Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan
Programme and Internal Regulations
Adopted in the XIIIth Congress
(3-7
July 2004)
PART I
PROGRAMME
Preamble:
Characteristic of the Federal Republic of
Iran
PART II
PROGRAMME
Preamble:
1- The struggle history of the Kurdish
nation is one of the longest and bloodiest history of he world’s
oppressed people. After the war of 1514 A.D. between the two Safawid
and Ottaman empires in Chalderan, Kurdistan was practically
partitioned between these two empires, and in the year 1639 with the
signing of a treaty between King Abas Safawi and Soltan Morad Osmani,
the partition became official. The liberation struggle of Sheikh
Obidolla Nahri (1880) was the birth of Kurdish national struggle
against occupiers for an independent Kurdistan. The early years of 20th
Century witnessed a burgeoning national liberation movement where
numerous Kurdish political movements emerged across Kurdistan;
however, due to regional powers’ plans and bargain with the world
powers, each one of them failed. When the Second World War started,
the struggle of the free-willing nations against reactionism and
fascism advanced. Concurrently, a historical necessity was felt to
establish a political organization in the Iranian part of Kurdistan
that could lead liberation struggle of the Kurdish nation. With the
annexation of Iran by the allied forces and the downfall of Reza
Shah’s two decades of tyranny in Iranian Kurdistan, conditions to
carry on the struggle forward were favourable. The Kurdish leaders
took advantage of this historic opportunity and formed Democratic
Party of Kurdistan in August 16, 1945.
Thus,
the creation of Democratic Party of Kurdistan was both the product of
a historical necessity and an indication of a new awareness and
vigilance of the pioneers of the Kurdish people. Since then,
Democratic Party of Kurdistan that has gathered together the Kurdish
revolutionaries among its ranks is the guide and the organizer of
revolutionary struggle of the popular masses in Iranian Kurdistan.
The
creation of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan represents a major
change in the history of the Kurdish people, and marks the beginning
of a new phase in our nation’s struggle. It was under the leadership
of our Party that the Kurdish people for the first time in their
contemporary were able to establish a national government in a part of
Kurdistan. The Republic lasted only eleven months, and after setback
of the movement of the Iranian people, military dictatorship was once
again imposed on all Iranian Kurdistan. However, the Kurdish people
did not give up the fight, and still continued their struggle to
realize their inveterate ideas.
Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) has left behind 59 years
of difficult struggle, full of obstacles, and filled with sacrifices.
It is evident that our Party in this period has become more competent,
and has earned experiences from the Kurdish people and other nations’
struggles.
2- In
the second half of the 20th century, scientific and
technological advancements and high-speed communication networks have
altered the image of the world. Many of the tyrannical and
reactionary regimes have collapsed and have been replaced by more
transparent and democratic systems. Scores of nations have attained
their rights to self-determination, and established their own
independent state. Those regimes and systems that rely on violence
and aggression, their days are numbered. In general, the oppressed
nations and those social forces who are able to control their destiny
and advance their society, are witnessing a brighter optimism to
establish a more humane, developed and free society.
After
the demise of the former Soviet Bloc in 1991, two important issues
have gained prominency in the global dimension, and revealed their
real value: first, national issue and the necessity to accommodate
the national rights of oppressed people of the world. Even though it
had been claimed for 70 years that there was not an issue such as
national question in the socialist countries, still, when the Soviet
system was demolished, and an appropriate opportunity was brought
about for the people in these countries, we observed how these people
stepped into the centre of struggle and established their national
governments.
Second,
it was the issue of democracy. This issue that was opposed in major
parts of the world under the banner of protecting and defending
workers’ interests, finally proved its necessity in a way that
resulted in the overthrowing of many dictatorial regimes, and many
others fearing that they might fall into an uncertain destiny, opened
their gates to democracy, and adapted themselves to modern conditions.
3- The
Middle East has taken on a particular importance in international
relations, especially in the strategies of the larger states.
Geographically, it is the meeting point of the three continents of
Asia, Africa, and Europe. Economically speaking, this region is
extremely rich in mineral resources, where more than 50% of the
world’s oil reserves are concentrated.
