This interview conducted shortly after KRG Elections in 2018 with Mr. Hiner Hac Jesim who
is member of leader in New Generation Party, shortly after KRG Elections in 2018
MW: Could you please brief us about New Generation
party and its policies (NG)?
H.Jesim - The
current ruling party, KDP, divides the people but NG aims to reunite them. As
NG we have a fifteen-year development plan which contains a national Kurdish
army, constitutional amendment and resolve the conflict between KRG and
Baghdad. We don’t want KRG economy to be dependent to only the oil-based trade.
To reinvigorate the economy of KRG, we pledge to take steps to develop the
agriculture, tourism and the industry. These I mentioned are included in our
fifteen-year plan.
We are secular party
which is against to nationalism. I personally think that Ezidis are Kurds. Just
like other Kurds they are divided as well. And this is view of our party.
MW: Your party was only one which baldly announced to vote for NO in
KRG independency referandum. This decission led NG to be lashed out by KDP and
some other Kurdish parties. Why did you decide to vote for NO ?
H.Jesim: We are not against to independency but we are
against to referenadum. Even if we want being independent, we wouldnt do it in
same way as Barzani. First we need to ensure the economic developments. Then we
need to convince our neighbour countries,
then the international powers.
MW: Iraqi governement has taken
control of Shingal and Kirkuk recently. What is the policy will be pursue by
your party?
H.Jesim: Shingal and Kirkuk are Kurdistan. Control of these
both cities should be retaken by KRG. We
will negotiate with US and UN regarding this issue. And Hashd Al Shabi is a
reality of Iraq. We dont have an exculusive relationship with Hashd or Iran. We
are pursiying a policy based on values.
MW: What is your policy towards Rojava? Do you consider to invite YPG
to the regular Kurdish army which you mentioned?
H.Jesim: We intend to have good relations with
government of Rojava. But YPG is not part of our plan creating regular Kurdish
army.
MW:What is your point of view of presence of Turkish army (TSK) in KRG?
H.Jesim: Presence of TSK in KRG is illegal. We need good
relations with Baghdad government to end occupation in territories where TSK
presence exist. To build good
relationship with Baghdad, a constitutional regulation is a must.
MW:NG has announced to boycott the parliament after election fraud
claims. How it will be possible for you to speak on governing the KRG?
H.Jesim: The parliament matters ofcourse. But to lead a social change we dont need to take seats in
parliemant. We can organise people by social campigns, social media… And let me
make it clear that, NG didnt formally take decission to boycott parliamnet yet.
We will go to parliament if our voters ask us to do so.
MW:What is your point of view on Kurdish National Congress (KNC)’s
efforts forming a High Kurdish National Executive body?
H.Jesim: We find it very “nationalist”. Our point of view is to pursue a policy to reunite all ethnic
and religious groups in Iraq and KRG. A. Ocalan is a popular Kurdish leader and
his ideas are meriterious. But some followers of him in KRG don’t understand
his ideas I think.
MW: In previous Iraqi elections your party has and PKK created a
coalition but for this KRG election you didnt repeat this coalition. Why ?
H.Jesim: One of four NG MP in
Iraqi parliament is from PKK. To not
create same coalition with PKK is a decission taken by NG. For Iraqi elections
we find this coalition advantageous but for KRG election we didn’t need this
coalition.
MW: Do you predict a coolition between NG and GORRAN?
H.Jesim: GORRAN coulnd’t
carried out the pledges it has gave to people. They created high expectation
among people but couldn’t fullfill these expectations. In 2015,I am told by Newchirman Mistefe that “GORRAN
Project is over. “ They couldn’t renew themselves.
MW:You mentioned about a regular national Kurdish army. Why military
service is not obligatary in KRG?
H.Jesim: Hundreds of people
are salaried to be peshmerga even though they are not peshmerga. It is big
corruction, of course they wouldn’t make military service as obligatory.
