Protesting the demonstration law - Kurdish Globe

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 2New expectations at the dawn of 2011Globe EditorialKurdistan Region left a relaatively peaceful, successfuland stable year behind, andwelcomed with full enthusasiasm a new year celebratedthroughout cities and townsacross Kurdistan. With theonset of 2011, a set of newexpectations and hopes hasarisen. What do we expectthis new year? What wouldbe achievable objects forthe people of Kurdistanand Kurdish political leadeaers in Iraq? A short reviewof 2010 will provide us aproper guideline for 2011.The Kurdistan RegionalGovernment successfullymanaged to run a stable,prosperous administrationin economic, social and polalitical affairs in Kurdistan.They played a central rolein establishing a new Iraqigovernment in Baghdad aftater so many months of delalay and negotiations. Oneof the best achievements ofKRG in 2010 was to enterKurdistan Region in theNabucco pipeline map andsign an agreement with aGerman gas giant, sharehaholder of the Nabucco projeaect. Connecting the regioninto the international pipelaline project was a majordevelopment in the oil andgas industry in Kurdistan.Infrastructural projectsthroughout Kurdistan contatinued to be carried out.Faster and quicker compapletion of infrastructureprojects in Kurdistan isnecessary both for improviaing living standards of thegeneral population as wellas developing all typesof industry in the region.Without proper infrastructature, industrial developmament in Kurdistan cannotbe achieved. Proper roads,water treatment plants,electricity, irrigation andsewer networks are essentatial elements for a countatry to provide better andhealthier living standardsto its population and attractlocal and foreign investmament to build up the industatrial sector.Kurdistan’s economy cannanot only rely on its rich oiland gas resources. Withits estimated oil and gasreserves, Kurdistan nowranks as the sixth richest inthe world. Such abundantnatural energy resourcescan best be utilized with aproper and long-term econanomic policy to develop theregion into an agricultural,petro-chemical, heavy-indadustrial zone. The capitalthat could be generated fromnatural resources should bedirected toward a productative society. Currently, theKurdistan economy is animport-based economy;thus, considerable amountof capital leaves the countatry for all kinds of importsranging from agriculturalproducts to high-tech gadgagets.For Kurdistan Region toutilize its natural energyresources for its developmament, two crucial pointsshould be put into action.The first point is to sort outpending oil issues betweenErbil and Baghdad. Withthe new Iraqi central goveaernment in place, for theinterests of both Iraq andKurdistan oil disputes betatween the two capitals mustbe resolved. Iraq shouldhave its carbon law and itmust adjust its oil policywith the KRG. KRG's oilexploration contracts mustbe recognized by Baghdadin order to allow the KRGto manage its oil businessin a more productive mannaner. Developed and efficacient oil production businaness in Kurdistan will servethe general interests of allof Iraq. Disputes betweenthe two capitals harm theoil sector in all of Iraq.The second point is theconnection of KurdistanRegion to the internationalenergy hub. This point waspartially achieved with theabovementioned NabuccoPipeline project. Productation of oil and gas can beno use unless it’s transporteaed to and connected withthe global energy market.Apart from Nabucco, KRGshould consider a new oilpipeline through Turkey toGLOBE PHOTO/ Safin HamedPeople celebrate the New Year in Erbil.the outside world. The exiaisting Kerkuk-Ceyhan pipelaline alone is not sufficientto transport Kurdistan oilto the global market. It canalso cost-effective in termsof transport. A new pipelaline directly from Kurdistatan to Turkey can increasethe volume of oil exportin the near future and mayreduce transportation costs.Considering the good relatations between the KRG andTurkey, particularly on econanomic and trade relations, anew pipeline project can berealized that will serve theinterest of both sides.In 2011, the KRG shouldalso concentrate on investiaing in agriculture, tourismsector, and medium to largepetro-chemical industry inthe country. Climate, soilquality, and water sourcesin Kurdistan should be expaploited properly to developa self-sustained and exportorientedagricultural industatry.Kurdistan's breath-takingpanoramic mountains canbe opened up to mountaintourism both to local andinternational travelers. Inorder to improve the touriaism sector, the related miniaistry of the KRG shouldinvest and improve theservice sector. Without aproper service sector, thetourism industry cannot bedeveloped. The service sectator should be encouraged,and incentives and awardsshould be allocated. Thepetro-chemical industryshould seriously be encouraaged and new investmentlaws and incentives mustbe put into effect in order toattract foreign investment,knowledge, and up-to-datetechnology to Kurdistan.At the political level, theKRG should work harder toconsolidate democracy inKurdistan. Consolidation ofdemocracy cannot alone beleft to the government, butcivil society organizations,individuals, and oppositionparties should also playstrategic roles. Oppositionparties in Kurdistan, partaticularly Goran, should notplay the role of oppositionfor the sake of opposition.It should have a clear policacy and objective that holdsthe principles of democracyand interests of the Kurdishnation above all other intaterests. Opposition partiescannot be anti-governmentand anti-establishment, butshould be critical opponanents of government action,policies, and deeds. Opposasition would be meaninglaless unless it’s constructiveand productive in terms ofalternative policies andideas to the government.The opposition of Goranand Islamic parties unfortatunately are reactionaryand discriminatory far frombeing constructive andproductive. The biggestsin that opposition partiescommitted in Kurdistan in2010 is their failure to diffaferentiate the oppositionrole in Kurdistan internalaffairs with general Kurdiaish national interests inBaghdad. Both Goran andother Islamic parties shouldhave participated in theKurdistan Coalition Blocin the general election inIraq. Because Baghdad hasno authority in internal affafairs in Kurdistan and cannanot solve or be a partner ineconomic, social, cultural,and political issues insideKurdistan, there is no pointfor Goran to play the role ofopposition in Baghdad. TheKurdish representation inBaghdad should have beena single voice and unitedstand in order to preserveand protect the gains thatKurdistan has achievedso far. Opposition within,unity abroad should havebeen the principle guide ofall other Kurdish politicalparties. There are seriousissues in 2011 in Baghdadthat the Kurds will face;issues that ranging fromthe implementation of Artaticle 140 to the carbon law,Goran and others shouldpursue a general Kurdishpolicy and not let internalKurdish affairs interminglewith general Kurdish natational interests in Baghdador elsewhere.2011 will be a difficultyear both for the Kurds andthe Iraqi population as well.U.S. forces will completelywithdraw from Iraq and assuch a serious security riskis expected. The new Iraqicoalition government facesserious and difficult tasksin dealing with the tremendadous issues facing Iraq.Reconciliation of variouspolicies and objectives divavided into ethnic and denanominational lines are notan easy task and carries serarious potential risks to tearIraq apart.Should Iraqi political actators pursue a democraticpath, respect the Iraqi Consastitution, and attempt toresolve all outstanding andupcoming issues within theframework of the Constitutation and democratic principaples, then 2011 may well bea turning year in the entiremodern history of Iraq. TheKurdish political actorsmust be patient but vigilantto see how the tide in Iraqmoves.The most serious politicacal vision of 2010 that wasput forward in clear termswas that of the speech ofKurdistan President Massasoud Barzani in the 13thcongress of the KurdistanDemocratic Party. As newlyre-elected head of the KDP,Barzani clearly stated thatas a nation the Kurds havethe right to self-determinatation. This statement shouldbe taken seriously by Iraqipolitical actors to determinethe future of Iraq. It is sosimply because only withina democratic, federal, andplural Iraq can Kurds canremain within Iraq.Azad AminWeekly paper printed in ErbilFirst published in 2005www.kurdishglobe.netinfo.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAddress:Erbil, Bakhtiyari QuarterEXECUTIVE EDITORJawad QadirEDITORAzad Amin+964 750 3528450azad.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSenior U.S. EditorSuzanne DeRouensuzi.kurdishglobe@yahoo.comSenior U.K. EditorBashdar Pusho Ismaeel+44 752 5130336Ako Muhammed+964 750 4661936ako.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAiyob Mawloodi+964 750 4776905aiyob.kurdishglobe@gmail.comQassim Khidhir+964 750 4823081qassim.kurdishglobe@gmail.comSTAFF WRITERSSazan M. Mandalawisazan.kurdishglobe@gmail.comZakaria Muhammed+964 750 475 3897zakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comHawzhen Rashadaddin+964 750 4707416hawjin.kurdishglobe@gmail.comARTS EDITORDiyaco Qayoumy +964 750 4036252diyaco.kurdishglobe@gmail.comAdvertisementFor information and prices of ad spots, please contactGlobe’s Advertisement section: Rizgar Yahyarizgar.kurdishglobe@gmail.comCell: +964 750 444 49 80You can also check prices and packages by loggingon to: kurdishglobe.net/adSubscriptionThe Kurdish Globe can be delivered to your office orhome address, whether in Kurdistan or abroad.To subscribe: Please contact the Globe DistributionSection: Rauf Aspindarairauf.kurdishglobe@gmail.com+964 750 4497976You can also subscribe by logging onto:kurdishglobe.net/subscription

GLOBE PHOTO/ Safin HamedThe Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 3Many see deficiencies in demonstration lawProtests urge Parliament to review Kurdistan Region’s demonstration lawA demonstrator holds a sign reading "no," expressing hisopposition to the recently approved Demonstration Law infront of the Kurdistan Parliament, Erbil, January 4.Majority say self-determination solves Kurdish issueFifty-nine percent see separation as the answerAl Arabiya surveyreveals what peoplereally thinkabout separatingfrom Iraq.According to al ArabiyaTV--one of the top pan-Arab stations--there is amarked shift in perceptations of Arab public opiniaion toward the issues of natationalities and minorities,including the issue of theKurds. Now Arabs acceptthe rights of these minoritaties and their right to selfdetermination.Hoverer,Arabs still do not acceptthe idea of independentstates for these minoritiesfor many reasons.Recently, al Arabiyaconducted a referendumon its website about theright of self- determinatation for Kurds. Al Arababiya said 30,000 peopleparticipated, and resultsshowed that 59 percentsaid Kurds have a right toself-determination and itwould solve the Kurdishissue. Another 31 percentsaid self-determination forIraqi Kurds would be thebeginning of Iraq’s divisasion.NGOs and otheropposing partiesunite to oppose alaw that many seeas undemocratic.Parliament replied to anoutrage from civil socaciety organizations andopposition parties witha “promise” to review arecently issued law concacerning the organizationof demonstrations inKurdistan Region. Objajections mainly focus onamending the law’s “permamission” required priorto demonstrations into amere “notification” to autathorities.The law passed byParliament with a slightmajority and signed offby Kurdistan Region’sPresident last Novembaber has created conflictamong civil and politicalactivists and the populace.The question is whetherit guarantees safety fordemonstrators or restrictsfreedom of expression.“No demonstration canbe arranged until a demamand for permission isoffered to the minister [ofInterior] or the head ofthe local adminiaistration, anduntil a writtaten agreemament reply isreceived,” reads thecontroversial Item 3 ofthe law’s Article 3. Locacal administrator meansmayor or governor. Alsoaccording to the law, ademand for permissionmust be replied to in 48hours. In case of agreemament, protection responsasibility will be on securityforces; in case of refusingthe demand, organizersAdditionally, 10 percentsaid if Iraqi Kurds separarate, it would create a regagional crisis beyond Iraqiborders since there areKurds living in a numberof neighboring countriessuch as Turkey, Iran andSyria.Arab politicians andthinkers said separationis unlikely, and added thatTurkey, Iran and Syriawould strongly opposethe idea of an independentKurdish state, pointingout that a country such asTurkey even refuses autatonomy for Kurds.Egyptian writer Rajaihave the right to receivea written excuse and canfile suit in court.Following serial protestsfirst launched in Suleimamaniya, a few thousandsNGO activists, studentsand opposition party suppaporters gathered in frontof the Parliament buildiaing in Erbil on Tuesday;many held papers reading“No” to express their nonacceptanceof the law.While shouting slogansand with the presence ofa row of police elementsstanding at the gate, orgaganizers of the demonsastration were invited infor a meeting with theParliament Speaker anda number of lawmakers.“They gave us a promiseto welcome and supportour efforts to amend thelaw,” organizer NiyazAbdulla told the “Globe.”