Moreover, the presence of national liberation movements, especially
the Kurdish and Palestinian national movements that are a natural
reaction against colonial divisions of the region in the region, have
increased the importance and the value of the Middle East in the
international forces’ calculations and analysis.
All
these realities have forged the prominent powers to carefully analyse
all the developments and changes of the Middle East, and to be aware
of any events in the region, and react to them. The events of the last
20-25 years, and continued prominence and practical presence of the
military forces of foreign states, especially the United States in the
region are apparent evidence to such a reality.
After
the events of September 11, 2001, the invasion of Afghanistan by the
coalition forces led by the United States, overthrowing the regime of
fundamentalist Islamic Taliban and the rooting out of the Al-Qaeda
terror network from that country was the birth of major changes in the
Middle East. Soon after that, the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein
collapsed under the military invasion of the United States and its
allies. This event also shook the region as an earth quake. We can
state that no events after the Second World War have shaped the region
so much. Particularly, the countries of the Middle East who have
potential political, economic, ethnic and religious conflicts are
worried that political balance of the region might change, preventing
them from continuing their repressive rulings.
The
success of Iraqi people in building a free and democratic country will
influence the people of the region. The disillusioned people are
waiting for an opportunity to confront their oppressors to attain
freedom, democracy and their national rights. Currently, the national
struggle of the Kurdish nation has stepped into a decisive stage. The
political rights of Kurds in Iraq based on geographic and ethnic
federalism in the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) has been
recognized. The placement of such an arrangement will be a good model
to settle Kurdish issue in other parts of Kurdistan.
4-
During the period following the Second World War, Iran was exposed to
many economic, social and political transformations. In fact, it was
impossible for Iran to remain removed from the considerable
developments that had taking place throughout the world. However, the
changes that had been introduced in Iran were not in any way
reflective of the magnitude of natural and economic resources of our
country. Iran is still considered as an underdeveloped country;
popular masses still live under utter poverty; large portions of the
population, particularly in the countryside are still illiterate and
deprived from medical and treatment assistance.
With
the coming to power of the Islamic regime in 1979, Iran encountered
retrogression from a few directions. While our country enjoyed an
abundant natural resources, and even though it was situated within the
reign of another dictatorship, it was going to obtain a decent
position in the world community, the newly empowered clerics separated
our country from the developed world by adopting policies based on
animosity with the civilized developed world, and embarked on dragging
the country back into the Middle Ages. Iran’s economy that was about
to stand on itself, and join the circle of economic powers of the
region and the world, encountered disorder in such a way that now it
is one of the most unstable economies; for instance, the value of its
currency has deflated 12 000 percent on average relative to major
world currencies.
Suppression of freedom has become the routine policies of the Islamic
Republic authorities. None of the independent parties, organizations
and syndicates enjoys the freedom to be active. Individual and
collective freedoms have been exploited in its worst manner possible,
and any opposition voices have been responded with detainment,
imprisonment, torture, and even terror and execution. In this manner,
Iran has become a large prison camp for all freedom-loving and
freedom-thinking individuals.
5-
Economically as well as socially, Iranian Kurdistan is considered as
an underdeveloped region within an underdeveloped country. Although
Kurdistan is rich in natural and mineral resources, in many aspects it
is regarded as one of the most underdeveloped regions of Iran. Social
and economic developments, especially industrial are well below
national average. In medical and cultural aspects, there has been
little or no improvement in the livelihood of Kurdistan inhabitants.
The standards of living remains extremely low, and the farmers and
workers live in an abject poverty and misery, and the countryside is
practically without any form of health and medical services.
National oppression is noticeable in all political, economic, social
and cultural aspects: the majority of regional administrators are
appointed from Tehran, and the Kurdish people have little say in the
administration of their own affairs; despite the existance of natural
resources, no economic or industrial projects is conducted in
Kurdistan; no independent political parties, organizations or unions
are allowed to operate freely; the Kurdish children are forced to
study in Persian in their first year of school, and the right of
studying in their mother tongue has been taken away from them; thus,
Kurdistan has become a prison for the Kurdish people of Iran.
