Thursday, 30 September 2010
Letif Serhilan
In Recent Irish times, a letter from the Turkish embassy had tried to demonstrate that Turkey is one of the most progressed democratic states in Middle East. The Turkish ambassador Altay Cengizar (September 20th) is critical of Irish Times editorial the Turkish constitutional referendum. He feels that “deep and lasting changes that have taken place in Turkey” were not given just mention. Very many of these changes have been wrought through the sacrifice and struggle of the Kurdish people and their leadership, which has been to the forefront in the drive for democracy, modernisation and social change in Turkey over the past 30 years.
I too share Mr Cengizar’s abhorrence of “anachronisms” and “worn-out clichés”, such as one flag, one language, and one nation. Kurdish is not recognised as an official language, there are no schools in the Kurdish language, nor do Kurds exist as a nation in the current Turkish state. Turkey must embrace the new Kurdish reality, recognise the ever-increasing support for the Kurdish Freedom Movement – shown again by the widespread boycott of the referendum by Kurdish voters – and begin dialogue with the true Kurdish representatives, including PKK and its leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey at this state has tried every single trick to avoid talking to Kurdish leaders. The old attitudes must change towards the Kurdish Freedom movement. Instead of going to Hewler talking to Mr Talabani, Or CIA agents in order to try to push another military operation against the PKK camps in Southern Kurdistan (Turks called it northern Iraq) what they should be doing is to go to Imrali and Ocalan: what the best way forward for both Turks and Kurds alike? How many times Turkey collaborated with Iran, other states agents in the region and they crossed over to Qendil mountains, bombed the place day in, day out? What are the results at the end? Cost Turkey billions of Euros on those bombs. Plus many innocent civilians Kurds were killed. Enough is enough, its time for peace.
Turkey's current constitution was drafted and its ratification was rammed through by the repressive military junta that came to power through a military coup on September 12, 1980. As Human Rights Watch has noted, "Numerous provisions of the current [Turkish] constitution restrict human rights and fundamental freedoms, and a new constitution must be a priority." The current 'coup constitution,' as it is widely known, also contains an ethnic definition of citizenship that defines all citizens of Turkey as ethnic Turks. This has provided a legal foundation for unjust ethnic discrimination and repression of Kurds and other non-Turkish peoples. Kurdish nation believes that a new constitution must include a civic and non-ethnic definition of citizenship that upholds the rights of all communities, including the Kurds.
For true democracy to take hold, other Turkish laws, especially the Anti-Terror Law and Law of 2006, which have been extensively criticized by international human rights organizations, must be abolished, as should the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on "insulting Turkishness". These provisions provide a legal framework for the criminalization of peaceful, non-violent dissent, and are frequently used to facilitate state repression of journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists.
Kurdish people reiterate their position that the Turkish government's refusal to support a peaceful, democratic, negotiated solution to the Kurdish issue is at the heart of the country's ongoing crisis of democracy and human rights. Turkey will not know peace as long as it refuses to recognize the basic democratic rights of its citizens. The Turkish state has refused to recognise the PKK's numerous unilateral ceasefires and proposals for a negotiated solution, and has engaged in mass arrests of Kurdish political activists even while claiming it is searching for a negotiated settlement.
Turkish government should immediately cease its military and political operations against the Kurdish political movement. The EU and US can contribute to peace efforts by ending their criminalization of the Kurdish movement and by halting arms shipments to Turkey.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
A teenage boy from Eastern Kurdistan killed by Turkish Army
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
URMIA, Eastern Kurdistan-- A youth Kurdish worker aged 14 from Sirow village in Urmia region has been fired by Turkish Army.
According to local news sources yesterday 28th September 2010 a young Kurd named Hisa Abrahimzadeh was killed by the Turkish Armed Forces around artificial Kurdistan borders in Askandri in Jolamerg region. Moreover, more than 50 horses were killed.
Every year many Kurds, who are working in artificial borders of Kurdistan just for gaining the very basic human needs, are murdered intentionally by the Iranian and Turkish Army. What is more, many of them are lost a part of their bodies as a result of land mines blasting and intentional shootings from Iran and Turkish army. It is worth saying that most the land of Kurdistan has been covered by mines.
URMIA, Eastern Kurdistan-- A youth Kurdish worker aged 14 from Sirow village in Urmia region has been fired by Turkish Army.
According to local news sources yesterday 28th September 2010 a young Kurd named Hisa Abrahimzadeh was killed by the Turkish Armed Forces around artificial Kurdistan borders in Askandri in Jolamerg region. Moreover, more than 50 horses were killed.
Every year many Kurds, who are working in artificial borders of Kurdistan just for gaining the very basic human needs, are murdered intentionally by the Iranian and Turkish Army. What is more, many of them are lost a part of their bodies as a result of land mines blasting and intentional shootings from Iran and Turkish army. It is worth saying that most the land of Kurdistan has been covered by mines.
PKK announces a new non-action period
Head of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation Murat Karayilan stated that they have extended the unilateral ceasefire declared on 13 August for another month. “The ceasefire will be reviewed in a month time and if reassuring steps and efforts come during this month we may turn the temporary ceasefire into indefinite” added Karayilan.
Karayilan declared the extension of the ceasefire in a press conference held in Medya Defence Territories in South Kurdistan in which several national and international press took part.
Speaking at the press conference Karayilan also said: “We are willing to turn this non-action period into an indefinite ceasefire; however we are concerned about the initiatives of the AKP government to purge our movement which have been increasing for the last two weeks.”
Ceasefire is in accordance with Ocalan’s message
Reminding the fact that Kurdish problem is one of the crucial problems in the Middle East which needs an urgent solution Karayilan said: “In the current situation and the phase we need to reach serious conclusions and seek a drastic solution. We consider that peace and solution are closer than ever, as the historical, political and social conditions are requiring a solution for the problem and the duty falls on our shoulders. Our movement have being putting a great effort to solve the problem since the very beginning. It is a well known fact that our leadership Abdullah Ocalan has been working for a peaceful and democratic solution for 18 years. In that regard our leadership has played a crucial role in the process of taking the decision we are to declare today. He sent a message to the Executive Committee of KCK in order to extend the ceasefire.”
One-sided efforts do not suffice for the solution
Karayilan further stated that the Turkish government have failed to take necessary steps on the way to the peace and since the declaration of the ceasefire on 13 August several provocative incidents took palace, the attack is Peyanis village of Hakkari is to be one of them. “We extended our unilateral ceasefire which was supposed to end on the 20 September. We were willing to continue this ceasefire period in order to provide a suitable atmosphere to develop mutual trust and turn the period into a permanent ceasefire. However, we are concerned about the sincerity of the AKP government who has been holding security submits together with USA and Iraq and issue permissions for cross-border operations in order to purge our movement. Moreover, the language and the psychological war conducted by the government are confirming our concerns.”
The ceasefire is to be reviewed in a month
Karayilan continued: “We need to observe whether the dialog started with our leadership will reach any conclusions. Therefore, we find it necessary to review our ceasefire decision in a month which we re willing to turn into a permanent ceasefire. If a mutual trust atmosphere is created then the ceasefire will turn into indefinite. Otherwise, we will need to evaluate the situation. ”
Conditions for ceasefire
Declaring that the guerrillas will not conduct any operations other than routine and necessary activities Karayilan added: “The guerrillas will use their right to defence themselves and reprisal if the face any threats and attacks. Self-defence will be the basis of this period for our forces.”
Karayilan also enumerated the conditions for turning the ceasefire into indefinite. The conditions follow:
- Ending military operations against guerrilla bases. Military operations will per se make the period lose its meaning.
- Ending political operations against the Kurdish people in social, political and cultural fields. As these operations will provoke the period the Turkish state should remain reluctant no to resort pressure, violence and arbitrary arrests against the Kurds.
- Preparing a democratic constitution. As a democratic constitution is vital for the solution it cannot be delayed any more. Therefore, there should be concrete steps taken for the democratisation of Turkey.
- Deepening the dialog and negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan. Negotiating with the leader Kurdish leader Ocalan is a must to be able to continue the period. While the general situation and security aspects can be negotiated with leader Ocalan, democratic rights and a new constitution aspect can be negotiated with the legitimate representatives of the Kurdish people DTK and BDP.
Karayilan concluded: “The interlocutor for the problem is clear: The leader of the Kurdish people Abdullah Ocalan and the solution is a Democratic Republic and Autonomous Kurdistan.”
ANF / KANDIL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Karayilan declared the extension of the ceasefire in a press conference held in Medya Defence Territories in South Kurdistan in which several national and international press took part.
Speaking at the press conference Karayilan also said: “We are willing to turn this non-action period into an indefinite ceasefire; however we are concerned about the initiatives of the AKP government to purge our movement which have been increasing for the last two weeks.”
Ceasefire is in accordance with Ocalan’s message
Reminding the fact that Kurdish problem is one of the crucial problems in the Middle East which needs an urgent solution Karayilan said: “In the current situation and the phase we need to reach serious conclusions and seek a drastic solution. We consider that peace and solution are closer than ever, as the historical, political and social conditions are requiring a solution for the problem and the duty falls on our shoulders. Our movement have being putting a great effort to solve the problem since the very beginning. It is a well known fact that our leadership Abdullah Ocalan has been working for a peaceful and democratic solution for 18 years. In that regard our leadership has played a crucial role in the process of taking the decision we are to declare today. He sent a message to the Executive Committee of KCK in order to extend the ceasefire.”
One-sided efforts do not suffice for the solution
Karayilan further stated that the Turkish government have failed to take necessary steps on the way to the peace and since the declaration of the ceasefire on 13 August several provocative incidents took palace, the attack is Peyanis village of Hakkari is to be one of them. “We extended our unilateral ceasefire which was supposed to end on the 20 September. We were willing to continue this ceasefire period in order to provide a suitable atmosphere to develop mutual trust and turn the period into a permanent ceasefire. However, we are concerned about the sincerity of the AKP government who has been holding security submits together with USA and Iraq and issue permissions for cross-border operations in order to purge our movement. Moreover, the language and the psychological war conducted by the government are confirming our concerns.”
The ceasefire is to be reviewed in a month
Karayilan continued: “We need to observe whether the dialog started with our leadership will reach any conclusions. Therefore, we find it necessary to review our ceasefire decision in a month which we re willing to turn into a permanent ceasefire. If a mutual trust atmosphere is created then the ceasefire will turn into indefinite. Otherwise, we will need to evaluate the situation. ”
Conditions for ceasefire
Declaring that the guerrillas will not conduct any operations other than routine and necessary activities Karayilan added: “The guerrillas will use their right to defence themselves and reprisal if the face any threats and attacks. Self-defence will be the basis of this period for our forces.”
Karayilan also enumerated the conditions for turning the ceasefire into indefinite. The conditions follow:
- Ending military operations against guerrilla bases. Military operations will per se make the period lose its meaning.
- Ending political operations against the Kurdish people in social, political and cultural fields. As these operations will provoke the period the Turkish state should remain reluctant no to resort pressure, violence and arbitrary arrests against the Kurds.
- Preparing a democratic constitution. As a democratic constitution is vital for the solution it cannot be delayed any more. Therefore, there should be concrete steps taken for the democratisation of Turkey.
- Deepening the dialog and negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan. Negotiating with the leader Kurdish leader Ocalan is a must to be able to continue the period. While the general situation and security aspects can be negotiated with leader Ocalan, democratic rights and a new constitution aspect can be negotiated with the legitimate representatives of the Kurdish people DTK and BDP.
Karayilan concluded: “The interlocutor for the problem is clear: The leader of the Kurdish people Abdullah Ocalan and the solution is a Democratic Republic and Autonomous Kurdistan.”
