Soma Digest - issue#63 by Soma Digest

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

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Shakraw’s sweet memories

SOMA Digest is a subsidiary of KHAK Press & Media Center.

Degrees of separation

‘Elections must be better organized’

Three years since a 25-member review committee began work on modifying the Iraqi constitution, social and political disputes continue to hamper progress. REGION page 5

Sara Naz

Kurds of the world, unite!

BAGHDAD s Iraq prepares for the upcoming parliamentary elections, slated for January next year, Dr Fuad Masoum, head of the Kurdistan Alliance List in the Iraqi Parliament, stresses the need to organize these polls better so as to avoid irregularities. In an exclusive interview with SOMA Digest, he also explains why ‘closed lists’ are a more suitable system of voting for the country at this point. “We should focus on two things; the electoral commission should make sure that everything is more organized so that the same mistakes are not made, and people should be made more aware

Kurdish-American organization helps young Kurds maintain their Kurdish identity abroad. COMMUNITY page 7

Legacy of war Camp Ashraf in Diyala constitutes a humanitarian and human rights issue of real magnitude and urgency. VIEWS page 11

Opportunity in adversity Kirkuk sustains marked economic improvements. BUSINESS page 13

Mother’s garden Flowers now bloom over what once was a prison for female relatives of Peshmargas. CULTURE page 15

www.soma-digest.com editor@soma-digest.com

Danielle Mitterrand opens two new French schools in the Kurdistan Region on her visit.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

‘Mother of Kurds’ anielle Mitterrand, a staunch supporter of human rights and a loyal advocate of the Kurdish cause, visited the Kurdistan Region on an official invitation by the Kurdistan Region’s President Massoud Barzani. The 85-year-old former First Lady of France attended a session of the recentlyinaugurated Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament. In her remarks, she urged all new parliamentary factions to be united in confronting the challenges that the Kurdistan Region is facing. She dedicated some of her time to talk about her experiences with the Kurds of Northern Iraq whom she had met when she came into the region through Iran in 1991 during the year of the uprising. “When I visited the Kurdistan Region at

the end of April 1991, I saw how people fled in fear from Saddam’s regime. The images of those days were very shocking and had an impact in the establishment of the no-fly zone,” she said. “There are now several Western consulate offices in your region. Your government can also try to open diplomatic and cultural offices in these countries and use this opportunity to establish strong relations...” Mitterrand expressed her happiness before the elected MPs, saying: “For me being in the Kurdistan Region is like being at my home, we are one family.” Making note of the recent elections of the Kurdistan Region, she praised the process of democratization that was finding its way in the region. She also applauded the ratio of women members of parliament, calling it a positive step.

During her visit, Mitterrand opened two new international French schools in the Kurdistan Region, one in the capital Erbil and the other in the city of Slemani. The school will enroll children between the ages of three to seven and offer an international education in four languages, French, English, Kurdish and Arabic. The Slemani and Erbil schools will be managed by the Mission Laique Francaise of the French General Consulate in Erbil and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Education. Mitterrand, famously dubbed the 'mother of Kurds', spoke of the importance of education for the progress of the Kurdistan Region and expressed her happiness at what had been achieved over the years. — BY JEN A. SAGERMA IN SLEMANI

Dr Fuad Masoum

of following up their identifications and registration, and finding out which polling station their names have been registered at before voting begins,” he said. Insofar as the benefits and limitations of using open or closed party lists, Masoum said: “In a country like Iraq where illiteracy is high, unfortunately [open lists system] leaves more room for cheating.” read more page 4

POMEGRANATES

AUTO BODY

WALK THE LINE

Secret is in the sauce

Buddy, can you spare a part?

Citizen cane

COMMUNITY page 8

BUSINESS page 14

CULTURE page 15

INSIDE: W00T! 1337 = th3 n3w b4b31,by Agri Ismail p.8 Outdated prison business, by Dr Joseph Kechichian p.10 Lost city? by Raz Jabary p.10

2 STAFF PUBLISHING HOUSE: Khak Press & Media Center MANAGING EDITOR: Tanya Goudsouzian DEPUTY EDITOR: Lawen A Sagerma COLUMNISTS: Dr Sherko Abdullah, Agri Ismail, Dr Joseph Kechichian, Maureen McLuckie, Dr Denise Natali, Anwar M. Qaradaghi CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Zheno Abdulla, Iason Athanasiadis, Karokh Bahjat, Linda Berglund, Devanjan Bose (New Delhi), Ilnur Cevik (Ankara), Patrick Cockburn, Thomas Davies (Damascus), Bayan Eissa, Dr Rebwar Fatah (London), Basit Gharib, Dr Harry Hagopian (London), Hemin Hussein, Hewa Jaff, Fakhri Karim (Baghdad), Vania Karim, Ali Kurdistani, Mohamad Karim Mohamad, Dastan Nouri, Amed Omar, Jamal Penjweny, Asoz L. Rashid (Baghdad), Roshna Rasool, Kurdawan Mohammad Saeed, Jen. A. Sagerma, Dr Tan Azad Salih, Dr Hussein Tahiri (Australia), Qubad Talabani (Washington, DC), Abdul Karim Uzery REPORTERS: Awat Abdullah, Darya Ibrahim, Dana Hameed, Hemin Kakayi (Kirkuk), Saz Kamal, Barzan Kareem, Sazan Mandalawi (Erbil), Galawizh H. Rashid, Dana Rashid CULTURE WRITERS: Roshna Rasool, Kamaran Najm UK CORRESPONDENTS: Lara Fatah, Raz Jabary, Sara Naz LANGUAGE EDITOR: Anwar M. Qaradaghi PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Aram Eissa PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kamaran Najm, Soran Naqshbandy CARTOONS: Ako Gharib DIRECTOR OF DESIGN: Darya Ibrahim MARKETING MANAGER: Brwa Abdulrahman CIRCULATION MANAGER: Rashid Khidr Rashid WEBSITE: Avesta Group for Software Solutions PRINTING HOUSE: Hamdi Publishing House (Slemani) Our offices are located at KHAK Press & Media Center, on Shorosh Street, Slemani, Iraq. Tel: 009647701570615 Fax: 0044703532136666 SOMA Digest strives to offer its readership a broad spectrum of views on Iraqi and Kurdish affairs. As such, all opinions and views expressed in these pages belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the position of the publication.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

CONTENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ....................................................................................................................3 COMMUNITY ..............................................................................................................................6 WORD ON THE STREET ............................................................................................................9 VIEWS .........................................................................................................................................10 LETTERS ....................................................................................................................................12 BUSINESS .................................................................................................................................13 CULTURE & MORE ....................................................................................................................15 LIFESTYLE .................................................................................................................................17 HISTORY ....................................................................................................................................18 SOCIETY ....................................................................................................................................19 CHAIKHANA ...............................................................................................................................20

Kurdish for beginners SOMA Digest wishes to introduce some Kurdish phrases and expressions, which the visitor to Kurdistan will find useful. Judy Roberts, an American school teacher, has been teaching English in a school in Slemani for over a year. At the school, she has met Aso, a Kurdish colleague, and their relationship has grown and become serious enough to result in formal engagement. In this episode Judy and Aso discuss the subject of a standard language of writing for the Kurds: Aso: What would you like us to discuss this time, my dear? Hez akaet bassy che bkain am jare gyanekem? Judy: Thank you darling. In fact I want to ask you about a subject that is important to me. Supas gyanekem. Le rastya, amewet sebaret be babetek let prsim ke gringe lam. Aso: Go ahead my dear. Farmu, gyanekem. Judy: Well, you know that Kurdish is very dear to me. It is your language and your people have become like my

ANWAR M. QARADAGHI people now. Bashe, tto dezanit ke Kurdi lam sherine. Zmani ttoye u heni geleket, ke esta weku geli xomian le hatua. Aso: And so, what about it, my dear? Eh,enja, sebaret be che depirsit, gyanekem? Judy: It is to do with its writing. I face difficulty with it. You know I have to learn to read and write it. So give me some advice. Sebaret be nuseneweyeti. Qursey teda abenim. Tto azanit, mn de bet ferbm bexwen mewa u benusim. Le ber awe hendi amozhgar im bedere. Aso: Very well my dear and I am glad that you are interested in the language. I can feel its difficulty for you. We will gradually discuss some of its aspects. Zor Chake gyanekem u mn dlxoshim ke arezut le zmaneke heye. Min detwanim hest be grania key kembo tto. Eme wirde wirde bassy hendi bassy hendi barekani dekain.

Judy: Thanks. Yes, let us do that and please help me as I go along. Supas. Belly ba wa bkain u tkaye legul royshtnma yarmetim bde. Aso: Certainly, my dear. You now know a great deal about the Kurds, and how Kurdistan has been divided among four or five states and how the main languages of those states differ from Kurdish. Writing in those countries differ too. Be dlniya ewa gyanekem. Tto esta zor le barey Kurdewe dezanit u chon Kurdistan le newan chwar pench wlata dabesh krawe u chon zmanekani aw wlatane le gul zmani Kurdiya jeawazin. Her weha, nusin le wlataneshda jeawaza. Judy: How do you mean? Mebestit chya? Aso: For instance in Turkey, they use the Latin alphabet and in Iraq, Iran and Syria, the Arabic alphabet is used and so on. Bo nmune, le Turkyada, alfo beie Latini bekar denin u le Irak u Iran u Surya, alfo beie Arbi bekar denin u awa.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

REGION|&

CURRENT AFFAIRS NEWS ANALYSIS

Replay

‘Not acceptable’

‘The PKK must abandon weapons and start a new life. The Turkish initiative on the Kurdish cause in Turkey reflects positively on the region.’

Kurdistan Alliance ready to boycott elections if Kirkuk is excluded from upcoming polls. Lawen A. Sagerma SLEMANI s the preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 2010 gain momentum, much remains undecided. Little headway has been made towards passing a new elections law with rumors circulating that contested Kirkuk is to be excluded from the nationwide vote. Issues under discussion include calls to increase the number of seats in parliament from 275 to 311, but the Iraqi Election Information Network (EIN) has already rejected such a proposal, calling it unconstitutional due to the absence of a reliable population census. Conducting such a census has been delayed and it is not likely to be performed before the January 2010 polls. According to unofficial numbers, there has been an 85 percent increase in the population of Mosul, which is currently witnessing strenuous tensions between the Al Hadba List and the Kurdish Brotherhood Alliance. These unofficial statistics have added weight to the argument that an increase in parliamentary seats is not constitutional until an authorized census is conducted. “This 85 percent increase is very suspicious. It would amount to 13 seats in the Iraqi parliament which is something that is

not only unacceptable by the Kurdistan Alliance but also by other blocs as it would mean the number of Baathists will increase in parliament,” said Fryad Rawanduzi, a member of the Kurdistan Alliance List in the Iraqi Parliament. Among the latest concerns is the matter of whether there should be open or closed lists in the upcoming elections. Due to both national and international pressure after the fall of the former regime, the government of Iraq at the time opted for the closed system because of its simplicity. However this time, there are calls for a more transparent voting from many parties, including the Shiite religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani. “The majority of the blocs are for open lists but as the Kurdistan Alliance we are in favor of closed lists but we don’t see this as a big problem either way,” said Rawanduzi. The Iraqi Parliament in a letter to the High Constitutional Court requested that Kirkuk be given special status or excluded from the elections; the court in their reply stated that this cannot be allowed and is unconstitutional and that Kirkuk should be treated just the same as the other cities. “Some entities are trying to place obstacles in front of these elections through Kirkuk. No law has been put to the vote by the Iraq Parliament as of yet but there are certain groups in Kirkuk that are calling for an equal quota system of four Kurds, four Arabs, four Turkmen and one Christian in

MASSOUD BARZANI, President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, in an interview with CNN Turk, on KRG’s support of Turkish policy regarding solving the Kurdish issue in Turkey.

Kurds will not accept exclusion of Kirkuk from elections.

the Iraqi parliament,” said Rawanduzi. “If it is done like this, then there is no need for an election because you have already chosen the people and this is against Articles 7, 10, 12, 18, 22, 49 of the Iraqi constitution,” added Rawanduzi. According to Rawanduzi, Kirkuk must be included in the January 2010 elections and the Kurdistan Alliance List will do everything in their power to contest it, should the Iraqi parliament approve such a law which would be contrary to the constitution and the decision of the High Constitutional Court. He added that should it come to that, then it would be necessary for the Council of the Presidency to use the veto. “The job of the Council of the Presidency is to ensure the complete implementation of the constitution. but we hope that it doesn’t have to reach that stage where the veto has

‘Everyone needs to be where they belong’ Attempts to change the demographics of Kirkuk date back to the advent of Islam in the region, says historian. Awara Jumaa KIRKUK nwar Mohammad Nouri and his family were forced to leave their hometown in Kirkuk during the Kurdish Uprising in 1991. They found refuge in Topzawa Camp in Erbil, where they would reside in squalid conditions for three years. “We waited and waited for news of what would happen to us. We lived in terrible conditions there. After the no fly zone we still couldn’t go back to Kirkuk because I was a Kurd and a Peshmarga too,” recalls Nouri, 53. “We eventually left Topzawa because we were hopeless and relocated to another camp. We went to Binislawa in Erbil

until the liberation process in 2003. Then, we returned to our village and rebuilt our lives. Although our income is good and we have our own house, the security situation is terrible. We are always living in fear. We returned because it is my home and everyone needs to be where they belong.” After the first Gulf war in 1991, the ruling Baath regime waged a campaign to eradicate the Kurdish people of Iraq. This involved bringing Arab families into residential areas, which were predominately populated by Kurds. As this was carried out in the zone above the 32nd parallel of the no fly zone, it added to the controversy. The deportation process of Kurdish families in Kirkuk was part of a bigger policy of Arabization, which resulted in the creation

of many camps such as the Daratu camp in the city, the Topzawa camp in the province of Erbil and the Bardaqaraman camp in Slemani. These were just a few of the camps that the former regime used to keep close watch over internally displaced people and prevent them from joining Kurdish revolutionary forces. In addition to the social and political pressures used by the Baath regime, poverty was rife and space was cramped in these camps. Harem Abbas, 25, and his family, they were spared the wretchedness of these camps, but forced to live through other hardships in foreign lands. “After the destruction of our village in 1985 we left for Chamchamal and then when the uprising happened we went to Iran

(photo by Aram Eissa)

to be used but there is no doubt that should they approve this [law], we will take it to the Council of the Presidency.” Rawanduzi explained that they were open to discussing any matter pertaining to Kirkuk after the elections but if the problems become the reason for delaying the elections in Kirkuk and the other cities, ‘this will not be acceptable’. There have been media leaks that the Kurdistan Alliance and Kurdish affiliated lists will boycott the elections should the new elections law, that excludes Kirkuk, be approved and not vetoed by the Council of the Presidency. “This [the boycott] will be our last card but if we realize that they are insistent on delaying the elections in Kirkuk then as the Kurdistan Alliance and the other Kurdish blocs we will strongly contest it and boycott the elections all over Iraq,” said Rawanduzi.

to Saqiz. We thought that the Kurdish cause was hopeless, so we decided to go to Pakistan,” he recounts. “We stayed there for two years and after the establishment of the no fly zone we returned to Slemani. After the liberation, we returned to our own city.” Abbas says that returning to Kirkuk was difficult, as it took time to readjust: “We were used to the stability of Slemani whereas living in Kirkuk meant you were always living in fear. I couldn’t handle it so I returned to Slemani but the rest of my family are still living there.” Nishtiman Osman, 27, was among those who never left Kirkuk. “Our financial situation wasn’t good and so like other Kurds we couldn’t afford to go abroad,” she says. “During the Baath regime we lived in appalling conditions because my father and brothers couldn’t work freely and a number of times our papers to be relocated came but after bribes they left us alone.” Osman is grateful that living conditions have improved now, but, she says: “Much more needs to be done. Public services need more attention especially water, electricity and road works.”