6-
Majority of these shortages and problems had existed in Iran during
the monarchical ruling. The monarchical regime in Iran had never
allowed our country to take the path of growth and development
independently. Human rights and freedom of masses had been violated,
and a deep contradiction between the rulers and the masses of Iranian
people had been created, a contrast that its remedy was only a deep
populace revolution. At the end, in 1978, the popular masses of Iran
entered the stage in an unprecedented way, and after a year of
resistance and tolerating countless victims, wound up the reign of
monarchy.
No
doubt the revolution of the peoples of Iran was one of the most
important events in the history of our country, and at the same time,
it contained many precious experiences for those fighting for freedom
and independence. The Iranian revolution demonstrated that whenever
the people of a country break the chains of servitude with sacrifices
and unity, no power can bloc their way, and they will finally overcome
all the obstacles obstructing victory.
Even
though the sombre period of the Pahlavi dynasty’s dictatorship
succeeded in uniting all the layers of society against the regime of
Mohammad Reza Shah, regrettably, the democratic and revolutionary
forces of Iran did not possess a common program that would have
enabled them to establish a government after the fall of the
monarchy. Furthermore, none of the patriotic forces in Iran were
capable of uniting the popular masses, and capture political power by
themselves; thus, a group of religious and retrograde fanatics, the
clerics, exploiting the religious feelings of the population,
appropriated for themselves the fruits of a revolution that had been
paid for by the blood and tears of the children of the people of Iran,
and imposed their domination on the whole of the country.
As a
result of such conditions the Iranian revolution remained unsuccessful
and failed to fulfil the hopes and objectives of the masses of Iranian
people. For such means, thirsting for freedom, the people of Iran
confronted the Shah’s equipped army with their bare hands, and
sacrificed thousands of their youth hoping that democratic principles
would be established all over the country; the workers who form the
majority of the country’s population and played a major role in the
victory of the revolution, would be saved from misery and the
oppressed people of Iran would be granted their legitimate national
rights under a democratic regime.
The
reactionary elements that grabbed the fruits of the struggle and the
sacrifice of the people of Iran, in contrary to the expectations of
the popular masses prevented the most sacred wishes of the people to
become realized. With the establishment of this reactionary regime,
the democratic freedoms have been even more heavily trampled than
during the monarchist epoch. The dispossessed and the toiling masses
of our country have been confronted with poverty, high cost of living
and unemployment more than ever, and the new government has not yet
taken any effective steps to solve the many problems of every day of
their life. Not only the oppressed peoples of Iran have not yet
obtained their legitimate rights, but also all their rightful claims
have been responded with fire and blood.
The
theocratic dictatorship has been not only unable to tolerate any
dissenting opinions, but it has also reacted violently against any
form of thinking different from its reactionary beliefs even if they
have not opposed the regime. In the course of the last quarter of the
century, the Islamic regime has not abandoned its barbaric treatment
of freedom activists from different segments of society.
This
dictatorship’s unpleasant image was revealed most flagrantly in
Kurdistan. Although the Kurdish population had taken on a very active
role in the Iranian revolution, and even though through their
representatives our people had tried to obtain their legitimate rights
in a peaceful way and by negotiations, the reactionary regime of the
mullahs not only rejected the rightful claims of the Kurdish people,
but it also launched its army into Kurdistan, and issued mass
murders. Moreover, Khomeini in contrary to Islamic principles
declared a holy war against the Kurdish Muslim population, and
proclaimed that it was lawful to murder the young, the old, the men
and women of Kurdistan.
It has
been more 25 years that war has been waged against the Kurdish
population. The region has been so much militarised that it has
become a large army barrack. Currently, there are thousands of
regime’s military bases in Kurdistan. In this period more than 4,000
members of PDKI and approximately 50,000 civilians have sacrificed
their lives defending their honour and freedom. However, the
revolutionary movement of the Kurdish people is more than ever
determined to fight against the oppression of the mullahs and continue
its resistance in various ways. In such a manner, the reactionary and
bloodthirsty regime of Islamic Republic has demonstrated its hostility
to the rightful claims of the people and to all the international
rules and laws, and has declared war on all the patriotic forces in
Iran.