ANF / KANDIL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
PKK announces a new non-action period- MORE SOON
30 September 2010
PKK announced extension of unilateral ceasefire
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) has given yet another sign of its willingness and readiness to actively contribute and work for solution to the Kurdish question that will bring to a just and lasting peace. The PKK has announced that the period of armed inactivity that started last month, will indeed last for another month. The unilateral ceasefire decision must be met by substantial steps from the Turkish government.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
PKK announced extension of unilateral ceasefire
The PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) has given yet another sign of its willingness and readiness to actively contribute and work for solution to the Kurdish question that will bring to a just and lasting peace. The PKK has announced that the period of armed inactivity that started last month, will indeed last for another month. The unilateral ceasefire decision must be met by substantial steps from the Turkish government.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
COE delegation suggests IRA solution for the Kurdish problem
30 September 2010
PKK should extend the ceasefire and the Turkish government should take reassuring steps, said European delegation
The PKK should continue its ceasefire and the Turkish government should take reassuring steps, said the delegation composed of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The delegation also showed the negotiations held between the UK and the IRA and said such a method can be followed for the solution of the Kurdish problem in Turkey.
The COE delegation met vice president of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) at dinner last night. After the meeting closed to the press Bakirhan spoke to ANF about the meeting.
Bakirhan said: “We evaluated the current situation. We explained the delegation that AKP is leaving the new constitution after the elections on purse so that it can use it as an argument in its election campaign. As it is hard to foresee the structure of the new parliament AKP should launch a new constitution now because it received a significant support from the people.”
Bakirhan further stated that they informed the delegation that the Turkish army continues it military operations despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by the PKK. “It is unlikely for the PKK to lay down its weapons while the military operations are going on” added Bakirhan.
Bakirhan also added that although: “There is a ‘meeting traffic’ conducted by the Minister of Interior Kurds are not a part of it. The minister should meet the Kurds within Turkey like Mr. Ocalan, BDP and the NGO’s”
IRA solution can be an example for the Kurdish problem
Mentioning the electoral threshold and the mother tongue education demands in Turkey Bakirhan said that the COE delegation showed the negotiations conducted between the UK and the IRA and said this can be an example for Turkey and such a method can be followed in order to solve the problem in Turkey.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
PKK should extend the ceasefire and the Turkish government should take reassuring steps, said European delegation
The PKK should continue its ceasefire and the Turkish government should take reassuring steps, said the delegation composed of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The delegation also showed the negotiations held between the UK and the IRA and said such a method can be followed for the solution of the Kurdish problem in Turkey.
The COE delegation met vice president of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) at dinner last night. After the meeting closed to the press Bakirhan spoke to ANF about the meeting.
Bakirhan said: “We evaluated the current situation. We explained the delegation that AKP is leaving the new constitution after the elections on purse so that it can use it as an argument in its election campaign. As it is hard to foresee the structure of the new parliament AKP should launch a new constitution now because it received a significant support from the people.”
Bakirhan further stated that they informed the delegation that the Turkish army continues it military operations despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by the PKK. “It is unlikely for the PKK to lay down its weapons while the military operations are going on” added Bakirhan.
Bakirhan also added that although: “There is a ‘meeting traffic’ conducted by the Minister of Interior Kurds are not a part of it. The minister should meet the Kurds within Turkey like Mr. Ocalan, BDP and the NGO’s”
IRA solution can be an example for the Kurdish problem
Mentioning the electoral threshold and the mother tongue education demands in Turkey Bakirhan said that the COE delegation showed the negotiations conducted between the UK and the IRA and said this can be an example for Turkey and such a method can be followed in order to solve the problem in Turkey.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Fourth day of families hunger strike
30 September 2010
Bağlar Women Council visited families on hunger strike
The hunger strike started by Diyar TUHAD-DER and the families of ill prisoners for the releasing of ill prisoners and against the increasing abuses of right, is continuing in its 4th day.
The families, who are supported by the visits of many citizens in the strike tent in Koşuyolu Park, mentioned their worry about the lives of their ill relatives in prisons.
Besides the support visit day long, the families were visited also by Bağlar Women Council last night. While resistance songs rose from the tent at the evening hours, Kurdish klams resounded in patches in the melody of pain and sorrow.
translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Bağlar Women Council visited families on hunger strike
The hunger strike started by Diyar TUHAD-DER and the families of ill prisoners for the releasing of ill prisoners and against the increasing abuses of right, is continuing in its 4th day.
The families, who are supported by the visits of many citizens in the strike tent in Koşuyolu Park, mentioned their worry about the lives of their ill relatives in prisons.
Besides the support visit day long, the families were visited also by Bağlar Women Council last night. While resistance songs rose from the tent at the evening hours, Kurdish klams resounded in patches in the melody of pain and sorrow.
translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
National unity call by artists in South Kurdistan
30 September 2010
Weekly newspaper Çetir organised one week of events in Sulaimaniya
Attending the solidarity and national unity activity of weekly newspaper Çetir in South Kurdistan, Kurdish artists made a national unity call and remarked that Kurdish people must relieve themselves of the balkanisation to protect and improve the achievements of Kurdish people.
Weekly newspaper Çetir (Roof) organized an activity in Suleimania to provide solidarity and call attention to the national unity of Kurdish people. Beside over thousand participators, the activity was supported by artists Necmettin Xulami from North Kurdistan, Dılşad Hewleri from South Kurdistan and Hozan Diyar from North Kurdistan. Making the opening speech of the activity, Çetir Journal Grant Holder Kemal Hesen Hemê Rıza stated that only a national unity can respond to the attacks on Kurdish people through world. Remarking that the journal follows a broadcasting policy on the base of national unity, Hemê Rıza spoke as follows; “As Kurdish media, we will serve for the national unity. I am greeting the Democratic Autonomy in North Kurdistan for the democratic solution of the Kurdish problem. The works performed by Kurdish women in respect of national unity are crucial and we wish them success.”
‘LET’S GET OVER THE BALKANISATION’
Taking the first stage in the activity, artist Dılşad Hewleri remarked the importance of the activity of Çetir Journal with national artists,calling Kurdish artists to be more sensitive and to take active charge for national unity. The mass applauded for minutes when Hewleri sang songs written dedicatory to PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) guerillas. While Necmeddin Xulami and Diyar Dersimi enthused the participators with songs one more beautiful than the other after Hewleri, their common call was for the national unity. Artist Diyar Dersimi pointed out that Kurdish people have not secured the national uniformity yet, although all dominant powers united to disintegrate them; adding; “We are going through a process which has significant progressions from the point of Kurdish people. We must firstly get over the existing division, so that the achievements, which were paid for, can bring success.” The concert series of Çetir Journal, which were directed to national unity, took place in Kirkuk and Hewler.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / SULAIMANIYA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Weekly newspaper Çetir organised one week of events in Sulaimaniya
Attending the solidarity and national unity activity of weekly newspaper Çetir in South Kurdistan, Kurdish artists made a national unity call and remarked that Kurdish people must relieve themselves of the balkanisation to protect and improve the achievements of Kurdish people.
Weekly newspaper Çetir (Roof) organized an activity in Suleimania to provide solidarity and call attention to the national unity of Kurdish people. Beside over thousand participators, the activity was supported by artists Necmettin Xulami from North Kurdistan, Dılşad Hewleri from South Kurdistan and Hozan Diyar from North Kurdistan. Making the opening speech of the activity, Çetir Journal Grant Holder Kemal Hesen Hemê Rıza stated that only a national unity can respond to the attacks on Kurdish people through world. Remarking that the journal follows a broadcasting policy on the base of national unity, Hemê Rıza spoke as follows; “As Kurdish media, we will serve for the national unity. I am greeting the Democratic Autonomy in North Kurdistan for the democratic solution of the Kurdish problem. The works performed by Kurdish women in respect of national unity are crucial and we wish them success.”
‘LET’S GET OVER THE BALKANISATION’
Taking the first stage in the activity, artist Dılşad Hewleri remarked the importance of the activity of Çetir Journal with national artists,calling Kurdish artists to be more sensitive and to take active charge for national unity. The mass applauded for minutes when Hewleri sang songs written dedicatory to PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) guerillas. While Necmeddin Xulami and Diyar Dersimi enthused the participators with songs one more beautiful than the other after Hewleri, their common call was for the national unity. Artist Diyar Dersimi pointed out that Kurdish people have not secured the national uniformity yet, although all dominant powers united to disintegrate them; adding; “We are going through a process which has significant progressions from the point of Kurdish people. We must firstly get over the existing division, so that the achievements, which were paid for, can bring success.” The concert series of Çetir Journal, which were directed to national unity, took place in Kirkuk and Hewler.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / SULAIMANIYA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Syria sentences human rights defender
30 September 2010
One year prison sentence for human rights activist
A Syrian military court in Aleppo sentenced Ebdulhafiz Ebdulrehman, a human rights defender member of Syrian Human Rights Committee (MAF) to one year imprisonment on account of violating article 288 of the Syrian Penal Code which prohibits joining un-permitted political and social organisations.
MAF also reported that another Kurd called Hesen Ebdulqadir Nasan (31) was arrested by the security forces in the Kurdish city of Afrin and transferred to a prison in Damascus and the reason for the arrest remains unknown.
All the NGO’s and trade unions operating in Syria are under direct control of the Baath party. While no organisation can be founded without permission from the officials working for an international organisation may require heavy punishment. It is reported that there several human rights defenders and activist who face custody, interrogations and prosecutions in Syria.
ANF / ALEPPO
ANF NEWS AGENCY
One year prison sentence for human rights activist
A Syrian military court in Aleppo sentenced Ebdulhafiz Ebdulrehman, a human rights defender member of Syrian Human Rights Committee (MAF) to one year imprisonment on account of violating article 288 of the Syrian Penal Code which prohibits joining un-permitted political and social organisations.
MAF also reported that another Kurd called Hesen Ebdulqadir Nasan (31) was arrested by the security forces in the Kurdish city of Afrin and transferred to a prison in Damascus and the reason for the arrest remains unknown.
All the NGO’s and trade unions operating in Syria are under direct control of the Baath party. While no organisation can be founded without permission from the officials working for an international organisation may require heavy punishment. It is reported that there several human rights defenders and activist who face custody, interrogations and prosecutions in Syria.
ANF / ALEPPO
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Turkey is creating a buffer zone on the Iraqi border
Following his meeting with the Iraqi Kurdish officials in Arbil and with the Americans in Ankara Turkish Minister of Interior Besir Atalay visited Van and Hakkari where he gave a start to “buffer zone”.
The secret security plan which has been alleged to exist by the PKK for almost two years is getting clearer following Commanding General US Forces- Iraq Lloyd Austin’s visit to Ankara.
Columnist Murat Yetkin of Radikal daily reports: “Americans have stated that they are supporting a security belt on the Iraqi border.”
It is reported that the security belt which aims at preventing the Kurdish guerrillas from crossing the border will be on the Iraqi side and it is supported by the Americans. The only obstacle in front of the belt is the consent from the Iraqi government.
In his column Murat Yetkiner reported an anonymous American official’s statement on this issue: “Our cooperation with Turkey against the PKK has 3 dimensions. 1-Providing Turkish General Staff with intelligence on PKK activities and movements. 2- By supporting the messages delivered to Barzani by Turkey we make them to understand the messages clearly. 3- We facilitate the preventative security dialogs between Ankara and Baghdad governments.”
Reminding the Minister of Interior Besir Atalay’s statement in which he said non-existence of a government in Iraq is an obstacle in front of combating the PKK Yetkin writes some precautions against the PKK need to be approved by Baghdad.