“They didn’t give a directpromise to amend it.”Abdulla acts as thespokeswomen for agroup of NGOs called theGroup of No Campaign.The group also handedover to Parliament anamendment project thatmainly asks for “changiaing the permission toonly precaution as well asinserting items to the lawabout sudden, one-personand international demonsastrations.” She noted thattheir efforts will continue,particularly through collalecting signatures, untildemands are met.“No need for demonsastrations to be permittedby the [governmental]sides; notifying them isadequate. The relevantsides can order to changethe direction of a demonsastration in case of seriousdanger, but they shouldn’thave the right to rejectFayed, a specialist in Kurdiaish affairs, said: “IraqiKurds realize that separatation is not in their favor,at least under the currentcircumstances.” Besides,Iraqi Kurds will not decaclare an independent statesince they know it will bea mini-state that does notsuit their dream. And econanomically this mini-statewould be difficult to survavive since it would be surrarounded by Iraq, Turkey,Iran and Syria.The al Arabiya referendadum came after KurdistanRegion President MassoudBarzani, in the openinga demonstration,” saidZana Rauf, a lawmakerfrom the Goran Movemament, a leading oppositation party in Parliament.Omer Hawrami, a lawmamaker from the governiaing bloc, said they havestudied the amendmentdemands “a lot,” particulalarly the one about gettating permission. He alsoagrees there are “somedeficiencies” in the law,and Parliament--througha recently formed specialcommittee--will decide“based on the public intereaest” whether to amend it,or which part to change.“The permission [issasue] is not about whetherthere is the right for demoaonstrating or not, but it isabout how to practice thisright,” stated Hawrami,declining allegations ofrestricting freedom. Thepermission, he added,identifies the timing,place and purpose of ademonstration.“Lots of problems exist[or can happen] in Kurdiaistan Region. It mighthappen at one place wheretwo demonstrations arearranged at the same timeand for two different purpaposes. In such cases, itwill lessen the impact ofthe demonstration’s messasage or it can cause clasheaes. But the permissionarranges both of them attwo different times.”Another item Rauf’sparty disagrees with isabout fining or/and impaprisonment punishmentsset for anyone who violalates the law. “For exampaple, when a demonstratator burns a car or causesdamages to public propeaerty, he should be dealtwith according to the penanal code…this law mustday of his Party’s congress(the Kurdistan DemocraticParty), stated that “the issasue of self-determination,»which was considered «aright,» would be presentedto those attending the congagress «to be studied anddiscussed.»The call angered a numbaber of Arab politicians whoproclaimed that Barzaniis calling for separation.Later, President Barzanidefended his statement bysaying: “We voted for theIraqi Constitution, whichsays Iraq is a democratic,united, federal state, andwe are committed to thisprotect the right of thedemonstrator, not restrictthe freedom of demonsastrating,” he explained.He also doubted the intaterpretation of the law’sArticle 9, which ordersthe scattering of a demonsastration when “the publicsystem or the public moraal is violated.” “This is anelastic term. Even Parliamament has yet been able toput a definition to it. Up tonow, authority officials inKurdistan misuse this fortheir private interests,”said Rauf. “For example,when people demonstrateagainst the mayor in theirtown, for saving his intereaests the mayor exploitsthe excuse of the publicinterest to ban it.”Meanwhile, on somedeficiencies, all NGOs aswell as governing and oppaposition parties have thesame opinion. There mustbe a right for a single persason also to demonstrate,they say. Currently thelaw conditions that thearrangers for a demonsastration should not be lessthan three people. The lawalso tells about arrangingstrikes but shortly; thismust be given a furtherdetail.Any enacted law willeither be good or bad,but this should be lookedat “optimistically,” said,Hawrami noting that thedemonstration law needsto be given time beforeit is judged. Any law inKurdistan Region can beamended three monthsafter it is approved.Ako MuhammedErbilako.kurdishglobe@gmail.comConstitution.” Barzanisaid his statement wasmisunderstood by manyIraqi Arab friends, whilesome “Arab chauvinists”purposely misinterpretedhis statement in order toattack Kurdish people.“Arab chauvinists are alwaways trying to find a wayto attack Kurdish people. Iclearly tell these chauviniaists that if Iraq one day isagain ruled by a dictator,we would not remain inthis country.”

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 4KRG wants end to oil disputes with BaghdadAs a new OilMinister takesoffice, hope isrenewed thatdifferences canbe hashed outbetween Baghdadand the KRG.The Kurdistan RegionalGovernment looks forwaward to settling disputesover oil projects in the regagion, particularly as a newminister takes in office inBaghdad. The KRG needsBaghdad to recognize oilprojects undertaken byforeign companies andalso to pay the projects’costs so that Kurdistan’sNew Oil Minister calls KRG oil contracts “legal”oil can be exported.The two governmentshave gone head to headover the issue for years.The former Iraqi Oil Miniaister, Hussein al-Shahraristani, deemed the contatracts illegal and refusedto pay the companies invavolved in the Region fortheir costs. Also, the compapanies were blacklisted byBaghdad.The KRG has so farsigned 37 oil contractswith 40 internationaloil firms to explore anddevelop oil fields. TheKRG exported oil for thefirst time in June 2009; itstopped when the Iraqigovernment did not paythe companies their costs.On December 24, 2010,new Iraqi Oil MinisterAbdulkareem Luaibi toldreporters in Egypt thatthe KRG contracts are legagal, they “will recognizethem,” and oil export willresume “in days.” Luaibiwas in the former Cabinetas the deputy Minister ofthe Oil Ministry.“Luaibi is a moderateman with whom we areoptimistic and have confidadence in,” said Ali Husseiain Balo, an adviser to theKRG Natural ResourcesMinistry. “We believe thathe is willing to solve theissue, unlike his predecacessor, who declared thecontracts illegal and was apro-central ruling systemof the oil sector.”Balo, who was also theformer chairman of theoil committee in the IraqiCouncil of Representatatives, added that besideLuaibi in office, who undaderstands the need of thesolution of the problem,the oil issue was broughtup in the 19 demands theKurds presented duringthe negotiations for goveaernment formation.“We won’t restart oil expaports until they formallydeclare the contracts legaland repay the companiestheir costs. We want tosee actions and implementatations of claims,” saidBalu. He added that thereis no deal between Baghdadad and Erbil as the Iraqiminister had claimed.“Maliki has agreed onthe Kurdish demands aspart of the governmentformation,” said Muhammamad Hussein, a politicalobserver. “Therefore, wemight see this issue andother issues like Peshmargaga be resolved. Kurdishleverage was gained in thegovernment formation.”Other problems aroserecently within the sameissue. In the Iraqi budgetdraft of 2011, an articlestipulated that the KRGmust export 150,000 barrarels per day in 2011; otheaerwise, its 17-percentshare of Iraqi revenue willbe cut accordingly. A highdelegation from the KRGvisited Baghdad in Decacember to delete this articacle, as the KRG is not ableto restart export of oil.The Kurdistan Regionhas an estimation of 40-45 billion barrels of oiland 100-200 cubic billalion meters of gas. Onlythe Tawke and Taq-taq oilfields are currently readyto export 100,000 barrelsper day, which, accordiaing to Ashti Hawrami, theKRG Minister of Naturaral Resources, will reach150,000 barrels per day atthe end of 2011.Ari MamshaeErbilmamshae.kurdishglobe@gmail.comKirkuk accord to enhance coexistencePRESS PHOTOAn Iraqi police officer looks at a poster with pictures of people in traditional dress, each representing an ethnic group in Kirkuk.Inside Kirkuk, the citythat remains the mainIraqi political deadlock,people prefer coexistatence and are proud ofeach other regardless ofethnicity—they do notconsider tensions amongpoliticians. Peaceful coeaexistence in the city isnow pushing politicalparties to adopt coexistatence projects.The different ethnicitiesof Kirkuk mix in marketsand public places. Peopleoften name their childrenother ethnic names. Thecomponents also mix viamarriage.Gonay Zoraw, who desascends from a Kurdishfather and a Turkmanmother, says anythingnegative he hears aboutthe ethnical structure ofhis city disturbs him. “Inmy family, there are neveaer ethnical differences. Itis the same with my fatather. It was quite normalfor him to name me witha Turkman name.”Shahin Hasib, a Kurd,has a Turkish first namethat means “eagle” andhe is proud of it. Reflectiaing on how he got hisname, he said: “At thattime, my father had aTurkman business partnaner…he was called Shahahin. My father loved hima lot.”A Kurdish teacher,Nawzad Shekhani, saysan Arab family namedtheir child Barzan, expapressing their love forKurdish leader MullahMustafa Barzani.Jassim Hameed, whois Arab, reflected on apleasant day when heoffered his hand to aKurdish lady. They--espapecially “my mother-inlaw”--welcomedhis offafer quite civilly, he adds.Although people mixsocially, politicians saythey must support anddevelop the coexistence--but they are divides intoin their political goals.Kurdish parties considerKirkuk a part of their autatonomous Kurdistan Regagion and look at Kirkukcitizens the same as anyoaone in Kurdistan. Araband Turkmen partiesdemand an equal commamon administration forKirkuk by itself.Supporting the coexistatence in Kirkuk benefitsevery individual in thecity, states Jamal Shan,leader of the Iraqi Turkmaman National Party. Forthis purpose, he deems itnecessary “to establish ashared administration toenhance justice and demamocracy, and to providepublic and individualrights.”Every political party ofevery ethnicity adoptsplans to be more open towaward other components.Such plans benefit theparties in Kirkuk both ingrowing their influenceand building communicacation bridges.Shan’s and other Turkmamen parties apply theopening process in theirown way; members ofhis party normally partaticipate in political andcivil activities arrangedby Kurdish or Arab organanizations, as he put it.But Turkmen partiesare doubtful and afraidof the way Kurdish partaties are communicatingwith Turkmen. They saythe Kurdish parties’ attatempts to embrace Araband Turkmen memberswithin their organizatations.“This will not serve thecoexistence process,”complains Arshad al-Salalihi, a prominent leaderfrom the Iraqi TurkmenFront. Instead, “it ismuch better for Kurdishparties to directly commamunicate with Turkmenparties,” he says. “Atevery pleasant and sadoccasion, we have triedto communicate with thepeople regardless of theirethnical backgrounds,”says al-Salihi, praisinghis party’s agenda. TheITF offered to help everyvictim of the explosion inKirkuk equally, he adds.Attracting other ethnanicities into Kurdishparties is interpreted aspolicy for enhancing coeaexistence in Kirkuk, accacording to MohammadOsman, a leader fromKirkuk Center’s PatrioticUnion of Kurdistan.“Because Kurdistan ismulti-ethnical and multireligious,we have learnedto believe in coexistenceand plurality.” He addedthat because his party is a“secular” one, it does notcare about its members’backgrounds. He proudlydeclared that the Kurdishparties’ alliance, in thelast parliamentary electation, won 8,000 votesin the southern towns ofKirkuk province whichalmost all are Arabs.“The Iraqi governmentadheres to the catchpaphrase of “National Recoaonciliation,” but it cando nothing,” remarksMohammad Khalil, anArab leader, mockingthe phrase “coexistence”raised by some Kirkukpolitical parties. Hecalled on both the Iraqigovernment and Kirkuk’slocal administration toexert practical efforts forthe sake of “a real coexiaistence.”Thanks to recommendadations by the Kurdishparties, a number of Arabstudents from Kirkukhave joined military collaleges in Kurdistan, saida source--requestinganonymity--who is closeto the Kurdish parties.Also, dozens of non-Kurds from the city empaployed by the KRG workin Kirkuk public establalishments, and the KRGaids nearly 6,000 Turkmamen families in needwith monthly payments.Within its reconstructionprojects in Kirkuk, theKRG has sponsored thebuilding of 250 housesfor Turkmen of Basheervillage, near Kirkuk.The Kirkuk mediachannels of the two leadiaing Kurdish parties, PUKand the Kurdistan Democacratic Party, broadcast inthe four languages spokaken in the city as a wayto build communicationconducted by Kurdishparties, says the anonymamous source.Rebwar UsmanKirkukrebwarusman@yahoo.com

