Federalism is the Solution

Two Kurdish parties' joint agreement

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Federalism is the Solution
by Joint Statement
12-Sep-2012
 

Translator’s note: On August 22, 2012, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) and the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan issued a “Memorandum of Agreement for Cooperation and Coordination.” This memorandum was written by working groups from both parties and was agreed upon by delegations headed by Abdullah Mohtadi, General Secretary of Komala and Mustafa Hijri, the General Secretary of PDKI. Translated excerpts follow.

Memorandum of Agreement for Cooperation and Coordination

Date: August 22, 2012


Translated by Frieda Afary

Introduction

The liberation movement of the Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan, has traversed different stages of tortuous struggle over the course of many years. The following is an undeniable fact: National resistance, self-sacrifice and the martyrdom of thousands of its children for the purpose of confirming the identity and political rights of the Kurdish nation, the most important of which is the right to self-determination.

At the present time, various global changes, recent developments in the Middle East, and also a new balance of forces among the superpowers have created the basis for presenting the national demands of the Kurdish people and further emphasizing Kurdish rights on the global scale.

Stronger than ever before, the waves of change and democracy-seeking in the Middle East region are undermining the foundations of dictatorships and pushing them toward collapse. With the continuation of the mass struggles of the people and the unyielding determination of the freedom fighters, sooner or later, the dictatorship of the Islamic Republic of Iran will also face no future but increasing economic and political crises and total collapse.

During the past two or three years, after the rise and fall of the Green Movement in Iran, the Iranian opposition movement, organizations and tendencies opposed to the Islamic Republic which live in exile, have started a new round of talks and joint activities. Despite differences in perspectives and views, in some areas they have developed a reciprocal understanding and proximity and have become more accepting of the idea of unity and an effort to create a democracy-seeking front with the goal of changing the regime.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan are two representative political tendencies which have engaged in joint measures and cooperation concerning some important issues during this time. In continuing this cooperative trend, they believe that under the current circumstances, coming to an agreement on a set of common principles is an undeniable necessity ...

General Principles

Both sides believe that democracy and the rights of Iran’s nationalities, specifically the Kurdish nation, will not be realized without overthrowing the regime of the Islamic Republic. Both sides also believe that Iran’s future political system needs to be secular, democratic and federal. Hence, it is necessary that both sides emphasize these points during their talks with the opposition in exile.

Komala and the PDKI completely believe in free elections conducted by the people of Kurdistan and undoubtedly consider the ballot box to be the most important source of legitimacy. . .

Both sides completely believe in the separation of religion from state and believe that the future government of Kurdistan and the constitution of Iran will have to be based on the principles of democracy, the United Nations Human Rights Charter and the political and national rights of Kurdistan. Freedom of religion and thought are considered the legitimate and undeniable rights of all residents of Kurdistan.

Both sides emphasize the complete equality of women and men in all political, social, economic, cultural, and family realms in society, and defend modern, progressive and humanitarian laws and will seek to promote laws accordingly.

Komala and PDKI defend freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of political association and the freedom to establish civil rights organizations and unions for workers, women, students, youth, teachers, etc… and will legally defend them.

Both sides are committed to social justice and the protection of the environment in Kurdistan and will include these subjects in the constitution

Both sides are committed to resolving their conflicts and political issues through dialogue and in a political manner, free of any violence. They consider this method necessary for all political forces in Kurdistan and will seek to promote this principle throughout Kurdistan.

The PDKI and Komala have chosen national-geographic federalism as their main slogan and political program for resolving the question of national oppression in Kurdistan. We uphold this slogan and will engage in joint efforts to confirm and realize it.

This agreement does not undermine the principle of political, organizational, diplomatic and journalistic independence of each side but will seek to support coordination and unity of views among them along the lines of the above mentioned shared goals.

Responsibilities Prior to Political Changes and the Overthrow of the regime

Introducing the problems and demands of the Kurdish nation in Iranian Kurdistan to the international community and seeking political support for the liberation movement of the Kurdish nation. For example, organizing joint diplomatic actions on a global scale and visiting international centers to promote this goal.

...Emphasis on the slogan of federalism as the solution for the problem of Iran’s nationalities, as we intervene in the dialogues of various Iranian opposition groups and figures opposed to the Islamic Republic. Seeking to promote joint positions and progressive national dialogues in the Congress of Nations of a Federal Iran, and defending this organization and introducing it to the world public opinion...

Both sides defend the legitimate struggles of the Kurdish people in all parts of Kurdistan and at the same time believe that any interference by one part of Kurdistan in the affairs of other parts is an inappropriate and harmful policy. Along these lines, if necessary, joint meetings with the government and political forces of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will be held, in order to strengthen relations, improve the status of the Kurdish nation in Iranian Kurdistan, and pursue a joint policy...

