Tag Archives: Turkish Invasion

Withdraw without condition

As Turkey enters Iraq for “revenge”, the wider context is overlooked once more  

A chilling and coordinated attack by PKK rebels that led to the death of at least 24 Turkish soldiers and many wounded sent shockwaves throughoutTurkey.

Such was the determination for a harsh response that the Turkish army quickly launched a massive ground invasion of Kurdistan on yet another quest to defeat the rebels. “A large-scale land operation, backed by air strikes, has begun in five separate spots insideTurkeyand across the border with 22 battalions,” the military general staff said in a statement.   

Turkish president, Abdullah Gul had vowed “revenge” and a stern response under a watchful and enraged public eye. The harsh Turkish reprisal may benefit the PKK as it means a renewed straining of ties between Ankara and Erbil, places the Iraqi Kurds into a difficult corner and simultaneously diminishes the chances of a political resolution to the Kurdish problem inTurkey.

The President of the Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, strongly condemned the latest attacks while labeling the event as a “crime”. With Nechirvan Barzani already inAnkara, the common theme was to soothe Turkish tensions and reinforce brotherhood betweenTurkeyand the Kurdistan Region. However, ultimately Ankara would not be swayed from its intent to show the PKK and possibly even Erbil just who calls the shots in the region. 

Clashes between troops and rebels have intensified in the aftermath of the recent national elections inTurkey, resulting in significant aerial bombardment and shelling by Turkish forces in the border regions in recent months. However, the manner of the recent attacks, which coincided with the establishment of a committee to oversee the rewriting of the Turkish constitution, sent alarm bells ringing in Ankara and under a cloud of public anger forced the Turkish government to respond with strong measures.

The attacks by rebels resulted in the biggest military death toll since 1993 and were met with international wide condemnation.

As many political powers renewed their support for the Turkish quest to eradicate the rebels, there is a great danger that once againTurkeyand its allies are overlooking the wider context of events.

Such was the nature of the attack that none would expect Turkey remain idle but it is easy for foreign powers to look at this as an individual incident rather than with the framework that the issue deserves.

This is a deep-rooted, emotively-charged and bloody 27-year war that has cost in excess of 40,000 lives, billions of dollars, destruction of villages and caused immense mental scarring. This is the not the first attack and certainly not the last. History has clearly proved the limits of military power even for the second largest army in NATO.

As long as the Kurdish political actors in Turkey remain weak and the Kurds are deprived of real political representation, the PKK will continue to act as the default flag-bearer of the Kurds, even if it does not necessarily represent the greater will of the Kurdish population. The growing focus on PKK as the source of the Kurdish problem and the ongoing energy consumed by the government to defeat the rebels as a way to overcome the Kurdish issue places the Kurds into a difficult predicament.

The greater Kurdish population yearns for peace and not violence and is tired and frustrated from decades of political, social and economic handicaps that the ongoing conflict has caused.

Turkey has acted against the PKK and this is a natural retaliation for any government, however, it needs to urgently employ a dual approach whereby it also reassures the greater Kurdish population of the Turkish will for fraternity, to solve their age old Kurdish dilemma, that the democratic opening remains a priority and that the government does not intend to punish all Kurds for the actions of a few.

The era of violence in the pursuit of political goals has certainly diminished but Turkey must also prove that it has turned the page not just in words but also in practical steps.

The Turkish state belongs to both the Kurds and Turks and this is a fact that nothing can mask. Only true reconciliation and brotherhood can propelTurkeyto the heights it intends to achieve and mentalities and policies of the past can never exclusively disadvantage the Kurdish populated south eastern part ofTurkey.

The Kurds can be factor that fuels a new strategic strength of Turkey in Europe and Asia or it can be factor that will indefinitely blight and drag the whole of Turkeyas a “sick power”.

As emotions run dangerously high inTurkey, it is of paramount importance that the US, European and regional powers act as a blanket of comfort to both Turks and Kurds. Obliterating the Iraqi Kurdistan regional areas with a show of firepower will never achieve Turkish goals. If a military solution was such a viable reality all these years, why wouldTurkeywait until 2011 and thousands of lives later to resolve this issue?

US President Barrack Obama, whilst harshly condemning the attacks inTurkey, emphasizes that “…the Turkish people, like people everywhere, deserve to live in peace, security and dignity.” While Obama’s statement is valid, there should not be hesitation by world powers to utter the word “Kurds” in the same breath.

There should be a distinct emphasis on the equal rights of the Kurdish population to live in peace, security and within the framework of international charters. While Turkey has made a number of strides in this regard, it is by no means at the level expected for a global power that is actively seeking to expand its sphere of influence.

Turkey continues to live under fear of its significant Kurdish minority rather than embracing them as a true and integral component of the state. At the same time, the Kurds look towards Turkeywith distrust and lack of conviction.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emphasised the necessity for both Iraq and Turkeyto work together to end what he deemed as “unacceptable” cross-border attacks by Kurdish PKK rebels. Ban’s insistence that the sovereignty of both Turkey and Iraq must be respected was a welcome step. This matter is not simply about appeasing angry or nationalistic sentiments inAnkara, the matter has far greater ramifications across the region.