It is also reported that Atalay’s visit of last week to Selahaddin where he met Mesud Barzani as well as his visit to Van where he met security forces were within the framework of these precautions against the PKK.
The secret plan was uncover by the PKK last year
Although the Turkish officials were denying existence of such a security belt one of the HPG commanders Dr. Bahoz Erdal uncovered this plan in an interview he gave to ANF last year.
Bahoz Erdal said: “Turkish side is trying to create a buffer zone on the border which will also include Botan and Zagros regions. Meanwhile there is a similar activity on the Iranian border. The Turkish army is renewing its outposts on the border and preparing to use heavier weapons in the region. There are many tanks and mortar shell launchers brought to the region. On the other hand the dam projects in the region are also a part of this military plan. They are aiming at the submerging the area so that the guerrillas will not be able to move in the region.”
Turkey is extending the border
Although the debates on extending the border with Iraq exist since presidents Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel times recently the State Minister Hayati Yazici brought this issue to the agenda of the country. He said: “It is possible to discuss about changing the Iraqi border.”
Duran Kalkan of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) has also confirmed the attempts of the Turkish side to extend the border and move into Iraqi territory.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
The secret security plan which has been alleged to exist by the PKK for almost two years is getting clearer following Commanding General US Forces- Iraq Lloyd Austin’s visit to Ankara.
Columnist Murat Yetkin of Radikal daily reports: “Americans have stated that they are supporting a security belt on the Iraqi border.”
It is reported that the security belt which aims at preventing the Kurdish guerrillas from crossing the border will be on the Iraqi side and it is supported by the Americans. The only obstacle in front of the belt is the consent from the Iraqi government.
In his column Murat Yetkiner reported an anonymous American official’s statement on this issue: “Our cooperation with Turkey against the PKK has 3 dimensions. 1-Providing Turkish General Staff with intelligence on PKK activities and movements. 2- By supporting the messages delivered to Barzani by Turkey we make them to understand the messages clearly. 3- We facilitate the preventative security dialogs between Ankara and Baghdad governments.”
Reminding the Minister of Interior Besir Atalay’s statement in which he said non-existence of a government in Iraq is an obstacle in front of combating the PKK Yetkin writes some precautions against the PKK need to be approved by Baghdad.
It is also reported that Atalay’s visit of last week to Selahaddin where he met Mesud Barzani as well as his visit to Van where he met security forces were within the framework of these precautions against the PKK.
The secret plan was uncover by the PKK last year
Although the Turkish officials were denying existence of such a security belt one of the HPG commanders Dr. Bahoz Erdal uncovered this plan in an interview he gave to ANF last year.
Bahoz Erdal said: “Turkish side is trying to create a buffer zone on the border which will also include Botan and Zagros regions. Meanwhile there is a similar activity on the Iranian border. The Turkish army is renewing its outposts on the border and preparing to use heavier weapons in the region. There are many tanks and mortar shell launchers brought to the region. On the other hand the dam projects in the region are also a part of this military plan. They are aiming at the submerging the area so that the guerrillas will not be able to move in the region.”
Turkey is extending the border
Although the debates on extending the border with Iraq exist since presidents Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel times recently the State Minister Hayati Yazici brought this issue to the agenda of the country. He said: “It is possible to discuss about changing the Iraqi border.”
Duran Kalkan of the Executive Committee of the Kurdistan Democratic Confederation (KCK) has also confirmed the attempts of the Turkish side to extend the border and move into Iraqi territory.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Kurdish Literature Festival in Berlin
30 September 2010
This weekend Berlin will host an important festival on Kurdish literature
A Kurdish Literature Festival is being organized in Berlin. A vast number of writers, novelists and poets are expected to attend the festival between 2-3 Octobers. Festival Arrangement Committee member Fehmi Balay remarked that they are aiming to hold Kurdish men of letters together.
Berlin Kurdish Literature Festival is organized by a number of establishments like Awadanî, KNK- Komîta Çand û Ziman, Navenda Kurdî, Bûn. The festival, which will take place between 2-3 October, is expected to be attended by a wide range of writers, poets, novelists and intellectuals. The festival will witness discussions about the future of the Kurdish literature and descriptions of new works.
BALAY: WE AIM THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF KURDISH LITERATURE
Stating that Berlin has a high potential of Kurdish writers, Festival Arrangement Committee member painter Fehmi Balay spoke as follows; “With the organization of this kind of festival, we are aiming to take steps for the institutionalization of Kurdish literature. Another most important target is to associate writers, poets and intellectuals, to describe of new works and to create a dialogue between 4 corners. Such activities will create togetherness. The togetherness of language, writers and intellectuals… When all these come true, our literature will find its place in the world literature.” Fehmi Balay remarked that they are planning to ensure the continuity of this festival which was organized with the support of many Kurdish establishments this time.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / BERLIN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
This weekend Berlin will host an important festival on Kurdish literature
A Kurdish Literature Festival is being organized in Berlin. A vast number of writers, novelists and poets are expected to attend the festival between 2-3 Octobers. Festival Arrangement Committee member Fehmi Balay remarked that they are aiming to hold Kurdish men of letters together.
Berlin Kurdish Literature Festival is organized by a number of establishments like Awadanî, KNK- Komîta Çand û Ziman, Navenda Kurdî, Bûn. The festival, which will take place between 2-3 October, is expected to be attended by a wide range of writers, poets, novelists and intellectuals. The festival will witness discussions about the future of the Kurdish literature and descriptions of new works.
BALAY: WE AIM THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF KURDISH LITERATURE
Stating that Berlin has a high potential of Kurdish writers, Festival Arrangement Committee member painter Fehmi Balay spoke as follows; “With the organization of this kind of festival, we are aiming to take steps for the institutionalization of Kurdish literature. Another most important target is to associate writers, poets and intellectuals, to describe of new works and to create a dialogue between 4 corners. Such activities will create togetherness. The togetherness of language, writers and intellectuals… When all these come true, our literature will find its place in the world literature.” Fehmi Balay remarked that they are planning to ensure the continuity of this festival which was organized with the support of many Kurdish establishments this time.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / BERLIN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
European Federation of Journalists campaigning for Turkish reporters
30 September 2010
EFJ calls for immediate release of Turkish journalists
Journalists currently in jail in Turkey must be set free immediately, says the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) if the movement towards key changes in the country's constitution is to deliver promises of democracy and freedom.
The EFJ has joined its affiliate, the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS), in a call for the immediate and unconditional release of more than 40 journalists jailed in Turkey who they say are in prison for nothing more than doing their job. They made the call after a majority of Turkish citizens voted "Yes" to amending the country's constitution in a referendum earlier this month.
"We demand the immediate release of all journalists whose continued detention has only served to show the country's intolerance of real democratic debate," said Arne König, EFJ President, "The vote for changes on September 12 would open the possibility of genuine change and modernization. It is prime time for the Government to show leadership and to end the climate of fear and intimidation which still surrounds the work of Turkish journalists."
The Turkish journalists currently in prison are awaiting trial on charges of violating the Turkish penal code or anti-terror laws through their work as journalists. In addition, over 700 Turkish journalists are facing law suits, with the threat of imprisonment.
"These journalists are guilty only of doing their job honestly and professionally," said König. "It is unconscionable to be locked up for carrying out their normal journalistic duties."
The frustration of European journalists is shared by journalists' leaders inside the country.
"We urge the Government to release the jailed journalists immediately and reform the country's legal system to protect journalists' rights to respect freedom of expression," said Ercan Ipekçi, TGS President and member of the EFJ Steering Committee.
"There can be no free society without free journalism," he warned, "the Government must put press freedom at the core of its constitutional changes."
The TGS has already joined forces with 18 other journalists' organisations to establish the Freedom for Journalists Platform to monitor issues concerning the freedom of journalists on 25 August. A council of law will be set up to review judicial cases concerning press freedom in Turkey.
The EFJ calls on its member unions and civil society groups to join the campaign to free jailed Turkish journalists.
ANF / BRUXELLES
ANF NEWS AGENCY
EFJ calls for immediate release of Turkish journalists
Journalists currently in jail in Turkey must be set free immediately, says the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) if the movement towards key changes in the country's constitution is to deliver promises of democracy and freedom.
The EFJ has joined its affiliate, the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS), in a call for the immediate and unconditional release of more than 40 journalists jailed in Turkey who they say are in prison for nothing more than doing their job. They made the call after a majority of Turkish citizens voted "Yes" to amending the country's constitution in a referendum earlier this month.
"We demand the immediate release of all journalists whose continued detention has only served to show the country's intolerance of real democratic debate," said Arne König, EFJ President, "The vote for changes on September 12 would open the possibility of genuine change and modernization. It is prime time for the Government to show leadership and to end the climate of fear and intimidation which still surrounds the work of Turkish journalists."
The Turkish journalists currently in prison are awaiting trial on charges of violating the Turkish penal code or anti-terror laws through their work as journalists. In addition, over 700 Turkish journalists are facing law suits, with the threat of imprisonment.
"These journalists are guilty only of doing their job honestly and professionally," said König. "It is unconscionable to be locked up for carrying out their normal journalistic duties."
The frustration of European journalists is shared by journalists' leaders inside the country.
"We urge the Government to release the jailed journalists immediately and reform the country's legal system to protect journalists' rights to respect freedom of expression," said Ercan Ipekçi, TGS President and member of the EFJ Steering Committee.
"There can be no free society without free journalism," he warned, "the Government must put press freedom at the core of its constitutional changes."
The TGS has already joined forces with 18 other journalists' organisations to establish the Freedom for Journalists Platform to monitor issues concerning the freedom of journalists on 25 August. A council of law will be set up to review judicial cases concerning press freedom in Turkey.
The EFJ calls on its member unions and civil society groups to join the campaign to free jailed Turkish journalists.
ANF / BRUXELLES
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Tents to protest against detentions
30 September 2010
Friends of two students arrested for demanding 'free education' have put up tents in front of prison
Friends of the two students arrested for demanding “Free education” have put up tents in front of Bakırköy Women Prison. Nine days passed have already since the students put up the tents. They are insisting that they will not leave without taking with them their friends. The protesters are staying in front of the prison day and night, with many people coming to show their solidarity.
Imprisoned students, reports DIHA agency, are being accused of being member of an illegal organization.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Friends of two students arrested for demanding 'free education' have put up tents in front of prison
Friends of the two students arrested for demanding “Free education” have put up tents in front of Bakırköy Women Prison. Nine days passed have already since the students put up the tents. They are insisting that they will not leave without taking with them their friends. The protesters are staying in front of the prison day and night, with many people coming to show their solidarity.
Imprisoned students, reports DIHA agency, are being accused of being member of an illegal organization.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Another Kurdish worker killed
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
MARIWAN, Eastern Kurdistan -- Another Kurdish worker was killed by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
According to local news sources the Iranian revolutionary guards, 2 days ago on 26th Sep, shot to death a Kurdish worker with the name of Bakhtyar Hawrami in Asnawa village in Mariwan.
The barbaric slaughter of Kurds has reached the pick; just in 2009 more than 95 Kurdish worker who were working in the artificial borders of Kurdistan were killed by the cruel regime of Iran and just since the beginning of this year 42 more have been shot to death by the Iranian forces.
MARIWAN, Eastern Kurdistan -- Another Kurdish worker was killed by the Iranian revolutionary guards.
According to local news sources the Iranian revolutionary guards, 2 days ago on 26th Sep, shot to death a Kurdish worker with the name of Bakhtyar Hawrami in Asnawa village in Mariwan.