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan
General Secretary
Mustafa Hijri

The Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan
General Secretary
Abdullah Muhtadi

First published in Iranian Progressives in Translation.

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Darius Kadivar

JustAnIranian I'll Believe it when I see it ...

by Darius Kadivar on

As early as today ...

 

Deadly attack on Turkish convoy (bbc)

Militants kill seven Turkish soldiers and injure at least 56 more in a rocket attack on a convoy in the east - security officials.


MaryamJoon

My friend and I signed a document creating Maryam-stan

by MaryamJoon on

The territorial boundaries of our country are between Alaska and New Zealand.  

We are looking for a rich Jew to support our struggle for independence and have the signed document as proof.  


JustAnIranian

Darius

by JustAnIranian on

Just yesterday IR executed two Kurds. Who is advocating violence here? The Kurds are ethnically closer to us than to Turkey and the Turks have not exactly had exemplary attitude towards the Kurds themselves.

 Face it. Federalism is the solution. We have to unite with them. 


JustAnIranian

ChogHok

by JustAnIranian on

I think Maryam is an IR stooge herself/himself. He has something against the Baha'is and she told me if I don't accept her/his ideas I can take my exit visa and leave.  


choghok

Maryam if they would be Iraqi stooges

by choghok on

Then they would be IRI stooges since Iraqi govt is puppet of IRI today.


Darius Kadivar

As long as you don't translate your demands into violence ...

by Darius Kadivar on


As early as this morning in Neighbouring Turkey...

 

'PKK bomb' kills Turkish police (bbc)

 

Eight police officers have been killed by a roadside bomb in the southern Turkish province of Bingol, security officials say.

The device was detonated as their bus passed on a road in the Karliova district of Bingol province, they said.

Sources blamed the attack on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.

The PKK has been fighting for an ethnic homeland in south-eastern Turkey since 1984. It is classified as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and EU.
In all, more than 40,000 people have died in the conflict.

 

 

Related Blog:

 

LET THE CHILDREN IN: Princess Ashraf visits Kurdish refugee camp Iran-Iraq border (1974)

 

Related Pictory: 

 

DIPLOMATIC HISTORY: Shah of Iran Grants Assylum to Kurdish Prince Dawood Beg Jaff (1958) 



ROYALTY AND THE PEOPLE: Shah meets Kurdish Representatives (1948)

 

 


default

More power to them

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

looks like they don't give a fart about Islamist Rapist Rejim. 


MaryamJoon

2 guys working for foreign govts sign a piece of paper in Iraq

by MaryamJoon on

When a bear passes gas in the woods, is there anyone around to hear it? 

Iran is a sovereign country.  Period.

Signing things in Iraq only means you have an Iraqi souvenir - nothing else.

Might as well go to Graceland and get a signature from Elvis.  


JustAnIranian

Choghok

by JustAnIranian on

I agree with you sir. This will not be easy. 


JustAnIranian

MRX

by JustAnIranian on

I have heard again and again how the history of the two groups makes us not trust them. I ask of you:

1. Who has not changed in the last 34 years? The Iranians I know today would NOT choose a religious government or Velayat e Faghih. But they VOTED for it 34 years ago.

 2. What is the option? They want to be a federal state. We are all talking about and hoping for a democracy. Respecting their wishes is one part of that democracy. Do you suggest that the next government should fight them again?

We Iranians have to trust each other. We have to get rid of the Islamic Republic.

As I said before: we have no choice. Let's accept this gracefully. 


Zendanian

در راه هماهنگی یا در مسیر تفرقه "در حاشیه توافقنامه اخیر دو حزب

Zendanian


در راه هماهنگی یا در مسیر تفرقه "در حاشیه توافقنامه اخیر دو حزب سیاسی در کردستان"

امضای توافق نامه­ای بین دو جریان " حزب دموکرات کردستان ایران" و " سازمان انقلابی زحمتکشان کردستان"  واکنشهای مختلفی را هم از جانب گروهها و احزاب سیاسی ناسیونالیست  در کردستان و هم از سوی گروههای سیاسی ناسیونالیست و شونیست در سطح ایران را به دنبال داشت.  به دنبال موج حملات رسانه­ای، این گروهها که خود در عین حال از متحدین سیاسی این دو حزب نیز هستند، سخنگویان این دو جریان در رسانه­های بین المللی و در سایتهای مختلف به دفاع خجولانه­ای از آنچه که امضاء کرده بودند پرداختند. مضمون این دفاعیه ­ها نشان میدهد که بنا به دلایل واقعی آنها فاقد اعتماد به نفس لازم برای دفاع از آنچه که انجام داده­اند، میباشند.

