Cawid: Kurds’ status be embedded in Iranian constitution

rezan.cawidINTERVIEW, — Rezan Cawid the coordination member of PJAK (Kurdistan’s Free Life Party) said in an interview with ANF; “our party’s proposed system is democratic confederation. The make-up of this model and its compatibility with Iran’s special structure and society should be discussed and formulated accordingly.”

In regard to the future structure of the Iranian political system Mr Cawid pointed to democratic confederalism evaluating it much better than federalism in solving the current problems the Iranian people encounter.

Regarding the recognition of the rights and freedom of Kurdish people and establishing a ground for the development of democratic politics, Mr Cawid observed; “pressure and oppression on the Kurdish people should come to an end. Added to the recognition of Kurdish rights, their political status should also be ensured also.”

Pointing to the fact that the Kurdish existence and their rights are not recognised in the Iranian constitution, he continued; “Few articles on the constitution are mentioned, yet not being implemented thus far.”

This member of PJAK coordination stressed that the Iranian authorities should stop pursuing the forced assimilation of the Kurds, a policy that has been in place for the last few decades.

In this interview, Rezan Cawid proposed a decentralised system and pointing to the possibility of its openness to discussion, he stressed for the implementation of a system conducive to participation of all the Iranian people based on their national and cultural traits.

Further elaborating on this regard Cawid said; “We as the Kurds want to promote a new system in Kurdistan. Our unique system is democratic confederalism. We do not intend to destroy a government and replace it with a new one [government]. We want the society to manage and run its own affairs”.

He said that if the Iranian authority admits this system, it will experience a major leap forward. “Contrariwise, with the support of our society we will set out establishing it,” he added.

 

Geography-based system has no capability of problem solving

Pointing to the difficulties engrained in the current Iranian provincial system and the previously postulated structures with the aim of democratisation of Iran, Mr Cawid said; “This system is not capable of providing the peoples with their needs and requirements. For instance if there is one province of Kurdistan, this will neither embody all the Kurds in Iran nor manifest their existence. Additional to the Kurdish populated areas and other provinces such as Xorasan, the Kurds live in many other Iranian provinces co-existing with other Iranian peoples.”

Reinstating that the geography-based systems are not capable of providing solution to the problems of Iranian people, he maintained that the important point is that the Kurdish people are ensured of their rights and freedom.

In relation to the current situation of Iran and the goads and capabilities of the opposition groups, Rezan Cawid observed; “Without a doubt the opposition has made its appearance in Iran. All the peoples who live in Iran have naturally formed an opposition front.  The current front opposing the Iranian regime is vast. Not only has the Iranian regime not taken a single step in yielding to the national and democratic demands of the peoples, but has led the trends into a militaristic and violent direction. The state has boosted it pressure on the peoples. On the one had it strike fears in the hearts and minds of the people, on the other it make them busy by generating social and economic difficulties. Such a thing could easily be seen in certain points”.

In regard to the future of the Iranian state, and at the end of his interview, the senior member of PJAK said; “The Iranian government has probably achieved what it has wanted at certain points, but the resistance of society has persisted. Probably the Iranian society has not attained the full coherence vis-a-vis the Iranian state, but following the dilution of the state’s current policies, once again the flame of opposition and dissenting voices will burst out. This is because the society will not tolerate the persistence of the dictatorship, injustice, oppression and coercion for ever.”