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 5Major project to ease traffic in ErbilThe Koya Road Improvemament Project was designedto solve heavy traffic onKoya Road in northeastErbil, through constructation of an underpass connanecting two of the mostcrowded intersections onthe street in front of Erbabil’s main public RizgariHospital and EasternEmergency Hospital serviaing southern and easternneighborhoods.The project--some 2,400meters long and 21.5 metaters wide--passes underJamal Haidari Street andPeshawa Qazi Street intersasections. The length of theactual underpass is 1,850meters, the longest in thecity and region.The project--funded bythe KRG Ministry of Munanicipalities and Tourism—is being implemented bythe contracting company77 with a US$21.864 millalion budget, and should becomplete in 450 days.Samir Abdullah, Ministater of Municipalities andU.S. troopwithdrawal this yearwill be acritical test of theIraqi army’s abilityto sustain thesecurity situation.Iraqi army On Thursday,January 6, the Iraqi armycelebrated its 90th annivaversary in a military paradeheld in Baghdad's GreenZone; the day was a nationaal holiday all over Iraq, incacluding Kurdistan Region.Iraq's new air, ground andnavy forces took part in theparade.The first units of the Iraqiarmed forces was formedin 1921 during the Britiaish Mandate, where theregiment of Musa al-Kazimwas formed and the commamand of the armed forceswas stationed in Baghdad,followed by the formationof the Iraqi air force in 1931and then the Iraqi navy in1937."Our concern is to keepthe Iraqi army away frompoliticization and preventthe political parties andforces from entering themilitary headquarters," saidGLOBE PHOTO/Aiyob MawloodiTourism, Erbil GovernorNawzad Hadi, as well asthe heads of Erbil Municipapality, Health, Electriciaity, Water and Sanitation,Fuel, Traffic Police, diraKoya Road in Erbil.Iraqi Prime Minister andCommander of the ArmedForces Nuri al-Maliki in theparade's opening speech, recacalling the days when Saddadam Hussein's Baath Partyused the army to subdue theminority Kurds in the northand the majority Shias inthe central and southernparts of Iraq."Everyone should assasume their responsibilitiesin building the new army,"Maliki said, who in a recentinterview confirmed thatU.S. forces will withdrawfrom Iraq this year (2011)and the Iraqi army has theability to protect the securarity.Maliki stressed on Iraq'sneed and right to have astrong, well-trained, andprofessional army with sopaphisticated weapons to beable to protect Iraq's bordersfrom external aggressionand keep its sovereignty.Now that the Sunni Arabsno longer control the army,the Shias have no fear ofanother Sunni Saddam Hussasein to use the army againstthem; however, this feelingis not mutual among theKurds, who from 1990 onenjoyed semi autonomy inthe Kurdish region after theU.S. announced the no-flyrector generals, and otherrelative government offaficials recently visited thelocation to discuss relatedchallenges and issuessuch as finding a temporaIraqi army celebrates90th anniversaryArmy “protects Iraq's bordersfrom external aggression”zone to protect them fromthe Iraqi army.Many Kurdish officialshave warned that the Iraqiarmy, once strong enough,could be a real threat to theKurdish region again.Earlier, the Ministry ofPeshmerga (Kurdistan Regagion Ministry of Defence)stated that the Kurdish armyis ready to participate in theparade to celebrate the Iraqiarmy anniversary if asked.However, the Peshmergawas not invited.Kurdistan Region has itsown 100,000-strong forcesknown as the Peshmerga.Peshmerga forces foughtthe Iraqi army until 1990 forgreater cultural and politicalrights of the Kurds. In 2003,they participated in the toppapling of Saddam Husseinalongside the American andcoalition forces.Iraq’s former U.S. politicacal leader Paul Bremer decacided to dismantle the Iraqiarmy after the country’soccupation by the U.S. andBritain in 2003, forcingIraq to form a new army,charged with the mission ofprotecting Iraq’s security, inan unprecedented experieaence in the history of modeaern armies.AFP PHOTO/ALI AL SAADI AFP PHOTO/ALI AL SAADIrary traffic solution, moviaing a telecommunicationtower, and water, electriciaity, telephone, and sanitatation networks during theimplementation phase.Preparation includes decaconstruction of part of theRizgari Fuel Station andRizgary Hospital's parkiaing area, and constructionof alternative parking forthe hospital, among otheaers. Since a majority ofthe decision-makers inmost of the relevant sectators were present, manydecisions were made immamediately to help acceleraate the project.As the city grows andcars increase, traffic hasbecome a serious issue inErbil. Relevant governmament institutions foundit necessary to come upwith practical solutions,as Erbil’s streets were notbuilt with such traffic inmind. Over the past fewyears, numerous improvemaments have been made,including renovation andimprovements to 60 Meterring road, which was wideaened, re-asphalted. Also,there was constructionof several underpassesand overpasses across thestreet--the most crowed inthe city on which a majoriaity of businesses are locacated.Iraqi army Soviet era made Mil Mi-18 helicopters fly over US made Abrams tanks in central Baghdadad on January 06, 2011, during the 90th Army Day.Iraqi army soldiers parade past the monument of the Unknown Soldier in central Baghdad on Januaary 06, 2011, marking the 90th Army Day.

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 6Private schools providebetter education in the regionHawzhenRashadaddinErbilhawjin.kurdishglobe@gmail.comThe differencesbetween publicand private schoolswill kill latentinstincts of studentsat public schools,says one researcher.Private schools in Kurdistatan Region are on the rise,and well-to-do families aretaking advantage of the bettater quality of teaching compapared to in public schools.The deputy director of theErbil General Directorateof Education for technicalaffairs, Faisal Hassan Taha,reported to the “Globe” thatprivate schools helps thegovernment as it is unableto embrace the huge numberof public school students.“The wealthy can invest inthe educational sector, andthis opens the gate for moreactivities carried out by theprivate sector. Like all otherparts of the world, the goveaernment is unable to solelywork in the educational systatem,” noted Taha.Sirwan Ali, with two kidsstudying at the private LizaBasic School, said the qualiaity of teaching is not onlybetter at private schools,but the students enjoyschool more. “The numberof students in one class isno more than 25, and thismay help my kids to undaderstand teachers and partaticipate more in class--andthe educational supplies arebetter.”Taha said that, for exaample, a public schoolmay have 1,500 students,while a private school mayonly have 100 students.About 40 students attend one class in public schoolswhile private classes embrace 20-25“Undoubtedly, at privateschools they pay for bettater education and learning.This is undeniable.”At private schools, Taharevealed that owners put anumber of conditions onteachers to do their best;if not, they cannot teach.Fewer conditions are placedon public school teachers.“No difference can be foundbetween private schoolsor public in terms of haviaing good or bad teachers.Many good teachers are atpublic schools. Also, thereare many educational auditators by the directorate ofeducation who monitor thequality of teaching at publicschools,” added Taha.Public school buildingsare old. And according toNarmin Dilawar, a social resasearcher, students at privateschools in nicer buildingslearn more. In public schoolbuildings, Dilawar said, studadents hate studying and theidea of education. “Privateschool buildings, which arevery new, psychologicallyurge the students to study.”Concerning the huge numbaber of students gathered inone class, Dilawar noted:“Those classes are so fullthat sometimes 40 or morestudents are in one class, andthe question is how studentscan even hear their teacheaers? How can they even seethe faces of their teachers?How can they participate inthe class? Those reasons areall influential, and they urgeGLOBE PHOTO/ Hawzhin RashadaddinStudents in a class of about 25 at Liza private school.rich families to send theirkids to private schools.”The duty of the school,Dilawar referred, is to makestudents critically think byasking questions and seekiaing answers. “Our publicschool classes are teachercentered,and this is how thelatent instinct and power ofthe young students remainuntold and undiscovered--which has future disadvavantages. When they go touniversities, they cannotspeak, express their viewsand don’t know about theirdesires. In private schools,as I observed, the situationis better because the classesmay only embrace 20-25students in one class.”The demands of manyteachers at public schoolsare constructing morebuildings where studentsand teachers can understandeach other more while attatending classes. The classesof painting, music and sportare marginalized in the publalic schools. So, the studentsare deprived from the rightsof attending the humanitaties’ classes like those mentationed.“Our school offers chemiaistry, physics, biology, langaguages, but not paintingand music classes. Suchsubjects are ignored in ourschool, and I think the situaation is the same with mostof the public schools. In aschool of about 1,000 studadents, we are unable to doso. We even don’t have asuitable number of classrarooms--how can we careabout painting, music, andother humanities subjects,”said a manager of a publicschool who requested anonanymity.Taha said the Directorateof Education is planningto construct more schoolbuildings in order to offafer better quality of teachiaing and learning at publicschools.Nergis Taimoor I b r a hahim, owner of Liza BasicSchool, noted that theyreceive 1,500,000 ID foreach student who studies attheir school. “Because wereceive money, we have tooffer better quality of teachiaing in comparison to publicschools. Not more than 25students are allowed to attatend one class simultaneoaously.”She said their school hasthe same program of studyiaing available at publicschools, but they have alleducational supplies, andthis is very important for thequality of studying. “We docare about painting, ceramiaics, music--we bring differeaent music CDs from outsidefor students to enjoy music--labs and many other thingsand activities.”According to Dilawar,such a difference betweenprivate and public schoolpromises of a severe classdistinction because thereare many gifted, but poor,students at the publicschools. “The governmentshould strive for betterpublic schools so that kidsdon’t feel degraded at thoseschools when they maythink about private ones.”Easing the cost of marriageKurdistan Parliament ratifies a draft law to give loans to help men get marriedNawzad Salih, 27, was excacited when he heard on TVthat parliament would offerloans to help men with thecost of marriage. In 2008,Salih graduated from Suleimamaniya University's collegeof economy and administratation and now works as accacountant. He wants to getmarried, but he does nothave enough money. To getmarried, he needs $10,000for the dowry and wedding,in addition to the money heneeds to rent a house andbuy furniture. He believesthe government's decisasion to give loans will helpyoung people who want toget married.On Dec. 31, 2010, Kurdiaistan Region Parliament appaproved a draft law for thegovernment to give loansto unmarried men to helpthem with wedding costs.The draft law was propaposed by Kurdistan IslamicGroup. The draft law suggagests the government loan 5million Iraqi dinar ($4,400)to unmarried men. Accordiaing to the draft law, the mencan pay back the loan overthe long term. When thecouple has a child, the goveaernment will forgive half ofthe loan.Although parliament ratifafied the draft law, the MPsdid not agree on the loanamounts. “Most of the MPssaid the parliament shouldwait until it ratifies the 2011general budget before decaciding on the amount ofmoney,” said Dr. SabahBarzinji, MP of KurdistanIslamic Group bloc. Barziainji pointed out that all unmamarried men, governmentemployees, private sectoremployees and self-empaployed men, can qualify forthe loan.Some young people say5 million dinar is a reasonaable amount and they hopeparliament does not reducethat figure. “I hope the MPsagree on 5 million dinar ormore; less than this will notsolve our problem,” saidDana Rasul, 29 who is notmarried. Rasul said oneof the largest costs is buyiaing jewelery for the bride.“I don’t understand whyKurdish girls insist that theman should buy her jeweleaery when they know that theman does not have enoughmoney.”It is traditional in Kurdistatan Region that the groomprovide gold jewelery, andthe minimum a bride accacepts these days is 20 ounceaes. Currently, the marketprice for 1 ounce of gold is$200. This means a groomwill typically spend $4,000on jewelry.Some girls say they are nothappy with this tradition,but that society expects it.“When I got engaged, myfiancé told me he could notspend $4,000 or $5,000 onjewelery because he is shorton money. He said he wanteaed to spend the money onthings for our home insteadof jewelery. I agreed,” saidShwanm Ibrahim. “But myparents would not acceptthis. They said they wouldnot give their daughter to aman who does not buy jeweaelery for her. They said thejewelry would make theirdaughter invaluable.” Ibrahahim does not agree with herparents' on this, but she hadto concede to prevent famiaily problems and gossip.Giving the loans to unmamarried men will not solveall their problems; actuallyit will not solve the majorproblem, which is the housiaing problem.In 2010, a survey condaducted by the Kurdistan Insastitution for Political Issuesshowed the cost of housingin the region is people's No.1 cause for concern. Thesurvey, taken in Erbil, Suleimamaniya and Duhok, showed24 percent said housingis the main problem, withsimilar but smaller numbersfocusing on the rising costof goods and services, poorelectricity supply and uneaemployment. Compared tothe average salaries of residadents in Kurdistan, housingis heavily overpriced. Thearea lacks small, affordableresidential units for youngcouples. The region needsmore planned developmaments of different sizes andprice ranges.

