Federalism
in the Platform of Iran's Futurist Party
Sam Ghandchi
Persian Text
متن فارسی
Recently there was a comment in
the site of IranGlobal inquiring about my position on federalism in Iran. I hope
this note can clarify the issue.
1. I discussed federalism in
Iran for the first time in my book entitled "Kurds & Formation of Central Government
in Iran" (1).
2. I clearly talked about
federalism in Iran in my suggested "Iran's Futurist Party Platform" in Sept 2004
(2).
3. I my writings all these years
I have never wholly opposed federalism in Iran. I have specifically written that I
support provincial federalism in Iran (3).
4. But three and a half years
ago in August 2009 in my article entitled "Ethnic Federalism a Reactionary Plan
for Iran's Future" I wrote: Forces and individuals belonging to
the prodemocracy movement of Iran that are not agents of foreign powers should
separate their way from these ethnicist
groups and should clearly state that they are after democratization of
Iran. Using the models of provincial federalism in existing country of Iran is
not for breaking up of Iran, but is to grow democracy in Iran, and that is all.
Even if the model of provincial federalism becomes something for separatists to
misuse, I personally am ready to remove federalism from my suggested political
platform altogether, instead of allowing it to give rise to a civil war in Iran.
The leaders of these ethnicists have heard all these several times but again
they translate federalism to ethnic federalism. I do not want to have any part
in such federalism and if that is what they are looking for, one should vote
negative to any proposal for federalism in any founding parliament in any future
state for Iran. I personally and specifically until these groups have not been
dissolved, or until the majority of supporters of federalism have not distanced
themselves from ethnic federalism, will not support the position of federal
republic for Iran. Repeating again, the issue for Iran, is not country-making
(nation-making), to allow the merging of the four provinces of Kurdistan to
create a new Kurdistan, so that it can become part of the Greater Kurdistan
schemes of PKK later. No we will resist any such schemes that are the start of
Iran's breakup (4).
5. After writing the above I did not use the word federal at
the end of my articles to describe my ideal republic for Iran anymore. But in
the new edition of my article entitled "Illusions about Opposition Abroad" which
was recently published in IranGlobal site, the word federal at the end of that
article exists (5). That article was first written in September of 2008 and its
subject had nothing to do with federalism and the wording at the end of the
article belongs to the time before these discussions.
6. I have opposed the organization referred to as "IranFederal.org"
from its inception because it sees the subject of federalism in Iran from an
ethnic perspective and not as a way to administer the country regardless of
ethnicity. Also in my opinion the separatists should not be called
independence-seekers because these forces in Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Khouzestan
and Baluchestan of Iran are dependent on foreign countries and if it were not for the
foreign assistance basically they would not even be talked about because they
have no base among the Iranian people (6). I have always condemned separatism in
Iran and have fully explained
my reasons (7).
7. I have explained my views of federalism and national
question in Iran in my last writing about the topic entitled "A Note
about the Controversial Kurdistan Autonomy Plan" which was
published in October 2012 (8).
Hoping for a democratic and
secular futurist
republic in Iran,
Sam Ghandchi,
Editor/Publisher
IRANSCOPE
March 10,
2013
Footnotes:
1. Kurds
& Formation of Central Government in Iran
2.
Futurist Party Platform
http://www.ghandchi.com/348-HezbeAyandehnegarEng.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/348-HezbeAyandehnegarEng.htm
3.Provincial Federalism and Democratization of Power Structure
http://www.ghandchi.com/535-FederalismeOstani.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/535-FederalismeOstani.htm
4.
Ethnic Federalism a Reactionary Plan for Iran's Future
http://www.ghandchi.com/555-FederalismeGhomiEng.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/555-FederalismeGhomiEng.htm
5.
Illusions about Opposition Abroad
http://www.ghandchi.com/534-OppositionAbroad.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/534-OppositionAbroad.htm
6. Stop US
Support of Iran's Separatists
http://www.ghandchi.com/752-iran-separatists-us-eng.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/752-iran-separatists-us-eng.htm
8.
A Note about the Controversial Kurdistan Autonomy Plan
http://www.ghandchi.com/723-kurdistan-autonomy-eng.htm
http://www.ghandchi.com/723-kurdistan-autonomy-eng.htm
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