In
order to free Iran from oppression of dictatorship, PDKI deems it
necessary to establish a federal democratic system, which will heed
the rightful claims of the peoples of Iran instead of the unpopular
and reactionary regime of the clerics.
7- To
realize a solution to the issue of nationalities within the framework
of a federal democratic system, PDKI considers the unity of the
democratic and patriotic forces of Iran as fundamental conditions.
Our Party believes that for the democratic movement in Iran not once
again find itself without a program, and its achievements become
plundered, the democratic and progressive forces of Iran must from now
on agree on a common platform for the country’s future.
To
obtain such a union, our Party also fights against the Iranian
chauvinism, which denies the existance of the Kurdish people, and
against the narrow-minded nationalism of those Kurds who make no
distinction between the central dictatorship and the peoples of Iran.
Iranian chauvinism and the narrow-mined Kurdish nationalism are both
the enemies of the union of the peoples of Iran. At the same time,
our Party believes that the danger of arrogant Iranian chauvinism to
be a major threat at present times.
It is
more than 25 years that PDKI has led the Kurdish people’s uprising
against the savage aggression of the clerical regime with competence
and skilfulness. The struggle, resistance and sacrifices of our
heroic members, supporters and sympathizers have increased the respect
and influence of our Party among the masses. PDKI currently has not
only been the most widely respected political party in Iranian
Kurdistan, but it has also gained the respect of other nationalities
of Iran, and of the progressive organizations within Iran and abroad.
PDKI
presents this Programme to the people of Kurdistan, and request from
all those who live in Kurdistan consisting of workers, farmers, urban
and rural toilers, intellectuals, students, civil servants, craftsmen,
traders and all patriots of every social stratum to strive for the
realization of its objectives. Party members and sympathizers are to
circulate the Programme among the Kurdish masses and expound the Party
views on political, social, economic and cultural issues. It is
necessary that the peoples of other regions in Iran become informed of
the Kurdish and our Party’s essential claims.
PDKI is
the main political force in Iranian Kurdistan that has the support of
the majority of the Kurdish population; therefore, we must do all we
can to mobilize the considerable forces of our people to carry out
objectives that have been put into our Party’s Programme. In such a
case the Party will become a powerful material force, and will be able
to fulfil the legitimate rights of the Kurds in Iran within the
framework of a democratic federal Iran.
PDKI
has documented its objectives in this Programme. It will be up to the
future autonomous regional government within a democratic Iran to
achieve these goals.
1- PDKI
is the pioneer party of the people of Iranian Kurdistan, and together
with the progressive forces all over Iran struggles to safeguard
Iran’s independence, and establish a democratic regime in Iran to
obtain the rights of the Kurdish people in Iranian Kurdistan to
self-determination.
2- The
long-term objective of PDKI is to establish a democratic socialist
society.
3- The
strategic motto of PDKI is the establishment of a democratic federal
Iran and the attainment of Kurdish national rights in Iranian
Kurdistan.
4- PDKI
considers the oppressed nationalities of Iran as its strategic allies,
and supports their national struggle to attain their national rights.
5-
Support for the national-democratic struggle of Kurdish people in
other parts of Kurdistan is the leading principle of PDKI.
6- PDKI
supports the liberation struggle of all the people of the world, and
supports peace and friendship of the people in all the countries.
7-
Kurdistan is one of the regional governments of democratic federal
Iran.
8- The
regional government comprises of the whole territory of Iranian
Kurdistan. The geographical dimension of the regional government of
Kurdistan will be defined by taking into account the geographic and
economic factors, and the demand of the majority of the people living
in every region inhabited by Kurds.
9- In
the autonomous region of Kurdistan, the power in its totality is
derived from the people, and will be exercised through their
representatives at the Kurdish parliament and the regional
governmental bodies.