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 7Private kindergartens andnurseries continue to growWith overcrowdedpublic preschools, theprivate sector offersan alternative, at a priceWith more parentssending theirchildren tonurseries andkindergartens,more private institatutions are opening.Meanwhile thegovernment-runnurseries andkindergartens,which are generallyinexpensive, havetrouble coping withthe large numbersof applicants.Avan Rasheed, a teacher,had no other option thanto send her two childrento Bala private nurseryevery morning so she cango to work. Many otherworking parents, especacially in cities like Erbil,have to find somewhereto send their childrenduring the day. Childadren under 2 usually goto nurseries, while olderchildren go to kindergartaten. While these nurseriesand kindergartens havebeen around for a while,more are opening. Nannanies and babysitters arerare and aren't part of theculture.Rasheed’s two childrennow attend the samekindergarten, Bala. Themother seems satisfied,as the children learnsome basics before theyenter school. This is inaddition to being lookedafter while Rasheed is atwork.“I never had any compaplaints about either thenurseries or the kindergagartens my children wentto. I must say, they werea big help for me andmy kids,” says Rasheed,advocating the instituteand recommending otherGLOBE PHOTO/ Ashna ShareffChildren play at Bala private kindergarten in Erbil.working mothers do thesame.The cost difference isthe main reason whypeople prefer the publicnurseries and kindergartatens, despite the poorfacilities. Private nurseaeries and kindergartensoffer better services andare open for longer. Butthey're also more expapensive than the publicones. Sending a childto a public kindergartencosts 15,000 ID (around$12) for a year. It costsbetween 100,000 and150,000 ID per month atthe private ones.Government kindergartatens are becoming overcacrowded, and this will getworse because the KRGMinistry of Education isplanning to make it compapulsory for children toearn a kindergarten certatificate before they cango to school, says TrifaNamid Tofiq, director oflaw at a public kindergartaten in Erbil.Erbil has nearly 40 publalic kindergartens; Tofiqbelieves the governmentwill have to open moreand raise their quality befafore it can apply this typeof rule.Most of the public kindadergartens in Erbil use aSwedish-style educationsystem, which requireslong hours. The kindergagartens are open onlyfour hours every day, excacept Fridays.The Swedish system divavides each school day toeight sessions. The firstsession in the morning iscalled Orientation Sessasion, during which kidsare allowed talk to eachother and the teachersread stories. The secondsession teaches some basasic math skills. Duringthe third session, childrenhave a chance to play.“The aim of the playsession is not only entertatain the kids, but also todiscover their talents. Wegive the kids a chanceto express themselvesthrough painting, we letthem play instruments,”affirmed Tofiq. In theSwedish system, childrenalso learn the basics oflanguage.In addition to the shorteaened day, Tofiq also saysthat space is limited. “Wehave 18 children in eachclass, even though classrarooms are small and thebuilding itself is small,”she explains, noting thatthere are eight classroomsin the building.It is different at privatekindergartens wheremost classes are limitedto eight children. Thechildren spend abouteight hours in a day at thenursery, allowing parentsto go to work. The childadren get breakfast andlunch at the nurseries.The private nurseriesand kindergartens do notfollow a specific systemlike the public ones, theyset their own educationsystem, cost and qualityof care.The number of privatekindergartens and nurseaeries has increased in thepast six years. Accordingto Narmin Hashm, directator of Lano nursery, thenumber of the privatenurseries has risen to appaproximately 60 in Erbil.“Here, we have kids from2 to 4 years old, we givethem special care and wedo our best to teach themproper behavior, goodhabits and prepare themfor kindergarten andschool later on.”“I believe the governmament should stop givinglicenses for more nurseaeries. We already haveenough,” said Hashm.“It would be better if thegovernment providedmore public nurseries.There is no need for allthese private nurseries, asthey are expensive. I belalieve we give the childrenthe same care here as inpublic nurseries.”Hashm noted that childadren with disabilities doneed special care, but thatthey go to the same nurseaeries and kindergartens.At Chrpa, a privatenursery school, childrenonly stay for five hoursa day. Jawhar Ahmed,the director of the nurseaery, says Chrpa also has akindergarten, so childrencan go straight from nurseaery to kindergarten whenthey're 4 years old. “Thecare and the system ofthe nursery and the kindadergarten differ slightly,due to the difference ofthe ages of the children.Our top priority is a goodheath, mentally and physiaically,” said Ahmed.Chrpa uses a moderneducation system. Ahmedsays they take the childadren camping each summamer, in addition to tripsto historical and culturalplaces in Erbil, such asmuseums.Talent and intelligencehas their own place in thesystem. “We take a closelook at the children, andwe make sure those whoare talented can maximamize those talents,” saidAhmed.Ashna ShareffErbilash_na_38@hotmail.comChristians seek shelterAs the latest string of attatacks threatens the livesof Iraq’s Christians, manywant to flee the countrybut are being urged to stayhome. Many have alreadyfled to Kurdistan Regionfor safety, nevertheless.According to Iraqi police,recent attacks by gunmenon Christian houses killedand injured 14 in Baghdadad. A Christian womanwas stabbed and her belalongings stolen—also inBaghdad.Nasim Petros, a Christatian who left Baghdadfor Ainkawa, a mostlyChristian-populated areain Erbil, told the “Globe”he left with his family becacause of sectarian unrest.“Although we have somefriends and relatives herein Ainkawa and the situatation is secure, it can neverbe like our home in Baghdadad. My family is nowthinking about leavingIraq for Europe.”Petros said that Iraq is nolonger a place for Christatians. While he agreed it isright that Christians wereasked to stay, he said “itis unreasonable becausethreats are always aroundthe corner in Baghdad,Mosul and other partswhere Christians live.”In the late months of2010, a Christian churchwas attacked by extremistsand dozens were killed.Christians have beenthreatened since 2003, andleft their homes continuoaously.“Al-Qaeda profits withinsecurity in Iraq due totheir attacks on the Christatian minority,” said MalaNazim al-Jiburi, an Iraqiexpert on al-Qaeda affafairs. He said such attackson Christians are politicaland nonpolitical, and itis also an alarm denotingthat “Iraqi security intellaligence is weak in protectiaing minorities in Iraq.”Dindar Najman, IraqiMinister of Immigrationand Migrants, asked Christatians to stay home despiterecent deadly attacks.“The Iraqi government encacourages the Christians tostay in Iraq and take partin building up their homelaland along with their otherIraqi brothers. Christiansare native Iraqi citizens,and we condemn all terroriaist acts against Christiansin Iraq,” said Najman inhis first press conferencesince he took office.