‘We will work on bringing the Iraqi and Syrian views closer to solve all pending issues between the two countries.’ RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish PM, on Turkey’s efforts to solve Iraqi-Syrian crisis.

‘The agreement includes controlling borders, fighting PKK elements and training Iraqi forces.’ JAWAD AL BOULANI, Iraq’s Interior Minister, on signing a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Turkey.

Simko Bahroz, a Kurdish historian, explains that plans for ‘the eradication of the Kurdish nation’ date back to ‘the advent of the religion of Islam into the area when Arabs were brought here.’ “Successive Iraqi governments have tried to Arabize especially Kirkuk by vacating Kurdish villages and replacing them with Arabs such as the villages of Hasari Gawra and Saqizi as well as the villages surrounding Daquq and Khurmatw,” he says. Between the years 1872 and 1873, a foreign engineer visited the city of Kirkuk and evaluated its population at been approximately 12,000-15,000. He pointed out that except for 40 Armenian families, all the other families inside Kirkuk were Kurdish. Another census was carried out by historian Amin Zaki Beg in Kirkuk in 1930 and sent to King Faisal I in a letter. In the letter he pointed out that upon completion of the census, 51 percent of the inhabitants of Kirkuk were Kurdish followed by 21.5 percent Turkmen, 20 percent Arab and 7.5 percent that were made up of the other smaller minorities such as Armenians and Assyrians.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Exclusive interview with Dr Fuad Masoum on the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections.

‘Everyone’s vote counts’ Sara Naz BAGHDAD As the Iraqi cabinet’s term comes to an end, and with focus now on the upcoming elections, slated for January next year, SOMA Digest was granted an exclusive interview with Dr Fuad Masoum, head of the Kurdistan Alliance List in the Iraqi Parliament. Masoum addressed the rumors that he is to be appointed deputy prime minister, stressed the need to organize these polls better so as to avoid irregularities, and explained why ‘closed lists’ are a more suitable system of voting for the country at this point. There have been rumors that you are to become Prime Minister Nouri Al

Dr Fuad Masoum, head of the Kurdistan Alliance List in the Iraqi Parliament.

Maliki’s deputy. Is there any truth to this? This is simply a rumor. There has not been a political decision made on this and I personally have not thought about this. This issue remains open and unresolved; especially since the period for someone to fill this position is very short. Does the position of deputy PM hold any real authority or is it simply a title? Regarding the authority of the deputy prime minister, in my opinion, this really depends on the relationship between the two positions, the prime minister and the deputy, and what kind of authority the PM would give his deputy. So in reality, if the PM does not give any authority to his deputy, and the deputy does not put the effort in, I don’t think it is an important position. In the previous Iraqi election, a large number of people were unable to participate in the voting process due to problems with voting registration. Cases whereby individuals had in fact signed and recorded their names to vote but their names were misspelt or non-existent in registration were plenty. What has been done so that this does not happen again? This issue has been discussed with the high electoral commission - the body responsible for the elections. We should focus on two things; the electoral com-

September conference yields no progress.

No deal in Ninewa he prospects of a rapprochement between the Sunni-Arab Al Hadbaa party and the Kurdish Ninewa Brotherhood group have diminished after the two parties failed to bridge differences and reach a power-sharing deal at a specially-convened conference on 6 September, sponsored by the US embassy in Iraq. Salar Doski, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) office in Duhok, told SOMA Digest: “The problems began after the provincial elections in January... Recently, the Brotherhood List warned Al Hadbaa that if they do not extend some measure of cooperation, they will ask the Iraqi Parliament to create a new province for the Kurdish-populated areas around the city of Mosul.” The Arab-Kurdish dispute in the northern province of Ninewa may further exacerbate should the Kurdish Ninewa Brotherhood List make good on a threat to set up a ‘substitute govern-

ment’ over majority Kurdish towns and districts. The Brotherhood List has boycotted Ninewa’s provincial administration controlled by the Sunni-Arab Al Hadbaa List, since the latter won the largest share of votes in the provincial polls on 31 January. Prior to the elections, the Brotherhood List was in power, but the outcome of the polls turned the tide in favor of the Sunni Arab constituency. This came as no surprise since the Sunni Arabs had boycotted the 2005 elections en masse, essentially paving the way for a Kurdish victory. Barzan Saeed, head of the local council of the predominately Kurdish town of Makhmour, as well as other Kurdish leaders, claim that the new provincial council is biased to Sunni Arabs and the province has become a base for insurgents and terrorists. Saeed has threatened to declare independence from Ninewa’s provincial council and form a ‘substitute govern-

mission should make sure that everything is more organized so that the same mistakes are not made, and people should be made more aware of following up their identifications and registration, and finding out which polling station their names have been registered at before voting begins. People should not ignore this process or leave it until the last minute or on Election Day. There is another problem that I have personally brought to the attention of the electoral commission; the system that the commission is following is still the same system that was used by the Baath regime. During the Baath regime period, people were scared not to vote, voting was compulsory. Three, four or five villages were provided with only one voting ballot box but because of fear, everybody would vote no matter how difficult. Since people are not forced to vote anymore, the number of ballot boxes must be increased along with the number of polling stations to make it easier for people to cast their votes. The last election took place in July, the peak of summer heat. If this next election falls into January, that would be the peak of winter cold and it can be very difficult for people to travel long distances to cast their votes in both situations. So if the number of boxes is increased, it would encourage and help people to vote. In your view, how can more people be encouraged to vote in the next Iraqi

ment’, unless their demands are met. These demands include two of the top positions in the provincial council. Atheel Al Najaifi, Governor of Ninewa, has rejected all accusations and vowed to dissolve any local council attempting to separate from the governorate. Ninewa’s Arabs explain that their chief concern is over Kurdish aspirations to annex parts of Ninewa province – dubbed ‘disputed territories’ – to the Kurdistan Region. While conceding that it would be unconstitutional to declare ‘independence’ from the provincial council, Ninewa’s Kurds point out that it is equally unconstitutional for Article 140 to be repeatedly delayed. Article 140 in the Iraqi Constitution calls for the restoration of the original demographics in disputed cities – prior to Saddam Hussein’s ‘Arabization’ programs, which saw vast numbers of Kurdish inhabitants uprooted from their homes – followed by a referendum to determine whether the city should fall under federal or Kurdish regional jurisdiction. — BY TANYA GOUDSOUZIAN & GALAWIZH H. HUSSAIN

After a number of complaints there is a need to organize the elections better so as to avoid irregularities for the upcoming January elections. (photo by Aram Eissa)

election for a maximum turnout? This concerns two or three factors. The first relates to the political groups and parties that must work hard to encourage people to vote, and make the public feel and understand that their votes are valued and do count, not like in the regime before, where Saddam would win 99 percent of the votes regardless. A fair and democratic election is a relatively new concept here so it is partly the responsibility of the political parties to encourage a greater turnout. In order to encourage more people to participate in voting, candidates which are liked and accepted by the public must be elected or nominated, so that people would want to vote for them, and this is an important factor in all elections. Thirdly, as mentioned before, if the number of polling stations and ballot boxes are increased, this would help more people to participate more easily for a larger turnout. What are the benefits and limitations of using open or closed party lists in the voting system of a country like Iraq? Democratically speaking, open lists used in voting are more democratic since people have the opportunity to vote for their own representatives, the candidates they want to represent them. But, in a country like Iraq where illiteracy is high, unfortunately this list leaves more room for cheating. Other people often fill out the voting sheets of those who are illiterate or unable to fill out the sheets themselves, and they sometimes take this chance to vote for someone who they themselves wish to represent them, which is not always the same choice of the actual voter. The second point relates to the coalition between parties or lists which in the case of open lists can create problems. For instance, in areas where the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has strength, people vote for the PUK candidates only, and in Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) strongholds, people vote for the KDP candidates only. Voting for parties

in their strongholds can create a problem for the coalition and united party since it interferes with the previously agreed candidate names, positions and ranks made by both parties in the coalition. For example, if the coalition decided to have five representatives from one party

‘The political groups must work hard to encourage people to vote, and to make the public feel that their vote does count.’ in some positions, and five candidates from the other party in other positions, it could happen that only five candidates from one party are elected due to the open list voting. This weakens the coalition’s relationship and agreements. And Kurds entering the Iraqi parliament with multiple lists can weaken our voice. As another example, if my name were chosen and agreed upon by both sides of the coalition, there would still be a chance I would not be elected or chosen. So in cases of coalition, it is probably better for there to be closed list voting, I don’t mean whereby the candidates are not seen or known at all, I mean where the public simply vote for the coalition group and their agreements can remain stable. But of course, on a democratic route, people should have the opportunity to vote for entirely who they wish, but because of the problems I mentioned earlier with regards to cheating, unfortunately this is not always the case and people often end up voting for not who they wished.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Degrees of separation Three years since a 25-member review committee began work on modifying the Iraqi constitution, social and political disputes continue to hamper progress. Zheno Abdulla SLEMANI hree years since work began on the Iraqi constitution, it has yet to be completed. No doubt, the process of preparing a legal binding charter or even modifying it can be a daunting and delicate task in a country wrought with political disputes and social tensions. The only task that the modification committee of the Iraqi constitution in the Iraqi parliament has accomplished to date is to delay the tensions that are likely to explode among the different social and ethnic forces and components. The Iraqi constitution as voted for by the people of Iraq in 2005 has continuously seen conflicts as the diverse composition of the country contest various articles, namely those that have a Kurdish dimension such as Article 140, the regional authority in Iraq, and natural resources. According to Law 142 in the Iraqi constitution, the review committee of the Iraqi constitution consists of 25 members. The head of the committee is Shiite, his first deputy is a Kurd and the secretary of the committee is Sunni. This allocation of posts is meant to ensure the full participation of the dominant groups in Iraq in the process. Committee yet to publish report In accordance with the same law, modifications can be made to the constitution but the committee has yet to publish a report with which they all concur. If an agreement is attained and a report is produced, it will be passed onto the Iraqi Representative Assembly for a vote. One problem is that the deadline for submitting the modifications of the Iraqi constitution is not clear. “I don’t think that the committee can finish its work for this season of parliament because of the large discrepancies

in views and the lack of a political consensus among the parties,” said Dr. Ahmed Anwar from the review committee of the Iraqi constitution. “Therefore some issues have hit a dead end like Article 140, the power of the regional and central authorities and natural resources. The Kurdistan Alliance will not relinquish Kurdish rights which are in the Iraqi constitution.” Bayazed Hasan, a member of the Iraqi Representative Assembly, explained that the committee which was authorized for modifying the Iraqi constitution had to finish its work in the period of four months by presenting all the suggestions to the parliament before

Dr. Ahmed Anwar

it was to be put to a vote and finally for there to be a referendum on the modified version. Bones of contention “It has been three and a half years and the committee has only modified 25 articles out of a total 144 and added another 65 articles,” said Hasan. The articles in the Iraqi constitution that are the bones of contention and require modification are specific to the Personal Affairs Status Law and on which the Shiite and Iraqi Alliance do not see eye to eye. These articles include authority of the president, re-

KURDISH PROVERB

Even the highest tree has an axe waiting at its foot.

gional and central shared and separated authorities, natural resources, Iraqi archeological sites among a number of other articles. According to the current Iraqi constitution, the president’s authority is restricted by a supervising power and most of the governing power goes to the Prime Minister, but the Sunnis want to strengthen the president’s authority and are looking to create a new republic government because they think that they will earn the president’s position in the next round of elections. Two options for a solution There are two options for the current situation. First, if the modification committee fails to reach a solution over the points of conflict, they can pass it on to the next elected parliament. Khalid Shwani, a member of the law council in the Iraqi parliament, says there is another option available. “The committee can modify those articles that the different parties are all in agreement with and delay the amendments of the more controversial points for another time,” he said. When the Iraqi constitution was created in 2005, there was a different set of circumstances in play as opposed to now. The seats of parliament were set according to the population of Iraq at that time but now the population has increased. Also, the previous version made no mention of the Federative Assembly, which consists of two repre-

‘Some issues have hit a dead end: Article 140, the power of the regional and central authorities and natural resources.’ sentatives from each province in Iraq in addition to four representatives for Baghdad. The committee has presented new suggestions for increasing the number of seats in parliament, which will be in accordance with the new numbers for

the population. They also want to reduce the eligible age for a Prime Minister to 30 years. As it stands, a Kurd is president and to an extent Kurds have some powers but it remains uncertain what will happen after the elections in January 2010.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

COMMUNITY|&

LOCAL NEWS PERSONALITIES

‘My life is worth at least half an hour, or even an hour’s wait at a checkpoint. I am grateful for the security.’