10-
Affairs concerning international relations (political and economic),
national defence (the army), long-term economic planning and the
monetary system will be the prerogatives of the Federal government.
Aside from the mentioned cases, the legitimacy of administrating the
governmental institutions in Kurdistan is under the supervision of the
Kurdistan Regional Government. The people of the autonomous region of
Kurdistan and their compatriots throughout Iran will take part legally
and without any discrimination in the administration of the country’s
affairs.
11-
Kurdistan Region has its own national anthem, flag and festivities.
In Kurdistan region, the flag of federal Iran will be flying along
side the Kurdistan flag.
12-
Federal Supreme Court will be formed equally of all the experts of all
the nations of Iran. It will review all the legal conflicts between
the federal government and the regional governments.
13- The
Parliament of Kurdistan is the highest legislative authority in the
autonomous region of Kurdistan. The representatives are elected by
direct suffrage, secret ballot and equal vote.
14- The
Parliament of Kurdistan designates the KRG, which will be answerable
to the Parliament of Kurdistan.
15-
Internal order and security are in the hands of the Peshmergas and
other law enforcing institutions in the autonomous region. The army
is responsible to defend the country’s sovereignty and national
borders, and does not have the right to interfere in maintaining
internal security and internal law enforcing affairs.
16- The
Kurdish language is the official language of education and
correspondence within internal administration in the autonomous region
of Kurdistan. Persian language will also be the official language of
the region, as well as other regions of Iran, and will be taught in
schools along with Kurdish.
17- The
administrative correspondence between the autonomous region of
Kurdistan and the federal government, and other regional
administrations related to the federal government will take place in
the Persian language.
18- All
the non-Kurdish inhabitants of the autonomous region of Kurdistan will
be provided with resources to promote their own culture, and study in
their own language.
19- All the rights and freedoms defined in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the conventions related
to the Declaration regarding freedom of thought and expression,
freedom of the press, freedom of association political and other
organizational activities, workers and farmers unions and councils,
democratic associations, freedom to choose one’s occupations and
residence, and finally freedom of religion will be guaranteed in the
autonomous Kurdistan as in the other regions of Iran.
All the inhabitants of Kurdistan region have equal social,
economic, political and cultural rights without any discrimination
based on sex, race, ethnicity and religion.
20- Religion is separate from the state.
21- Men and women have equal rights within the family and
society, and receive equal pay for equal work.
The KRG
must provide the female workers and employees with maternity leave
with pay for the period before and after accouchement.
22- KRG will pay special attention to the nurturing and
fostering of children.
23- The KRG is responsible for providing economic
development basis through scientific planning in the autonomous
region. The distribution of resources by the Federal government
will be arranged in a way that the income per capita of the
inhabitants of the autonomous region of Kurdistan is more considering
its present state of under-development, in order to compensate the
effects of under-development resulting from national oppression.
24- Kurdistan and all of Iran’s main path to economic
development is possible through industrialization of the country
through scientific and technological attainments on one hand, and the
needs and natural capabilities of the country on the other.
Introducing fundmental economic and social changes that are necessary
for industrialization should be one of the most fundamental
responsibilities of the federal government and the KRG.
25- The KRG must use public economic sector, which is
considered as the main segment for development, to establish developed
industries in Kurdistan, and also supports local and national
industries. Aside from the public sector, the cooperative and private
sectors should also participate in the industrialization of the
country.
26- All the mineral resources, including waters, forests and
pastures of Kurdistan that are considered as public riches, will be
nationalized, and the KRG with the cooperation of the federal
government will use these resources to the best interests of all the
people of Iran.
27- Increasing agricultural production via mechanizing the
industry and utilizing scientific methods in agriculture, planning,
conducting irrigation programs and the construction of dams comprise
major segments of economic policies of the KRG.
28- The KRG should work for the development of domestic
trade, and encourage commercial and professional activities in
Kurdistan.
29- Raising the standards of living of the people of
Kurdistan should be the underlying economic policy of the KRG. The KRG
should use all the forces and capabilities at its disposal to provide
the Kurdistan inhabitants with a livelihood suitable with the current
century.