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 8Investment highest in 2010InvestmentBoardspecificallyfocusedon housingissueGLOBE PHOTO/Aiyob MawloodiAiyob MawloodiErbilaiyob.kurdishglobe@gmail.comLaborers work on a housing project in Erbil.2010 is hopefullya “promising startfor a long-term andsuccessful processof infrastructurebuilding anddevelopment inKurdistan.”Kurdistan Region's Boardof Investment announcedits 2010 report, indicatingthat the volume of investmament in the region reachedits peak in 2010.Haidar Mustafa, Directator General of Researchand Data Directorateon the Board of Investmament, states that a total ofUS$4.669 billion has beeninvested in various sectorsthroughout the region."Local investors have thelargest share in last year'sinvestment, reaching some79 percent of the total invavestment in 2010," saidMustafa in an interviewwith a local Kurdish newsagency. "International invavestors have a 20-percentshare, and the remaining1percent comes from jointventures between internatational and local partners."Turkish companies havebeen the major internatational actors in the Kurdiaistan Region's investmentsector in 2010, as theywere in the previous years.This year, more than 20percent of the total investmaments made in Kurdistanby foreign investors belalong to Turkish companiesalone.According to the figuresreported by the InvestmentBoard, Turkish investorshave invested US$536.1million throughout Kurdiaistan Region during thepast year. UK takes secondwith US$201.903 millionin investments. Egyptiansare third with approximamately US$200 million ininvestments.The housing sector hasbenefited from investmentactivities in 2010. Thereport states that someUS$2.14 billion havebeen invested in the housiaing sector alone, whichamounts to more than 45percent of the total investmament in the year. Dozensof housing projects havebeen registered with theInvestment Board, andsome have gone into impaplementation phases.Though various effortshave been made towardsolving the housing shortaage issue in the region bothby the public and privatesectors, and the Investmament Board--particularlythrough the housing fund--had a significant contribabution to the progress, thehousing issue remains unraresolved completely andneeds further investment.However, the InvestmentBoard is planning to workfurther in the housing sectator in 2011, and to the extatent that its budget wouldallow, it has vowed tohelp eradicate the housingproblem in Kurdistan.Farman Gharib, DirectorGeneral of SuleimaniyaInvestment, says that theyare determined to help redaduce the housing problem,but this mainly dependson the budget that thegovernment is going to allalocate for the InvestmentBoard in 2011 to supportthe housing fund theyhave established, as wellas the support they couldget from the municipalitaties in allocating lands forhousing projects.After the housing sector,the industrial sector is secoaond in terms of the amountof investment in 2010. Totatal investment in industrialprojects during the lastcalendar year amounts toUS$1.354 billion. Afterthat comes the trade sectorwith some US$948 millalion in investment value.According to the Kurdistatan Regional Government'sMinistry of Trade andIndustry, some US$450million out of this amounthas gone into the establalishment of more than 200various industrial factoriesall over the region.Surood Ahmed Faqe,Planning Director in theMinistry of Trade and Indadustry’s Directorate Geneaeral of Industry, said thatsome 220 factories wereestablished in the regionin 2010, out of which 144are located in Erbil Proviaince, 65 in SuleimaniyaProvince and 11 in DuhokProvince."Some 89 constructionmaterial production factatories, 32 food productionfactories, 11 plastic prodaduction, 10 carpentries, 6chemical products factoraries, 7 miscellaneous factatories, 23 general servicesfactories, 15 multi-productfactories and 15 steel andmetal production factorieswere established in 2010,"stated Faqe. "All these factatories have created some1,554 employment opportatunities, 906 of which arein Erbil, 405 in Duhok and243 in Suleimaniya.Also, 21 existing factoraries have renewed theirlicenses; 11 licenses havebeen terminated, and 15factories have acquiredtrade mark approval inErbil.It is expected that moreindustrial projects and factatories will be establishedand implemented duringthe New Year, which impapact the domestic productation sector in the Region,still imports still play amajor role in almost everysector.Being an emerging econoaomy and having a weakeconomic infrastructure,Kurdistan Region is in eagager need of investment inall sectors of the economy.Experts believe that theprogress of the past fewyears has been consideraable and mark a promisingstart for a long-term andsuccessful process of infafrastructure building anddevelopment in Kurdistatan.Government to fight corruption in 2011The New Year has arrarived and the KurdistanRegional Government'sSixth Cabinet is setting itsannual strategic plan, withefforts concentrated oncompleting projects thatwere started last year andtrying to accomplish thepromises that were givento the public during theelections.Dr. Kawa Mahmoud, offaficial spokesperson of theKRG Council of Ministaters, said on Wednesday,January 5, that the KRGwill be focusing on theachievements reached invarious sectors includingreconstruction, improviaing civil services, as wellas natural resources, oiland gas investments, andsocial affairs through impaproving human resources,and it will keep sendiaing scientific delegationsabroad, and continue theconstruction and rehabilitatation of schools and impaprovement of the generalinfrastructure.«Another very importatant aspect is changing thegovernment in a way thatattaches more importanceto citizenship throughtransparency, fighting corraruption, reducing bureaucacracy, supporting civil socaciety and real cooperationwith its organizations,”said Mahmoud.Mahmoud, who is alsothe KRG Minister of Cultature, said that his governmament will focus on somequality cultural and sportsactivities, with the aimof covering all the areasin the region without anydiscrimination. «We arealso planning to implemament the project of ‘Suleimamaniya: Kurdistan's Cityof Civilization,’ as well asconstructing a sports cityin Erbil,» said MinisterMahmoud. «Kurdistan'sdistricts need cinema andcultural communities.»Ministry of Municipalitaties and Tourism claimedthat all the projectsplanned for 2010 havegone into the implementatation phase and some thatare still incomplete will befinished in 2011.«For this year, the majoriaity of our projects will befor the water and sanitaryinfrastructure and develoaopment in the cities andtowns,» said Samir Abdullalah, KRG Minister of Munanicipalities and Tourism.«We have sent the list ofall our 2011 projects to theMinistry of Planning forapproval so as to enable usto implement them. But thewater and sanitary projectsare very important for ourministry, which is why themain focus is on water inthe cities and towns.»

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 9A talented girlWith no ability to see, hear, or speak, oneKurdish girl defies all oddsResort ReviewBijilwaterfallGLOBE PHOTO/ Qassim KhidhirAftaw Muhammad Abdulkareem, who was selected as one the young people of the year 2010, with her teacher, Fatima SuleimanKakayee.One of thewinners ofKurdistan’s “Youthsof the Year” awardsis a true reflectionof courage andresiliency.It was the final days of2010. Along with hundadreds of others, AftawMuhammad Abdulkareem,25, was sitting in a confereaence hall at the KRG’sMinistry of Culture andYouths. Facing a stage,she smiled broadly whileholding the hand of herteacher and friend, FatimaSuleiman Kakayee. Aftera few moments, a womanon the stage announcedthat the evaluation commamittee had chosen herone of the “youths of theyear.” “Aftaw has a taleaent above her ability; shecan read, write, type, andshe is an artist,” said theannouncer. Abdulkareem,with her teacher, walkedto the stage to receive heraward from Kurdistan Regagion Prime Minister Dr.Barham Salih.This award was particulalarly interesting becauseAbdulkareem was bornblind, mute and deaf. “Iwas very pleased when Iwas chosen….” said Abdadulkareem, placing herhand on her heart to expapress the happiness, a gestature interpreted by Kakayeaee--who interprets throughhand movements.When people meet Abdadulkareem, she first reacheaes her hand out to greetthem. Then through gestatures, she asks the personto write his or her name onher palm; she then writesher name on the person’spalm--this means they intatroduced each other. Besasides writing and reading,she draws mainly flowersand picture of girls andrabbits. She is also good atmaking vases and purses.Abdulkareem’s talentwas discovered by a Germaman woman who wasworking in Kurdistan,helping blind people; shemet Abdulkareem in at aninstitute for blind peoplein Erbil city. The GermanWoman wrote a word onthe back of Abdulkareem,and observed that Abulkarareem wrote the sameword.“That woman, who is agood friend of mine, askedme to teach Aftaw how toread and write,” said Kakakayee. At the time, Kakakayee was working for aBritish organization calledMEDS, which helps thedisabled in Kurdistan.MEDS agreed that Kakayeaee would help Abdulkarareem. At the beginning,Kakayee went throughself-training with the helpof the German womanon how to teach and dealwith people with Abdulkarareem’s conditions. Teachiaing Abdulkareem was verydifficult, she said.“I felt so tired that oneday I cried and left her. ButAftaw always smiled andtreated me very gently. Athome I thought about her alot; I told myself she doesnot have three senses andyet she is happier than meand has more tolerance. SoI returned to her,” said Kakakayee. “Aftaw has givenme hope in this life.”Kakayee thinks thereare other people in Kurdiaistan like Abdulkareem,and she hopes an instituteis opened for all of them.She can train the trainerson how to teach and dealwith deaf/blind/mute peopaple, she said. In Kurdistan,there are institutes for theblind or deaf, but there isno institute for someonewho is deaf, blind, andmute.Abdulkareem said sheprefers to be at the deaf insastitute rather than at home.“Here at the institute I staybusy. I like to be busy,”she notes. She hopes in futature to improve her drawiaing and manual skills. Shehas already participated inart exhibitions.One of the employeesat the institute pointedout that Abdulkareem is avery social and sweet persason who asks a lot of questations about their lives andthe lives of their children.She likes to prove her exiaistence.Kakayee considers Abdadulkareem the Kurdishversion of Helen Keller.Keller was an Americanauthor, political activist,and lecturer. She was thefirst deaf and blind personto earn a Bachelor of Artsdegree. The story of howKeller's teacher, AnneSullivan, broke throughthe isolation imposed by anear complete lack of langaguage, allowing the girl toblossom as she learned tocommunicate, is world renanown due to the dramaticdepictions of the play andfilm “The Miracle Workeaer.”Qassim KhidhirErbilqassim.kurdishglobe@gmail.comBijil is located 16 kilomameters east of Akre inDuhok province and 115kilometers from Erbil.Located on Sari SadeMountain, it sits in a vallaley full of vineyards andtree farms. Water flowsfrom above down to thevalley, forming the beautatiful resort of Sipay Bijajil. Sipay Bijil’s beautyattracts tourists in thesummer when its climatecools the warm days, andnumerous nearby locatations have shown thepotential to be tourist attatractions as well.On the northern side ofBijil is Sari Sade Mountatain and hills. In the treesis a valley with a passingstream falling 25 inches,creating a transcendentatal sound. Further away,the water flows down 5meters into a wonderfulwaterfall and through thestream. The temperaturehere does not exceed 35degrees Celsius in summamer.The name “Bijil” isderived from “Burj Ilo,”which dates back to pre-Islam times. Similar toArbaelo, Burj Ilo meansfour gods. Regarding“Sipa,” in Akre and theBijil area they call this awaterfall.There are several touriaism locations in Bijil. Onits upper front is a casinocreated under nut trees,which is even very attatractive in the evenings.Above Sipay Biji andbehind the trees is an artatificial, historical cave.Seven meters inside isa room with two pillars.The cave looks like anold worshipping tempaple. Because of its age,people of the area knownothing about the cave.Sari Sade is located onthe tip of the Sari SadeMountain, which hasmagnificent nature—espapecially in springtime.The location overlooksDinarte to the north andBijil to the south. Twelvekilometers away is theJona village cave thatwas once the temple ofthe Zarathustra. A houseis now occupies it.Zanta waterfall is 10 kilalometers from from Bijil,and looks more like AliBag waterfall. It is 6 kilalometers long and is aspaphalted until Dinarte. Astream passes through it,and vacation and resortsare nearby.If you want to visitAkre, Zanta waterfall orDinarte’s tourist locatations such Guzke andGirbish, visit Bijil. Youcan visit several destinatations in one tour.Nadir Rostinadr_rwsty@yahoo.com