مخاطبین این توافقنامه نه مردم کردستان، بلکه از یک سو متحدین سراسری آنها  و از سوی دیگر آمریکا و دیگر قدرتهای بزرگ جهانی هستند که در این دوره بویژه بر روی مسائل سیاسی ایران متمرکز شده اند. مسئله ملی کرد ابزاری است که این دو جریان برای وارد شدن در معادلات سیاسی آنرا بکار میگیرند. اما واقعیت این است که متحدین سراسری آنها نه تنها خواهان رفع ستم ملی از مردم کردستان نیستند، بلکه از همین امروز هم که نه دستی در قدرت دارند و نه حتی افق روشنی برای دست یابی به قدرت پیش رو دارند، در اعلام مخالفت با رفع قطعی این ستم تردیدی به خود راه نمیدهند. دخالت دولت آمریکا و قدرتهای دیگر امپریالیستی در مبارزات مردم کردستان و ایران هم، یعنی تدارک آنچه در سناریوی لیبی گذشت و امروز در سوریه می­گذرد، یعنی تبدیل کردن ایران به عراقی دیگر

//cpiran.org/index.php/2012-03-27-09-35-24/2012-03-27-22-47-17/528-2012-09-15-15-12-57

 


choghok

MRX then what is the option?

by choghok on

The option to federalism will be to suppress different ethnic groups to stay within the country. How come that none of the countries in democratic world that are federal has dissolved? Britain, Spain, Canada and so on, the one that failed Yugoslavia was the one that was held together through dictatorship.

And there are no ethnic borders, in Kurdish areas there live many different ethnicities, in Azarbaijan there lives many non azari speaking and so on.

And as said Iran was not centralized governed until Reza Shah, each part was ruled by its own Shah and then you had a shahanshah to rule them all.  Each part decided by itself over its laws and cultural rules.

When you have a democrathic federalism you have to try to fix problems through dialogue and discussions instead.

But of course we can not be naive and think that we can get to federalism in 1 day. First problem is to get people know that most of problems we have is self done and not as separatists want to tell you from "outer" enemy. Like many separatist Azari or Kurd today think there is a "Fars" chauvinism, where there is really ignorance from all side and the repression is Shia repression and not "Fars". You can be a Kurd and have high power in the government like Ahmaghinejads right hand Rahimi and you cn be Fars and in prison because you have changed your religion or are Bahai.


MRX

JustAnIranian

by MRX on

I think the issue is much deeper than having school in their own language. (by the way I am fine with that). Again let's not minse words, these so called political parties  are seperatist and like to break away and have their own country.  They will not be satisfied with school or movie theathres in their own language, you can count on that. So you either have to let them have their own country or have a strong central government with strong constitution that can provide some degree of decentralization without the ability of discrimination by regional authorities. for example: movie theathres can shows movies in Kurdish language if they want to but local authority can not pass a law that says movie theathres are only allowed to show movies in kurdish language.  so these are your only real choices not a shaky federal government base on ethncity.


JustAnIranian

MRX

by JustAnIranian on

I am against a referendum on separating from Iran. I don't think Iran specially after 34 years of IR is ready for this. In that sense we are very different from Spain. But I think they should be able to learn their own language in school and have the ability to democratically elect their leaders - under the flag of Iran. This is something nobody will be able to stop. I don't think we will be able to stop it. 

Accept it, we have no other choice. We might as well take it gracefully. 


MRX

JustanIranian

by MRX on

Germany and U.S federal governments are not based on ethnicity. Agree with you on unity though, but federalism based on ethnicity will be exact the opposit of what we are looking for.


JustAnIranian

Another point

by JustAnIranian on

The main damage was already done in 1979.


JustAnIranian

MRX

by JustAnIranian on

Ok, so let's for a minute assume you are right... What do you propose? 

I am not talking about Switzerland. What about Germany, US?

It is possible. We just have to trust each other. Change is always hard but I know the only way we will ever find stability, is if we are fair.

Iranians need to unite to get rid of the akhoonds in Tehran. Otherwise we will spend another 30 years sitting behind our computers and discussing the what ifs.  


MRX

This will be the

by MRX on

end of Iran as with know it, no matter how you dice it or slice it. Let's stop with the bull shit and fancy words.

Forget about the fact that for thousends of years members of Iranian tribes lived together in bad or good times and just about every Iranian probably has a reletive from some where in Iran and there really is no need or basis for this, but now some people  want to introduce the concpept of Federal Government based on ethnicity. the worst kind of government  or system out there!!!. In this scenario any ethnicty that is a majority in their geoghraphical domain, will discrimate against the minority. sooner or later tensions will rise which will ultimatley lead to ethnic cleansing by force or voluantary and that is just the begining...