Strangers in a strange land Galawizh H. Hussain SLEMANI ike countless Arabs from troubled areas of Iraq, Majde Al Kelani and his family fled Baghdad for the safety of the Kurdish region some years ago. He now runs a ladies’ cosmetics shop in Slemani. He says he is contented and has no immediate plans to return to his home. “I am an Arab businessman but I have never at any time faced discrimination by anybody as far as my business is concerned,” he says. When travelling to other cities in the region, Al Kelani insists that he has never encountered any difficulties on account of his Arab ethnicity. “To tell you the truth, I am happy when I see all the checkpoints because if it were not for the security they provide, we would not have such safe place for my family to live,” he says. “Unfortunately, there are so many bad apples... One should be appreciative of the security in the Kurdistan Region and that is why we are alive now. My life is worth at least half an hour or even an hour’s wait at the checkpoint.” Al Kelani says that he still has family in Baghdad, as well as property, but he cannot

fathom returning to a life where he is “worried about my house being bombed or robbed or destroyed.” “I live in Kurdistan as if it were my home. Kurdistan is part of my Iraq so I don't feel I am a stranger in a strange land,” he says. In the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, there are few signs of the scars of conflict so obvious in the rest of the country. Billboards for ambitious malls and gleaming housing developments dot the landscape, and upscale coffee shops and supermarkets have mushroomed. Strict border security prevents the violence that has ravaged Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion from spilling over into the northern Iraqi Kurdish region. Dr Ali Hattem Hussain, an assistant lecturer at the Technical College of Slemani, concedes that some people believe that the Kurdistan Region is behaving like a state towards Iraq, by putting Arab Iraqis through extensive security checks prior to entry, but he believes that this is entirely necessary and acceptable under the circumstances. “This strictness of the government of Kurdistan is not only with Arabs, and it is to some extent acceptable,” he says. “They have to find every way to maintain security and protect their citizens. So much has hap-

pened in the past, it is impossible not to be extra vigilant.” According to Dr Hussain, sometimes the security measures can seem to Arab Iraqis as if they were entering a new country. “Iraqi Kurdistan is a beautiful exciting place with its mountains and waterfalls and the greenery would attract people from all over to visit but it is important to know that it is safe place where you and your family will be protected,” he says. “Arabs living in the Kurdistan Region generally feel secure and this is due to the strong government in Kurdistan. The people of Kurdistan love their home and even those Kurds who are against the government express their feelings in civilized way and are against political violence.” ‘There was hope’ Dr Hussain, a native of Baghdad who resettled in Slemani because he felt there was hope here, describes the Kurdish people as “simple, kind, cooperative and law-abiding”. “They do not force their religious thoughts on anyone, and they believe in freedom of choice,” he says. In this vein, Dr Hussain expressed the hope that this spirit would also permit the regional government to extend more facili-

The Kurdistan Region’s scenic beauty and relative stability is attracting crowds of Iraqi Arabs from areas of violence. (photo by Aram Eissa)

ties for investments to Arabs so that the money does not go outside of the country. He would also like to see the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) encourage the new generations to learn the Arabic language. “Being a lecturer, I feel sorry for those who do not know the Arabic language, which is also the language of the main Kurdish religion. I feel sorry about Arabs who do not know Kurdish, too. This is the second main language in their country,” he says. Dr Hussain added that the Kurdistan Region could serve as “a good example for the rest of Iraq because of their application of law and democracy.” “The Kurdistan Region has all the elements to serve as a good example for other Iraqi governorates to follow in their building process,” he says. “But I hope the region will move forward in education, health,

agriculture, tourism, and industry. These five sectors represent the cornerstone for the reconstruction process in the coming years.” Sherko Bekas, a prominent Kurdish poet, said if Arabs feel like ‘immigrants’ in the Kurdish region, it is because the wounds of Halabja and the Anfal campaigns are still too fresh. “Many Kurdish people still suffer in their everyday life as a result, so the sight of an Arab in their midst is a reminder of the terrifying days they lived under the previous Iraqi regime,” he says. “Still, Kurds are generally very kind to Arabs. So long as long as Arabs living in the Kurdish region do not get involved in any trouble, then they will be respected and remain very safe in Kurdsitan. And they are treated equally as far as the law is concerned.”

AMIDEAST is seeking to recruit an Instructor of English as a Foreign Language in its Iraq Field Office to work on a variety of education, testing, and training activities. TO APPLY: Please submit resume with cover letter to AMIDEAST, AMIDEAST/Ira, Bldg. #5, Street 240/4/15 (Former WFP Office) Ainkawa, Erbil, Iraq or e-mail to iraq@amideast.org Job Responsibilities

- Administer placement tests to ensure that students are at appropriate class level - Plan and teach at various levels of ESL and/or for standardized test preparation - Adapt curriculum, as necessary, to meet the level and needs of the students - Teach classes of up to 15 students - Design and deliver courses in English for Special Purposes (ESP) as needed - Develop and administer written and oral assessments, including proctoring exams as needed - Develop and maintain an objective grading system, and issue timely progress and final reports for distribution to the students - Manage a teaching load of up to 24 contact hours per week - Monitor best practices and new developments in the fields of English language training and incorporate those practices as appropriate - Participate in professional development programs, inc. workshops & conferences in Oman, etc - Assist the English Language Coordinator to prepare monthly, semi-annual and annual statistical and narrative reports on English Language Program - Maintain a professional yet friendly relationship with the students and administrative staff - Dress professionally and appropriately at all times - Follow AMIDEAST standard operating procedures This job description is not intended to be all inclusive, and the employee will also perform other reasonable related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and other management.

Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field - TEFL Certificate (CELTA/TESOL) - Two years of English language teaching experience - Computer literacy in MS Office - Ability to multi-task and prioritize responsibilities - Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills - Must possess problem-solving skills, be a team player and a self-starter - Cross-cultural sensitivity and customer service orientation Preferred: First language is English M.A. in TEFL, TESOL, Linguistics, or related field Experience in U.S. education system Knowledge of U.S. standardized tests (TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, GMAT, SAT and others) Work Location: Erbil-Ainkawa

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Kurdish-American organization helps young Kurds maintain their Kurdish identity abroad.

Kurds of the world, unite Lawen A. Sagerma SLEMANI or most nations with a brutal past and a forced exodus, the Diaspora can serve as the backbone of the struggle in the homeland. They form political groups, forge relations with the government of their host country, and they organize events through which their cultural identity may be preserved. The Kurds are no exception. The Kurdish American Youth Organization (KAYO) was set up in 2005 and geared towards encouraging younger Kurds in the Diaspora to get involved with their heritage. Nezar Ahmed Tovi, President of KAYO, explains that the underlying belief was an obligation of the Kurdish people in the Diaspora to push for better education and democracy in the United States and ‘Greater Kurdistan’. “KAYO’s work consists of a broad range of activities, focusing primarily on encouraging higher education among the youth, connecting young Kurds and Kurdish youth organizations through various cultural, education and community events,” said Tovi. He added that they actively encourage non-Kurds to pursue studies on Kurdish heritage, culture and politics. The founding members include Goran Sadjadi, Aryan Akreyi, Nezar Ahmed, Sheinei Saleem, Ara Alan, Butan Amedi, Rebaz Qaradaghi and Aram Torabian, each from different regions in the United States. “Kurdish-Americans have and continue to raise awareness of Kurds, their plight and future aspirations through cultural gatherings, university systems and at times public protests,” said Tovi. As the Middle East draws increasing attention from the media, this has indirectly helped to channel interest toward the Kurds. Media channels interest “With greater attention to Iraq because of the war, there is a differentiation between Kurds and other ethnicities of the Middle East, although to a much lesser extent in terms of the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq,” he said. Losing touch with one’s heritage and background is common consequence of moving abroad, and this applies more to younger children. But Tovi insists that ‘young Kurds have managed to preserve language, folklore and traditions to a large extent, as the majority are still first generation Kurdish Americans with strong influence from their parents.’ “The majority continue to have basic knowledge in terms of folklore and language with strong connections to Kurdish pop-culture of dance and music and arts,” he added. While many concede that it is difficult to form a new identity when you are

born with cultural sensitivities that are very dissimilar to those of the environment you are growing up in, Tovi believes otherwise. “In today’s global era, it has become less complicated for the Kurdish youth to maintain both their Kurdish-American identity and connection with their ancient homeland with the advent of technology and effectiveness of communication,” he said. “Communities, particularly recently as a whole have slowly felt more comfortable with striking a balance with their Kurdish-American character while attempting to maintain customs.” This year the Kurdistan Region saw great political strides as opposition in the Kurdistan Parliament was formed for the first time and although Kurdish

racy is always a work in progress.” For many Kurds who left the Kurdistan Region for greener pastures, they had a hard time adjusting to their new life in strange surrounds. “For first generation Kurds particularly, linguistic and cultural barriers make it difficult for them to adapt to life here,” said Tovi. “Kurdish women face greater difficulties in some areas. For many, the situation that they left Kurdistan, life may be greener although I cannot speak for all,” he added. Hard to find employment Tovi also explained that Kurdish youths like their counterparts back home find it hard to gain employment upon completion of university. “Kurdish women continually find it

‘In today’s global era, it has become less complicated for the Kurdish youth to maintain a connection with their ancient homeland.’

Merging two cultures is no longer a difficult task.

culture and tradition are prioritized by KAYO Tovi explains that a smaller segment of young Kurdish Americans do follow political developments back home. “With technology it has become easier to track political life in Kurdistan Region, although apathy is still high.” With regard the controversy over denying expatriate Kurds the right to vote, Tovi explained: “Many Kurds were disappointed, with the feeling that there was sufficient time to at least set up one polling station in America for expatriates, while understanding democ-

RECOMMENDATION

‘Brief Recollections: Personal Flashbacks in Kurdistan’ “Brief Recollections: Personal Flashbacks in Kurdistan” is a new book by our Language Editor, Anwar Qaradaghi, that is just published by Khak Foundation in Slemani. Its content comprises his columns (and some other articles) in the first 55 issues of this paper, SOMA Digest, of the last three years or so – and it is in English. Its price per copy is 3,000 Iraqi Dinars. The majority of the pages speak of differing aspects of life in the city of Slemani and its surrounding areas in the last 60 years or so. That is how they used to be in his recollections and how they have become or could have developed. In most cases they also contain suggestions for improvement. Consequently, they contain interesting details to tell about Slemani, the Kurds and Kurdistan and Iraq in general. Moreover, it is believed that these short articles may be interesting and useful to visitors of the region with the aim of giving them some general information about the Region, its

history, culture, language, customs, and aspirations. Anwar Qaradaghi, who (holds MBA from Leicester University in Educational Management), has had many years of teaching, administration, writing and translation experience, has other published works that include two collections of English short stories translated into Kurdish and a history book on Kirkuk translated from Arabic into English. — EDITORIAL

(photo by Aram Eissa)

more difficult in their communities to pursue some of their goals and aspirations,” he said. The fall of Saddam Hussein and his dictatorial regime was enough to spur many Kurdish families to repatriate to the Kurdistan Region. “For some it was finding new economic opportunities in Kurdistan, others on a more personal level,” said Tovi. “The difficulties of relocation are always great as many Kurds have done it many times. There are many factors that would deter such a move, whether economic, society, politics and lifestyle.”

The Diaspora are working to maintain their Kurdish heritage.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

The secret is in the sauce Pomegranates are used to flavor many Kurdish dishes.

Pomegranates, a favorite fruit among Kurds, begin to blossom in the springtime and gradually ripen over the summer, but it is only in the fall that they are fully ripe and ready to be eaten.