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 11Tribal chiefs inIraq’s Arab societypractice theirtradition of “Al-Fasil,” settlingproblemsbetween elementsthrough fines.Twice every week, Immamad Ibrahim, 38, and hiscousins usually attendthe meeting hall of theirchieftain. They call it“Diwan al-Asheera” (theTribe’s Room); there theydiscuss their problemsand their people’s affairs.Ibrahim has been a partaticipant in the Diwan formany years; thus, he nowhas become a fluent makeaer of bitter Arabic coffeeStudent job center helps graduates find jobsInterviews to be had, but applicants aren’t always willing to take the jobsAmid massiveunemploymentamong youngpeople,Suleimaniya’s JobCenter for Studentsworks to assistjobless universityand institutegraduates.A job center establishedin Suleimaniya city in Octatober 2010 “tries to findjob opportunities in privavate sectors for universityand institute graduates,and also tries to offer finanancial support to poorstudents in need throughprivate companies,” saidKardo Kamal Abdulqadir,manager of the Job Centater for Students. He wantshis center to be a link betatween vacancies availableat private companies andservices and those graduaate students seeking jobs.Like all other cities inKurdistan, Suleimaniyadoes not have a job centerfacility for those lookingfor jobs.Currently, there are estatimated to be hundreds ofuniversity graduates lookiaing for jobs. The employmament chance for universitygraduates has narroweddramatically over the lastfew years since the goveaernment does not employthem by large numbers asit used to do some yearsago.The Job Center for StudaTribal acts stronger than courtsMany tribal elements rely on custom, not government, to settle issuesGLOBE PHOTO/ Salam Abdulqadirand distributes it in small,decorated cups. He is agood talker and poemteller, which is a featureof tribal life.When a man from a certatain tribe gets in troublewith a man from anothertribe, chieftains fromboth sides hold an al-Fasasil session.Ibrahim, holding buncheaes of money in his hand,looked happy after a sessasion was recently heldconcerning his own case.“The insane man has nowreceived his punishment,”said Ibrahim, referring toa man from another tribewho entered his houseand stole from him. Theman also assaulted Ibrahahim.The session called forthe man to pay Ibrahimdents operates on a smallscale because it is verylimited financially. It hasnot yet made media annanouncements for the samereason. Kardo said hiscenter presently receivesa monthly payment of justUS$400 from the office ofthe Kurdistan DemocraticParty in Suleimaniya. InKardo’s words, this moneaey is not enough for foodand transport of one singleperson. He said he neededa lot more than that, buthe is not looking for othersources of income.One has to fill in a simpaple application form at thecenter to be contacted latea20 million ID (almostUS$16,000). Ibrahimsaid he owes this to histribe. He described thedeal as a system thatworks “stronger than thegovernmental proceduresthat take a long time andare disrespected.” “Anyoaone who does not commamit to pay what has beendecided in such deals willface death,” he said. “Thegovernment comes andgoes or it falls. But thetribe is everlasting forthousands of years.”The al-Fasil deal is religagiously allowed and hasworked for hundreds ofthousands of years, accacording to Chieftain Ismamael Khuz’al. “But thisshouldn’t be exploited forearning big amounts ofmoney as some are doing;er when job opportunitiesarise at local companies orservices. According to theform, the applicant is togive a quarter of his or herfirst wage when a job is secacured, but Kardo said thatso far they have receivedno money from those whosucceeded in getting jobs.One applicant, ShilanMuhammad-Amin Saeid,said that the center hadonce found her a job oppaportunity but she did notlike it. She has not had ajob since her graduationfrom the Technical Institatute Electricity Departmament last year. But Kardocriticized young people inthen it will be Haram,”the Chieftain added.It was an accident whenMohammad Abdullah,27, drove into an elderlyman. He was forced topay a lot in order to savehis own life. “They werelike hooks sticking intomeat that you cannot takeoff,” Abdullah said aboutthe elderly man’s tribewho insisted on receiviaing money. “The hit wasnot that serious…but theynever left me alone until Ipaid them.”Whenever judged upon,a man is forced by histribe to pay the compapensation or “he is notconsidered a real man,”Salam Hussein, 59, said.If the man is really unableto pay the big amounts,then the tribe takes actionhis city for not workinghard. “For example, wesent someone who appliedat our center to get a job.We found him an opportunanity at a well-known caféfor a decent wage, but herefused it simply becauseit was a café.” He pointedout that his center mightlose credibility becausesome of the graduates theysend to job interviews endup not taking the jobs.As its record shows, theJob Center found opportunanities for some 30 peoplein October 2010; neveaertheless, many of themclaimed that they foundjobs by themselves.to help settle it. For everycase, the head of the tribedistributes the amountsto his elements--each topay a part. He also writesnames of every donator.Hussein describes thetribal system of his socieaety as the service of socacial insurance but a tradaditional one. Some tribescollect money from all itsmale elements for timesin need, when the tribehas to pay compensationfrom one of its elements.Often it happens a tribeforgives the offender, buthe must go to the tribeand ask for it.When his father was hitin a car accident, MansurAbdul-Jabar, 42, agreednot to take any compensasation. “The driver waspoor and the father ofDiyri Tahir Gharib, whowas an applicant at thecenter, said he refusedto take the job the centater found him because“its working hours weretoo much and the moneywas little.” Gharib was agraduate of the College ofAgriculture, and after thathe found himself a job.Farhad Ra’uf Arif, anotherapplicant, said he tried thecenter but submitted hisCV to a company calledHayat--he believes it washis personal effort thatgot him the job. SabahMuhammad Ahmed, agraduate of the TechnicalInstitute--said the centermany children. He actuaally didn’t mean it. It wasjust my father’s fate,” hesaid. “He was not wellconnected with his tribeto pay for him. I compromamised.”Usually al-Fasil sessasions are held with the attatendance of well-knownmen from the two tribes.Arraignments for suchsessions are often carriedout by a third, neutraltribe. Other neutral tribescan also be invited in ordader bring the two partiesinto agreement.actually sent him to Coca-Cola Company in Suleimamaniya for a job and heworked there--but just for22 days. “I left it becauseI want to get employed bythe government.”Samin Shamsullah Hawawas had a different problalem; he has several jobskillcertificates from theNetherlands where helived for about, 15 yearsbut none of them help hisjob search. “I have usedthe Job Center but theyhave not contacted me yetbecause my certificates arenot recognized in Kurdistatan,” he said.Though it appears thatthe work of the Job Centerfor Students has not beenextremely productive sofar, it carries on with greateffort. Kardo referred tothe fact that some of thecompanies that were contatacted last year in Octoberrecently alerted the JobCenter about vacancies,and they have sent eightpeople to interviews thismonth. Shivan Fars Bayansaid he applied to the centater for a job last week andhas been called to go to apharmaceutical companycalled Ra’id. “I went to thecompany, but they wantedto see my CV first. If theyneed me they will contactme,” said Bayan.SalamAbdulqadirSuleimaniyasalam.abdulrahmman@gmail.com

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 12Demonstration law mustregulate--not prevent--afundamental human rightBy Bashdar Pusho IsmaeelThe crux of democracy isthe overlying freedom ofchoice and existence of anindividual and a system ofgovernment that is ownedand controlled by the majajority. The origins of theword “democracy” are derarived from Greek, meaniaing “the people to rule”or “ruled by the people.”Therefore, the simplestimplication of the word“democracy” is the notionof power to the people.On this basis, the abiliaity of the people to openlyexpress their views andorganize protests or demoaonstrations is a fundamentatal part of modern societyand the democratic princaciples that underpin effectative governance.As such, whether in anelection, via a petition orindeed a demonstration,the primary concept is theability of the people to beheard.Many of the freedomsexpressed today, especiallaly in European countriesrenowned for democracy,have come as a conseqaquence of the desire andwillingness of ordinarypeople to stand up, especacially at passages of timeswhen many subjects weretaboo, including women’srights and rights of workeaers.Many laws and legislatative measures have beenintroduced as a result of“people power.” Oncethe very people that electgovernments come floodiaing to the streets in greatnumbers, in any true demamocracy no legislativepower can ignore such acompelling message fromits inhabitants.In the Middle East, wheredemocracy has been along-time taboo, the abiliaity to stage demonstratations are often forbiddenand repressed with greatforce, and where allowedto be formed are severelyrestricted.In the Kurdistan Region,after years of repressiverule under a totalitarianregime, a fledgling demamocracy has taken shapethat can serve as a symbolof tolerance in the region.However, while the currarent form of democracy isa milestone achievement,it is far from perfect withsome accusing the rulingparties of curtailing thefreedom of expression.In this regard, it wassomewhat unsurprisingthat the government recaceived a backlash withthe passing of the newlaw around the staging ofdemonstrations (Regulatiaing Demonstration Bill).Although the bill was metwith resistance by somequarters of Parliament--particularly the Goranmovement--it was essentatially passed by the sheernumbers of the KDP andPUK in the assembly.There has been growingdisgruntlement in sectations of Kurdish society,seeking greater reformand more transparency ingovernment. Amidst suchprevailing skepticism, theexact basis for the newdemonstration law thathas been passed has becacome murky and subjectto misinterpretation.For an effective undaderstanding of this newbill, the question of whya demonstration law isneeded and what it is intatended to achieve needs tobe adequately understood.Any reservation from oppaposition parties aside,regardless of the democacratic basis of the rightof the people to protestand be heard, any democacratic principle still needsa framework and measureof regulation.This notion of controlshould not be intended to“prevent,” but to regulate,which, for example, is thecase in the UK. The reasason is simple: Allowingand facilitating the freedadom of expression of agroup of people is finelybalanced against ensuringand maintaining the dailyfreedoms of the greatersections of society.The underlining basis of ademonstration is peacefulprotesting. Unfortunately,sentiments can sometimesspill into aggressive andviolent behavior, attractiaing the headlines for thewrong reasons but aboveall creating danger to thegreater community.Therefore, in the vastmajority of Western countatries, while protesting isa fundamental right, theydo not necessarily have anGLOBE PHOTO/ Safin Hamedexclusive hand to act, orgaganize and proceed as theydeem fit. For example, undader the Human Rights Actin the UK, protestors havea great deal of freedom toprotest, but under the firmbasis of “nonviolent directactions,” which has theclear objective of ensuriaing that the people canget their message acrosswithout the proceedingsdescending into violence,bloodshed or anti-socialbehavior. Therefore, protatests must not harm theperson, group or elementthat is the subject of theprotests, or the securityforces and rival protestators.One of the major concacerns around the passingof the demonstration law isthat it will allow the goveaernment to manipulate thebill to prevent demonstratations or restrict protests asa form of self-protection.A new requirement meansthat any demonstrationsthat are intended to beheld must be authorizedby the government.In most Western countatries, depending on thenature and extent of theprotests, some actionsrequire consent from theauthorities, but no consentcan ever be denied on themere basis that the authoriaity does not want you tospeak out.The current sentiment towaward the Kurdish governmament is not strictly that alaw to control demonstratations is undemocratic ora new phenomenon in amodern society, but owedlargely to the distrust feltin sections of Kurdishsociety toward the rulingparties.It is this general cynicismthat needs to be addressed,with the ruling allianceproviding the necessaryassurances to its people.In this light, time will tellwhat demonstrations areheld or prevented or howrestrictive this bill willbecome in practice. Thegrounds for any rejectionmust be clear and on thebasis of safeguarding thegreater community, prevaventing violence or damaage to property. The lawitself as it stands is not anobstacle to democracy, butthe danger is the manipulalation of this law to suit aparticular side.In most of the majorEuropean countries, orgaganized marches by thepeople need approval andprotests can be disbandedor disallowed if they aredeemed to incite racial hatatred or against the interestsof the greater public.In this light, the Kurdishgovernment must worktransparently around thedemonstration law andallow external monitorsto assess any cases wheredemonstrations are rejajected.The passing of the billhas already placed the ruliaing government in a precacarious position. Demonsastrations against this billhave been held that haveironically already brokenthe law. It also begs thequestion of how the goveaernment would react if unlalawful demonstrations aresubsequently carried out.Such is human naturethat spontaneous protestscan never be avoided andsometimes gatherings orrallies occur or gatherpace depending on thesensitivity of an event orissue without any priorplanning or intention.Any heavy-handed resasponses by the securityforces will only backfire,whilst at the same timethey cannot be seen to beidle while a law is beingviolated.Clearly, the overlyingmessage to the Kurdishgovernment is not thatsome measures they undadertake are necessarilyundemocratic, but that thepeople still require assuraances and the region willexpand on democraticvalues and evolve and notcontract.The need for the goveaernment to reform andimplement a more effectative form of democracy isstill very much an ongoingobjective, in order for theregion to grow, prosperand become a showcaseDemonstrators hold signs reading «no,» expressing their opposition to the recently approved Demonstration Law in front of the Kurdiaistan Parliament, Erbil, January 4.for effective lines of commamunication between thegovernment and the peopaple who select the governmament to serve them.Kurdish politicians mustbe in touch and be seenamongst the ordinary peopaple, in the very quarterswhere the people go abouttheir day-to-day lives. Aftater all, it is up to the peopaple to express their voicesand votes, but ultimatelyup to politicians to listenand deliver.