Federalism based on ethnicty never worked and never will. (Don't tell me about switzerland we are not even close) it failed in Soviet Union,Yoguslavia and  checkoslavakia. It is begining to show it's failoure and fatigue  in Canada and Spain now. In Canada they tilt the equation by importing english speaking immigrants to Quebeque at least for now. in Spain they are barely hanging on. This will be a disaster in making and when that happens don't use the excuse used in 1979 fiasco, we didn't know, we were not informed, it means to be some thing else , blah blah

 


choghok

Learning fromYugoslavia

by choghok on

If we continue forcing to live in one country by undemocratic means it will turn into something like Yugoslavia. Different ethnic groups should have the right to choose for themselves to stay in a country. How can I living in Khorasan dictate for someone in say Azarbaijan, he or she should be willing to be in the same country, and if he she does not, then what is the reason?

 

Federalism is not an option, it is a necessity for Iran, it was how country was run from Koorosh to Qajar 


asadabad

Maryam

by asadabad on

Kurdish people are the oldest member of the Iranian people and nation.  They have every right to determine their own future.  

You need to stop spewing the trash the shiite regime spoon feeds you.  You should try reading the article before commenting.  Both of these gentlemen are Iranian Kurds who just want to be free.  They aren't tied to Iraqi Kurdistan.  You sound like the bloodthirsty fanatic khomeini when you talk about the Kurds.

Act like an adult and admit/accept the fact that the shiite regime has brutalized the Kurds (Sunni Muslims) from day 1.  As a result, the shiite regime must go.  They are cowards who have only worked with the West to invade/occupy Afghanistan and Iraq.  

For the record the only terrorist group in Iran is the regime lead by khamenei/ahmadinejad.


JustAnIranian

Sasan Khoramdin

by JustAnIranian on

Thank you for your comments. non-Bahai's I know, are moderate and tolerant. We respect the Jews, Bahais, Sunnis and Christians. 

We are cought up in a terrible situation. I look forward and pray for a Democratic Federal Iran as well. 


default

Sorry

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

did not mean to post my comments three times, don't know what went wrong!


default

The world knows Israel is a criminal state

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

If that is true, I wonder why is the world placing sanctions against Iran, and not Israel? Your logic sucks , as to people like you having anything to say about Bahaies, All I can say is that ignorance is a bliss>


default

The world knows Israel is a criminal state

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

If that is true, I wonder why is the world placing sanctions against Iran, and not Israel? Your logic sucks , as to people like you having anything to say about Bahaies, All I can say is that ignorance is a bliss>


default

The world knows Israel is a criminal state

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

If that is true, I wonder why is the world placing sanctions against Iran, and not Israel? Your logic sucks , as to people like you having anything to say about Bahaies, All I can say is that ignorance is a bliss>


MaryamJoon

And you just proved why 160 yrs of Iranian govts opposed Bahais

by MaryamJoon on

Disloyalty.  In a time of potential war you are defending against what you call: "brainwashing against Israel" ... The whole world (not just Iran) knows that Israel is a criminal state.  The fact that they let Bahais squat on Palestinian land doesn't help your objectivity either.  Watch this: Bahá'í Brainwashing Corporation


default

Dear Islamist Rapist Rejime's muzdoor

by Sasan.Khoramdin on

I am a proud Bahaie, But before being a Bahaie, I am a proud Iranian, unlike you I stand behind my beloved country, not some distance arab country. As to brainwashing goes, it is your paying masters that are brainwashing people in my country about Israel, in order to distract them from thier own murseres acts. Iran will one day soon, I hope have a Democratic Federal Government, but you would not enjoy see it, since you would run like rat and hide in an Arabic country, perhaps Palstine, or Lebanon.


JustAnIranian

Oh and Maryam Joon

by JustAnIranian on

I am not a Bahai, of course if that ever was an issue. If you had the slightest idea about democracy, you would know that is not an issue at all. We are first and foremost all Iranian.


JustAnIranian

Maryam Joon

by JustAnIranian on

Being rude to me will not solve the problem. I know enough about Iran - I went to school there and I even finished University in that country. 

I'm sorry if you think I am not an Iranian just because I DO NOT agree with your views.

Iran was already a federal state before Reza Shah. He changed it because of the issues in his time. These issues do not exist any more.

I AM AN IRANIAN and I will vote for a federal state - whether you like it or not. I am allowed to have an oppinion and who are you to tell me what I know and what I do not know and what I should decide ? :D 


MaryamJoon

Even though these 2 men are foreign sponsored separatists

by MaryamJoon on

The Kurdish people should inform themselves about groups that seek to create regional problems: Bahá'í Brainwashing Corporation


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