Residents of Binarê Qendîl region and co-chairs of the region’s municipality shared their views on South Kurdistan's referendum.

Mihemed Ibrahim: "The agenda of the Kurdistan region has been all about the national congress. We, the people of South Kurdistan, favor independence for all four parts Kurdistan's as a whole. And that Kurdistan will be one voice. 

(…) Because of the bombardments and shelling of the Turkish state we have became refugees. Our homes have been burnt down and the people are going through a terrible crisis. We call on all parties and organisations of Kurdistan to take a firm stance against this.”

Mihemed Idris Ebdulla: "For about 5 - 6 months they talk constantly about the referendum and now the referendum took place. But the Regional Government has not yet made a statement to the people. The people's life was better before the referendum. Now the borders have been closed, the economy has come to a halt. I call on all organisations, parties and the Kurdish people to be of one voice and take one stance to make an independent country a reality. If we form our unity, it will be a blunt answer to all the aggressors."

Osman Mihemed Emin: "In my view, the national congress should be held before the referendum. It’s because the national congress was far more vital than the referendum for Kurdish people. But the referendum took place and people voted "yes".

The motto of the referendum was that Kurdish unity will be formed (…) It important that all our leading figures would come together under a national congress. (…) Shortly before the referendum, we were hit with airstrikes. It is more than clear that neither Turkey, nor Iran and nor Iraq will ever become friends. These attacks were always there and they always will be.  Kurdish people have already been through the genocidal Anfal campaign, faced poison gas attacks, has seen starvation, massacres and been sent into exile. (…)

Attacks by the Turkish state existed also in the past, and continued after the referendum as well. Turkish soldiers are present in the Behdinan, Mergêsor regions and the surrounding area, and they have countless military outposts there. We demand that those Turkish soldiers leave those places. But there are some local parties that support them. We must not remain silent against them."

OUR PEOPLE HAVE SHED THEIR BLOOD FOR THEIR GOALS

Co-chair of the Qandil region Mamoste Mihemed Hesen: "In the past 3 years South Kurdistan stood against the attacks of the ISIS gangs. South Kurdistan stood its grounds against the enemies, especially against ISIS. We see that ISIS is living its final days and the South Kurdistan Regional Government is ruling for 26 years and the system can no longer sustain itself in this manner. Because of that, there is a political and economic crisis. And at such a time the referendum was put on the agenda. Independence is undoubtedly the right of all nations. Especially in a country like Kurdistan, that has been divided into four parts. The South Kurdistan Regional Government has undeniably raised this topic and used the referendum as a means to have its reign continue. Preparations are needed for any serious referendum, but as we can see that no preparations whatsoever have been arranged in South Kurdistan. The institutions in South Kurdistan did not stand behind the referendum with one voice. And all other states opposed the referendum to the utmost. Yet the Regional Government carried out the referendum despite all. Our people have shed their own blood for their goal, mounted a struggle but the Regional Government is setting its eyes still on prolonging its rule. For that reason, they are not able to solve the crisis that has gripped South Kurdistan and the crisis is thus deteriorating day by day."

STATES DO NOT GIVE RIGHTS, RIGHTS ARE FOUGHT FOR

"Also we want that the Kurdish people become independent and free like all other nations in this world. But in the first place, we need to be aware of the fact that rights are not given by any state, but we need to get our rights by ourselves. This is the exact reason why they are attacking us that ferociously. The only solution for the Kurdish people is to become a unified force that is able to defend itself from outside attacks. The national unity is a matter that should have come before the referendum issue, as unity should be the priority.

In Sulaymaniyah a massive rally was organized for the unity of the Kurdish nation and people from all for parts of Kurdistan attended it. It was essential to enter a new phase and initiate conferences. The national congress should have taken place first.

Our enemies are constantly busy to plan our annihilation. The occupying Turkish state perpetrated a massacre in Zergele and shortly before the referendum took place they committed another massacre on the civilian population in Seladize, in which 10 of our villagers have been martyred. The stance of the regional government regarding those massacres is shameful indeed. It is a government that advertises independence and keeps silent on the enemies that commit massacres against defenceless and innocent civilians. Every day dozens of young men and women from South Kurdistan drown in the Mediterranean. Regional Government is responsible for all of these. It’s because of them that South Kurdistan is this situation. For this reason, neither statehood nor the referendum will become a bright horizon for the future of the people."

Mamoste Belên: "Independence is the right and a necessity of all peoples and nations. Any nation has the right to demand independence. (…) This referendum took place and resulted in a 92% rate of yes votes. As there are today attacks from all sides, a political and economic crisis we need to unite to frustrate the plans of our enemies. The division between the political organisations and parties leaves a bad reflection on Kurdistan."