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 13Stateless nationalism in the ageof post-Pax AmericanaBy Salah Bayaziddisbayaziddi@yahoo.comPress PhotoPax Americana (Latin for"American Peace") is theconcept of the relativepeace and prosperity in theWestern Hemisphere. Itis the result of the relativepower the United States enjajoyed from the turn of the20th century. However, itonly became the dominantpower when the global supaperiority of British militarydeclined and the period thatwas known as Pax Britannicaca ended in the early yearsof World War I. Pax Americacana derives partly fromthe direct influence of theU.S. but also significantly,or more so, from internatational institutions backedby American financing anddiplomacy. The U.S. invavested heavily in programssuch as the Marshall Planand in the reconstructionof Japan, economically cemamenting defense ties thatowed increasingly to the estatablishment of the Iron Curtatain/Eastern Bloc and thewidening of the Cold War.The end of the Cold War,fall of the Soviet Union andthe global acceptance ofpolitical terminologies suchas “End of History,” “NewWorld Order” and rise of“neo-liberalism” were seenas a new period of revivalof Pax Americana. But thenew period of sole economiaic and military superiorityof the U.S. was also met bypolitical forces that couldpose a new round of threatsand dangers to global peaceand security. The new intaternational politics was stillheavily based on the legalitaty of nation-state as the onlylegitimate unit. The rise ofnationalism and, more specacifically, spread of statelessnationalism, has become amajor source of instabilityand another major threat toa period known as post-PaxAmericana.Today, the spread of natationalism appears to be amajor source of unrest anddirect violence in a socalledpost-Cold War perariod. There is also cause forconcern if most countries inthe world are multi-ethnicsocieties.Given the persisting econanomic crisis, uneven econanomic development andacute difficulties faced bymany Third World countatries, a further intensificacation of ethnic conflictsseems likely in the future.It is also important to notethat the effects of nationaliaism are highly varied andthere are distinctions amongthe different types of ethnicnationalism. Specifically,the most important part ofthe work of academic resasearchers who study therise of nationalism and itsimportance to global confaflicts are in identifying thevarieties of nationalism thatare most likely to cause thegreatest risk of conflict andinstability. It seems thatthe most probable scenariofor ethnic conflict lies indissatisfaction of statelessnations from the presentinternational order. Indeed,factors that govern the sizeof the dangers posed bythe ethnic revival indicatethat nationalist movementswithout states pose greaterrisks of war because theiraccommodation requiresgreater and more disruptivechange.Following the new periodof decline in U.S. superioriaity, and the rise of so-calledglobalism, stateless natationalism has brought newpolitical dimension to thestructure of global order.While the international systatem does not deal well withchange, stateless nationscan produce war of succacession, which in turn canwiden to international war.Nevertheless, it is crucial toprovide a better understandiaing of national struggle andalso the importance of ajust cause, which pushesthose nations that are underoccupation to fight for theirdreams of freedom and selfdetermination.As a first part of this argagument, it is important tounderstand that nationalliberation movements arenot the activities of smallgroups of isolated individuaals, though state authoritiesopposed to them frequentlydescribe them as such forpropaganda purposes. Theyare the struggle of rebellalious nations against foreigninvaders. To defend theirnations from annihilation,many peoples have taken uparms and engaged in warsof national liberation. Tounderstand armed nationalliberation movements, it isnecessary to strip away thecamouflage terms and expaplanations that states use tohide their true nature.Today, most books aboutglobal conflicts — and themedia in general — use theterms state, nation and natation-state interchangeably,and this has confused theissue greatly. Nations aregeographically boundedterritories of a commonpeople. A nation is a selfdefinedgroup that sees itsaself as "one people" on thebasis of common ancestry,history, society, institutions,ideology, language, territorary and sometimes religion.The existence of nations isancient; that is, there havealways been "nations" foras long as there have beenhuman beings. Today thereare somewhere between3,000 and 5,000 nations ordistinct peoples or culturesin the world. As opposed tonations, states are relativelyAn American G.I. poses atop a destroyed Iraqi tank in Kuwait during the first Gulf War in March 1991, as oil wells—ignited byretreating Iraqi forces—burn in the background.new in human history. Theyare centralized political systatems recognized by otherstates — they use a civilianand military bureaucracy toenforce one set of institutations, laws and sometimesculture (for example, langaguage and religion) withintheir claimed boundaries.The millions of nationpeoples of the world areorganized into the fewerthan 180 states or countriesrepresented in the UnitedNations. More than 95percent of these states aremultinational; that is, compaposed of many nations ordistinct peoples, many ofwho do not consent to beiaing absorbed and governedby an imposed central goveaernment in the hands of adifferent people. That thisis so — and how it cameabout historically — goesa long way in explainingthe phenomenon of nationalliberation movements.No nation people has evervoluntarily given up its natational identity and nationalterritory, and both the stateswe know today and thosethat preceded them are andwere all created by war andconquest in the history ofempires. One of the mostimportant geopolitical factsof our times is that manyhundreds of distinct peopaples or nations in the worldtoday live in states they donot consent to be a part ofbecause they are oppressed,exploited and treated unjajustly in these states. Nonetatheless, governments invariaably assert that their state ismade up of one commonpeople. This is frequentlya political myth. As Benedadict Anderson (1991) hasshown, multinational statesare in fact "imagined commamunities." The true "nationstate"—that is, a state thatrepresents one single nationor people — is, in fact, adistinct rarity.No directory, atlas or encacyclopedia lists or describesall or even most of the peopaples of the world, and almamost no state refers to themas nations; they prefer tocall them "ethnic groups,""minorities" or "tribes."These terms substitutestate-related, non-peopleidentification for the actualnames that nation peoplescall themselves and theirterritories (Nietschmann1987). This is because natations are "candidates forstatehood" — that is, eachof them could — theoreticacally and by right — seekindependence and becomeits own independent state."A people" has internatationally recognized rightsto self-determination andself-defense against invasasion and external aggressasion; "ethnic groups" and"minorities" do not. Forexample, the UN Charter(1945) states that "All peopaples have the right of selfdetermination.By virtue ofthat right they freely determamine their political statusand freely pursue their econanomic, social, and culturaldevelopment." (Cited inNietschmann 1987:6)Finally, it is important tomention that while internanational politics is compaplex, especially since theend of the Cold War, therapid decline and fall of theSoviet Union at the beginnaning of the 1990s openedup the way to a full-scaleU.S. military interventionin the Middle East for thefirst time, with the onsetof the 1991 Gulf War. Thisbrought a new political perariod which lasted for lessthan two decades. While wejust finished the first decadeof the third millennium andthe speed of technology andmodern tools of communicacation have brought newchanges to the world, theinternational communityshould come to its sensesand resolve once and forall the issue of stateless natationalism and of all thosepeople who believe theyare a distinct people andtherefore need to have theirown homeland. Therefore,if the people belonging toa community understandand believe it to be a nation,and act within it as a fittingsocial and cultural structurefor their lives, then theseindividuals obviously deemthat sufficient homogeneiaity and shared identity exiaists, in whatever form orproportion, to satisfy theirconsciousness of unity andkinship. Such an idea ofcommunity assuredly qualifafies as a nation. And if thatnation is not constitutionaally autonomous, but issituated within the territoryand/or autonomy of an exiaisting state, then undoubteaedly it continues to qualifyas a nation without a state.As a final thought, I belalieve that one of the mostimportant case studies ofthe non-state nations is theKurdish question in theMiddle East.The Kurds are one of thelargest nations in the contatemporary world still denanied an independent state.Numbering more than 35million, Kurds form thefourth-largest people inthe Middle East, after theArabs, Persians and Turks.The Kurds have long challalenged the status quo ofnational frontiers in thisvolatile region, and Turkey,Iran, Iraq and Syria havea common interest in suppapressing Kurdish nationalmovements, whether theyare demanding full indepapendence or a more limitedautonomy. Although todaythe Kurdish question hasmoved to center stage in atroubled area of global signanificance, the great powerssee Kurdish nationalism asanother destabilizing featature of the most strategicand oil-rich region of theworld.

The Kurdish Globe No. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 14“Superstar”presented on TRT6TRT6 is a TV satellitechannel in Turkey broadcacasting programs in Kurdiaish. Last week, a new progagram was announced thatwill test singing skills.Through this program,new and qualified singerswould be produced. Theprogram staff asks whoeaever has skills to registertheir names for testing,but the participants shouldonly sing in Kurdish. “Supaperstar” was shown at firston Turk Show channel andattracted the attention ofmany Turkish spectators.After launching TRT6, theprogram was presented inKurdish. The first winnerof the program, accordingto the channel system, willbe awarded with a modernhouse in the city of Istanbabul. The evaluation boardmembers of the programconsist of famous singerYakbun and Kurdish origagin singer Nihad Doghan.Acting still a hobbyamong Kurdish artistsWhile most internationalfamous artists partakein movies and dramas tomake money, Kurdishartists--especially actors--don't expect to be awardeda great amount of moneyfor their roles. The moneaey that a Hollywood starmakes, for instance, fromacting in a movie may suffafice for dozens of familyexpenses, but a Kurdishactor's income in a moviaie or even series may betoo little to even be mentationed.It is hard to find someoaone who doesn’t knowwho Abduli Hama Jwan.TV drama lovers considera show without him to beincomplete. He’s beenone of the most prominentKurdish actors for over 30years. He is still looked atas a professor in the fieldof drama, but what differeaentiates him from foreignactors is that he is alwaysready to perform his role—regardless of money."Our aim as Kurdishactors is to convey themessages that need tobe known by our peoplethrough acting. I feel shyto ask for money. But thatdoes not mean that wedon't deserve to receivemoney, because actingkeeps us from workingoutside."It took Hama Jwan almamost a year to finish hisrole in a movie, but hewas only given a thousanddollars. For him, moneywas not a big deal. But hethinks from now on thesupporters of Kurdish dramama and movies should seta system similar to thosein progressive countries.Jehad Dlpak, anotherKurdish actor since the1970s, attributed the littlemoney for actors to thenonexistence of the businaness of cinema in Kurdistatan Region. "In America,there are giant productioncompanies that are readyto pay huge amounts ofmoney for a part an actorplays, because they arepretty sure the money—along with big profits—will come back to their accacount when the movies areshown. We have no compapanies in Kurdistan to dothis job because cinema isnot a business yet in ourregion."Movie expenses are allocacated by the KRG Ministatry of Culture and Youths.None of the staff workeaers in dramas are givenenough money; thus, mostof the Kurdish stars perfaform other jobs for a liviaing.Dlpak thinks the timewill come when he seesgreat cinema stars suppaported by companies fullyso they don’t have to findother means of income.“Arazu” introduced Ashnna Ra’uf to spectatorsAshna Ra'uf, a young actatress who appeared on TVdramas, became one of thefamous, successful, andcourageous females workiaing on stage about threeyears ago. Although shehas played many roles andparticipated in many festivavals since childhood, shebecame really well-knownafter break-through perfaformances in TV dramas.Ra'uf shined in “Arazu,’where she played the roleof an innocent girl namedShireen. “A lot of peoplewho see me in public stillcall me Shireen accidentatally. I still like to performonstage, but TV dramasare now one prosperousway to amuse people. Actiaing on theatre and appeariaing on TV dramas bothentertain spectators, butcurrently people preferwatching TV dramas."Asked why Kurdishpeople nowadays turn toforeign TV dramas desaspite Kurdish dramas onTV, Ra'uf said: "There aresome attractive techniquesused in foreign dramas thatare hardly perceived inKurdish dramas. We don'thave progressive equipmament that can sweetensome clips. Being afraidof traditional ethics andcodes, our directors can'tforce some actresses to actlike some foreigners do.”One of the reasons manydirectors use Ra'suf astheir main actress in dramamas is her dedicated loveof arts and the ease withwhich she works withstaff. And she has no regagrets. "I may have acted inweak ways in some of mywork, but I never felt unhahappy because even weakperformances let me learnmore and prevent me fromrepeating mistakes I mayhave committed."Rauf was born in 1978in Suleimaniya city. Herearly appearance on theaatre when she was a childled her to study directingand theatre at the FineArts Institute. Her mostprominent work as anactress includes “GamyBalndakan,” “Kharand,"and “Arazu.”Contributions to “The Kurdish Globe” entertainment page come from the weekly art section of “Hawler Newspaper.”