Within Turkey itself, the much maligned BDP found itself engrossed in the cross fire yet again. It has been subject to heavy criticism by the Turkish government which has culminated in an all time low for relations between both parties as a result of the Kurdish boycott of parliament and the subsequent unilateral declaration of democratic autonomy in the Kurdish areas.

BDP co-chairpersons Gülten Kışanak and Selahattin Demirtaş called for peace as the only solution in a written statement, “We say ‘enough’ to this war and these deaths. The painful picture today once again shows that Turkey urgently needs peace…”

In spite of calls for unity and reconciliation by the BDP, the AKP government quickly poured water on any air of sincerity or warmth generated by such overtures by once again branding the BDP and the PKK with the same brush.

The AKP, which still received a large portion of Kurdish votes, should not renege on its promise to implement its democratic opening or to focus on developing the south eastern region. The idea that there is no longer a Kurdish problem but a terrorism problem is wrong. The so-called terrorist issue comes from the Kurdish problem the Kurdish problem does not come from the terrorism issue.

One of the main reasons for the stalling of the democratic opening was the increasing nationalist resistance inTurkey. The rising hawkish voices ensure that the hands of the government become restrained and progress reverses rather than making any significant strides forward.

As Turkey answers Kurdish rebels with a strong fist, it must also show the Kurds that it will not forsake their rights, demands and voices for the sake of the appeasing only the Turkish sentiments.

More importantly, Turkey should do all it can to respect the sovereignty of the KRG and withdraw without condition.

First Published On: Kurdish Globe

Other Publication Sources: Hewler Post (Kurdish), Online Opinion, eKurd, Various Misc.

Kurds United Against Aggression – Mass Demonstrations Held Across the Unites States

Globe’s Bashdar Pusho Ismaeel Interviews Ara Alan, head of the successful Kurdish Youth Organisation in America

On 21st February 2008, Turkish forces invaded Kurdistan under the pretext of destroying PKK guerrilla bases. A flagrant breach of Iraqi and KRG sovereignty was affectively endorsed by US administration but widely condemned by a number of powers urging Turkey to show restraint.

Kurds across the world were angered and embittered by such arrogant and abrasive violation of international law. The widely condemned move was seen by Kurdistan region as Turkish ploys to undermine and destabilise the only stable and prosperous part of Iraq.

However, the Kurd have shown both in the region and in the Diaspora, that they are no longer the victims of aggression and belittlement by regional powers stuck in their imperialistic and outdated mindsets.

Ara Alan, helped organise a number of influential demonstrations across the US, in the very back yard of the US administration who seemingly were willingly to double-cross the Kurdish people once more, for the strategic gains of bowing to the Turks.

Bashdar Ismaeel: Can you give me a brief summary of the goals of the Kurdish Youth in America

Ara Alan: Our goal was to have a Kurdish opposition voice to Turkey’s unjust attack on Kurds. US tried to play both sides, the Kurds and the Turks. By keeping silence, they could keep the American people ignorant and out the situation. American people, today many favour Kurds. Having our voice heard in and out of Kurdistan can affectively pressure the US government to make the right decision which is not to allow turkey to interfere with Kurdistan.

Bashdar Ismaeel: How successful were the demonstrations scope and size in getting your voices heard by the Bush administration?

Ara Alan: We were successful. This was also the second wave of demonstrations that we held. The first wave was on November 2nd (2007). Kurdish population in US is low. So our demonstrations were based on quality and affective media campaign rather than number of people marching on the streets. We were successful on our Media campaigns.

Bashdar Ismaeel: Can you tell me briefly, what media coverage was received?

Ara Alan: We were able to receive coverage on many local and national TV, radio, Newspapers and bloggers. By having simultaneous demonstrations in, Washington DC, Nashville Tennessee, Atlanta Georgia, Jacksonville Florida, Dallas Taxes, Phoenix Arizona, San Francisco and San Diego California, we were able to multiply the affect of coverage. When we were covered by one station in one city, they would also report on all the other cities

Bashdar Ismaeel: What is the message that you want to send out to the Turkish military planning future incursions?

Ara Alan: We in one voice condemn their invasion and war onto our people. We ask the Turkish government to immediately; withdraw all their military with their bases and to put an end to the bloodshed that they have created. It should be clear to the Turkish government that Kurds are a proud nation. Suppression, imprisonment, kidnapping, Abraham Tanks, F-16s, Cobra helicopters, arterial bombing nor ground incursion and village burning can make us stop being Kurds!

Bashdar Ismaeel: How influential do you think the strong Kurdish Diaspora base cross USA and Europe can be in swaying international opinion?

Ara Alan: Very important, we nee much more attention and collaboration with Kurds inside of Kurdistan. We are the best message carriers. Many of us are citizens with many more citizen friends that can influence the vote a congressman/woman would need for an election. This potential must be capitalized by Kurdish people across USA and EU. On many occasions such as this demonstration, we very strongly need a backing from Kurdistan and Kurdish people. We ask Kurdish Youth in Kurdistan not to keep silence in face of Aggression. Brother and Sisters stand with us when we stand against aggression. Stand with us when we stand for justice, stand with us when we stand for Kurdistan.

Bashdar: Kak Ara thank you for your time, Kurdistan is thankful for the work of the Kurdish Youth movements everywhere.

First Published On: Kurdish Globe

Other Publication Sources: Kurdish Youth Organisation (KYO), Peyamner, Various Misc.