30- The principle of 40 hours of work a week will be applied
everywhere. Workers subjected to hard physical labour must work fewer
hours. Minimum wages will be determined taking into account the costs
of living, and will increase with the raise in the standards of
living. Workers are insured against industrial injuries, sicknesses,
disability and old-age. The employment of youngsters below the age of
15 is prohibited. Adequate social and economic conditions should be
created to reduce unemployment and eventually to eradicate it.
31- There still exists injustice in agricultural land
ownership; therefore, it is necessary to introduce important changes
into the existing agricultural ownership to the benefit of toiling
villagers who own no land.
32- The KRG must help farmers to attain modern agricultural
equipments. Also the KRG must purchase their products at appropriate
prices, and grant them long-term loans with low rate of interest.
Farmers will gradually be insured first against work symptoms and
accidents, and then disability and old-age.
33- The KRG must pay great attention to the issues of
education and training, and provides all necessary training,
educational and safe recreational facilities for the youth.
34- The KRG should pay special attention to the issue of
livestock, and grants the breeders the most favourable grazing
conditions, and acquaints them with modern, scientific breeding
methods.
35- The protection of the environment, natural resources,
lakes, forests, and protection of wild species such as birds and water
creatures should be among the major tasks of the KRG; therefore,
unregulated and excessive haunting will be prevented. In addition,
choosing types and locations of new industries such as building roads
and rail roads must take place along with protecting the environment
and their compatibility with nature,
36- The
KRG must place tourism as its top priority, and protect the historical
monuments and relics of the past.
37- All
the children in Kurdistan, boys and girls must attend school until
fifteen years old. The KRG should endeavour to eradicate illiteracy
as quickly as possible. In the autonomous region the government takes
care of educational fees for primary studies, and at other levels,
education will be free of charge. The KRG should also take care of
educational expenses for the children of workers, farmers and other
low-income social categories in all educational centres, and it should
also take care of university fees for gifted and advanced students of
low-income families.
38- The
KRG will be committed to develop and increase the cultural level of
the population and to create cultural, scientific and sport
foundations, such as cinemas, national theatres, sport centres,
universities and higher educational centres, and it will do all it can
to collect and preserve the cultural heritage of the Kurdish nation.
39-
Paying attention to the development of Kurdish language and
literature, and supporting Kurdish writers, artists and scientists
should be one of the basic tenets of the autonomous Government’s
cultural policy.
40- The
KRG should pursue a policy that will encourage experts and
intellectuals to serve their country with fervour and dedication.
41- The
KRG should strive to improve sanitary conditions for all citizens, and
creates conditions to afford every citizen free medical and health
services. The KRG will take necessary actions for the creation of
convalescent homes, day nurseries, maternity homes, and forborne and
will establish specialized institutions for the protection of the
disabled and the solitary elderly people.
Characteristic of the Federal Republic of Iran
42-All the nations of Iran without any
discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity and gender will
participate in the forming of the Federal Republic of Iran, and this
must be entrenched in the constitution of the Federal Republic.
43-The Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Iran must be drawn up in accordance with the international
standards of human rights and other international covenants, where the
national rights of Iranian nationalities will be recognized within
their geographic and ethnic borders.
44- The Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Iran must grant jurisdiction to the regional
administrations over the areas of their concern.
45- The federal Republic of Iran will not
join any pact that advocates aggression against other countries.
Regarding foreign policy, which comes under the authority of the
Federal government, PDKI asserts that:
46- The Federal government of Iran should establish
relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect and the
recognition of national sovereignty right, and establish friendly
relations with progressive and democratic countries that respect human
rights.
47- The
Federal government of Iran should defend international peace and
peaceful coexistence among the states within the United Nations and
elsewhere, and support the resolving of international conflicts
peacefully and by negotiations unless the international community
deems it necessary to pursue other options.
48- The federal
government of Iran
should become an axiom for assisting the struggle of oppressed
nationalities of the world, particularly those in the Middle East, and
it should grant political asylum to the freedom-loving patriots.
