands of Iraqi government under the hands of Saddam
Hussein for many years.
The country needs to be rebuilt by the people and by
the independent civil organizations. The nature of
corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan requires a system-wide
approach. Anti-corruption programs must be set, it
must focus on a broad range of areas including
economic systems reform, public awareness campaigns,
strengthening civil society organizations and
increasing investigation.
Kaiwan Bahroz, a political analyst, human rights
activist, an active member of the Norwegian SV
party, currently Studying Political Science in
Norway. Article for Ekurd.net
Copyright © 2012 Ekurd.net
Top |
The opinions
expressed in this commentary are solely those of the
author
|
|
|
®