The barbaric slaughter of Kurds has reached the pick; just in 2009 more than 95 Kurdish worker who were working in the artificial borders of Kurdistan were killed by the cruel regime of Iran and just since the beginning of this year 42 more have been shot to death by the Iranian forces.
Motives of Islamic regimes atrocity in Mehabad city:
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 02:32
Amin Rahimnzhad: On Wednesday 22 September 2010 in Mehabad city a lethal bomb was exploded among spectators at an annual military parade, which killed 11 innocent Kurdish civilians and wounded more than 90 others.
Islamic regime officials instantly claimed that “Anti-Revolutionaries” are behind the bombing aiming to destabilise region with support of Zionism and western states. Further to that the Islamic authorities stated that the people who committed atrocity have been identified and they will be brought to justice soon.
On the same day at 7.22pm Iranian English language satellite channel Press Tv published a statement from the Iranian authorities which stated that “police have arrested two people in connection with terrorist bombing North western Iranian city of Mehabad” .
However, in contradiction to the first statement on Sunday General Mohammad Pakpour revolutionary guards Corps ground forces commander stated that “the main element behind the recent bombing in Mehabad have been killed”. He stated that in armed clashes with the group, 30 of them were killed and 2 of them managed to escape.
It is important to underline that the regimes initial statement and second statement are in conflict with each other and contradictory. First they have stated that two people have been arrested in connection with the bombing, while in second statement they have stated that all the people who were involved in terrorist bombing have been killed in armed clashes with the revolutionary guards and two of them have managed to escape. So we have to ask our self to what extent these two statements can be reconciled with each other.
Although the Iranian regime blamed “Anti-Revolutionaries” particularly Kurdish opposition political parties, Kurdish political parties unanimously condemned the atrocity and the act of terror, which was committed against the Kurdish defenceless people.
Kurds have avoided all kinds of terror and inhuman acts in their political struggle against the Islamic regime in Iran and other parts of Kurdistan Iraq, Turkey and Syria. However, theocratic regime and other Kurdish oppressors have always committed massacres against Kurdish people, and destroyed thousands of villages with purpose to demolish Kurdish identity and history.
Nonetheless, all the evidence display that the Iranian regime and revolutionary guards are behind the bombing. It’s reasonable to stay that the Islamic regime had great motive to commit such atrocity in Mehabad city.
Islamic regime is attempting to promote violence in Kurdish cities and towns in order to underpin its terror plots and anti-Kurdish policies. Further to that Islamic regime aimed to create hatreds among the Kurdish tribes as the victims mostly belong to a tribe in Eastern Kurdistan, whom are very well known for their involvement with the Islamic regime. However, recently dozens of people from the same tribe laid down their weapons and re-embraced their own nation and identity. This was a major threat to the regimes mono poly in the region. Therefore, it could be stated that regimes terror plot was designed to re-enforce the Kurds who laid down their weapons and re-establish their cooperation with the regime and those who still within the regimes system to be more determined to defend regimes war against the Kurds and participate in fighting against the Kurdish guerrillas and civilians more exclusively and effectively.
Moreover, Mehabad bombing was designed to discredit Kurdish political and social struggle against the Islamic regime. Ever since Islamic regimes founded in 1979 Islamic regime have adopted diverse methods to terrorize Kurds and systematically isolates them from the rest of Iranian nations and International community by publishing false statements in regards of the Kurds and their situation.
Kurdistan deliberately classified as military zone in order to keep it undeveloped and be deprived of modern public services.
In addition to that, the Islamic regime managed to influence western states to consider regime as a victim of terror rather than being considered as terrorist state or the key international terrorist sponsorship as. By blaming Israel, Iranian regime is attempting to make a deal with western countries over Mehabad bombing, and exploit it in its diplomatic negotiations. And it could be felt through the Hilary Clintons and British Minister for Middle East Alistair burt statement when both stated that its necessary to fight terror jointly wherever it rears it heads. This statements indicate that western countries either they do not want to provoke Islamic regime because they are stacked in Iraq and Afghanistan and they do not acquire further problems in the region or they really consider Islamic regime as the victim of terror.
It also could be claimed that an aspect of the terror bombing in Mehabad was aimed to disturb peace process in Turkey and encourage Turkey to increase its attacks on Kurds and bring turkey in dangerous coalition against the Kurd and West.
In conclusion Iran claims that the terror is committed by US, Israel and West, and the revolutionary guards have involved in an armed clashes, which resulted to the death of 30 people who were behind the bombing and two of the alleged terrorist managed to escape. If that is the case as the revolutionary guards commander claimed then the thirty people whom were killed should be showed in state Tv and mainstream media or their identity shall be released to the victims of the bombing and Kurdish people. Even if the Iranian regime claims, as they did, that their forces involved in a clashes on Iraqi territories, then Iraqis government and Kurdistan regional government should have the bodies of the died people.
However, today Jabar Yawar KRG military spokesperson denied Iranian military incursion and also stated that he was surprised when he heard regime statements in regards of the involvement with terrorist groups on KRG territory.
If we consider all the circumstances a reasonable conclusion can be achieved that the regime is behind the bombing because it has great motive to do so.
Amin Rahimnzhad: On Wednesday 22 September 2010 in Mehabad city a lethal bomb was exploded among spectators at an annual military parade, which killed 11 innocent Kurdish civilians and wounded more than 90 others.
Islamic regime officials instantly claimed that “Anti-Revolutionaries” are behind the bombing aiming to destabilise region with support of Zionism and western states. Further to that the Islamic authorities stated that the people who committed atrocity have been identified and they will be brought to justice soon.
On the same day at 7.22pm Iranian English language satellite channel Press Tv published a statement from the Iranian authorities which stated that “police have arrested two people in connection with terrorist bombing North western Iranian city of Mehabad” .
However, in contradiction to the first statement on Sunday General Mohammad Pakpour revolutionary guards Corps ground forces commander stated that “the main element behind the recent bombing in Mehabad have been killed”. He stated that in armed clashes with the group, 30 of them were killed and 2 of them managed to escape.
It is important to underline that the regimes initial statement and second statement are in conflict with each other and contradictory. First they have stated that two people have been arrested in connection with the bombing, while in second statement they have stated that all the people who were involved in terrorist bombing have been killed in armed clashes with the revolutionary guards and two of them have managed to escape. So we have to ask our self to what extent these two statements can be reconciled with each other.
Although the Iranian regime blamed “Anti-Revolutionaries” particularly Kurdish opposition political parties, Kurdish political parties unanimously condemned the atrocity and the act of terror, which was committed against the Kurdish defenceless people.
Kurds have avoided all kinds of terror and inhuman acts in their political struggle against the Islamic regime in Iran and other parts of Kurdistan Iraq, Turkey and Syria. However, theocratic regime and other Kurdish oppressors have always committed massacres against Kurdish people, and destroyed thousands of villages with purpose to demolish Kurdish identity and history.
Nonetheless, all the evidence display that the Iranian regime and revolutionary guards are behind the bombing. It’s reasonable to stay that the Islamic regime had great motive to commit such atrocity in Mehabad city.
Islamic regime is attempting to promote violence in Kurdish cities and towns in order to underpin its terror plots and anti-Kurdish policies. Further to that Islamic regime aimed to create hatreds among the Kurdish tribes as the victims mostly belong to a tribe in Eastern Kurdistan, whom are very well known for their involvement with the Islamic regime. However, recently dozens of people from the same tribe laid down their weapons and re-embraced their own nation and identity. This was a major threat to the regimes mono poly in the region. Therefore, it could be stated that regimes terror plot was designed to re-enforce the Kurds who laid down their weapons and re-establish their cooperation with the regime and those who still within the regimes system to be more determined to defend regimes war against the Kurds and participate in fighting against the Kurdish guerrillas and civilians more exclusively and effectively.
Moreover, Mehabad bombing was designed to discredit Kurdish political and social struggle against the Islamic regime. Ever since Islamic regimes founded in 1979 Islamic regime have adopted diverse methods to terrorize Kurds and systematically isolates them from the rest of Iranian nations and International community by publishing false statements in regards of the Kurds and their situation.
Kurdistan deliberately classified as military zone in order to keep it undeveloped and be deprived of modern public services.
In addition to that, the Islamic regime managed to influence western states to consider regime as a victim of terror rather than being considered as terrorist state or the key international terrorist sponsorship as. By blaming Israel, Iranian regime is attempting to make a deal with western countries over Mehabad bombing, and exploit it in its diplomatic negotiations. And it could be felt through the Hilary Clintons and British Minister for Middle East Alistair burt statement when both stated that its necessary to fight terror jointly wherever it rears it heads. This statements indicate that western countries either they do not want to provoke Islamic regime because they are stacked in Iraq and Afghanistan and they do not acquire further problems in the region or they really consider Islamic regime as the victim of terror.
It also could be claimed that an aspect of the terror bombing in Mehabad was aimed to disturb peace process in Turkey and encourage Turkey to increase its attacks on Kurds and bring turkey in dangerous coalition against the Kurd and West.
In conclusion Iran claims that the terror is committed by US, Israel and West, and the revolutionary guards have involved in an armed clashes, which resulted to the death of 30 people who were behind the bombing and two of the alleged terrorist managed to escape. If that is the case as the revolutionary guards commander claimed then the thirty people whom were killed should be showed in state Tv and mainstream media or their identity shall be released to the victims of the bombing and Kurdish people. Even if the Iranian regime claims, as they did, that their forces involved in a clashes on Iraqi territories, then Iraqis government and Kurdistan regional government should have the bodies of the died people.
However, today Jabar Yawar KRG military spokesperson denied Iranian military incursion and also stated that he was surprised when he heard regime statements in regards of the involvement with terrorist groups on KRG territory.
If we consider all the circumstances a reasonable conclusion can be achieved that the regime is behind the bombing because it has great motive to do so.
Two Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans in Syria imprisoned
September 28, 2010 by sks
SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES
PRESS RELEASE Göttingen, September 27, 2010
Two young Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans have been in police custody for one week now in Syria because they waved Assyrian flags at a concert. As the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in Göttingen learned today, Gabriel Isa Iskander and Nahir Hanna were apprehended by the Syrian security force, “Al Mukhabarat Al Syasi,” on September 20 in Qamishli, a city in northeastern Syria predominantly inhabited by Kurds, Assyrian-Aramaeans and Armenians. Syrian officials have charged the two youths with violation of Paragraph 307 of the Syrian criminal code and the crime of “fomenting ethnic and religious hatred.”
“The allegations against these youths are absurd; Assyrian-Aramaean national symbols are not prohibited by applicable law in Syria,” criticizes Kamal Sido, head of the STP’s Middle East section. “Our human rights organization demands the immediate release of these two young Christians.” Exiled representatives of the oppositional Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) have also sharply criticized the arrests.
According to official doctrine, the citizens of Syria – approximately 21 million people – are “Syrian Arabs.” In fact, about 83% of the population are Arabs, most of them Sunni Muslims. Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans, who reside primarily in the northeastern province of Al Hasakeh but also in the metropolises of Aleppo and Damascus, speak Modern Aramaic. They are the largest ethnic group among the Christians in Syria, who make up about 15% of the population. The more than two million Syrian Kurds are denied linguistic and cultural rights.
The STP is in possession of a list naming 590 political prisoners in Syria, who are faced with torture and other abuses. That is why the STP demands the abandonment of the German-Syrian extradition treaty. The treaty enables deportation of the roughly 7,000 Syrian opposition members who live in Germany, including for the most part Kurds and Yazidi, but also Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans. But Syrian officials take action against foreign nationals as well: Just last month, on August 23, 2010, a German human rights activist of Kurdish descent was detained at the Aleppo airport and taken in by authorities. Since then, no information has been made available regarding his location nor his state of health.