Within the framework of such policy acknowledged and endorsed by the
Federal government, the KRG will support every means of liberation
struggle of neighbouring countries, and will grant political asylum to
any Kurdish patriot who seeks asylum.
PART II
Article I: Name and Identity of the Party
1- The
Party’s name is: “Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan” (PDKI).
2- PDKI
is the progressive Party of the people of Iranian Kurdistan that
particularly absorbs workers, farmers, and progressive intellectuals
into its ranks.
Article II: Party Membership
All
citizens residing in Iranian Kurdistan and all the Iranian Kurds have
the right to become members of PDKI on the following conditions:
-
Not to be less than eighteen years old.
-
To accept the Party’s Programme and
Internal Regulation.
-
To be a patriotic and progressive citizen
of certified good character.
N.B.:
None-Iranian Kurds are entitled to join organizations and associations
affiliated with PDKI, and if they reside in Iranian Kurdistan for more
than 5 years they become eligible for membership.
Article III: Terms of Admission
For one
to be granted membership, one must:
-
Be sponsored by two Party members.
-
Go through a probationary period of at
least six months.
-
Not to be member of another party or any
other political organization.
-
Be accepted with the approval of the
majority of the members of a cell or a higher organ of the Party.
N.B.:
Members
who have obtained residency abroad, and are recognized as official
citizen of that country, can become members of organizations of their
residing country.
Article IV: Duties of a Party Member
A Party
member is obligated to:
-
Work for the realization of the Party’s
objectives as set forth in its Programme.
-
Strive for the preservation of the
Party’s political and organizational unity with all capabilities.
-
Obey Party disciplines as defined in
Internal Regulations.
-
Be active in one of the Party organs.
-
Maintain Party confidentialities.
-
Strive to widen her/his level of
political and social knowledge and awareness.
-
Distribute Party policies among popular
masses, and strengthen the Party’s relations with the people, and
apply their ideas and experiences.
-
Pay membership fee.
N.B.:
Individuals who are not in a position to perform the full duties of a
member, but have organizational ties with the Party and support its
policies are called “sympathizers”.
Article V: Rights of a Party Member
A Party
member has the right to:
-
Be admitted to each organs of the Party.
-
Criticize any member or organ during
Party meetings.
-
Express viewpoints, ask questions or
submit proposals to any Party organ via organizational method.
-
Lodge complaints against any organ to a
higher authority.
-
Be present at any meetings of her/his
organ that analyses her/his political and Party activeness, and
decides about her/him.
Article VI: Punishment of a Member
Members
who do not perform their duties or behave in a manner contrary to the
Internal Party Regulations or commit acts harmful to the Party’s
reputation will be punished according to the degree of the offence.
Punishments consist of:
-
Verbal reprimand
-
Written reprimand
-
Withdrawal of responsibility
-
Suspension of membership
N.B.:
1- The
longest suspensions period is one year. The suspended member will be
deprived of her/his rights as set forth in Article V for the period of
the suspension; therefore, after the end of the suspension period,
she/he can be given responsibility according to her/his Party record
and the opinion of the concerned organ.
2-
Party punishments will be imposed with the agreement of the majority
of the members of the Party organ to which the member belongs.
3- The
objectives of the punishment is to discipline the member, and will be
imposed only when other means such as criticism and advice are not
effective in her/his behaviours.
4- An
expelled member has the right to appeal to a higher Party authority or
can also send her/his appeal to the Congress.
5- A
suspended member retains only her/his membership not organizational
status after finishing the suspension period.
Article VII: The Organizational Structure of the Party
1- The
fundamental organizational structure of the Party will be guided by:
-
From top to bottom in the hierarchy all
Party bodies are elected.
-
All the Party organs regularly submit
reports of their activities to their respective electorates and to the
higher organs.
-
Member is subject to the organization,
and minority follows majority of members.
-
Party disciplines apply to all the Party
members equally without any discrimination.
-
A lower level organ must carry out the
decisions of a higher organ.