The Kurdish GlobeNo. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011 15Erbil becomes big growth marketfor fitness productsAs obesity rises in the region, demand for fitness equipment skyrocketsMaintaining “lifelalong health and fitnaness habits” quicklybecoming a primarygoal for those concacerned about theirhealth.The response to an incacrease in obesity in Kurdiaistan Region is a majorgrowth in demand for gymand training equipment,according to most sportsstoreproprietors in the cityof Erbil.Home gym and fitnessequipment has grownas physicians encouragehealthier and more activelifestyles to help offset thealarming rate of obesity inthe population. Additionallaly, more people nowadaysdevote increased time togeneral fitness rather thanspending their time beingidle.Although there are lots ofpeople subscribing to gymsfor weight-loss reasons,others prefer to exercise athome. In turn, more storesproviding home workoutproducts have bloomed.Almas, one of the leadiaing sportswear and fitnaness equipment marketsin downtown Erbil, hasexperienced accelerateddemand over the past 10years. The market consasists of more than 20stores exclusively sellingsports products. "After2003, people in Kurdistanstarted gaining weight ata high rate. Because thereweren’t enough gyms forthose who wanted to loseweight, I thought of openiaing a store to sell fitnessequipment for home exercacisers,” said Rizgar Hassasan, the Nike Sport storekakeeper at Almas Market.Hassan added: "It is definanitely the case that Erbil isa big growth market. Thereis high demand for the lateaest fitness products andsportswear, and I believepeople nowadays havegood options for weightsand tools to get fit andhealthy in our market."IN addition to benches,elliptical trainers, exercisebikes, leverage systems,multi-gyms, rowing macachines, treadmills, weights,dumbbells, and bars, Hassasan sells sportswear fordifferent purposes.Sports-store ownersshould have athletic backgagrounds, said Hassan,because sports-orientedsalespeople know theequipment better. “I knowsome storekeepers whoonly focus on bringingin cheap quality productsfrom the outside, only toshow that they don't chargepeople much regardless ofhow long the consumercan benefit from fitnesstools, for example."Hassan was the first toopen a sports store in Almamas market 10 years ago.He used to be one of thebest Erbil club senior cycaclists, the Brayati cyclingteam manger, an Iraqi cycacling team coach assailant,and an Iraqi cycling fedeaeration member. He is nowan Erbil cycling federationmember.Most of those who buyequipment from Hassaninclude club bodybuilders,foreigners who work withinternational organizatations in Erbil, and femalegovernment employees.Meanwhile, college studadents who are not actuallyoverweight but want toflex their muscles are otherconsumers.Asked if he benefits inthe business any other waythan monetarily, Hassansaid: "I love all types ofFitness products at Almas market in Erbil.sports and exercises. I feelvery comfortable whenI see somebody losinga lot of weight by usingmy equipment. Throughthis business I have mademany good friends. Thatis really a good reputatation that other people canhardly gain."Most of the sports produaucts In Erbil markets comefrom China, which isknown as the internationaldistributor not only forsports equipment but forelectronic equipment. Chinanese products are cheaperand are the most desired,compared to other brandsfrom countries like Taiwanand Germany."Many people here arenot ready to buy expensiveequipment, but they compaplain if we sell them cheapquality products withcheap prices. Of course ifthey want to use a piece ofequipment for a long timewith no problem they haveto spend more money,"said Bassam Sameer, anoaother storekeeper at theAlmas Market.Unlike Hassan, Sameeris not athletic but ratherdoes his job to satisfyhis customers and makemoney. He mostly sellsproducts that are cheap inquality and price. "I maysell 10 cheap pieces, but Ican hardly persuade somebabody to purchase sometathing made from Germanybecause people still needtime to understand the impaportance of sports. Somealready do, however."Some people use fitnessequipment for physicaltherapy since stroke anddiseases caused by highcholesterol threaten theregion’s health. JawharTahir, 45, who has beenadvised by his doctor toexercise and work outevery day at least forone hour and adhere to ahealthy food program, saidthat life--with all its difficaculties and pains--shouldbe endured. "I have fourpieces of fitness equipmentand I use them at home becacause I don't have enoughtime to go to sports centersevery day. Although someof the equipment over heredoesn’t work well or worksfor a couple months thenbreaks, there are still somestores in Erbil that sellgood quality and brandsof different kinds of equipmament," explained Tahir.He uses entertainmentduring his daily workoutas a way to encourage aconsistent exercise regimamen. His iPod is full ofAmerican music, and hesaid it is a perfect workoutpartner to help him creaate and maintain lifelonghealth and fitness habits.Zakaria MuhammedErbilzakaria.kurdishglobe@gmail.comGLOBE PHOTO /Zakaria MuhammedKorek Telecom to sponsor two sports clubsMusil FC signed a sponsasorship deal with KorekTelecom; the contract runsto the end of the 2011-12campaign. This mark’s thefirst time in its history thatMusil will be paid by acommunications companyfor displaying their logoon jerseys. Musil's shirtmanufacturer is expectedto redesign the front withKorek's logo. The clubwill receive US$40,000,according to Korek Telecacom media manager TofiqShekhani. The contractcan be extended if bothsides agree upon terms andconditions. "Everything isagreed upon and hopefullyin the coming days we willannounce the deal in detailofficially in a press confaference in Nineveh proviaince," said Shekhani.Over the last three years,Musil FC has performedwell in the Iraqi league.Korek, realizing Musil’sunstable financial situatation, wanted to supportit by signing new playeaers, similar to other giantclubs."Korek Telecom, throughsports, especially football,wants to increase its subsascribers and draw the attentation of people to football.Sport is the best way…tointroduce people," saidShekhani. Korek alsotalked with officials fromchampions Duhok FC,and both sides agreed onbasic concepts. Their dealdiffers in that, addition tofootball, other teams likebasketball and volleyballwill wear jerseys with thelogo. The contract shouldbe declared officially todaday when Duhok playsZakho in front of its fans.Korek's contract withDuhok is more importantthan Musil's since the formamer participate in Kurdiaistan and Iraqi premierleagues and is going totake part in the 2011 AsianConfederation Cup.Korek Telecom, a sharedlimited company registatered in Iraq to operateand provide GSM servicesin Iraq, was established inthe year 2000 under theno-fly zone. In 2007, Korarek was awarded one ofthe three national licensesin Iraq. Since then, it hasexpanded its services tothe rest of Iraq. Today, Korarek is the fastest-growingmobile operator in Iraq.

Last pageNo. 287, Sunday, January 9, 2011MemoirsBy Sazan M. MandalawiI have a particular story withanimals. For example, I havea soft side for the cow that isat the back of the yute a daybefore Eid. Thinking that it ison the way to a new adventure,it doesn't know it is going tobe sacrificed, sentenced todeath (with proven innocence)in less than 24 hours. It is notonly the cow that I feel sorryfor, but also the sheep tiedto a tree in the corner of thegarden. It probably thinks ithas committed a crime, but Iknow too well that he's alsoinnocent, just as I know its fatewill be my dinner plate thatnight. Even the little chickeneating seeds off the ground--at too will add extra taste totomorrow's soup.Let's face it, us Kurds--witha few exceptions--love ourmeat; just ask the stomach ofany Kurdish man. We are not,and for a long time we will not,become fans of vegetarianism(or what we refer to as giyayee,which basically meansgrassy or “greeny”). Ask anyrestaurant what giyayee mealsthey have and be sure thewaiter will raise his eyebrowsand giggle, thinking you'rebeing sarcastic.Having said this, I think to alimited degree we are animallovers. But my story withanimals does not end here.You see, my dear reader, II am byno meansrequestingthat allKurdsbecomevegetarianhave a cat phobia, dog phobia,rooster phobia, sheep phobia(to restrain myself from furtherhumiliation the list shall stopat this point), and my love forhorses is just watching froma distance. As for fish andsquirrels, my love for themended after the death of bothmy pets.Here I am, what you wouldnormally refer to as a heartlessbeing toward animals, as I ammourning the recent death ofover 160 animals of differentsorts, most of them reindeers(according to my source) inthe Barzan area. This newswould have made front-pageheadlines in some countriesaround the world, but I justhappened to hear about thiscatastrophic event over familydinner. They were in a wildlifepark and died of a disease thatspread across the animals. Justbefore New Year, over 100goats died of a plague.Our animals must not becomeextinct. I fully understandthe priorities of our nationright now (implementation ofArticle 140, for example), butif something is not done toprevent the death of animals,then a few years from nowwe will realize and feel theunpleasant consequences. Onthat same note, we need togive our children an educationand spread a culture that treatsanimals with care.I am by no means requestingthat all Kurds becomevegetarian, and the likelihoodis impossible. But it is a smallrequest to spread awarenessand understanding that animalshave a right to live in peaceand lead a happy and healthylife, just as we do. Our historynot only let us suffer, but alsolead to the long-term sufferingof our animals too--mines andexplosives are also deadlythreats against wildlife.Kurdistan Organization forAnimal Rights and Protection--how proud I am that such anorganization exists--held ameeting in mid 2010 to debatea “historic event in Iraq andKurdistan,” and drafted a lawon animal rights to be passedby Parliament. When I broughtthat up at the dinner, I receivedone of those looks (you knowthe look that says “we don'tblame you for thinking thatway, you have been broughtup abroad”). I just hope ourparliamentarians don't give thesame look to the bill as I got forspeaking about it.To the animals whose livescame to an end, all I can sayis rest in peace. Be sure thata day will come where we willfight for your rights too.Poor animalsكۆمپانیایتارین نێتخرمەتگوزارییەكانی كۆمپانیای تارین نێت لەم شارو شارۆچكە خۆشەویستانە كار دەكاتحاجی ئۆمەرانرەواندز شەقاڵوە پیرمام سۆران هەولێر سەرسەنگئامێدی ئاكرێ زاخۆ دهۆك .بۆ خزمەت گوزاری ئەنتەرنێتی بێ تەلWIRELESS INTERNET0750 451 1666 - 0750 418 3060 - 066 253 7500 info@tarinnet.net