Iraqi Kurds cast vote in historic referendum

ERBIL, Iraq - The Iraqi Kurds on Monday cast their votes in a referendum that will determine the independence of the Kurdish region and the disputed areas that are currently under de facto Kurdish control.

About 5.2 million eligible voters in the three northern provinces - Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk - and other areas outside the region, known as the disputed areas, were expected to cast their votes in 12,000 ballot boxes in 2,000 polling centers across the Kurdish region and the disputed areas.

The voters are to choose either "Yes" to independence Kurdish state or "No" to remain as an autonomous region forming part of Iraq.

The Iraqi government has repeatedly rejected the referendum and its results, describing it as "unconstitutional".

"Taking a decision unilaterally that would affect Iraq's unity and making separation from one side is contrary to the law and unconstitutional and we will not deal with it or with its results," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement on Sunday.

On June 7, the Kurdish regional President Masoud Barzani announced his intention to hold a referendum on the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq on Monday.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed by many countries because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and because it could undermine the fight against Islamic State extremists.

In addition, neighboring countries such as Turkey, Iran and Syria say such a step would threaten their territorial integrity, as large populations of Kurds live in those countries.

Experts also warn that the referendum would deteriorate the already complex situation in the Middle East.

"The reason behind winning such a goal is to put more pressure on Baghdad and creating future bargaining power to resolve pending files with Baghdad, including the distribution of oil wealth and disputed areas outside the region's provinces of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk," said Ibrahim al-Ameri, an Iraqi political analyst.

The Kurds will use the referendum to legitimize their hold of newly gained territories from the fight against the IS extremists.

"Knowing that the bargaining position with Baghdad and Washington is diminishing as the fight against IS group is coming to an end, the Kurds are acting fast to solidify their territorial gains before pressure will be redirected to push the Kurds out of those disputed areas," Ameri said.

The US government has also repeatedly warned the Kurds to postpone the referendum because it wants the world to center on the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria, and it believes that such move could derail or confuse the war against the extremist group.

Xinhua

(China Daily 09/26/2017 page11)