Roshna Rasool HAWRAMAN t the onset of spring, farmers plough their orchards to prepare for the planting of new pomegranates. With weeding, they make sure that their seedlings are grown well and will produce more in the coming year. Pomegranates begin to blossom in the springtime and gradually ripen over the summer, but it is only in the fall that they are fully ripe and ready to be eaten. Pomegranates are a favorite fruit among the Kurds and many buy by the kilo several times a week. Apart from eating it raw, pomegranates are used for cooking, notably to produce a thick

W00T! 1337 = th3 n3w b4b31

THE BORNE IDENTITY AGRI ISMAIL omething is happening to the international language. I am, and have been for a while now, an unabashed language fascist. For years I would refuse to answer any email with more than five spelling mistakes because, really, how hard is it to notice a squiggly red line under the word you’re writing? I am the kind of person who judges people by their syntax. Instantly, people who write “loose” instead of “lose” become as

interesting to me as a piece of particularly uninteresting lint squeezed between the pages of a manual of “Accounting for Dummies” from 1992. I read books on usage for fun and dream of the day when I can afford my very own copy of the Oxford English Dictionary. Yes, lest my previous columns haven’t made it abundantly clear already: I am a geek. Unlike most geeks, however, I have long had a problem with the unique mixture of memes, emoticons, txtspeak and 1337 which constitute netlingo. You know what I mean by netlingo: various forms of punctuation mimicking facial expression that pepper written texts everywhere, interspersed with the word FAIL and acronyms like the ubiquitous LOL (which had a strange shift of meaning from Lots of Love in the mid-90s to Laughing Out Loud) and OMG (Oh My God) all the way to the downright

arcane like gpoyw (gratuitous picture of yourself wednesday - which is a blogging term used often on Tumblr). These things hurt my eyes. Txtspeak is more understandable because there is a set limit, or at least there has been historically, of characters you can use in a text message. So messages like “K m8! CUL8R” (read: okay mate, see you later) are, although repulsive to look at, at least makes sense in a spacio-economic way. This form of writing has, however, made it out of the phone. There was a story in The Guardian in 2006 byLouise Radnofsky which claimed that the Scottish Qualifications Authority exam board would still give marks to students using txtspeak, if the content showed that the student had grasped the question. Which means that it would be acceptable, using the example given in the article, on some level to write “2b or nt 2b, dat is da q” when quoting Shakespeare. And although survey after survey is showing us that txtspeak isn’t detrimental to people’s spelling, it

sauce known in Kurdish as ‘rwba hanar’. Rwba hanar can be prepared individually or collectively. Traditionally, the families of a village would cooperate with one another to ease the workload for each side. Boys and girls, women and men gathered to pluck the pomegranates from the trees. After this, they remove the skin and the seeds one by one. To make this easier the pomegranate is cut into half or four pieces so that the seeds can easily be extracted. Some seeds prove a little more difficult than others, so a gentle tapping on the skin is enough to allow the seeds to fall out. The outer and inner skin are discarded as the seeds are put into a pot. “I have been making rwba hanar for years now and I prefer to do it collectively with others from the village because it eases the burden and the work goes faster. But it is also nice for us all to be working together,” said 65-year-old housewife Maijan Mohammad, a resident of the village of Belkhe in Hawraman province. Cooperation between families and gathering to work together in the villages is an old Kurdish custom. You must always lend a helping hand for you never know when you will require assistance yourself. “After the seeds are removed, they are washed and rinsed. The clean seeds are put in a gunny and pressed on so that the juice is squeezed out,” said Mohammad. This juice is put into a pan and left to boil. One of the nicest aspects of this is when the villages make it because they make a log fire and put the pan on it creating a wonderful picture and smell. The juice is left on the fire until it becomes concentrated. Once it

seems to me, curmudgeon that I am, that for a generation brought up on the Teletubbies saying Eh-Oh (and little else), it’s a miracle they can still imitate something resembling speech so proper spelling might be out of the realm of what can be expected. And yet, all of this might be good. Because something is happening to the international language. It’s shifting from English to… netlingo. Don’t get me wrong, English as an international language is not going anywhere. It will still be the international language long after the United States Empire crumbles like all empires eventually do. It will take hundreds of years for anything else to take over its eminent position. However, a person’s first encounter with the English language is less likely to be Moby Dick than it is someone’s Facebook page or a blog post. It’s entirely possible someone learning English today will know what LOL means far earlier than, say, “giggle”. So the Internet, in uniting us, is also making us write differently, in a form of pidgin

has reached that stage of consistency it is left to cool. The final phase is to deposit the thickened juice into bottles so as to be sold in either the village or the bazaars of the towns and cities. Making the best rwba hanar depends on the sourness of the pomegranate. “The sourer the pomegranate, the better for making rwba hanar. Bittersweet is good but not as nice as the sour ones,” said Awat Kareem, another resident of the village. Sometimes our eyes can deceive us into thinking that a pomegranate is full of taste by its color but as Shokhan Ahmed, a housewife explained, “the color is not important, it doesn’t matter what the outside color is or if the seeds are red or white, the only thing that is important is the flavor and you can only determine that by tasting it.” The pomegranate's squeezed seeds left in the gunny are not to be thrown away because many a time a special meal is made from the leftovers. This way it seems that nothing is wasted when making rwba hanar. “The remainders which are the seeds are dried under the sun, then with onions and ghee we prepare a special soup called "twrsh" and we serve this with rice. These are also sold in the bazaars.” said Kareem. Awat. Rwba hanar provides a sharp, tangy flavor to any dish and Kurds mainly use it for rice and sometimes for adding zest to chicken and lamb. “Rwba hanar is a great medicine for things like stomach aches and lowering hypertension. There are people that can’t have a meal without it!” said Ahmed.

language which is its own dictionary. Don’t know what All your base are belong to me means? Google it. Puzzled by the use of FAIL and WIN? Find the FAIL-blog which, in pictures that say more than a thousand words, illustrate the concept. In fact, since its a language which is evolving so much faster than any previous language, it’s almost fair to say that we are all learning it together, simultaneously. It’s a language that has gone from the somewhat elitist usage of hackers to being appropriated by the masses. And of course this theory is entirely un-nuanced and willfully ignores the fact that Asian emoticons and western emoticons are fundamentally different (in brief: Asian emoticons tend to focus on the “eyes” to convey emotions whereas western ones focus on the “mouth”) and that Chinese social networks are not at all centered on English-based netlingo as they use their own language. All of this is true. The fact remains however, that the Internet is the closest thing we’ve come to a tower of Babel.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Word on the street Aram Eissa asks average Kurds if they believe US President Barack Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and how they feel about Turkey’s new policy vis-a-vis the Kurdish question. Kamal Mahmud, 35 (writer) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “It is normal to select a politician for that prize and I think he is worthy. According to Obama’s foreign policy, there will be peace in the whole world if he can execute it.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “These small things that Turkey is doing for the Kurds, are not enough. Turkey must not make it sound like it is a gift because the Kurds have earned it. If Turkey does what it has promised, there will be peace over the Middle East.”

Hawzhen Mahmud, 25 (book seller) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He is worthy of it because he has done things like deciding to close Guantanamo, banning missile-rockets in Western Europe and standing against the Israelis as they build settlements inside Palestine.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “This recent policy is so they can enter the European Union, it is not done for Kurdish only interests. Turkey is a racist country and the Kurds will not benefit from its promises.”

Salah Sideq, 35 (teacher) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He deserves it because he stood against white people and was able to become president. He will achieve global peace step by step. He will prove himself as a peaceful black man.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “If Turkey wants to change, it must start by reforming its laws and constitution. It must also consider the proper rights of its Kurdish citizens.”

Karwan Najimaden, 28 (journalist) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He doesn’t deserve it; his party had a big hand in the economic crisis making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Obama and his party have entered into compromises with political Islamic parties but why couldn’t he prevent the big armies in Palestine and Darfur?” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “The promises that Turkey gives are not from a humane angle. I don’t think that a racist country like Turkey could accept other minorities. They need to hold a referendum.” Chia Latef, 28 (book seller) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “I don’t understand why he won as he has done nothing up to now. There is a very strong policy in play to enlarge him. I think there were many others worthy of that prize like Jalal Talabani who has fought for all the nationalities of Iraq and not only for the Kurds.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “Turkey is obligated to change its policy because it is in its interests and Turkey has understood that it doesn’t have any other options.”

Khabat Ata, 23 (graduate) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He does not deserve it because he has done nothing for global peace. He withdrew some of his troops from Iraq but he sent them to Afghanistan. All the wars have come from the economic crisis and until now he has done nothing for the economic crisis.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “This policy is theater, and Turkey likes to put on this type of show for the European Union. But Kurds in Turkey are still second class citizens and called ‘mountain Turks’.”

Bakhtiar Rafeq, 25 (graduate) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He deserves it because he is trying to execute all of his promises, he withdrew the army from Iraq and Afghanistan and he has improved America’s relations with the Islamic world.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “I think Kurds deserve more than these small gestures that Turkey pretends it is doing for Kurds there. Turkey hasn’t stopped bombing Iraqi Kurds, so how he can do something real for its own Kurds? If they do something real, I think the economic situation of Turkey will be improved.”

Dilshad Abubakir, 32 (bookseller) Do you think Obama deserves the award? “He doesn’t merit the prize because he is the one who expanded the war in Afghanistan and the war in Somalia indirectly. US policy isn’t with Obama. I think the Nobel Peace Prize musn’t be given to a politician.” What do you make of Turkey’s new stance? “I think whatever the reason behind the Turkish government’s change in policy towards the Kurds, it is good for them. If Turkey gives autonomy to the Kurds there, it will find that the situation will get better. So there is a mutual interest.”

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

VIEWS|&

EDITORIALS COMMENTARY

LOST CITY? RAZ JABARY he gravity of the recent impasse between the Iraqi and Syrian governments relegated the ErbilBaghdad discord to the backburner for a while. The French newspaper Le Figaro recently reported on the Kurds’ desire to start military negotiations with the French as a result of the failure in talks between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Central Iraqi Government (CIG) in Baghdad. The report led readers to raise questions and even doubts on how Iraq’s ethnic and

sectarian groups will cope during the upcoming national elections in January 2010, and furthermore after the planned American combat troops’ withdrawal in August later that year. One question that occupied my mind was whether the Kurds are justified in acquiring weapons arsenal as a consequence of the failed longstanding negotiations with the CIG. Kurdish suffering during previous Iraqi regimes aside, the main issue considered here is that of Kirkuk. On the one hand, Al Hadbaa List is claiming the whole of

Outdated prison business

DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ DR JOSEPH KECHICHIAN amp Bucca, an isolated desert prison that was once America’s largest lockup in Iraq, is now closed as several thousand detainees were either released, transferred to Camp Taji or Camp Cropper, or gradually reassigned to Iraqi custody in a program that will be stretched over the course of several months. While this is a major accomplishment, it behooves Baghdad to quickly get out of the prison business, except for the most brutal criminals. Located slightly north of the Kuwaiti border, Camp Bucca held thousands of men, including what passed for dangerous terrorists, or wannabe terrorists, from each and every Iraqi community. Though it never gained the notoriety of Abu Ghraib,

Bucca housed “insurgents” and “extremists,” ostensibly because these pullulated the land. Given severe treatment many received in the prison system, some of those who were freed during the past six years, may well have returned to violence although this could not be a generalized declaration no matter the many claims to the contrary. Bucca allegedly held truly dangerous folks, but it is critical to remind ourselves that most were never charged with any crimes, nor appeared in any court of law. Simply holding someone in jail in perpetuity does not diminish the onus on those who are doing the holding to obey their own laws. According to American prison authorities, several prisoners would eventually be tried in Iraqi courts, to follow the 65 who were already judged, convicted, and awaiting that their sentences (death or life) be carried out. It must be emphasized that many of those held—numbering at least 15,000 in early 2009—were freed because little or no evidence existed against them. In some cases American authorities opted to release prisoners because they did not wish to “compromise intelligence sources.” How could Iraqi authorities handle their 1,500 newly inherited detainees is anyone’s guess, especially when detention conditions are less than ideal, and the state of the judiciary below what would pass as being “indepen-

Mosul without legal basis whereas the Kurdistani Front is discouraged from doing so in Kirkuk, which has a majority of Kurds. It is a classic example of the political term “logical illogicality”. The Kurdish population is expressing dissatisfaction over the yet-to-be implemented Article 140, which was officially ratified by 80 percent of Iraq’s population and drafted as part of the Iraqi constitution. Those blaming Kurdish authorities are correct to some extent, as internal rivalries between Kurdish factions have resulted in missed opportunities and on numerous occasions concessions were made that eroded Kurdish power. The resolution of a recognized constitutional article like this one dealing with normalization requires optimum cooperation from both sides involved in the matter. Baghdad – as the main executioning body of the Iraqi constitution – promised its readinness to the Kurds in this issue in 2005 with the implementation of the new constitution. However, there has been a notable difference between official and actual government policy. What is the point of a constitution if the recommendations and text making up its articles cannot be carried out? A realistic prospect? After numerous deadlines set for Article 140 in the new democratic Iraq have been missed, one wonders whether the normalization of the status of Kirkuk by dialogue is a realistic prospect after nearly a century of upheaval between the Kurds and consecutive Iraqi regimes governed by tyrants? In post-Saddam Iraq, the Kurds have had

to deal with other significant players who involved themselves in the issue of Kirkuk, taking advantage of the power vacuum in new Iraq. Neighboring Turkey in particular has repeatedly pledged to ‘protect the rights of Kirkuk’s Turkoman minority’, as if to imply that this minority ethnic group were currently oppressed! Cross-border operations Rather than acting as a middleman attempting to appease the situation, Turkey has on numerous occasions infringed upon Iraqi sovereignty by carrying out intimidating military cross-border operations. Recently, the former Turkish Director for Education published a ‘map of the new Turkey’ which includes the Kurdistan Region and other Kurdish-inhabited areas like Kirkuk and Mosul, next to Greece, Armenia

and Cyprus, distributed among primary school children’s parents and also available on CD. In response, renowned scholar of Kurdish studies Martin van Bruinessen criticized the move and referred to it as an ‘embarrassment for the Turkish government’. Although the maps were withdrawn shortly after, exactly what they wanted to achieve with such an initiative is unknown. A challenge is facing newly elected PM Barham Salih in the realization of Kurdish demands regarding this decades-old problem. Whether Article 140 will be successfully implemented in the near future remains to be seen. The success of the reversal of the Arabization of Kirkuk is dependent on the new Kurdish administration’s diplomatic abilities and how high it figures on their priority list.

dent.” Baghdad is now burdened with the consequences of Washington’s commitment to apply its security pact, part of which addressed detention facilities, and which must include transfer of authority over detainees to Iraqi custody. Needless to say that prison conditions are not high on the Al Maliki Government’s agenda, when so many more pressing priorities exist, which preoccupy the state. When 16 prisoners recently escaped from a jail in Tikrit, including five alQa`ida-linked inmates awaiting execution, Baghdad called on the American military to assist in the massive manhunt. Ostensibly, it either did not trust its own capabilities, or lacked the will to go after escapees. It is now amply clear that Iraqi authorities will struggle to maintain control over an overcrowded prison system. Moreover, it seems that prison guards “trained” to absorb thousands of new detainees are simply not up to the task, which does not augur well. In the past, Iraqi prisons were notoriously overcrowded, leading to repeated riots and, this must be acknowledged, preparing Iraqis in the business of inmate control (“techniques” ranging from handling riots to using non-lethal weapons like tasers), proved to be extremely difficult. Luckily, there is a better solution, one that will strengthen democratization in Iraq, restore the semblance of justice, and focus on the minuscule number of potential criminals that threaten the country’s internal stability and security: close these massive

detention camps once and for all and free 99.99 percent of those who are in the penitentiary system who are neither hardened criminals nor terrorists. When thousands of individuals are locked up, conditions can never be acceptable, as mistreatment is bound to occur. Sadly, contemporary Iraq will forever be associated with Abu Ghraib and similar tragedies, because abuses by American troops (even if only a few), fueled antiAmericanism throughout the world. Baghdad will forever be associated with these perceptions, even if it did not initiate them, simply because it assumed control over the American detention system in Iraq. If Washington can close Guantánamo Bay prison, as President Barack Obama vowed to do by 22 January 2010 because, as he claimed, it was a “stain” on America’s reputation, Baghdad can do likewise to its sprawling facilities. Even if pledges were made not to resort to largely useless and incredibly abusive “enhanced interrogation techniques,” which are unbecoming of any person who calls himself a human being, chances are strong that harsh treatments will occur in Iraq. Truth be told, there is a legacy of abuse in Mesopotamia, which will not be eradicated with the stroke of a pen. Iraq needs its able bodied citizens healthy enough, both physically and mentally, to help rebuild a country that was devastated by wars for almost all of its existence. The time has come not to add to the roster of the unemployed by perpetuating past traditions.