For more information, contact the head of the STP’s Middle East section, Dr. Kamal Sido by phone at +49 (0)173/ 673 3980.
SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES
PRESS RELEASE Göttingen, September 27, 2010
Two young Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans have been in police custody for one week now in Syria because they waved Assyrian flags at a concert. As the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) in Göttingen learned today, Gabriel Isa Iskander and Nahir Hanna were apprehended by the Syrian security force, “Al Mukhabarat Al Syasi,” on September 20 in Qamishli, a city in northeastern Syria predominantly inhabited by Kurds, Assyrian-Aramaeans and Armenians. Syrian officials have charged the two youths with violation of Paragraph 307 of the Syrian criminal code and the crime of “fomenting ethnic and religious hatred.”
“The allegations against these youths are absurd; Assyrian-Aramaean national symbols are not prohibited by applicable law in Syria,” criticizes Kamal Sido, head of the STP’s Middle East section. “Our human rights organization demands the immediate release of these two young Christians.” Exiled representatives of the oppositional Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) have also sharply criticized the arrests.
According to official doctrine, the citizens of Syria – approximately 21 million people – are “Syrian Arabs.” In fact, about 83% of the population are Arabs, most of them Sunni Muslims. Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans, who reside primarily in the northeastern province of Al Hasakeh but also in the metropolises of Aleppo and Damascus, speak Modern Aramaic. They are the largest ethnic group among the Christians in Syria, who make up about 15% of the population. The more than two million Syrian Kurds are denied linguistic and cultural rights.
The STP is in possession of a list naming 590 political prisoners in Syria, who are faced with torture and other abuses. That is why the STP demands the abandonment of the German-Syrian extradition treaty. The treaty enables deportation of the roughly 7,000 Syrian opposition members who live in Germany, including for the most part Kurds and Yazidi, but also Christian Assyrian-Aramaeans. But Syrian officials take action against foreign nationals as well: Just last month, on August 23, 2010, a German human rights activist of Kurdish descent was detained at the Aleppo airport and taken in by authorities. Since then, no information has been made available regarding his location nor his state of health.
For more information, contact the head of the STP’s Middle East section, Dr. Kamal Sido by phone at +49 (0)173/ 673 3980.
Syria must release abducted human rights activist Ismail Abdi of Kiel!
SOCIETY FOR THREATENED PEOPLES
INVITATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS EVENT Berlin/Göttingen, September 24, 2010
Demonstration and rally in Berlin
A demonstration and rally will be held this Monday outside the Syrian Embassy in Berlin to demand the release of abducted human rights activist Ismail Abdi, a German of Kurdish descent. The demonstration is being organized by a coalition of Syrian-Kurdish and German organizations, including the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP).
Ismail Abdi was seized at the Aleppo International Airport on August 23 when
he was on his way back to Germany after a visit to Syria. Since then, nothing has been learned of the whereabouts of the 50-year-old Abdi. His family, residing in Kiel since 1998, has been denied information as well. To date they have not been able to contact him. Abdi’s wife and four children, aged seven to 20 years, fear that he may be in serious condition, as he suffers from health problems.
For many years Ismail Abdi has advocated for human rights and more democracy in Syria. He also keeps the STP apprised of the human rights situation in Syria. Abdi heads the German office of the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), and works with human rights organizations in Germany and abroad.
“Ismail Abdi has not done anything wrong. But obviously the Syrian government wants to punish him for his criticisms and his commitment to human rights,” says human rights activist Tilman Zülch, President of GfbV International. Zülch has already appealed to the German government to call for the immediate release of Abdi.
Come to the “Free Ismail Abdi” demonstration:
Monday, September 27, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin, Rauchstr. 27, Berlin-Tiergarten
For more information, contact the head of the STP’s Middle East section, Dr. Kamal Sido, by phone at +49 (0) 173/ 673 3980.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Für Menschenrechte. Weltweit. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker / Society for Threatened Peoples
P.O. Box 20 24 – D-37010 Göttingen/Germany
Nahostreferat/ Middle East Desk
Dr. Kamal Sido – Tel: +49 (0) 551 49906-18 – Fax: +49 (0) 551 58028
E-Mail: nahost@gfbv.de – www.gfbv.de
GfbV Berlin – der Blog:
http://gfbvberlin.wordpress.com/
INVITATION TO HUMAN RIGHTS EVENT Berlin/Göttingen, September 24, 2010
Demonstration and rally in Berlin
A demonstration and rally will be held this Monday outside the Syrian Embassy in Berlin to demand the release of abducted human rights activist Ismail Abdi, a German of Kurdish descent. The demonstration is being organized by a coalition of Syrian-Kurdish and German organizations, including the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP).
Ismail Abdi was seized at the Aleppo International Airport on August 23 when
he was on his way back to Germany after a visit to Syria. Since then, nothing has been learned of the whereabouts of the 50-year-old Abdi. His family, residing in Kiel since 1998, has been denied information as well. To date they have not been able to contact him. Abdi’s wife and four children, aged seven to 20 years, fear that he may be in serious condition, as he suffers from health problems.
For many years Ismail Abdi has advocated for human rights and more democracy in Syria. He also keeps the STP apprised of the human rights situation in Syria. Abdi heads the German office of the Committee for the Defense of Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria (CDF), and works with human rights organizations in Germany and abroad.
“Ismail Abdi has not done anything wrong. But obviously the Syrian government wants to punish him for his criticisms and his commitment to human rights,” says human rights activist Tilman Zülch, President of GfbV International. Zülch has already appealed to the German government to call for the immediate release of Abdi.
Come to the “Free Ismail Abdi” demonstration:
Monday, September 27, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin, Rauchstr. 27, Berlin-Tiergarten
For more information, contact the head of the STP’s Middle East section, Dr. Kamal Sido, by phone at +49 (0) 173/ 673 3980.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Für Menschenrechte. Weltweit. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker / Society for Threatened Peoples
P.O. Box 20 24 – D-37010 Göttingen/Germany
Nahostreferat/ Middle East Desk
Dr. Kamal Sido – Tel: +49 (0) 551 49906-18 – Fax: +49 (0) 551 58028
E-Mail: nahost@gfbv.de – www.gfbv.de
GfbV Berlin – der Blog:
http://gfbvberlin.wordpress.com/
Demonstration in front of the White House
29/09/2010
Kurdishaspect.com – By Baqi Barzani
In order to garner more global support for our nation’s right to independence, a public demonstration is required to be organized in front of either the “White House “or “United Nation” Headquarter.
A protest rally will convey a strong message to the US administration that the Kurds do not necessarily agree to every unfair imposed policy in Iraq, and they will not relinquish their respective rights.
Kurds in Iraq reserve the right to maintain the post of presidency and secede from Iraq at any time, should they decide to do so. The issue of Kirkuk and disputed areas need to be respected, accordingly. It should no longer be postponed. A referendum must be held as constitutionally agreed upon.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of world media and politics. Such an action will bear an excellent resonance in foreign media, and draw the world communities to our concerns.
It can be also be used as an opportunity to urge “United Nation” to outline our cause in an international level and seek a long-term solution to the uncertain plight of 40 million homeless Kurds in Middle East.
Kurdishaspect.com – By Baqi Barzani
In order to garner more global support for our nation’s right to independence, a public demonstration is required to be organized in front of either the “White House “or “United Nation” Headquarter.
A protest rally will convey a strong message to the US administration that the Kurds do not necessarily agree to every unfair imposed policy in Iraq, and they will not relinquish their respective rights.
Kurds in Iraq reserve the right to maintain the post of presidency and secede from Iraq at any time, should they decide to do so. The issue of Kirkuk and disputed areas need to be respected, accordingly. It should no longer be postponed. A referendum must be held as constitutionally agreed upon.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of world media and politics. Such an action will bear an excellent resonance in foreign media, and draw the world communities to our concerns.
It can be also be used as an opportunity to urge “United Nation” to outline our cause in an international level and seek a long-term solution to the uncertain plight of 40 million homeless Kurds in Middle East.
A film may speak a million words!
Prepared by Art-in-Mind
29/09/2010
The 3rd Annual Iranian Film Festival in San Francisco was held on September 18-19, 2010. The festival, featuring 30 different movies, was a tribute to Fakhri Khorvash, a pioneering actress from Kermashan, the largest Kurdish city in Iran. All the films deserve a special review which is beyond the scope of this report. The purpose here is to highlight the highlights of the movies seen in1001 words.
Mrs. Khorosh was the main actress of Prince Ehtejab, a classic movie about a Ghajar prince and his maid. Obviously the director, Bahman Farmanara, has a remarkable insight into the impact patriarchy, brutality, child molestation, and abuse has on the development of an individual. While Prince Ehtejab had been made during Pahlavi Dynasti and critical of Ghajar Dynasty, the rest of the films were contemporary and critical of the Islamic Dynasty in Iran. The topics of the films ranged form art, poetry, and painting to politic, human rights violations, and space travel. The festival was a short exposure to a rich cultural heritage and ideal for those in Diaspora who have boycotted visiting Iran.
“Chasing Che”, directed by Alireza Refougaran, an amateur film maker whose unfulfilled dream had been to follow Che’s path. The highlight of the film was when Che’s daughter disclosed in a conference in Tehran what his father stood for. She revealed that contrary to the claims made by Iranian authorities, her father was fighting for freedom and justice, and not for any specific religion.
“Takhti” was about the life of a legendary athlete in Iran. Shahmohamaddi, the director, reviews how Takhti was loved by the left and the right in Iran because of his humble character, simplicity, and fighting for people via wrestling. Takhti’s romantic life, sexual orientation, and suicide remained a mystery despite this comprehensive documentary.
Adel Yaraghi makes one think in his three minutes film “Door,” if there is any difference between forced emancipation and forced veil? Interestingly Reza Shah like Ataturk preferred forced emancipation of women. Fifty years later, Iran turned to an Islamic theocracy and every woman was forced to cover herself.
Bakhtiari’s Alphabet, directed by Sima Sedigh and Reza Ghadyani, was about the challenges of the largest nomadic tribe in Bakhtiari. The state’s rules and regulations do not seem to apply to this resilient, hard working, and self sufficient people. This recent film is not a rerun but very similar to the “Grass, A Nation’s Battle for Life” that was made in 1925 by Marguerite Harrison and her co-travelers to the Bakhtiari region.
In “Letters to the President”, Petr Lom almost presented the same factual yet humane image of Mr. Mahmood Ahamdinejad that Oliver Stone had given to Mr. George Bush in “W”. Interestingly the person in charge of the letter to the Iranian president in the Kurdish region performs his role as if he has no emotional connection to the local residents, which might be symbolic for ethnic disconnect.
The director of “A Close Encounter”, Ismaeel Mihandoust, turns a car accident into a romantic suspense and shows how the life of the upper middle class in Iran resembles that of other people in the developing world.
In the film “Border”, directed by Sattar Chmani Gol, the issue of the artificial division of the Kurdish land between Iran and Iraq is expressed in a 10 minute film. It is a reminder that arbitrary governmental orders can not prevent people from cross border romance and relationships.
Christan Frei reviews the fulfilled dream of the entrepreneur, Anosh Ansari, in “Space Tourist” and encourages the audience not to give up on their dreams even if it is traveling to the space.
“Salam Rugby”, directed by Faramarz Beheshti, was about the obstacles of female athletes in Islamic Iran. It is a unique way to bring gender discrimination in Islamic Iran to the attention of the world.
