An interview with Omer Said Ali, former member of politburo of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-PUK
- KurdishMedia.com
- 21/04/2009 00:00:00
An interview with Omer Said Ali, former member of politburo of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-PUK
KurdishMedia.com - Sulaimani
Omer Said Ali, is a veteran politician was on of the four member of politburo of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) the party of Iraqi president Jalal Talabani who resigned citing the failure of the party to fulfil the long waited reforms. In this interview for KurdishMedia.com, he shed a light on the events that lead up to his resignation and the difficulties facing the PUK.
KurdishMedia.com: For a while the problems of the PUK have escalated, in your opinion what are the reasons for these problems?
Omar Said Ali: The PUK has had problems for a while and they are escalating. The problems stem from the fact of power sharing, administration and making decisions collectively. Other problems come from disagreements on the method on how manage and run syndicates, run the party and the government, violating principles of democracy, lack of transparency in the distribution of national revenue and spending and absence of social justice in the Kurdistan region and Iraq. On the basis of these problems there have been proposals for change and reform from 2004-2008 by a number of politburo and submitted to the politburo and central committee. Unfortunately, the problems have not been resolved and solutions are being delayed. Therefore, the problems are set to increase and escalate.
KurdishMedia.com: You have been known as a reformist in the party, what caused your recent resignation from your membership in politburo of the PUK?
Omar Said Ali: My colleagues’ and I recently resigned following the submission of many proposals and reports for change and reform to the politburo and central committee. In addition we resigned after producing many reports to the office of monitoring and inspection on the chaotic situation of the organization offices of the PUK and in particular on the violation of the concept of equal citizenship. There was also the issue of implementing the concept of party membership in one hand, and corruption of the institutions of the government, routine and bureaucracy in administration on another hand.
The debate about the problems have taken another direction since the end of 2008, when the general secretary of the PUK admitted that there were problems in running the party and government. Previously it was thought that the claims of reforms were only rumours and individuals grievances against a few members of politburo or the central committee. Therefore, on 19 November 2008 politburo decided to establish seven committees to solve the problems of the PUK and government. Additionally, the General Secretary proposed on 18 December 2008 to separate the party and the government.
The seven committees were established from members of the politburo, central committee and high ranking members to solve the problems. There task was general reconciliation and peacemaking with all former members of the party regardless of their opinions, who had been cut off. Furthermore the committee’s job also involved pointing out the problems of the party. The committees had written their reports and recommendations, at this point members of the politburo were preparing to hold a meeting in Baghdad to discuss the reports and mechanisms on implementing their recommendations. However, suddenly the following events occurred:
A. Organization office issued a communiqué which was signed by the head of the organization. The communiqué ordered to expel any member of the PUK abroad who was a sympathizer with RAG (Movement for Democratic Change) without informing the politburo or seeking permission for taking that kind of order. This occurred when the process of reconciliation was on going.
B. In an interview with the Hawlati newspaper, the advisor of the General Secretary stated that members of the reform movement should make their mind, either stay in the PUK or take Nawshirwan Mustafa’s side. Again, this was said while we were making peace with the former members of the party and the other side was talking about division publicly.
C. We heard from another two members of the politburo that the pre-planned Baghdad meeting would be about expelling Nawhsirwan Mustafa; this news was shocking for reformists and unacceptable. This was because expelling Nawhsirwan Mustafa would be damaging to the PUK as he is a influential figure and this would lead to splitting up the party.
D. The General Secretary or his Secretariat would not comment or responded to the interview of the advisor of the General Secretary and the order of the organization office. This silent verifies and shows their acceptance of the comments and decisions made.
E. It is obvious that the above behaviours and points of view have made the plans of reform and reconciliation difficult and unworkable. These plans made us concerned and have closed all doors of developing and reforming the party. We had no choice but to resign so as not to take any responsibilities for what is going on. We have been asking for reform for the last four years and this did not work.
KurdishMedia.com: The deputy of General Secretary Kostart Rasul Ali submitted his resignation letter with your resignation simultaneously. Was it pr-planned with your resignation? Or just coincident?
Omar Said Ali: It would be appropriate if you direct that question to comrade Kosrat Rasul Ali.
KurdishMedia.com: The PUK joined International Social, has the PUK been reformed or changed subsequently?
Omar Said Ali: Since the PUK has joined International Social and even before that, there had been plans for reform and developing the party. However, the claims and plans of changes are not substantial and only propaganda. The changes are only rhetoric and not genuine and radical ones. PUK is not acting according to the principles of the International Social and the changes in the party are occurring contrary to the principles of democracy, human rights and social justice.
KurdishMedia.com: What is your future plan? Would you join that movement which has already been established by Nawshiran Mustafa who is seeking change?
Omar Said Ali: Any movement or political mechanism that would be in the interest of the aims of the nationalist movement, serve social classes of our nation and seek change, we would support it.
KurdishMedia.com: What is your assessment of the bloc list outside the PUK which is supposed to run for the office in the upcoming general election?
Omar Said Ali: Almost all trade unions and social classes are frustrated at the way the party and government have been operating in our region. Many people are not satisfied with the current economic, political and judicial system of Kurdistan. Thus, people seek change. On these basis, a new bloc list outside the PUK has a chance and would not be disappointing, especially in the context of escalation frustration of the people.
Nevertheless, it is too soon to assess the wining new list, because it is related to the nature of the election, to what extent the process would be democratic, and also to what extent bribes, intimidation and cheating would be used and play a role in the process.
KurdishMedia.com: As yourself, who would you vote for?
That depends on the candidates and their plan of the lists and how they would serve the national aims of our nation and homeland. To date, neither lists have been finalized nor date of the election fixed.
- KurdishMedia.com
- 21/04/2009 00:00:00