Far from being a naïve plea, the recommendation that Baghdad consider getting out of the prison business, acknowledges the need to apprehend extremely dangerous criminals. Still, this supplication posits that not every Iraqi incarcerated by American, and now Iraqi, authorities is a terrorist. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to have thousands of terrorists roaming around, for that would necessitate the kind of logistical support that has never been proven to exist. Rather, the handful of genuine terrorists, murderers, rapists, and other extreme criminals could probably be housed in a single facility. Surely, out of 25 million Iraqis, no more than a 1,000 such individuals exist. Sociologists are probably better equipped to provide more definitive assessments than political commentators, but common sense leads one to conclude that one harvests what one sows. If Baghdad prefers democratization, it may be better to distance its long-term policies from punitive measures (except in the rarest cases), trusting citizens to assume the burdens of responsibility. While little in modern Iraqi history may lead one to believe that such a giant step may be taken here, there is an opportunity to embark on precisely such an adventure, if for no other reason than to simply break with the past. Dr Kechichian is an expert on Gulf Arab affairs and author of several books.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Some of Kurdistan’s literary greats are outside the General Library in the city of Slemani.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

WHEN WILL KURDISH LITERATURE GET TO SING MY WAY The internet might at last bring Kurdish literature to the limelight. AGRI ISMAIL oris Lessing who received the Nobel Prize in literature 2006 was born in Kermanshah, and although I’m pretty sure nobody, including herself, counts her as Kurdish, I do. If only to be able to say that there’s been a Kurdish Nobel Prize winner in literature. Unfortunately, it’s likely to be a while before there is another. The issue at hand isn’t that there is a lack of talented Kurdish authors. Historically, as well as contemporarily, there is a flow of interesting writing emerging in the language, from Goran to Bekes, from Peramerd to Ahmed, from Uzun to Hassan and countless others. The problem is that there is not currently any form of literary dialogue taking place. Kurdish writing, after its peak in the first half of the 20th century with translations of Flaubert, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy flooding the market thanks to, in part, the renowned literary journals (of which Galawezh is the most well-remembered), became insular and self-reflective mainly due to the lack of new translations. Youth don’t read This is an issue which remains to this day: the older, remarkably well-read, generations are aware of world literature up to, say, Marquez. The younger generations, generally, don’t read and don’t care that they don’t read. And who can blame them: with first person shooters on the PlayStation, endless entertainment on MBC 2 and 4, internet chat rooms and pirated DVDs, who

needs a musty old book? This is not, after all, a crisis affecting only Kurdish youth. In the 21st century, regardless of e-readers and Kindles, the book is a boring artifact. But the fact that we’re not translating enough books is only part of the problem. Sure, Kurdish literature could benefit from having acquainted itself with Borges, Eggers, Jelinek, McEwan, Murakami, Nothomb, Saramago, Vollman and Wallace but it would still be impossible to partake in the international dialogue which, surely, is the de facto goal of world literature, unless Kurdish works were in turn translated and discussed. Not westernized enough Although there has been an interest from publishers around the world to hear what Kurdish authors have to say, there has been a sense that contemporary Kurdish literature is not westernized enough (Khaled Hosseini’s books, to take the Afghan example, are lauded for being authentic and exotic but are in fact very much steeped in Anglo-Saxon literary traditions and are, for all intents and purposes, American novels), claiming that it needs to adapt itself to its readership the same way that foreign cuisine tends to change depending on the country it’s in. I don’t necessarily agree with that, as I’m of the belief that truly great literature shouldn’t have to pander to a specific audience. Had there been a worldwide understanding of Kurdish literature, there would be no need to adapt it to western tastes, the same way that Indian and Japanese literature is well-understood. Unfortu-

nately, due to the Kurds’ chaotic history and our oppressors’ tendency to ban or burn our books, a lot of our literature has been destroyed and of the little that remains, even less has made it into the hands of foreign readers. Google Books Enter Google Books. As controversial as Google’s Big Brother-style collection of All Literature Ever Written

Historically, as well as contemporarily, there is a flow of interesting writing emerging in Kurdish, from Goran to Bekes, from Peramerd to Ahmed, from Uzun to Hassan... may seem, for us it really is a blessing: imagine that all remaining Kurdish literature be one day scanned and kept somewhere where nobody (other than the potentially evil Google of course) can touch it, where all of it is just one search away. Suddenly, what was once feared lost forever can be viewed sideby-side with all other historical works. The internet could, then, at last bring Kurdish literature to the limelight.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

hen Iran bombs the border zones of Iraqi Kurdistan, innocent villagers suffer immense physical and economic hardship as their homes and agriculture areas are destroyed. But this is nothing compared to those who are wounded, or even lose their lives. For greater political purposes that do not concern them, civilians are victimized and forced to flee their homes, unable to live under the constant threat of bombardment. Most of them have moved to districts and towns and many to the big cities namely, Erbil and Slemani. This rapid urbanization has had a negative impact on their quality of life, with consequences for those who have always inhabited the urban areas. The border shelling is direct violence that, in turn, breeds cultural and structural violence (indirect violence). That is, to village dwellers, as they move to cities, living in a new environment can be a type of cultural violence, as they are hardly able to be active in their new society. The modern structure of the market, new non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions are foreign entities to them. In a sense, these less-educated village dwellers who try to make a home in the cities are the wrong people in the wrong place at the wrong time. The border shelling can also be taken as a structural violence against the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Villages are the source of agricultural goods and products, and air

STOP THE SHELLING Mass migration from border areas to urban centers may threaten to derail region’s political and economic progress. MOHAMMAD ALI raids destroy such a fundamental economic base. This indirectly obliges the KRG to depend on imported products from Syria, Turkey and Iran, endangering economic dependence, for the most part, and provoking political obligations. The bombings give the Kurdistan Region an insecure image, and this discourages not only foreign companies but also Kurdish business men to invest in Kurdistan, as they do not trust the environment and its socio-economic and political situation. Importing all sorts of goods from fuel to fruit causes capital drain and a lack of wealth circulation, which leads to a fluctuation of market prices in a way that the KRG is unable to control. The inhabitants of the Kurdistan Region are thus victimized in economic terms. In this way, border shelling affects the living conditions of the people in the entire Kurdistan Region. In addition, with people's migration from rural to urban areas, the KRG is unable to provide the required basic social services ei-

ther in the big cities or in the districts; this slows down the development process of the region. Urbanization also brings unemployment; more and more people leaving the villages to the cities, where there are very few factories or companies and jobs cannot be found. Uncontrolled urbanization leads to political chaos, economic mess and social disorder. Furthermore, almost all goods are transferred through the borders for instance, with Turkey’s Ibrahim Khalil and with Iran’s Haji Umran. In order to maintain access to both Turkish and Iranian products, the KRG is forced to keep the borders safe and secure, and prevent separatists from operating along the borders. Any threat to the borders is an indirect threat to the security, the market and the economy of the Kurdistan Region. Although it is widely believed that Turkey is using the PKK and Iran the PJAK as excuses to attack the northern Kurdistan Region of Iraq, for the political and eco-

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

L E T T E R S

Giving the youth a fair chance at success.

‘God help us all, those of us with Middle Eastern features’

BAYAD JAMAL KURDI

I was appalled to learn that the Canadian police had behaved so abominably toward Kurdish singer Shiwan Perwer (‘Kurds demand apology from Canada PM for arrest of Kurdish singer’ page 6 no.62) One would expect such incidents to happen in the US, or even in Europe these days, but in Canada, which boasts of being a ‘cultural mosaic’, it is both disgusting and shocking to learn that the authorities harbored so much racism. I emigrated to Canada in 1991, and never had much trouble fitting in. I easily made friends, mostly other immigrants like myself. We never felt as though the country discriminated against us. In fact, the presence of so many foreign cultural centers helped newcomers feel at home and among their own, as they slowly integrated. The open-mindedness of the Canadian people has always been a beacon of light in North America, and one hoped the attitude would trickle down south.

he July elections in the Kurdish region saw many promises made by rival political parties to provide better opportunities for the youth, but it remains to be seen whether any of them will be honored. In a region where more than half of the population is under the age of 30, there is a need to develop better strategies for improving their prospects and opportunities. The Kurdish youth are at the forefront of the struggle to achieve a better education at one of the several new institutions that have opened in recent years, and to compete for the employment opportunities presented by new foreign and local companies. But in so doing, they will be met with new concepts such as gender equality and the erosion of the ‘entitlement culture’. They are the generation that will have to combat the scourge of poverty and hunger, and pave the way for a more developed and democratic society. Crucial is an approach that assists the advancement and development of youth in the Kurdistan Region, both academically and socially. With the right approach, this large group of human capital can contribute to growth, prosperity, sustainability and stability. But let us first consider the challenges they face. Given the high unemployment rate, can-

nomic achievements has frightened both Ankara and Tehran that such a semi-autonomous region will incite Kurds in Turkey and Iran to demand their own autonomy, the KRG, within its own rights and imposed limits, has taken steps to stop or reduce the cross border separatists, whether PKK, PJAK or KDPI. Correspondingly, the leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) put forward a statement. In April 2004, they asserted that the KDPI have guerillas but that they no longer undertake military action, and are organizing politically within Iranian Kurdistan. That is, separatists are not allowed by the KRG to establish an army in the Iraqi Kurdistan. The KDPI also expressed optimism about the future of Iran. Acknowledging the status in Iraqi Kurdistan as a semi-self-rule region, Ibrahim Kalin, in an article entitled “Crossing the border between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan” released on 19 February 2009, argues that “Turkey must act more decisively and with confidence in order to improve its po-

didates for the job market will not succeed unless they have the right foundation and background. Regrettably, in the rural areas as well as the cities, education policies have failed to meet the globalized needs of the market, especially in terms of advanced business studies. The curriculum needs revision. Skills and expertise must be categorized in order to prepare a generation for modern market realities. Focus should be on eliminating illiteracy; accompanied by technological and professional skills. Only then will the youth be able to gain employment to sustain their future and help the future of Kurdistan. Illiterate youth will constitute a burden on society and the economy. As a result, access to competent education, accompanied by development programs and professional training, is bound to promote inventive approaches that are essential in building a labor-intensive market with diverse professions in all the majors that the market will absorb easily because of the shortage in employment. Poverty poses numerous challenges to the youth. A great number of young Kurds live in rural areas with limited access to a learning environment. This also restrains those individuals’ access to appropriate health services or decent housing.

The political system needs to be regulated in order to provide those groups with means and resources to penetrate the market and institutions that would aid the youth’s growth rather than isolate them from the community. Societal constraints and the culture of shame constitute another challenge. In some communities, it is socially unacceptable for a woman to work outside the household. In fact, some do not even recognize the importance of education for women. The youth in Kurdistan, especially women, continue to be suppressed by a culture that portrays change and advancement as negative. What needs to be done is to reinforce some of the positive social values that we as a culture embrace and educate people in order to change their mindsets. Young people must not be marginalized and deprived of a decent future. Efforts are required to ensure the well-being of the youth who will become the backbone of the region and its future. A change in attitude in Kurdish society and better educational possibilities to create an ‘employable’ generation would help lay the groundwork for keeping pace with global progress and create a bridge of mutual understanding with other nations.

litical, economic and cultural relations with the Iraqi Kurds.” He further points out a symbolic but also politically important step for Turkey, that is, to open up a consulate in Erbil. He writes: “A Turkish consulate in Erbil would not only make life easier for thousands of Turkish and Kurdish businessmen and civil society representatives, but also send a positive message to the Iraqi Kurds. Given the fact that other countries are opening diplomatic branches in Erbil and other Kurdish cities, it is only normal for Turkey to do the same”. The same suggestion is equally applicable to either Iran or Syria. Kurds have struggled to be an independent autonomous region within Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria, rather than to seek separation as an independent state. Currently, as has been the case in the past, Kurds are waiting for the process of democracy, as a new opportunity for getting what they want, which might come either from within or outside the nation-states that they are a part of but do not consider themselves belonging to. Accordingly, the KRG is not only a start but also a positive instance in this regard, for since 2003, it has seen relative progress on every front, in terms of economic development, political awareness, providing security and building infrastructures. In sum, in order not to derail this progress, both cross border activists and border shelling should be stopped immediately.

