The Draft Constitution of Kurdistan Referendum Movement (KRM)

1.0 Name & Definition

The name of the Association is Kurdistan Referendum Movement [KRM] (hereinafter referred to as the Association). It is a peaceful, non-violent, democratic movement of the people of Kurdistan for self-determination.

2.0 Mission:

To achieve right of self-determination for the people of South Kurdistan through referendum or other internationally-recognised legal peaceful democratic means.

3.0 Principles

3.1 KRM is a broad democratic non-partisan non-religious association of networks of groups and individuals who campaign for Kurdistan's self-determination

3.2 It aims to represent the popular movement of Kurdistani people in South Kurdistan for self-determination

3.3 The Association is based on stressing the right of every Kurdish individual to have a voice in determining the future of South Kurdistan

3.4 The strategy of the association focuses around educating and empowering every individual in South Kurdistan as well as Kurdistani people in Diaspora to effectively campaign for and participate in all local, national and international decision-making processes which affect the current de facto independent status of South Kurdistan and the future of Kurdistani people.

3.5 The Association's methodology is based on ensuring the right of self-determination through the legal international mechanism of referendum to give the Kurdistani people the opportunity for self-determination.

3.6 The Association works to promote and co-ordinate opinions, initiatives, organisations and institutions that struggle for and/or contribute to the achievement of right of self-determination.

3.7 The Association considers struggle for free expression, real democracy, social justice and civil society in South Kurdistan as an essential part of the struggle of South Kurdistani people for self-determination.

3.8 Considering the right of self-determination as inalienable right of nations and individuals, KRM will consider any decision, agreement, constitution and any other administrative arrangement affecting South Kurdistan illegal and illegitimate unless the South Kurdistani people will have voted on it in a general UN-sponsored referendum.

3.9 In all its activities and international contacts, KRM will present moral, legal, humanitarian, historical, geographical and ethnic grounds for self-determination for South Kurdistani people.

3.10 The final goal of the Association is attainment of self-determination through referendum or other peaceful legal democratic means and the Association will continue its campaign and activities until this goal is achieved.

3.11 KRM is a movement and not a party. It will not work for assuming power or forming a government. Its sole aim is to enable people to work for their own self-determination.

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4.0 VALUES

4.1 Democracy: Democracy's essence is the ability of people to peacefully change their government through elections. This basic understanding of democracy by people is vital for their ability to participate in decisions affecting their lives and destiny.

4.2 Equal opportunities: Equal opportunities for education, employment, enterprise, property ownership, free expression and political participation for all individuals are vital for establishing a healthy civil society. We believe that a system based on tribal patronage and personal power contradicts ad undermines civil society and democratic principles.

4.3 Dialogue and free expression: KRM believes in freedom of expression in absolute terms. We believe in diversity of ideas, opinions and approaches. Dialogue, debate, peaceful competition, and rejecting violence and extremism, are the means that should prevail in society to solve problems and differences.

4.4 Respect for individual roles and initiatives: We respect the dignity of every individual and recognise the potential of every individual to become leaders and creators. We strive to ensure that all individuals from all strata of Kurdistani society have voices and conscious roles as creators in society and contributors to political processes.

4.5 Role of women: Women are the essence of social sustainability and political and economic progress. KRM will ensure that women will play a leading role in the movement.

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5.0 OBJECTIVES

4.1 To empower every Kurdisatni to have a voice in deciding their future
through setting up referendum committees in Kurdistan and
among Kurdistani people in Diaspora.

4.2 The advancement of the education, awareness and training of Kurdish people to empower their participation in community leadership, political dialogue, democratic elections and decision making processes.

4.3 To work for ensuring the right of free expression for Kurdish masses and individuals everywhere and to establish free non-partisan media including an independent satellite TV channel in Europe.

4.4 To present, promote, organise, provide, manage and produce, dramatic and literary improvisations, films, broadcasts, concerts, musical pieces, entertainment's, newspapers, magazines, books, exhibitions, tutorials, seminars, courses and workshops, whether on any premises of the association or elsewhere.

4.5 To work with international human rights organisations, democratic organisations, peace movements, international NGOs, conscientious individuals, liberal thinkers, etc to promote the Referendum Movement, the Kurdish question and the right of Kurdish people to self-determination through peaceful and democratic means.

