Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations

From East Timor to Sudan, referendum processes have been used as a means to address violent conflict through peaceful means. Referenda can provide a legal mechanism to secure the self-determination of a people and can bring about an end violent conflict. While each situation is unique, understanding the lessons of previous referendum efforts can help prepare governments, international bodies, and program implementers as they prepare for future referendum-related activities.

Through a network of relevant research and contacts, the Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations seeks to solve outstanding questions pertaining to the Kirkuk referendum process with the goal of not only enabling a successful vote in Kirkuk, but also creating a model for status referenda worldwide.

Featured News Articles:

 2012-03-04

Iraq Interior Ministry: Vice President may Flee Kurdistan

Multiple news outlets are reporting today that the Iraqi Interior Ministry has today asked Kurdish authorities to arrest Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi.

Hashimi, of the al-Iraqiya party, is accused of providing information and support to a Sunni militia that killed elected officials, civilians, and members of the Iraqi Army. The central government in Baghdad brought these charges against the vice president this past December at the height of a political conflict between the main Shi'a and Sunni blocs in Parliament. Since that point, Hashimi has remained in territory under control of the KRG in Northern Iraq. As CKRO reported in January, Hashimi's party requested his trial be held in Kirkuk, a move which the central government and the judiciary dismissed. Now that Baghdad is ordering the KRG to turn over Hashimi, a number of questions regarding federalism in Iraq are being debated. The precedent being developed by the KRG in handling the current arrest warrant will serve to shape the future of power-sharing between the semi-autonomous region and the central government with regard to matters of criminal law.

Georgetown's Center for Kirkuk Referendum Operations will continue to follow this story and publish developments to our News Archive as they occur.

2011-12-21

Warrant Issued for Arrest of Iraq's Vice President

In what may be Iraq's political story of the year, charges are being drawn up against Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Vice President. CNN is reporting that PM al-Maliki announced today the country's Sunni vice president is wanted for allegedly organizing a "death squad" that targeted members of the military and government officials. For his part, Hashimi is denying the charges, saying that they are politically motivated.

Hashimi leads the al-Iraqiya bloc which is dominated by Sunnis and has been mired in political combat against al-Maliki's Shi'a Dawa Party, a part of the Watani List. Hashimi, now a wanted man, has reportedly fled to territory under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government where Baghdad's law enforcement cannot reach him. The emerging imbroglio is damaging already strained relations between the main Sunni and Shi'a blocs and now threatens to draw the Kurdish parties into the political fray.

Breaking news is available via CNN, here, or in our own News Archive, available here.

 

 

2011-06-04

Kirkuk Governor: Elections and Increased Autonomy Urgent

In an interview with the Kurdish Globe, Kirkuk's Governor Najmaddin Karim has stressed the importance of carving out increased autonomy for the governorate. "It is urgent we have an election in Kirkuk to increase the powers of the governorate and the governing council," he said. The Governor also hinted that elements within the central government were trying to prevent such acts from taking place, displaying a distrust of Baghdad often held by elected officials in the semi-autonomous area.

Hallo Najat, the chief of security in Kirkuk, lamented the dipolar influences of the central government and the KRG. "We have become victims between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government." He said. Citizens of Kirkuk "have lost faith in the government in Baghdad. We want the KRG to resolve [their issues] with Baghdad as soon as possible; the sooner that happens, the better off the citizens of the city will be." He also shared other concerns with the Globe, especially dealing with the checkpoint system for the city.

The full interview and related coverage are available through the Kurdish Globe by clicking here, or in our own News Archive, available here.