Alas, one now gets the sense that the opposite trend is actually taking place. God help us all, those of us with ‘Middle Eastern features’. Name withheld TORONTO

The bookseller of Kurdistan I greatly enjoyed reading your profile of Mam Anwar, the bookseller of Slemani (‘Bookseller of Slemani’ page 16 no.62) I’d like to read about more people like this fine man who are well-known personalities in the city; it helps me get a sense of the local culture. M. Grossi SLEMANI

C O N TA C T U S LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Want to be published in SOMA? We’d really like to know what you’re thinking. If you’ve got a comment on one of our stories, or about an important issue, simply email it to: editor@soma-digest.com Letters may be edited for purposes of space, clarity and decency.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

BUSINESS|&

INVESTMENTS MARKET NEWS

Opportunity in adversity. Kirkuk sustains marked economic improvements. n spite of ongoing conflict and sporadic bloodshed, the contested city of Kirkuk has witnessed a healthy degree of economic progress. A slight increase in the rate of employment has meant that more people now enjoy a sense that they are contributing to the future of their city. According to the governor of Kirkuk, Abdul Rahman Mustafa, both the economic situation and the standard of living for residents of Kirkuk have sustained marked improvements. He concedes that the time they have had for implementation of projects has been short and the budget too small, but a difference has been felt nonetheless. Mustafa explained that before 2003 there were some urgent decisions made from the ministries to employ their affiliated people in other cities. In

Abdul Rahman Mustafa

September of 2003, the governorate of Kirkuk issued a decision wherein directorates under their authority could no longer take on any employees without their permission. “This was a plan to give more job opportunities to the people of Kirkuk itself,” he said. The governor conceded that it took a significant period of time before the decision reached its designated location as many of the other ministers had problems with the issuance of such a decision. “The original people of Kirkuk were deprived of being employed for more than 35 years which created an army of jobless people in the city, so this was one of our very first tasks to provide them with jobs through the relevant ministries,” said Mustafa. Employing civil servants has almost come to a halt in the ministries but there are plans in the pipeline that will

create job opportunities for people through investment projects. “One of the big projects is the oil refinery for which it took us five years to get permission from the Iraqi oil ministry which then intended to relocate it to the Salahadeen province,” said Mustafa. “After long discussions we were able to convince the oil ministry’s representative to agree with our suggestion to keep the refinery in Kirkuk not only to provide job opportunities for the people but also to provide fuel to the city,” he added. One large-scale project in particular is expected to radically improve the economy of Kirkuk province by activating investment, social reforms, tourism and agricultural sectors. Twenty dams are planned for construction, which will help the people of Kirkuk by providing services such as electricity power and water, in addition to generating employment. “After 2003, we worked on searching for and selecting strategic places for building 20 dams around Kirkuk. Fortunately we have finished two of them, the Shen and Palkan dams in the current year and we will be continuing with the rest,” said Mustafa. “One of the important dams in the city of Kirkuk is the Khasa dam. We have come up against a lot of barriers and endured a lot of difficulties but the project is planned for execution in the near future,” he added. Mustafa said that this dam will not only be esthetically pleasing to the eye, but it will also provide continuous water to the city. The issue of waste and recycling, a vital topic for all of Iraq, has taken center stage and requires urgent attention especially in Kirkuk which is being engulfed in polluted air. The waste in Kirkuk used to be collected and burned on the road out of the city but this caused a concentrated cloud of smoke above Kirkuk. After 2004 and with the support of the reconstruction teams, another big project for recycling and treatment was completed. “Fortunately this project has been nominated to enter projects competing in Iraq,” said Mustafa. According to the governor, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) was a source of tremendous support for the accomplishment of all projects in every sector, including education and agriculture. — BY AWARA JUMAA IN KIRKUK

Long term prospects. For risk-adjusted returns and sustainable economic development. Lawen A. Sagerma SLEMANI il deals and quick profitmaking ventures were the most common types of investment in the Kurdistan Region after the fall of the Baath regime in 2003. While those in search of a quick buck were the first to seize the post-war opportunities, there was a small margin of others who looked for long term possibilities. The Marshall Fund, a private equity firm, combines the wealth of both public and private sectors aiming for profitable returns on their investment as well as advancing economic development. “The primary objective is to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns for our investors and the secondary objective is to promote sustainable economic development in Iraq,” said Andrew Eberhart, Founder & Managing Partner of the Marshall Fund. Their first partnership venture was in 2008 in the more stable regions of conflict ridden Iraq. “The Harir plant is a tomato paste processing plant that was completely renovated in 2002 by the United Nations as part of the oil for food program. The UN abandoned the plant in 2003 when the war started and remained idle until the fall of 2008 when we provided the operating capital to restart the plant,” said Eberhart. “The plant employs over 150 people at full production capacity and puts to work over 500 farmers in the region to provide the fresh tomatoes.”

While investment has trickled into Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, it has been difficult to achieve economic development in a country where parts of it are still mired conflict. Eberhart explains that it is hard to convince investors to bring capital to Iraq due to the security risk perceived by investors. “We offset this risk by obtaining political risk insurance on our investments. This insurance, issued by a US Government agency [Overseas Private Investment Corporation] insures our investment against loss from civil strife, nationalization and currency inconvertibility,” he said. Eberhart explains that this insurance provides reassurance to their investors and is a requirement for each of their investments. There is a high rate of unemployment and poverty in the Kurdistan Region and across Iraq. These conditions are said to breed ‘economic insurgents’ because people’s financial difficulties leave them with very little choice. Eberhart states that sustainable economic development is the key to creating the necessary job growth that provides long term opportunities to unemployed and disenfranchised Iraqis. “We believe that sustainable economic development comes about through the development of viable business models that create ongoing wealth and opportunity through profitable operations,” he said. “Charitable grants and government subsidies may help jump start certain businesses and create opportunities, but these are not sustainable unless the private sector takes them over and develops them into viable self-sustaining businesses.” Referred to as the ‘breadbasket of the middle east’, Iraq’s agricultural potential

should have been its main income alongside oil, but as Eberhart points out the United Nations’ oil for food program undermined much of the Iraqi agriculture sector, which has yet to recover. “Although the land is quite fertile, modern farming practices need to be adopted in order to realize the tremendous potential of the region,” he said. Iraq’s oil has been a contentious issue for a great deal of its history and it has contributed in turning the country into a one product economy that is in dire need of diversification. “We have been strong advocates for the creation of an Iraq Enterprise Fund that would be funded through oil revenues. This fund would have the mandate to invest in all sectors of the economy except oil and gas and would have its success measured by the financial health of the companies that it funded,” said Eberhart. Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s bloated public sector has reduced the motivation to work in a true, value-added capacity and instead encouraged something of an entitlement culture, states Eberhart. “Investors are reluctant to acquire a stateowned enterprise that is funded by the public sector and is not a viable business without government assistance,” he said. With Iraq and the Kurdistan Region focusing predominately on luring foreign investors, local businesses seem to have been neglected. It remains to be seen how a balance between the two can be created so as to ensure profitable returns for both. “At the Marshall Fund, our philosophy is that we need to have a local partner with a substantial equity interest in each investment that we make,” said Eberhart. “In the Harir plant, our local partner owns more than 50 percent of the equity. We believe this aligns us with the local community while allowing us to achieve an appropriate return for our investors.” The global recession has not spared Iraq

‘We offset this risk by obtaining political risk insurance... Issued by a US govn’t agency, it insures against loss from civil strife, nationalization and currency inconvertibility.’ and the Kurdistan Region either. “Investors have now been able to find very cheap assets elsewhere in the world and don't feel the need to look for cheap assets in Iraq where the risk is perceived as much higher,” explains Eberhart. Iraq’s progress is still hindered by conflict hence why Eberhart submits that the recovery period needed for ‘central Iraq will likely need several years’, while the Kurdistan Region ‘could be self sufficient in the very near future.’

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Aim to diversify. KRG must look beyond energy, construction Vania Kareem SLEMANI xplosions and bomb-scarred buildings may be the defining symbols elsewhere in Iraq, but construction cranes are the most common feature on the landscape of the Kurdistan Region today. A building frenzy has gripped the region since the USled invasion overthrew the oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein. And yet, if the current healthy pace of development is to be maintained, the region’s economy must be diversified, says a local businessman. At present, foreign investment centers overwhelmingly on energy and construction, while other sectors are relatively neglected. The region’s laws favor foreign investors by granting various incentives, but most opt for low-risk, short-term profits in the energy or construction sectors despite a plethora of opportunities available across the board in the stable, resource-rich Kurdish region. The most dynamic aspect of the Kurdish economy is driven by the private sector which can and does play an effective role. However, as it stands Kurdistan’s investment is mostly oil and construction and there is a need to expand and diversify investments so that the economy is not solely dependent on one product. “Unfortunate circumstances of the past have contributed to Kurdistan’s current reconstruction needs,” said Shakir Wajid Shakir, Branch Manager of Dana Gas in Slemani. “There are other important sectors that need to be

‘Investment opportunities tomorrow are better than those after [t0morrow].’ AMIR ABDULJABBAR, Iraqi Transportation Minister, urging foreign investors to act quickly and to employ Iraqi advisors to counsel them on local customs.

‘The unfair competition caused the closure of 95 percent of Iraqi factories, leading to a skyrocketing unemployment rate among workers.’ HASHEM AL ATRAQJI, Chairman of the Iraqi Industries Union, on unfair competition between Iraqi and foreign products.

taken into consideration when talking of investment such as agriculture, manufacturing and processing plants for fruits and vegetables, and dairies.” He conceded, however, that the participation of the private sector has failed to support the manufacturing industry. According to Shakir, the Kurdistan

Shakir Wajid Shakir, Branch Manager of Dana Gas in Slemani.

Region is finding ways to address these shortages so as to continuously provide work for its people and keep up with increasing demand for better infrastructure to support incoming investments. The lure of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Investment Law has been strong, yet most investors choose to focus primarily on the energy sectors over much needed reconstruction in other areas. Shakir believes that the KRG must be responsive to those areas that require

‘Developing the economy is not the responsibility of the govn’t alone. The private sector should play a significant role in this regard…The opportunity is now ripe... in light of the economic openness and presence of capital protection and investment laws.’ NOURI AL MALIKI, Iraqi Prime Minister, calling to form a council for Iraqi businessmen, and help those seeking access to Arab, regional and international markets.

fast action and they need to be involved in services, direct ventures to participate actively and continuously. “The government will have to initiate the diversification as it has the ability to alter the laws to encourage investment, reduce tax rates and give incentives to private companies to invest more diversely,” he said. “The government can also give subsidies to those sectors that lack sufficient investment as well as spending its own resources to improve and increase investment in those sectors.” As many parts of Iraq are still engulfed in conflict, most private companies aim for profit maximization because of the risk. Therefore increased incentives and reduced tax rates by the government will inevitably lead to higher levels of investments over a broader range of the economy. “The KRG needs to engage in research and development activities in line with agriculture to explore better ways of producing quality agricultural products and conducting better and safer agricultural practices and strategies for increased production,” said Shakir. “They need to provide better employment opportunities by inviting investors who are in the business of canning, juice-making, and other processing plants in order to add to Kurdistan’s manufacturing and agricultural industries.” There needs to be concentrated effort on bringing in investors as economic disturbances incurred by the recent war have left much of its infrastructure in tatters and its economy lethargic. “Nearly everything that is in the Kurdistan markets right now; including much of the food, is imported from abroad. Kurdistan needs foreign investment in every area of its economy,” said Shakir. Business is thriving and continuing to grow in the Kurdistan Region and if the KRG pays more attention to the neglected sectors, the infrastructural boom is only set to expand.

‘Several laws crucial to the oil sector, including the oil and gas law, were supposed to be enacted, but were delayed due to differences over the interpretation of the Iraqi constitution.’ ALI HUSSEIN BLO, head of the house hydrocarbon committee, ruling out prospect of passing oil laws by the current government.

“After Iraq’s gas production reaches the export stage, Turkey will be a main outlet via the Nabucco pipeline to Europe.’ ASSEM JIHAD, spokesman for Iraqi Oil Ministry.

Buddy, can you spare a part? Auto industry awaits law on imports. he Kurdish region’s fast-paced development has been matched by motorists’ love for speed, which has led to an alarmingly high rate of traffic accidents. Coupled with the advent of new models of cars into the region’s markets, an urgent need has arisen for more auto-body workshops. These workshops would serve as legal trustees and formal branches of the car companies, and this is expected to ease post-purchase servicing. The greater availability of spare parts in the Kurdish region will no doubt be welcomed by car aficionados, who have thus far struggled to find parts. “I really liked my Lumina van, but I had to sell it because the problem was there wasn’t a shop that brought in its pieces. I waited for three months for front lights to be brought in from Dubai,” said Sarwar Ahmed, who was eventually compelled to buy another car. Before someone makes a decision to buy any given car, they must know something about the model and how well it is provided for in the market. Those vehicles that have ample spare parts in the bazaars are likely to be sold for a higher price than those which do not, regardless of the value of the model abroad. “People always look for cars that a local mechanic will be able to fix, they think about whether or not the spare parts exist in the market as well as A/C features for our summer heat and winter chill,” said Usman Qadir, a car dealer. Some lament the lack of spare parts available for their cars, while others worry about the effect the large number of cars are having on the environment.

‘The economic crisis is in fact the outcome of capitalism and the negative impact of globalization… Democratic socialism is the way to get humanity out of this crisis as well as coming crises.’ JALAL TALABANI, President of Iraq, on democratic socialism as the solution to come out of the current world economic crisis.

“I think that using cars is very dangerous for the environment, but it has become almost impossible to live without cars these days,” said Peshraw Ghafur, a driver in Slemani. “I can't live without them either! I am constantly changing my car trying to find the right one that will not face the problem of lack of spare parts. I waited for two side mirrors for my Daewoo car for ages, I searched in Erbil and Kirkuk, I didn’t find it. But I can find it in bazaar here easily now.” According to Ghafur, if the government issues an official statement allowing people to bring in spare parts, he will no longer have to search high and low when necessary. “We will no longer search for spare pieces or to look for a piece that is similar to the original,” he said. As yet, there has been no official decision from the government to allow people to bring in spare parts and no spokesmen from the government have issued statements to this effect. Nevertheless, there is a large quantity of spare parts sold in the bazaars declaring the markets open and the merchants are bringing shipments from abroad into the country in different, inventive ways. “They come in from Iran, Syria and Dubai; there are also a few people who bring things in from Turkey. There are some merchants whom I have no idea where they bring their stuff in from but I never ask them because the important thing is I have a spare piece for those who come to my shop,” said Wasta Rahman said, who has a shop for car pieces in Nali Square. — BY BRWA AB. MAHMUD IN SLEMANI

‘The Iraqi technical cadre should be given an opportunity to take national production to advanced levels…’ TAREQ AL HASHEMI, Iraqi Vice President, on capability of state-run South Oil Company.