-
From top to bottom in the hierarchy,
decisions are taken collectively. Self-centredness and egotism is
condemned in the Party.
Article VIII: Party Congress
1- The
Congress is the most supreme organ of the Party.
2- The
Congress convenes every four years. It comprises of main members,
alternate and advisory members of the Central Committee, and the
delegates of other Party members according to the proportion that the
Central Committee determines.
3-
Extraordinary Congress will be held provided the Central Committee or
two thirds of the full time personnel of the Party requests it.
The
duties and the powers of the Congress are as follow:
-
Discussing the Central Committee’s
report, and make decisions about it.
-
Determining the Party’s general,
political, strategic and tactical policies.
-
Ratification of the Party’s Programme and
Internal Regulation, and its amendment if necessary.
-
Electing main and alternate members of
the Central Committee.
N.B.:
1- The
Central Committee has the authority to invite Party members with
voting rights to the Congress up to a maximum of one-third of its main
members. Such an action must take place before conducting
conferences, and these invited members loose the right to vote in the
conferences.
2- Any
candidate running for election as main or alternate member of the
Central Committee must have served in the Party for the period of at
least three years.
Article IX: Party Conference
1- The
Party’s Conference convenes in a case when:
-
It is not possible to convene the
Congress.
-
Issues have emerged that the Central
Committee is unable to solve.
-
In these cases the Conference will have
the same legitimacy as the Congress.
2- The
Conference comprises of the main and alternate members and the
advisors to the Central Committee, delegates of the district and
regional committees as well as delegates of the commissions and
committees associated with the Political Bureau.
3- The
number of delegates of such committees and commissions will be
determined by the Central Committee, but the number of elected
delegates must exceed the total number of regular and alternate
members and advisors in all cases.
Article X: Central Committee
1- The
Central Committee is the highest authority during the period between
the two Congresses, and conducts the Party affairs.
2- The
responsibilities and the prerogatives of the Central Committee are as
follow:
-
Implements the decisions of the Congress.
-
Is responsible for the establishment of
Party relations with other parties and organizations.
-
Elects the Political Bureau, and the
secretary-general, all of whom are accountable directly to the Central
Committee.
-
Determines membership fees, and is
responsible for the Party’s finances.
-
Regulates and approves the Internal
Regulation concerning the Central Committee and coordination between
committees affiliated to itself.
-
Convenes cessions at least three times a
year. The alternate and advisory members of the Central Committee
participate in the meetings of the Central Committee with consultive
vote.
N.B.:
1- If
necessary, the Central Committee can choose advisors among Party
members maximum up to half of its main members.
2- The
Central Committee meetings can have a quorum with the participation of
two-third of its main members, and the adopted decisions can be
certified with the approval of more than half of the main members
present at the meeting.
3- No
one can be elected to the office of Secretary-general for more than
two consecutive terms.
Article XI: Political Bureau
1-
During the period between the two meetings of the Central Committee,
the Political Bureau takes over the Central Committee’s duties and is
responsible for the implementation of its resolutions.
2- The
Political Bureau convenes based on necessity and submits reports on
its activities to the Central Committee.
Article XII: Organizational Structure of the Party
1- The
basis of Party organization is cell. The number of members of a cell
should not be less than three.
2- The
Party’s organization is led by the village committee for the village,
the district committee for the district, the regional committee for
the region, the town committee for the town, and the provincial
committee for the province.
3- It
is the responsibility of the cell, village, district, regional, town,
and provincial committees to advertise the Party policies among the
masses, and to implement the Central Committee’s resolutions and to
administer the Party’s affairs.
4- The
Committee of each organ will be elected by the organ’s members or
their representatives.
5- The
highest authority of each organ is the organ’s Conference, which must
be held at least once every two years, comprised of the delegates of
all the Party members of the concerned organ.
N.B.:
Under
certain circumstances, the Central Committee can adopt other
appropriate methods for the Party structures.
Article XIII: Party Income
The
Party’s incomes consist of:
-
Membership fees
-
Income of Party institutions and centres
-
Contributions of Party members,
sympathizers and friends.
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