The highlight of “How Green Was Our Valley”, by Fereshteh Joghataei, is the name of a shrine in a flooded village. People expect a miracle from the shrine of Imamzadeh Shahpour. While an Imamzadeh is expected to carry an Arabic name, Shapour is an Iranian name and it is not clear how he became an Imamzadeh or Arab saint.
“The Final Word” directed by Moslem Mansouri, is about the late prominent poet Ahmad Shamlu. Two impressive points in the contemporary poet’s words were the role of Ida’s love in his life and his determination not to write for the government but for the people.
The “Country Life”, was about the hospitality, hard work, simplicity, and resilience of the people in a Kurdish village. Hossein Jehani showed how a compassionate painter and photographer made the images of the villagers an unforgettable historical record.
In the “Father Gave Water,” Mehdi Jafari depicts sharing as a beautiful concept in a three minute film. Obviously the movie was done with the knowledge of the teacher as the authority figure, but the children in the class room did not know about it. The inherent innocence, sympathy, and sense of sharing among children were shown artistically in this short movie. The point might be that regardless of disconnect between the authority and the people, the people support each other when the time comes.
In “Diplomacy,” John Goldman depicts the dogmatism of an American and Iranian diplomat and how their extreme view point is not supported by the general public played by two translators.
“Reza Shouting Back,” was about the life of the courageous and dedicated National Geographic’s photo journalist Reza. Connie Reinhart and Tom Donohue review how Reza fought back with his camera against human rights violation from the killing of Kurds in Iran to the other crimes in Afghanistan and Rwanda by those who were in power.
In short those who are interested in art and culture are encouraged to attend such festivals for a deeper understanding on people’s challenges in life. If an image can express a thousand words, a film may express a million of them.
Prepared by Art-in-Mind
29/09/2010
The 3rd Annual Iranian Film Festival in San Francisco was held on September 18-19, 2010. The festival, featuring 30 different movies, was a tribute to Fakhri Khorvash, a pioneering actress from Kermashan, the largest Kurdish city in Iran. All the films deserve a special review which is beyond the scope of this report. The purpose here is to highlight the highlights of the movies seen in1001 words.
Mrs. Khorosh was the main actress of Prince Ehtejab, a classic movie about a Ghajar prince and his maid. Obviously the director, Bahman Farmanara, has a remarkable insight into the impact patriarchy, brutality, child molestation, and abuse has on the development of an individual. While Prince Ehtejab had been made during Pahlavi Dynasti and critical of Ghajar Dynasty, the rest of the films were contemporary and critical of the Islamic Dynasty in Iran. The topics of the films ranged form art, poetry, and painting to politic, human rights violations, and space travel. The festival was a short exposure to a rich cultural heritage and ideal for those in Diaspora who have boycotted visiting Iran.
“Chasing Che”, directed by Alireza Refougaran, an amateur film maker whose unfulfilled dream had been to follow Che’s path. The highlight of the film was when Che’s daughter disclosed in a conference in Tehran what his father stood for. She revealed that contrary to the claims made by Iranian authorities, her father was fighting for freedom and justice, and not for any specific religion.
“Takhti” was about the life of a legendary athlete in Iran. Shahmohamaddi, the director, reviews how Takhti was loved by the left and the right in Iran because of his humble character, simplicity, and fighting for people via wrestling. Takhti’s romantic life, sexual orientation, and suicide remained a mystery despite this comprehensive documentary.
Adel Yaraghi makes one think in his three minutes film “Door,” if there is any difference between forced emancipation and forced veil? Interestingly Reza Shah like Ataturk preferred forced emancipation of women. Fifty years later, Iran turned to an Islamic theocracy and every woman was forced to cover herself.
Bakhtiari’s Alphabet, directed by Sima Sedigh and Reza Ghadyani, was about the challenges of the largest nomadic tribe in Bakhtiari. The state’s rules and regulations do not seem to apply to this resilient, hard working, and self sufficient people. This recent film is not a rerun but very similar to the “Grass, A Nation’s Battle for Life” that was made in 1925 by Marguerite Harrison and her co-travelers to the Bakhtiari region.
In “Letters to the President”, Petr Lom almost presented the same factual yet humane image of Mr. Mahmood Ahamdinejad that Oliver Stone had given to Mr. George Bush in “W”. Interestingly the person in charge of the letter to the Iranian president in the Kurdish region performs his role as if he has no emotional connection to the local residents, which might be symbolic for ethnic disconnect.
The director of “A Close Encounter”, Ismaeel Mihandoust, turns a car accident into a romantic suspense and shows how the life of the upper middle class in Iran resembles that of other people in the developing world.
In the film “Border”, directed by Sattar Chmani Gol, the issue of the artificial division of the Kurdish land between Iran and Iraq is expressed in a 10 minute film. It is a reminder that arbitrary governmental orders can not prevent people from cross border romance and relationships.
Christan Frei reviews the fulfilled dream of the entrepreneur, Anosh Ansari, in “Space Tourist” and encourages the audience not to give up on their dreams even if it is traveling to the space.
“Salam Rugby”, directed by Faramarz Beheshti, was about the obstacles of female athletes in Islamic Iran. It is a unique way to bring gender discrimination in Islamic Iran to the attention of the world.
The highlight of “How Green Was Our Valley”, by Fereshteh Joghataei, is the name of a shrine in a flooded village. People expect a miracle from the shrine of Imamzadeh Shahpour. While an Imamzadeh is expected to carry an Arabic name, Shapour is an Iranian name and it is not clear how he became an Imamzadeh or Arab saint.
“The Final Word” directed by Moslem Mansouri, is about the late prominent poet Ahmad Shamlu. Two impressive points in the contemporary poet’s words were the role of Ida’s love in his life and his determination not to write for the government but for the people.
The “Country Life”, was about the hospitality, hard work, simplicity, and resilience of the people in a Kurdish village. Hossein Jehani showed how a compassionate painter and photographer made the images of the villagers an unforgettable historical record.
In the “Father Gave Water,” Mehdi Jafari depicts sharing as a beautiful concept in a three minute film. Obviously the movie was done with the knowledge of the teacher as the authority figure, but the children in the class room did not know about it. The inherent innocence, sympathy, and sense of sharing among children were shown artistically in this short movie. The point might be that regardless of disconnect between the authority and the people, the people support each other when the time comes.
In “Diplomacy,” John Goldman depicts the dogmatism of an American and Iranian diplomat and how their extreme view point is not supported by the general public played by two translators.
“Reza Shouting Back,” was about the life of the courageous and dedicated National Geographic’s photo journalist Reza. Connie Reinhart and Tom Donohue review how Reza fought back with his camera against human rights violation from the killing of Kurds in Iran to the other crimes in Afghanistan and Rwanda by those who were in power.
In short those who are interested in art and culture are encouraged to attend such festivals for a deeper understanding on people’s challenges in life. If an image can express a thousand words, a film may express a million of them.
Prepared by Art-in-Mind
North American conference on the Kurdish language
29/09/2010
KurdishMedia.com
The Conference Announcement with the list of speakers
The Kurdish American Education Society1 in Los Angeles will be hosting the first North American Conference on the Kurdish Language and Culture on November 5 or 12 of 2010. The Conference will bring to Los Angeles Kurdish and non-Kurdish linguists and scholars from different parts of the United States and Canada to address a wide spectrum of topics and research on Kurdish linguistic studies. Our guests and scholars will present their latest findings on a variety of topics related to the status and direction of the Kurdish language(s) We urge all those interested in research about theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, lexicography, educational linguistics, language minorities, heritage languages, literacy, language and literature, language and gender to join us in sponsoring and contributing to the success of this conference. Information on line registration will be made available soon.
The primary goal of the conference is to stress the need for reviewing the existing trends, current challenges, and new linguistic and socio-linguistic and historical studies, recognize the achievements that scholars and practitioners have made in their respective fields of research, and open new possibilities for raising consciousness about and change the state of the language and its community of speakers both within and outside Kurdistan. We wish to bring multiple disciplines and voices together in this conference. We welcome proposals and papers on the following topics: Kurdish language and dialects, Kurdish sociolinguistics, Kurdish as a heritage language, language discrimination, historical linguistics, language and identity, Kurdish scripts and standardization. We will also use the conference as an occasion to honor and pay tribute to the memory of Dr.Vera Saeedpour who laid the foundation for scholarly and academic work on the Kurdish life and culture.
Unfortunately We do not have any funds to pay for the travel expenses of the speaker(s). We encourage participants to either seek institutional funding or independently pay for their travel expenses. Our members will be more than happy to provide accommodations for our guests. Interested participants should send their paper abstracts to sharifiamir@yahoo.com . A 300 word abstract should be sent for consideration by Oct 20, 2010.
1-The Kurdish American Education Society is a non-profit educational and cultural organization.
List of Sponsors
UCLA G.E. Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies
UCLA Program in Indo-European Studies
UCLA Center for World Languages
The Center for Language, Interaction, and Culture
Department of Linguistics, California State University, Long Beach
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Long Beach
Ketab Publications, for publication and promotion of Iranian Books, Westwood. CA
Vision Marketing Communications, Long Beach California
Poetry, Prose, Poster
Contest
The Kurdish American Education Society (KAES) encourages the youth to learn about Kurdish history and culture and to express their understanding artistically. Students and youth (age range of 9-25) are invited to create posters, poems, and essays about Kurdish life, present and past. KAES will offer prizes (to be announced later) to those who produce the best poster, poem, and essay in a contest of creativity.
Entries and poster themes are guided by any topic or image of the participants’ own choices. All work should be submitted by October 25. A panel of judges will review and assess all the submissions based on originality of expression and artistic creativity. Posters should reflect some aspect of Kurdish life in concrete or abstract form. Entries will be evaluated on the basis of originality, visual effectiveness and theme. Awards will be distributed on the day of the conference. All poster submissions should be sent to Zuhdi Sardar and creative writing to Amir Sharifi, the Chairs of poster and essay Committee:
sharifiamir@yahoo.com
zuhdi@roadrunner.com
KurdishMedia.com
KurdishMedia.com
The Conference Announcement with the list of speakers
The Kurdish American Education Society1 in Los Angeles will be hosting the first North American Conference on the Kurdish Language and Culture on November 5 or 12 of 2010. The Conference will bring to Los Angeles Kurdish and non-Kurdish linguists and scholars from different parts of the United States and Canada to address a wide spectrum of topics and research on Kurdish linguistic studies. Our guests and scholars will present their latest findings on a variety of topics related to the status and direction of the Kurdish language(s) We urge all those interested in research about theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, lexicography, educational linguistics, language minorities, heritage languages, literacy, language and literature, language and gender to join us in sponsoring and contributing to the success of this conference. Information on line registration will be made available soon.
The primary goal of the conference is to stress the need for reviewing the existing trends, current challenges, and new linguistic and socio-linguistic and historical studies, recognize the achievements that scholars and practitioners have made in their respective fields of research, and open new possibilities for raising consciousness about and change the state of the language and its community of speakers both within and outside Kurdistan. We wish to bring multiple disciplines and voices together in this conference. We welcome proposals and papers on the following topics: Kurdish language and dialects, Kurdish sociolinguistics, Kurdish as a heritage language, language discrimination, historical linguistics, language and identity, Kurdish scripts and standardization. We will also use the conference as an occasion to honor and pay tribute to the memory of Dr.Vera Saeedpour who laid the foundation for scholarly and academic work on the Kurdish life and culture.
Unfortunately We do not have any funds to pay for the travel expenses of the speaker(s). We encourage participants to either seek institutional funding or independently pay for their travel expenses. Our members will be more than happy to provide accommodations for our guests. Interested participants should send their paper abstracts to sharifiamir@yahoo.com . A 300 word abstract should be sent for consideration by Oct 20, 2010.
