Masoud Barzani’s uncompromising stand on Kurdistan’s freedom is appreciable: Hyrbyair Marri

LONDON: Baloch pro-freedom leader and head of The Free Balochistan Movement, Hyrbyair Marri, stated that despite the global pressure, the President of Kurdistans Regional Government, Masoud Barzani, and Kurdistan’s Parliament’s decision not to compromise on the independence referendum reflects the longest desire of Kurdish nation for freedom.

He said that like the Baloch nation, the world powers under their imperial policies also divided Kurdistan, and after World War 1 they dishonoured their promises leaving the free Kurdistan at the mercy of their enemies. Kurds are divided into five parts, they do not have any state. Nobody can guarantee [the future of] states like Iraq, therefore a free country [free Kurdistan] can protect Kurdish national interests.

He said that occupying powers have always used the natural resources of Kurdistan including water, oil, and gas for their own benefit, and because of these resources many states are opposed to the freedom of Kurdistan. Most of the water resources (lakes and rivers) in the Middle East are in Kurdistan, and it is from this that the Arab states and Turkey are fulfilling their needs. The independence of Kurdistan will reduce the power and hegemony of these states, and their control over the natural resources of the Kurdish people.

Hyrbyair Marri said that despite the pressures of global powers, the Kurd leaders should declare their independence after their victory in the referendum. He said perhaps during this process, independence of Kurdistan will face international opposition but the world needs the Kurds, and all those who are opposing the freedom of Kurdistan today will recognise that the independent status of Kurdistan tomorrow is for their own protection and interests.

The leader of the Free Balochistan Movement said that a secret ‘Sykes-Picot’ agreement between Britain and France is still being imposed on the people of the region, but now these powers must accept the fact that these artificial lines, which divided nations, have become obsolete.

The Sykes-Picot Agreement, the Durand Line, and the Goldsmid Line were all made under the policy of ‘divide and rule’, and are now being upheld by countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan at the cost of the blood of oppressed nations.

Hyrbyair Marri said that the collaboration of Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq against the independence of Kurdistan, shows that despite the fact that both Iran and Iraq have economic and diplomatic relations with Kurdistan’s regional government – they are opposed to Kurdistan’s Independence. This is a lesson for those Baloch political parties who still believe that a state that is occupying a part of Balochistan will support the independence of Balochistan and help the pro-freedom activists from another part of occupied Balochistan.