Daily Nation, Kenya
Dec 31 2007
Turkey takes out anger on wrong victim
Story by CHEGE MBITIRU | THERE AND ABOUT
Publication Date: 12/31/2007
Authorities in Turkey are allowing paranoia to suppress reason. That
explains the country’s military incursions in northern Iraq beginning
early last month. The real problem remains at home.
The incursions aimed at fighter of the Kurdish Worker’s Party, PKK,
in mountainous northern Iraq. Turkey says the rebels provoked the
latest flare-up. That’s correct.
In early October, the rebels killed 25 Turkish soldiers in two
separate incidents near Iraqi border. They knew that in between
Turkish legislators had authorised the military to pursue them inside
Iraq.
The killings provoked anti-PKK feelings. Street protests erupted
spontaneously. From then on, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan set
the military loose or more plausible, the generals told him just do
the talking, and we’ll do the fighting. Beginning this month, Turkish
troops went after PKK targets. Hardly anyone addressed the real
issue: Turkey’s treatment of its Kurds.
Country’s actions
Mr Erdogan defended his country’s actions, claiming it acted `within
the framework of authority granted by international law.’ Had Turkey
always observed that law, PKK wouldn’t exist.
Directly concerned about the flare-up is the United States and Iraqi
government, notably Iraq’s regional Kurdish government of President
Massoud Barzani. The region turns out to be most peaceful in Iraq,
without US or any foreign troops. Turkey’s paranoia of a Kurdish
state is on overdrive.
Mr Barzani protested. The US backed Turkey and provided intelligence.
President George W. Bush reiterated to Mr Erdogan US support for war
against PKK. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had already done
that. Mr Barzani snubbed Ms Rice.
The US, the EU and Turkey consider PKK a terrorist organisation. The
PKK certainly plants bombs here and there in Turkey. However, how did
the organization get to that and what are Turkey and the US doing to
revert the march?
The Kurds have always existed in Kurdistan – mostly mountainous parts
of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nobody really
knows, but their number could be as large as 25 million. The majority
lives in Turkey. If a people ever got a raw deal after the collapse
of the Ottoman Empire, the Kurds did.
Britain and France played the major role in creating new nations,
Syria, Iraq, et al. The Treaty of Sevres in 1920, which dismantled
the Ottoman Empire, promised northern and western Kurdistan
independence. The treaty of Lausanne two years later, handed the
regions to Turkey.
The Kurds, a large ethnic minority – culture, language, etc. – has had
raw deals mostly in Turkey, Syria and Iran. Turkey tried to wipe out
their identity. Until 1991, the country didn’t allow Kurds to speak
their own language. They were Turks, got lost on the hills and forgot
identify. Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein poison gassed as many
as he could. Iran forbids Kurds to use Kurdish names.
In 1984, the Kurds in Turkey, led by Mr Abdullah Ocalan, formed the
PKK. The PKK demanded equality as citizens of the Republic of Turkey
or an independent state. Turkey now says at least 3,000 Kurdish
fighters are hunkered in the Kandil mountain range, especially where
Turkey, Iran and Iraq borders each other. However, a majority of
Kurds live in southeaster and eastern Turkey.
Eventually, it seems, somebody sold Mr Ocalan to Turkey. However, by
mid 1990s, the PKK had made its point. Ottoman Empire hangover
prevailed in Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
The Human Rights Watch reported more than 3,000 Kurdish villages had
been `virtually wiped from the map.’ Body count didn’t really matter.
Few any longer care about the Armenian Genocide, in Turkey.
In August 2005, Mr Erdogan, visiting predominantly Kurdish region in
southeast admitted the state had made mistakes in dealings with
Kurds. There’s little evidence he planned corrections. A fair deal
from Turkey would lower Kurdish temperature worldwide.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