1-The Kurdish American Education Society is a non-profit educational and cultural organization.
List of Sponsors
UCLA G.E. Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies
UCLA Program in Indo-European Studies
UCLA Center for World Languages
The Center for Language, Interaction, and Culture
Department of Linguistics, California State University, Long Beach
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Long Beach
Ketab Publications, for publication and promotion of Iranian Books, Westwood. CA
Vision Marketing Communications, Long Beach California
Poetry, Prose, Poster
Contest
The Kurdish American Education Society (KAES) encourages the youth to learn about Kurdish history and culture and to express their understanding artistically. Students and youth (age range of 9-25) are invited to create posters, poems, and essays about Kurdish life, present and past. KAES will offer prizes (to be announced later) to those who produce the best poster, poem, and essay in a contest of creativity.
Entries and poster themes are guided by any topic or image of the participants’ own choices. All work should be submitted by October 25. A panel of judges will review and assess all the submissions based on originality of expression and artistic creativity. Posters should reflect some aspect of Kurdish life in concrete or abstract form. Entries will be evaluated on the basis of originality, visual effectiveness and theme. Awards will be distributed on the day of the conference. All poster submissions should be sent to Zuhdi Sardar and creative writing to Amir Sharifi, the Chairs of poster and essay Committee:
sharifiamir@yahoo.com
zuhdi@roadrunner.com
KurdishMedia.com
151 senior Kurdish politicians and lawyers on trial on 18 October in Diyarbakir, Appeal for international monitors to observe the trial
29/09/2010
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
As western politicians, including David Cameron, laud Turkey for its supposed democratic credentials, countless Kurds languish in Turkish prisons for non-violent political offenses. In the last year and a half, between 840 and 1,700 Kurdish political activists have been thrown in jail on 'terror' charges. Most of those targeted are from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the leftist and pro-Kurdish political party that controls nearly 100 municipalities and has an influential group in parliament.
Notably, the arrest operations began on April 14, 2009 -- two weeks after the BDP routed the ruling party in critical local elections, and one day after the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) declared a unilateral ceasefire in order to give peaceful politics a chance to resolve the conflict. The detainees include 8 elected mayors from the BDP, former members of parliament, and some of the most talented and experienced leaders of the BDP and its youth and women's branches. Turkey claims they're all part of the Democratic Communities of Kurdistan/Turkey Assembly (KCK/TM), described as the urban branch of the PKK.
151 of the most senior people targeted in the so-called 'KCK operation' are scheduled to go on trial in Diyarbakir on October 18. A strong international presence at the trial can help ensure that this long series of injustices doesn't end in the unjust imprisonment of innocent people who are being persecuted for their courageous efforts on behalf of democracy and human rights. In this spirit, Peace in Kurdistan plans to send a delegation of observers to Diyarbakir between 17-21 October.
In addition to the popular mayor of Diyarbakir, Mr. Osman Baydemir, among those scheduled to go on trial for 'membership of a terror organization' on October 18 is Mr. Muharrem Erbey, the imprisoned vice chairman of Turkey's largest human rights group, the Human Rights Association (IHD). The evidence against him presented in the indictment includes his participation in a commission established by other leading lawyers and legal scholars to study Turkey's constitution and develop proposals for democratic constitutional reform; his human rights work with the London-based NGOs and legal organisations; and numerous interviews he’s given to international media outlets.
In the indictment, the prosecutor writes the following about a January 2009 interview Mr. Erbey gave to Voice of America, in which he discussed the problem of impunity for torture and police brutality in Turkey: “It’s understood [from the interview] that Muharrem Erbey has aimed to put our country in a difficult position in international platforms by asserting that the state ignores the supposed maltreatment of Kurdish people carried out by police and soldiers in eastern provinces.”
Not only is it clear that Mr. Erbey is being targeted for his courageous work as a human rights defender; the prosecution is also trampling on the rights of internationals to hear critical viewpoints on the situation in southeastern Turkey.
American freelance journalist Jake Hess, who was recently deported as part of the KCK operation after reporting critically on human rights abuses against Kurds in Turkey, was asked extensively about his contacts with human rights organisations in London during his interrogation. 'Anti-terror' police in Diyarbakir informed him that they know these organisations and their staff 'well' and that they 'have sisters in London' -- meaning spies who monitor the activities of British citizens and legal organisations based in the UK.
These examples openly show that the Turkish government is trying to crush the solidarity links between Kurds and their international supporters. The fact that legal groups are being monitored suggests that our modest work to support the Kurds and broaden the public's understanding of human rights in Turkey is having an impact.
The outrageous criminalisation of our solidarity efforts demands a vigorous international response. As Peace in Kurdistan, we're proud of our efforts to stand with Kurds in their fight against the Turkish-EU-US campaign to crush their movement for democracy and human rights, and our support is now as necessary as it's ever been as some of the most senior people targeted in the arrest operations go on trial October 18.
As noted above, we plan to organise a delegation to observe the trial in Diyarbakir from 17-21 October. In addition to monitoring the trial, participants will have a chance to meet with human rights organizations in Diyarbakir and learn about current conditions on the ground first hand. Please contact us if you would like further details.
There's a real threat that these scandalous arrests will conclude with equally scandalous prison sentences. A strong international monitoring group at the trial can play an important role in preventing this alarmingly possible outcome.
Further reading
HRW statement on arrest of Muharrem Erbey: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/01/12/turkey-rights-defender-arrested
English Pen statement on Muharrem Erbey: http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/turkeywriterandlawyermuharremerbeydetained/
Amnesty International briefing on human rights in Turkey, including Muharrem Erbey's case: www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR44/004/.../eur440042010en.pdf
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network statement on Muharrem Erbey: http://en.euromedrights.org/index.php/news/emhrn_releases/emhrn_statements_2009/4058.html
My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison, Jake Hess, The Independent, 31/8/10
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/my-reporting-on-the-kurds-landed-me-in-a-turkish-prison-2066157.html
Peace in Kurdistan Appeal letter to PM Erdogan (attached)
For information contact
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign: Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question
estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Estella Schmid - Tel: 020 7586 5892 – mobile 07846666804
Rachel Bird - Tel: 020 7272 4131
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas, Bairbre de Brún MEP
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
As western politicians, including David Cameron, laud Turkey for its supposed democratic credentials, countless Kurds languish in Turkish prisons for non-violent political offenses. In the last year and a half, between 840 and 1,700 Kurdish political activists have been thrown in jail on 'terror' charges. Most of those targeted are from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the leftist and pro-Kurdish political party that controls nearly 100 municipalities and has an influential group in parliament.
Notably, the arrest operations began on April 14, 2009 -- two weeks after the BDP routed the ruling party in critical local elections, and one day after the armed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) declared a unilateral ceasefire in order to give peaceful politics a chance to resolve the conflict. The detainees include 8 elected mayors from the BDP, former members of parliament, and some of the most talented and experienced leaders of the BDP and its youth and women's branches. Turkey claims they're all part of the Democratic Communities of Kurdistan/Turkey Assembly (KCK/TM), described as the urban branch of the PKK.
151 of the most senior people targeted in the so-called 'KCK operation' are scheduled to go on trial in Diyarbakir on October 18. A strong international presence at the trial can help ensure that this long series of injustices doesn't end in the unjust imprisonment of innocent people who are being persecuted for their courageous efforts on behalf of democracy and human rights. In this spirit, Peace in Kurdistan plans to send a delegation of observers to Diyarbakir between 17-21 October.
In addition to the popular mayor of Diyarbakir, Mr. Osman Baydemir, among those scheduled to go on trial for 'membership of a terror organization' on October 18 is Mr. Muharrem Erbey, the imprisoned vice chairman of Turkey's largest human rights group, the Human Rights Association (IHD). The evidence against him presented in the indictment includes his participation in a commission established by other leading lawyers and legal scholars to study Turkey's constitution and develop proposals for democratic constitutional reform; his human rights work with the London-based NGOs and legal organisations; and numerous interviews he’s given to international media outlets.
In the indictment, the prosecutor writes the following about a January 2009 interview Mr. Erbey gave to Voice of America, in which he discussed the problem of impunity for torture and police brutality in Turkey: “It’s understood [from the interview] that Muharrem Erbey has aimed to put our country in a difficult position in international platforms by asserting that the state ignores the supposed maltreatment of Kurdish people carried out by police and soldiers in eastern provinces.”
Not only is it clear that Mr. Erbey is being targeted for his courageous work as a human rights defender; the prosecution is also trampling on the rights of internationals to hear critical viewpoints on the situation in southeastern Turkey.
American freelance journalist Jake Hess, who was recently deported as part of the KCK operation after reporting critically on human rights abuses against Kurds in Turkey, was asked extensively about his contacts with human rights organisations in London during his interrogation. 'Anti-terror' police in Diyarbakir informed him that they know these organisations and their staff 'well' and that they 'have sisters in London' -- meaning spies who monitor the activities of British citizens and legal organisations based in the UK.
These examples openly show that the Turkish government is trying to crush the solidarity links between Kurds and their international supporters. The fact that legal groups are being monitored suggests that our modest work to support the Kurds and broaden the public's understanding of human rights in Turkey is having an impact.
The outrageous criminalisation of our solidarity efforts demands a vigorous international response. As Peace in Kurdistan, we're proud of our efforts to stand with Kurds in their fight against the Turkish-EU-US campaign to crush their movement for democracy and human rights, and our support is now as necessary as it's ever been as some of the most senior people targeted in the arrest operations go on trial October 18.
As noted above, we plan to organise a delegation to observe the trial in Diyarbakir from 17-21 October. In addition to monitoring the trial, participants will have a chance to meet with human rights organizations in Diyarbakir and learn about current conditions on the ground first hand. Please contact us if you would like further details.
There's a real threat that these scandalous arrests will conclude with equally scandalous prison sentences. A strong international monitoring group at the trial can play an important role in preventing this alarmingly possible outcome.
Further reading
HRW statement on arrest of Muharrem Erbey: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/01/12/turkey-rights-defender-arrested
English Pen statement on Muharrem Erbey: http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/turkeywriterandlawyermuharremerbeydetained/
Amnesty International briefing on human rights in Turkey, including Muharrem Erbey's case: www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR44/004/.../eur440042010en.pdf
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network statement on Muharrem Erbey: http://en.euromedrights.org/index.php/news/emhrn_releases/emhrn_statements_2009/4058.html
My reporting on the Kurds landed me in a Turkish prison, Jake Hess, The Independent, 31/8/10
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/my-reporting-on-the-kurds-landed-me-in-a-turkish-prison-2066157.html
Peace in Kurdistan Appeal letter to PM Erdogan (attached)
For information contact
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign: Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question
estella24@tiscali.co.uk
Estella Schmid - Tel: 020 7586 5892 – mobile 07846666804
Rachel Bird - Tel: 020 7272 4131
Patrons: Lord Avebury, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Gareth Peirce, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas, Bairbre de Brún MEP
Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
Kurdish leader says two protocols could reach parliament after elections
29 September 2010
Two protocols will deal with security and democratic rights
Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan said in his meeting with lawyers that as a result of the ongoing meetings with government officials he can foresee the adoption of two protocols between Kurds and the government. According to Öcalan the first protocol will deal with the security dimension and the other with democratic rights. The two protocols could be "submitted to Parliament after next year’s elections and two parliamentary commissions could be set up. One - added Öcalan - could be a preparatory commission for a new constitution and the other one a fact-finding commission for looking into extra-judicial killings and all other human rights violations.”