‘The parliamentary polls will result in political and security stability and facilitate investment in Iraq. Japan will continue its support for the political and democratic processes.’ SHOJI OGAWA, Japanese ambassador to Iraq, on upcoming parliamentary elections.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Culture FILMS

MUSIC

LITERATURE

INSIDE

For whom the wedding bells toll JEN A. SAGERMA IN SLEMANI

HERITAGE

Citizen cane A ging men and women around the world use walking sticks to aid their movement, but in the Kurdish region, this accessory is still made by hand, lovingly crafted by experts in the trade, and called the ‘gochan’ or ‘gohpal’. These items are still produced by hand, not because it is a lucrative business, but because those who make them view it as a work of art. In Kurdish culture, these items are either meant to give as gifts, or to be used for ornamental purposes. According to Haji Karim, a 70 year old retired cane maker, preferred type of wood for use in crafting a cane is “the wood from the pomegranate tree, the ‘kiner’ tree, ‘binow’ tree, rasha dar, or chnar.” These trees can be found either near the water or the trees on hill sides, and most of the w o o d needs to be wet. If not, it is placed in water to soften first. T h e trees are available during most seasons which is economically helpful for the carpenter but they are also widely available during the autumn season. “The length of the cane is usually a meter to a meter and a half, depending on the customer’s preference. The handle has its own name called ‘gomki gochan’ and at the time when the wood is to be curved over it is placed in hot water to soften the wood to make it malleable so that it doesn’t break during shaping,” said Haji Karim. “Only the top of the cane is placed into the hot water. In the winter it needs to be in the water for longer, roughly about half an hour, as opposed to summer where it’s only on average in the water for 10 minutes.” Karim explained that there are shape setters for the cane so that it holds its shape as it dries and so it can harden in its curved form. Once it has taken the desired shape, it is held in place with a belt to keep it curved as an extra

precaution and to further allow it to hold its shape. The manufacturing of the cane is not limited to individual carpenters who make a small number of handmade ones as now they are mass produced in factories using a variety of different materials. There is, of course, a difference in mass produced canes as opposed to those made by hand. As with any mass produced goods, the handmade one is always original and there is never one exactly like it, but the mass produced items often lose their originality. Furthermore, in handmade items, the consumer can request that the craftsman respect a certain set of specifications and customize the cane, so to speak, whereas this option does not exist with mass produced items. Many of the older generation use it to k e e p t h e i r balance while others use it simply as an accessory, a statement of age. It has been seen worn with the Jili Kurdi (Kurdish costume) where the handle is tucked into the belt of the men’s traditional outfit. It is also seen as a tool that shepherds use to keep their cattle in line so in this sense it goes beyond the decorative purpose. There is also something to be said of the difference in use between the sexes. When a woman is seen using a ‘gochan’, it is usually because she needs it to keep her balance. But if a man is employing one, often it is more of a fashion statement. Older men in particular use it as a defining accessory in the same way as they use their ‘tasbeh’ (prayer beads) and of course the level of the statement depends on the quality of the cane they walk with. — BY ROSHNA RASOOL IN ERBIL

A women’s prison during Saddam Hussein’s regime has now been turned into a park and is now open to the public.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

Mother’s garden Flowers now bloom over what once was a prison for female relatives of Peshmargas. Roshna Rasool SLEMANI he project of Baekhi Daek, or Mother’s Garden, was created on a piece of land that was once used as a women’s prison by the regime of the late Saddam Hussein to detain female relatives of Peshmargas. As a tribute to their courage, Baekhi Daek was created in honor of all those women whose freedom was stolen from them. Initially, the plot of land on which the Lebanese company Lebanon Mountain was working spread over 8,400 square meters. This was later increased to 14,500 square meters to make way for a more elaborate design to rival other parks in the city. A great portion of the park is covered in greenery with beautiful layers of grass, over 2,000 flowers and plants in addition to six olive tress that are aged between 200-600 years. The plants, shrubs and flowers that have all been brought in from abroad were all tried and tested before they were planted at their final location. The park in the Malkany neighborhood is the first in the area and was designed so that it was in keeping with the topography of the city of Slemani. “There are a number of electric and water systems in place with water pumps. The plants here are watered using the method of air pressure. In the

design there are highs and lows that are representative of the topography of Slemani and this has allowed us to say it is a symbol of all the parks in Slemani and one that a lot of people are happy with,” said Kamaran Hama, supervisor of the parks in Slemani. The landscaping, which took approximately nine months to complete after many months of discussion and planning, alongside the destruction of the buildings that were in its place includes automatic electric and irrigation systems brought in from America and France with lighting from Belgium and Germany. The water storage underground has the capacity of 180,000 liters which keeps the plants well watered. There are 133 electric columns that make it a delightful bright retreat in the summer evenings when the sun has set. The budget of the park was approximately 2,980,000,00 Iraqi Dinars funded by the Slemani governorate and work on it began in July of last year. It was completed in April of this year but it is awaiting the final touches before it is open to the public. The park is expected to draw great crowds as it is touted as being on par with European standards. “The space of the greenery here has been designed in a new and beautiful way. We have named it the symbol of the parks of Slemani because it has been styled in a modern way in comparison to the other 225 parks we have in Slemani.

This park is the newest, most beautiful and most modern one we have here,” said Hama. Honoring the women detained during Saddam Hussein’s reign, the park has a statue of a mother with a child in her arms. The statue which is nearly eight meters high is made of fiberglass by Kurdish artist Zahir Saddiq. “Mothers are always giving us the opportunity to continue and try to renew life,” he said. Towards the bottom of the statue, the mother’s figure has merged with a tree. Saddiq explained he did this because he believes them to be ‘two individual symbols for a source of productivity and both of them have roots in land and life.’ The park is located on Peramerd Street, very close to the bazaar. This adds a sense of beauty and calm to the hustle and bustle that pollutes its front entrance. “It is a beautiful place and provides us with tranquility. I think the statue of the mother merged into the tree is a great expression of those women who gave their own lives and those of their sons for this land,” said Mena Ahmed, a college student. Manal Azad, a student, concurred with Ahmed on the location of the park: “The park being close to the bazaar is a good idea for those who want to get away from the crowds and take a rest, breathing in some clean air.”

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Sweet memories As time goes by, some Kurdish customs just get sweeter... and more expensive. Jen A. Sagerma SLEMANI any changes have occurred in the past 50 years in Kurdish culture, with certain rituals evolving to meet modern circumstances or tastes. One example is those related to marriage. The shakraw, loosely translated to ‘sugary water, is the tradition wherein once the engagement has been finalized and the Mullah has announced the bride and groom as husband and wife, a sweet delicacy is distributed to family and friends. The shakraw custom is still practised today with a few minor, subtle modifications. Shakraw is the actual engagement that is announced publicy. “When my older sister Aftaw got married in the 1950s, I remember the shakraw that the groom’s family had distributed. It was a cone-shaped lump of sugar which was wrapped and tied with a pretty ribbon,” recalls 65-year-old Hallaw Baba Karim. That had been the standard and typical shakraw and each household would receive this cone of sugar to mark the engagement and it was in essence a form of announcement to let people know of the union. It was also explained that, although it was not so very expensive, there would be some families that would buy the sugar lump and when announcing the marriage, the Mullah would say a prayer over the lump of sugar. This lump would then be broken into many pieces and each person present would get a piece. In that case a few close family members and friends would be invited but it would be limited to just men. The shakraw gathering is still limited to the men, and is essentially for the men of both sides of the families to get to know each other better. It is very common, and has somewhat become part of the culture to rent a hall for the ‘shakraw khwardinawa’ which is loosely translated as the ‘eating of the sweets’ which involves the Mullah saying a few words followed by the guests having something sweet to eat. The ceremony itself doesn’t take long. It’s a meeting, especially for the fathers of the bride and groom, to introduce each other to their family and friends. In certain cases where the bride’s father is deceased, some choose not to have the ceremony but just to distribute the sweets. In other cases, the uncle(s) of the bride would take the father’s place. The sweets are a requirement, but since

The traditional Kurdish custom of shakraw is still going strong.

times have changed so has the type of sweet. Whereas 50 years ago, it was a lump of sugar or generous amounts of sweets decoratively wrapped, the shakraw now comes in different forms. “There is so much to choose from and now there’s the choice of a sculpture that one can pick and it is packed with a sweet, be it chocolate or a traditional Kurdish sweet,” says Awder Omar Hama Karim, owner of a shakraw shop. The variety of sweets is sometimes over-

(photo by Aram Eissa)

Slemani but not so much in the other areas of the Kurdistan Region, let alone Iraq. If the ceremony is not held, the sweets are distributed nonetheless whether it is to close family or to everybody. “The more expensive choice, in general is the ones with the real Kurdish sweets and of course this depends on the quality,” says Salih Mustafa, a traditional shakraw seller. Whereas couples may agree to not have a wedding or an engagement party, something is always done for the shakraw as it’s

‘When my older sister Aftaw got married in the 1950s, I remember the shakraw that the groom’s family had distributed. It was a cone-shaped lump of sugar tied with a ribbon.’

whelming, ranging from the reasonably priced to the obscenely extravagant. “There are relatively expensive ornaments that can reach US$40 or $50 dollars a piece, and then some can be as cheap as 500 Iraqi Dinars (ID) so there is something for everyone,” he adds. There is always a sweet to accompany the ornament so the tradition lives on, but some have now come to take ornaments with religious inscriptions. In this case, they don’t add a sweet. This is a custom strongly adhered to in

a rather central point of Kurdish marriage tradition. “The popularity of the shakraw has increased and we see this by the number of new shops that have opened,” explains Mustafa. The traditional sweet is readily available and sought after by Kurds, Arabs and other nationalities. This demand has allowed business to flourish despite the fact that there are now so many shops to choose from.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

Lifestyle DINING

FASHION

INTERIORS

COMPILED BY AWARA JUMAA IN KIRKUK JEN A. SAGERMA IN SLEMANI

LEISURE

As modernity seeps into everyday life in Kurdistan, affluent young Kurds find ways to reconcile global trends with tradition. Seven years after the US-led invasion of Iraq opened the floodgates to foreign investment and modern fads, young Kurds are reveling in liberties that were denied their parents, thus compounding the effects of the generational divide. Kurdish society is at the threshold of momentous changes. Lifestyle, a vista to an emerging society, offers a glimpse.

IN FOCUS

Here’s the rap hey haven’t exactly been inspired by the Sarah Jessica Parker quartet of fashionistas from Sex and the City, but it is an emerging trend that has captured the attention of some of Slemani’s youngest girls. While it used to be mainly young boys that walked around dressed like 50 Cent and Eminem, rap attire is now favored by girls as well. It is apt to remember that during the late Saddam Hussein's regime back in the 1980s, people were thrown in jail for something as trivial as wearing white socks. Such constraints imposed upon the people by the late dictator were felt in all aspects of a citizen’s personal life. However people's lifestyle has changed greatly since those dark days and many are asserting their individuality through a variety of ways. Some liberal-leaning Kurdish parents are supportive of their children’s desire to form and express their own identity while the more conservative guardians are ensuring their children do not overstep cultural and traditional boundaries. The global village is continuously producing new trends and the Kurdistan Region has not

Back in the day, the late dictator’s iron grip on every aspect of a person’s life meant that they could be thrown in jail for something as trivial as wearing white socks. Today, liberal Kurdish parents are allowing their children to experiment with rapper’s clothes.

Lazurde gold designs are a hit with the women of Kirkuk.

been spared. Modern fads are appealing to Kurdish teenagers just as they do their counterparts elsewhere in the world. Without doubt, the ‘princess look’ is still a favorite among girls in Slemani, with many attending their university lectures as if they were going to a ball but there is a small minority that are opting for a more modern look. The gloomy colors matched with baggy attire encouraged by rap music is the new black for some. What is interesting is that some parents are encouraging their children to further experiment with the trend. “I am responsible for my daughter and two younger sisters but this doesn’t mean I can ban them from doing things that I was unable to do. They can wear anything they like and I encourage them to keep at it,” said Shadan, mother and older sister of three female rappers in Slemani. “It’s true I am a girl but it doesn’t mean that every girl has to be very feminine. It is time to represent our feelings and ideas, maybe it is because we have been oppressed for so long,” said 19-year-old rapper Rojan. “I’m a rapper because that’s who I am not because it is the fashion. I think our society suppresses us a lot

through its customs and traditions so much that there may never be an EMO concert in Slemani,” she added. However, critics maintain that the significance of rap culture has been lost among these young followers, who adopt the look without embracing or even relating to the message. Many of them have even given each other nicknames without knowing the exact spelling of it or its meaning. “When we pass by shops or a crowd of people, they make impolite comments and many times it is other girls that are making the comments but I am proud of myself that I am different and that they can’t understand me,” said Rojan. It is assumed that if someone wears big trousers, oversized t-shirts and lots of jewelry, in particular long chains, that he or she is part of the rapper crowd who in turn begin to walk, talk and treat people differently. “I don’t think that clothes make someone into something else! People are the same on the inside. I’m not a rapper and I don’t act like them,” said 22-year-old Hajar Hussein. — BY BRWA AB. RAHMAN IN SLEMANI

Golden girls

Ice ice baby

Middle Eastern women are keen on gold and the women of the strife-ridden city of Kirkuk are no exception. At any given occasion, these women adorn themselves with as much gold as possible. At present, the most sought after variety is gold pieces imported from Gulf Arab states. These pieces are mass produced out of molds, whereas Kurdish gold is hand made. One popular brand is Lazurde, advertised by renown Arab singer Elissa. Lazurde designs will set you back a pretty penny as most sets start from US$2,000, but Kirkuki women don’t care as long as they are wearing something that was seen on Elissa.