4.6 To promote the Referendum Movement, the Kurdish question and the right of Kurdish people to self-determination by approaching the UN and its various agencies, world parliaments, civil society institutions, world media, and world public opinion through whatever available and possible legal means.

4.7 To organise world-wide Kurdistani campaigns to defend the human rights, democratic rights and right of Kurdistani people to self-determination in any part of Kurdistan.

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6.00 STRUCTURE

6.1 Philosophy: The structure of KRM is simple and reflects its simple philosophy which is: a. The people of Kurdistan have inalienable right to self-determination. B. The people of Kurdistan are made up of individual Kurdistanis C. Therefore every Kurdistani individual should have a voice in deciding the future of Kurdistan 4. Referendum movement is the forum, the network and the association which will enable every Kurd to have a voice, and it will co-ordinate their voices and resources and will lead campaign of self-determination until it will achieve its aims.

6.2 Decentralisation: The structure of KRM will be an extremely decentralised structure as follows:

1. Every two Kurds and more in any part of the world can form
a referendum committee as long as they believe in the aims, independence and philosophy of KRM.
2. In large cities (in Kurdistan and abroad) as many referendum committees as individuals want and initiate can be formed.
3. Each referendum committee will coordinate and network with other committees through an elected representative irrespective of the numerical size of the committees.
4. The representatives of referendum committees in any village, town and city (in Kurdistan) and any country (abroad) will form Higher Referendum Committee (HRC) in that country.
5. HRCs will coordinate and network with other HRCs in the world through an elected representative.
6. The elected representatives of HRCs will also play the role of the co-ordinator of HRC in that city or country.
7. HRCs will also elect a spokesperson who can be the elected representative or another person.
8. The ordinary members of all Referendum Committees in any village, town, city or any country (abroad) will become the General Referendum Council (GRC) in that village, town, city and country.
9. Higher Referendum Committees will be responsible to their General Referendum Councils.
10. The elected representatives of HRCs will form the International General Council of KRM. (IGC-KRM]
11. The International General Council of KRM will elect two spokespersons in Kurdistan and two international spokespersons: one in Europe and one in North America.
12. The RCs and HRCs are expected to discriminate positively to allow a very active and substantial role for women and young people.

6.3 Centarlisation and Co-ordination of decisions and activities

1. Effective communication and co-ordination will be conducted by representatives of HRCs through telephone, email, Paltalk and video conferencing meetings and conferences.
2. Any RC or HRC can suggest an idea, proposal or plan of action and submit it to other HRCs.
3. The KRM will have a centre in South Kurdistan, a Centre in London, a Centre in North America, a Centre in Scandinavian Countries and a Centre in Russia and/or Eastern Europe. New Centres can be set up as necessary.
4. All suggestions and action plans submitted by HRCs should be submitted to these centres.
5. Each Centre will identify a person for co-ordination who will also be its spokesperson.
6. At the first stage of KRM only independent people who are not affiliated to political parties can be members of the RCs and HRCs.

7. Elected representatives are expected to be able, active, honest, intellectual people who can play an effective role in representing and promoting KRM's aims, independence and philosophy.

8. Any political party, cultural and community organisation, community centre and network that believes in KRM's aims, independence and philosophy, can affiliate to KRM and identify a representative to co-ordinate with KRM's centres.

9. Representatives of affiliated political parties will be consulted and invited to all KRM's forums and activities.

10. HRCs in any country in the world will work to set up legal advisory committees (from foreign international experts) and parliamentary committees to support KRM's campaigns and Kurdistan's self-determination.

11. The priority of KRM is to organise national (Kurdistani) and world- wide peaceful campaigns and programmes to promote self-determination for Kurdistani people. Any issue that will negatively affect this principal aim will not be discussed at committee meetings.

12. Introduction of any religious, sectarian, regional, partisan and tribal ideas and issues to KRM is totally prohibited.

13. RCs in each country will organise annual general meetings

14. KRM Centres will work together to organise an international conference to promote self-determination in South Kurdistan as soon as possible.

15. KRM Centres will from time to time identify/elect spokespersons on behalf of KRM in Kurdistan and internationally.

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