The people of the Kurdistan Region have a passion for comfort food. And for those with a sweet tooth, one need look no further than Peshawa Ice Cream. This small ice-cream parlor in Slemani’s Sar Chnar neighborhood is easy to find and offers a decent range of delectable flavors. The indoor seating area is small but the outdoor seating boasts plenty of space. The view is not spectacular, neither is the décor, but the ice cream is unrivaled. Worth sampling is the ‘cocktail’, a slushy topped with rich ice-cream. They also have wafer ice cream sandwiches, cones, and an assortment of ice cream flavors.

For a hearty serving of comfort food, try Peshawa Ice Cream in Sar Chnar.

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

HISTORY

The khans of Betlis Maureen McLuckie LONDON Sir John Macdonald Kinneir (1782– 1830), was a British army officer, traveller, and diplomat; he also served as an adviser to the Persian forces on the Russian front, he travelled widely throughout Turkish and Iraqi Kurdistan, this book is wonderful descriptive, it was published by John Murray London in 1818. Original copies are extremely rare but www.elibron.com have facsimile copies form $25.00. etlis, the capital of this part of Koordistan, is situated in the heart of the mountains of Haterash, and on the banks of two small rivers which flow into the Tigris. In form it resembles a crab, of which the castle, a fine old building, is the body, and the claws are represented by the ravines, which branch out in many different directions. The city is so ancient, that, according to the tradition of the Koords, it was founded a few years after the flood by a direct descendant of Noah: the houses are admirably built of hewn stone, flat roofed, and for the most part surrounded with gardens of apple, pear, plum, walnut and cherry trees. The streets being in general steep are difficult of access, and each house seems of itself a petty fortress, a precaution not unnecessary in this turbulent part of the world: many of them have large windows, with pointed arches like the Gothic; and the castle, which is partly inhabited and partly in ruins, seems to be a very ancient structure, erected upon an insulated and perpendicular rock, rising abruptly from a hollow in the middle of the city. It was the residence of the ancient khans or begs of Betlis, the most powerful princes in Koordistan, until ruined by family feuds. The walls are built of the same stone as the houses, and the ramparts are nearly a hundred feet in height. The city contains about thirty mosques, eight churches, four Hummams, and several khans, and the population is said to amount to twelve thousand souls, of which number one half are Mahomedans, and the remainder Christians of the Armenian persuasion. The rivers are crossed by upwards of twenty bridges, each of one arch, and built of stone; the bazaars are fully supplied with fruits and provisions; but most other articles, such as cloth, hardware, etc., are excessively dear, and indeed not always to be procured. Merchants sometimes venture to bring goods in wellarmed caravans; but the state of the country is such, that they are in constant dread of being plundered and put to death. Apples, pears, plums, and walnuts come to perfection at Betlis; the vineyards of Coulty, a village six miles east of the town, produce excellent wine and brandy (arrack), but the lands are principally allotted to pasture; and the natives, if we may ven-

“B

ture an opinion from appearances, prefer the culture of fruits and vegetables to that of wheat. Their gardens are irrigated by small aqueducts or canals, which convey the water from the rivers or mountains, and I have seldom seen any illiterate people who better understand the art of hydraulics. Some of their aqueducts carry water from a distance of five or six miles; these are small trenches cut round the sides of the hills, where the level is preserved with the utmost precision, without the use of any mathematical instrument: an extraordinary circumstance, considering that the Koords are a rude, uneducated and brutal race, naturally of a fierce and contentious disposition, and who, if we except the change of their religion, have not altered their manners or character since the day of Xenophon. Betlis is nominally subject to a beg, appointed by the pasha of Moush, but the real authority is possessed by the Khan of the Koords, the descendant and representative of a long line of feudal lords who were formerly the masters of all the surrounding territory. He has, I understand, within these few years, in a certain degree become subject to the Porte, and pays it an annual tribute. The roads since we left Leese have been very good and passable for cannon, wag-

The residence of the ancient khans or begs of Betlis, the most powerful princes in Koordistan, until ruined by family feuds ons, or indeed wheel-carriages of any kind. This is, however, only the case during the summer and autumn months; for in the winter the whole country is laid under snow, the melting of which in the spring occasions such a number of torrents as to render the communication between the towns exceedingly difficult. I look upon it as impossible to make war in any part of the western Armenia during four or perhaps five months in the year; and as the retreat of the Ten Thousand has often occupied my thoughts in my journeys across the sultry wilds of Irak, Arabia and the rugged mountains of Koordistan, I could never reflect without a feeling of admiration and wonder on the difficulties which that heroic body had to overcome. The march of an army for so great a distance, through such a country, with one enemy in front and another in the rear, in daily want of provisions and in the full rigour of winter, is quite unparalleled in the annals of war; and must ever be looked upon as a memorable example of what skill and resolution are to effect. We continued three days at Betlis, and on the morning of the 7th set out for Sert,

the ancient Tigranocerta. We descended from the height on which the aga’s house is situated, and, rounding the castle, passed through an old bazaar, where I observed several handsome mosques and colleges neglected and fast falling to ruin. We entered one of the many ravines in which the city is situated, the houses being almost hid from the view by the luxuriant foliage of trees. At the end of the first mile we quitted the suburbs, and, crossing the river twice successively, continued to travel on its left bank over rough and stony ground. It was a considerable time before we could clear the town, for our escort, consisting of twelve savage Koords, under no sort of control, were continually stopping on one pretence or another, and when, at last, we had got fairly upon the road, they insisted upon mounting the baggage horses; so that in addition to their ordinary load, each of the poor animals had to carry one of these fellows. The confusion was increased by our being unable to speak to them, since not one amongst the number understood Persian or Turkish; and none of our own party knew the Koordish language. At the third mile we quitted the bank of the river, at that place about fifteen paces wide and exceedingly rapid; and turning S.S.W. following the winding of a defile. After travelling about two miles up this ravine, with a rivulet on our right hand, we came to an open spot in the mountains; and, at the sixth mile, arrived at a small hamlet embosomed in walnut trees. Thence, without stopping, we gained the summit of a high hill, and again descending into a romantic and well cultivated valley, alighted at the end of the eighth mile at a village called Eulak. Here we halted for a couple of hours on the banks of a rivulet, and under the cool shade of a large walnut tree; for the sun was scorching hot, and I felt myself so much indisposed that I could with difficulty sit upon my horse. The mountains in the vicinity of this village abound in marble. In the cool of the evening we again mounted and rode for a mile and half down the valley, through cultivated fields interspersed with gardens of apple, pear, mulberry, plum and walnut trees; and on quitting this delightful spot again entered the mountains, which were covered with small oak trees, producing abundance of gall-nuts. The road wound for four miles through the mountains over a rapid succession of steep and shaggy precipices, and during this march we were more than once under the necessity of calling a halt, in order to reprimand the guard, who were perpetually straggling from the road and entering the woods with the baggage horses; no doubt with the view of carrying some of them away. At the end of the fifth mile we descended into a narrow glen, between two ranges of stupendous mountains composed of quartz and clinkstone mixed with quartz, rising almost perpendicularly on each side. Their summits were clothed with hanging oaks and white with snow. A rapid river flowed through the centre of the valley...

Qualitative improvements in region’s education sector

ANWAR M. QARADAGHI

FLASHBACKS ome five or six decades ago, Slemani was much smaller than its current population and the ratio of students was relatively fewer, as not all children went to school then. However, I recollect that the learning process for all stages was far more rigorous and successful. It was based on the British system of education of the time. In Slemani, there were only five or six primary schools for boys and nearly an equal number for girls, together with two secondary schools. There was only one group of students (i.e. one school) in each building. Teachers gave their best attention to their students and students respected them. There was no private tuition and many students obtained good grades in their finals. Teachers looked upon their profession with pride and did not take up other jobs. They were also very well trained and motivated. Headmasters and school inspectors were chosen among those with many years of certified teaching experience and reverence among students, parents and fellow teachers. What made the teachers particularly content was the fact that they liked their occupation and their pay was sufficient for them. In those days, luxurious demands were few and simple. Thus they dedicated their time and efforts to developing their students and their own competence. The outcome of their work was a stream of well read, well disciplined, broadminded and optimistic generation. During the Baath rule (1963-2003), however, the education system and its programs were deliberately directed towards narrow party politics and with the advent of wars and internal problems, the sky-rocketing cost of living, and the reduction in their purchasing power, life for teachers, became exceedingly difficult. This situation led teachers to give less time to their students and their teaching obligations. Thus the quality of education has been falling continuously. Since the change of regime in 2003, attempts have been made to reform the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region’s

educational systems. In 2005, IBE-UNESCO held a number of activities for the Iraqi system of education. It began with a study visit in Geneva, followed by meetings in Jordan and a conference in Paris. The conference objectives included giving international visibility to the efforts of the Iraqi authorities to modernize the education system; facilitating fruitful interactions between national and international education partners; and analyzing the current needs, achievements and difficulties to set the grounds of a medium-term strategy. As for the Kurdistan Region, efforts have been exerted in developing the region's educational affairs. An education conference was held in Erbil some two years ago. It deliberated on the reform of education and learning in the Kurdistan Region and it was concluded with a set of recommendations which were later approved by the Kurdistan Parliament and KRG. The conference's main objectives included exploring reasons for school dropouts and finding solutions, discouraging and preventing children under the age of 15 from taking up employment, improving teachers’ standards and expertise, extension of compulsory education to cover 9th grade, enhancing international human values and equal rights, etc. Consequent to those events, some of the curriculum programs were reviewed and new textbooks introduced. It is believed that the process is ongoing. Education, like all other areas of knowledge, is in constant change. It is less concerned with the acquisition of structured knowledge than with the mastery of learning tools. UNESCO advocates that there are four pillars of education. These are 'Learning to know', 'Learning to do', 'Learning to live together' and 'Learning to be' with the proviso that these towers of strength could not be fastened exclusively in one stage of a person's life nor in a single place. These pillars aim at enabling people to understand the world around them, so as to lead their lives with dignity and develop both their occupational and communication skills. Obviously the activities so far undertaken by the KRG have been splendid and it is hoped that there is a systematic and accountable procedure of follow up in place with target dates, so as to ensure the gradual reform and improvement of the overall system and standards of education in Kurdistan region while always aspiring to keep up with and implementing the remarkable developments that are continuously taking place internationally. nwarqaradaghi2003@yahoo.co.uk

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

SOCIETY| &

LIFE TIMES

The head of the municipality of Diyarbakir at the Amna Suraka.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

Theatre production of the ‘Forest and its law’ at Slemani Hall.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

The theatre production of ‘I was wrong’ at Shari Yari in Parki Azadi. (photos by Aram Eissa)

As the weather cooled down in the Kurdish region following months of scorching heat, the Fall ushered a slew of cultural events, from musical shows to theatrical productions.

An exhibition by the Art Supervisors at the William Yohana Hall. (photo by Aram Eissa)

A concert by Loor Music Group at the Culture Hall in Slemani.

(photo by Aram Eissa)

Issue no.63 Oct 16 - 29, 2009

The teahouse is a popular Kurdish institution, where wisemen (or, wiseguys) gather every evening to discuss life, politics and the future. Dr Sherko Abdullah lends an ear to the talk, and reports what Bayiz and Jwamer had to say... JWAMER Yes, it should have been sent.

JWAMER No problem, because on the other hand, I will gain the truth.

BAYIZ When?

BAYIZ Which truth?

JWAMER Not too long ago. It coincided with the posting of the famous Kurdish letter.

JWAMER The simple one.

BAYIZ What famous Kurdish letter?

BAYIZ The simle truth! That is the song of our tragedy. It reminds me of those days bygone.

JWAMER Sorry, I cannot say another word about it because it has so many enemies.

own ugliness.

JWAMER But I heard it is poisonous.

BAYIZ Kaka Jwamer, can I ask you a question?

BAYIZ Nonsense, who told you that?

JWAMER No I’m sorry I’m not authorized.

JWAMER The enemy brothers.

BAYIZ Don’t be afraid, it is not a political question.

BAYIZ Where are these enemy brothers?

JWAMER Even so, I’m not authorized. BAYIZ So whom should I ask?

At the chaikhana

BAYIZ

Everyone in Kurdistan is potentially a journalist!

Answer my question. I’m not a journalist! It’s the production of our national oil, isn’t it?

JWAMER I told you. I’m not authorized to answer any question especially from untrained journalists.

JWAMER Yes, but they hate it so much.

BAYIZ But I’m no journalist...

BAYIZ I don’t know.

JWAMER Everyone in Kurdistan is potentially a journalist. Wow... it is half past 12. I must go.

JWAMER You don’t know? Then you are wise. Stay as you are. Don’t learn anything, don’t study anything.

BAYIZ Why? JWAMER Because there is a big event...

BAYIZ Are you kidding me? JWAMER No I’m serious. BAYIZ Too bad, Kaka Jwamer. You shouldn’t be serious, otherwise you will lose all your friends.

BAYIZ What is it? JWAMER OK, let us move on to another subject. BAYIZ No, I want to remain in the revolutionary atmosphere. I wish I could breathe again from that air.

JWAMER They are everywhere and I assure you that they see everything...

JWAMER The new Cabinet

JWAMER On the contrary, they see nothing apart from their

Dr Sherko Abdullah is editor of Sekhurma Cartoon magazine.

Kurdish Security Manager VSC Security Solutions is recruiting for an experienced Kurdish security manager for its Slemani office. The successful applicant will have gained considerable experience in a similar role within a western security environment. They will be able carry out duties on their own initiative and have the required personal ity to take responsibility for administration of all teams and static locations. The successful applicant will also be very familiar with all MS office applications. Very strong spoken and written English is required. Applicants may send CV and a covering letter to ops@vscsecurity.com. The closing date for applications is 26 October 2009.