Öcalan also suggested that BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) ask for a meeting with the opposition CHP (Republican People’s Party). “There is a need to meet with the CHP. - said Öcalan - Turkey and its state do not consist only of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP. It’s true that the AKP has been well established within the state, but the entire state cannot be seen as pro-AKP. The meetings held here are done on behalf of the state. There is no need to fear, it’s a state project.”
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Two protocols will deal with security and democratic rights
Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan said in his meeting with lawyers that as a result of the ongoing meetings with government officials he can foresee the adoption of two protocols between Kurds and the government. According to Öcalan the first protocol will deal with the security dimension and the other with democratic rights. The two protocols could be "submitted to Parliament after next year’s elections and two parliamentary commissions could be set up. One - added Öcalan - could be a preparatory commission for a new constitution and the other one a fact-finding commission for looking into extra-judicial killings and all other human rights violations.”
Öcalan also suggested that BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) ask for a meeting with the opposition CHP (Republican People’s Party). “There is a need to meet with the CHP. - said Öcalan - Turkey and its state do not consist only of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP. It’s true that the AKP has been well established within the state, but the entire state cannot be seen as pro-AKP. The meetings held here are done on behalf of the state. There is no need to fear, it’s a state project.”
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Tugluk: We still don't know what the state is aiming to
I saw a strong willingness for peace and solution in Imrali but we are unsure about the state. We still do not know whether the state aims at solution or purge", thus co-chair of DTK Aysel Tugluk who visited the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan in Imrali island prison the other day summarized her feelings about the visit.
Speaking to Dicle News Agency Tugluk evaluated her first visit to Imrali after 5 years.
“I found Mr. Ocalan very dynamic, lively and determinant. He also has good command of the ongoing process. He has lost nothing from his enthusiasm and excitement.” said Tugluk. She further continued: “He said that he still believes in a peaceful and democratic solution based on brotherhood of the Kurdish and Turkish people. He is also decisive about a political solution and he will continue his endeavours for this solution. There is a will to continue the ceasefire and the PKK is acting in good faith. However, it still remains unclear how the Turkish state will respond, whether there is a strong will at the state side in order to solve problem. In order words we can put it in this way: Mr. Ocalan has a strong will for peace and solution. And it is based on brotherhood of the people.”
The approach of the state is unclear, we have concerns
Tugluk further stated that it is still unclear about which method the state will use to solve problem. Kurdish problem is due now and the Kurds have a strong and clear will to solve it. Although there is a solution project by the Kurds the state side is unclear. We are concerned about sincerity and willingness of the ruling AKP party.
“We are concerned whether the dialog aims at purge”
Tugluk also said that:”It is very clear that AKP is aware of the fact that conditions for the solution of the Kurdish problem are suitable. I also think that AKP has reached a consensus with the other organs of the state and persuaded them. However, there are clear differences between the AKP’s solution strategy and the Kurds’ strategy which is very clear. However, AKP’s approach remains unclear and we are concerned whether the government is aiming at purging the Kurdish movement rather than solving it.”
Ocalan is ready for the solution
Tugluk added: “I can say that Mr. Ocalan is ready for negotiations for solving the solution. He reiterated several times that he is decisive in negotiations. However, the approach of the officials is still clear and their approach will form the future of the process.
In terms of Mr. Ocalan and the PKK it is very clear. They performed their will for a solution based on democratic rights of the Kurds and they are waiting the state to respond this will.”
The state insists on leaving the problem unsolved
Tugluk further stated that the approach from the state which imposes a particular framework for the solution is not contributing the negotiations and it is another way to express their unwillingness. She also said that the political will of the Kurdish people should be understood clearly and the framework should be former in accordance with this will.
We should push the state
Tugluk also said that the Kurds should push the state for a solution. The state might be aiming at purging the Kurds but pressuring the state can help the solution.
Ocalan to be able to keep in touch with the PKK
Turgluk further stated that to be able to continue the negotiations Mr. Ocalan should be able to correspond with the organisation so that the talks can continue is a healthier way. He shold also be able to be in touch with political organisations within Turkey.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Speaking to Dicle News Agency Tugluk evaluated her first visit to Imrali after 5 years.
“I found Mr. Ocalan very dynamic, lively and determinant. He also has good command of the ongoing process. He has lost nothing from his enthusiasm and excitement.” said Tugluk. She further continued: “He said that he still believes in a peaceful and democratic solution based on brotherhood of the Kurdish and Turkish people. He is also decisive about a political solution and he will continue his endeavours for this solution. There is a will to continue the ceasefire and the PKK is acting in good faith. However, it still remains unclear how the Turkish state will respond, whether there is a strong will at the state side in order to solve problem. In order words we can put it in this way: Mr. Ocalan has a strong will for peace and solution. And it is based on brotherhood of the people.”
The approach of the state is unclear, we have concerns
Tugluk further stated that it is still unclear about which method the state will use to solve problem. Kurdish problem is due now and the Kurds have a strong and clear will to solve it. Although there is a solution project by the Kurds the state side is unclear. We are concerned about sincerity and willingness of the ruling AKP party.
“We are concerned whether the dialog aims at purge”
Tugluk also said that:”It is very clear that AKP is aware of the fact that conditions for the solution of the Kurdish problem are suitable. I also think that AKP has reached a consensus with the other organs of the state and persuaded them. However, there are clear differences between the AKP’s solution strategy and the Kurds’ strategy which is very clear. However, AKP’s approach remains unclear and we are concerned whether the government is aiming at purging the Kurdish movement rather than solving it.”
Ocalan is ready for the solution
Tugluk added: “I can say that Mr. Ocalan is ready for negotiations for solving the solution. He reiterated several times that he is decisive in negotiations. However, the approach of the officials is still clear and their approach will form the future of the process.
In terms of Mr. Ocalan and the PKK it is very clear. They performed their will for a solution based on democratic rights of the Kurds and they are waiting the state to respond this will.”
The state insists on leaving the problem unsolved
Tugluk further stated that the approach from the state which imposes a particular framework for the solution is not contributing the negotiations and it is another way to express their unwillingness. She also said that the political will of the Kurdish people should be understood clearly and the framework should be former in accordance with this will.
We should push the state
Tugluk also said that the Kurds should push the state for a solution. The state might be aiming at purging the Kurds but pressuring the state can help the solution.
Ocalan to be able to keep in touch with the PKK
Turgluk further stated that to be able to continue the negotiations Mr. Ocalan should be able to correspond with the organisation so that the talks can continue is a healthier way. He shold also be able to be in touch with political organisations within Turkey.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Hunger strike by families enters third day
29 September 2010
Families of prisoners are staging an hunger strike to protest against treatment of ill detainees
The hunger strike started by Diyar TUHAD-DER and the families of ill prisoners for the releasing of ill prisoners and against the increasing abuses of right, has entered its 3rd day. Worried about the lives of their ill relatives, the families are pining for their children, not their coffins.
Most of them being old, 50 people alternately go on hunger strike in the tent they set up in Koşuyolu Park. And many citizens visit the strike tent and support the families by not leaving them alone. The families hung banners and placards, the photos of the prisoners that died in prisons and the photos of the currently ill prisoners in all four sides of the tent, resisting against one more death in prison. With black arm bands, which are the symbol of hunger strikes, the relatives are hoping the liberation of their children. The resistance of the families is supported with this hope and the citizens visiting them.
It is possible to understand the demand of the families from the banners and placards. Banners "Ji girtîyên nexweş re azadî", “Let’s embrace our children”, “The government is responsible for deaths.”, “We want our children, not their coffins.” “Release our hearths” clearly reflect the demands and the reflections of families.
HUNGER STRIKE GOING ON WITH 50-MEN GROUPS
Families alternately stay on the strike with 50-men groups every day from 11.00 a.m till 11.00 a.m. the other day. Families follow the political agenda of the country closely from newspapers, while on the other side making evaluations with conversations all day long. The families are given moral support with Kurdish songs and halays (Anatolian folk dance) by DYG activist youth who visit the tent every night.
The hunger strike of the families is continuing in its 3rd day.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Families of prisoners are staging an hunger strike to protest against treatment of ill detainees
The hunger strike started by Diyar TUHAD-DER and the families of ill prisoners for the releasing of ill prisoners and against the increasing abuses of right, has entered its 3rd day. Worried about the lives of their ill relatives, the families are pining for their children, not their coffins.
Most of them being old, 50 people alternately go on hunger strike in the tent they set up in Koşuyolu Park. And many citizens visit the strike tent and support the families by not leaving them alone. The families hung banners and placards, the photos of the prisoners that died in prisons and the photos of the currently ill prisoners in all four sides of the tent, resisting against one more death in prison. With black arm bands, which are the symbol of hunger strikes, the relatives are hoping the liberation of their children. The resistance of the families is supported with this hope and the citizens visiting them.
It is possible to understand the demand of the families from the banners and placards. Banners "Ji girtîyên nexweş re azadî", “Let’s embrace our children”, “The government is responsible for deaths.”, “We want our children, not their coffins.” “Release our hearths” clearly reflect the demands and the reflections of families.
HUNGER STRIKE GOING ON WITH 50-MEN GROUPS
Families alternately stay on the strike with 50-men groups every day from 11.00 a.m till 11.00 a.m. the other day. Families follow the political agenda of the country closely from newspapers, while on the other side making evaluations with conversations all day long. The families are given moral support with Kurdish songs and halays (Anatolian folk dance) by DYG activist youth who visit the tent every night.
The hunger strike of the families is continuing in its 3rd day.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Detained former police chief Avcı tansferred to Istanbul
29 September 2010
Former police chief questioned over alleged use of phone line belonging to left armed group
The former police chief of Eskişehir, Hanefi Avcı, has been arrested yesterday in Ankara. The former police chief was transferred to the Beşiktaş Courthouse in Istanbul under strict security measures.
Avcı had come into the spotlight following the publication of his book, “Haliç’te Yaşayan Simonlar: Dün Devlet Bugün Cemaat” (‘Devotee’ Residents of Haliç: Yesterday State, Today Religious Congregation). The book alleges that the religious Fethullah Gülen community has covertly taken over control of the state. Avcı claimed in his book that members of the community led by Fethullah Gülen had illegally tapped telephone conversations, including some of his own phone calls.
Prosecutors in Ankara had called on Avcı to answer allegations that he had been using a telephone line belonging to a member of an illegal organization called “The Revolutionary Headquarters.” He refused to answer. Last week alleged members of "The Revolutionary Headquarters" had been arrested.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Former police chief questioned over alleged use of phone line belonging to left armed group
The former police chief of Eskişehir, Hanefi Avcı, has been arrested yesterday in Ankara. The former police chief was transferred to the Beşiktaş Courthouse in Istanbul under strict security measures.
Avcı had come into the spotlight following the publication of his book, “Haliç’te Yaşayan Simonlar: Dün Devlet Bugün Cemaat” (‘Devotee’ Residents of Haliç: Yesterday State, Today Religious Congregation). The book alleges that the religious Fethullah Gülen community has covertly taken over control of the state. Avcı claimed in his book that members of the community led by Fethullah Gülen had illegally tapped telephone conversations, including some of his own phone calls.
Prosecutors in Ankara had called on Avcı to answer allegations that he had been using a telephone line belonging to a member of an illegal organization called “The Revolutionary Headquarters.” He refused to answer. Last week alleged members of "The Revolutionary Headquarters" had been arrested.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Self-Sacrificing for the Nation
Rudaw News Agency
By ABDULLA NIHELI
28/09/2010
DOHUK, Iraqi Kurdistan: Layla was put behind bars for 11 years for her political activism in Turkey, a country that has yet to recognize her ethnic group. She became married to her cousin when she was only 14, but she spent only 5 years with her spouse due to punishments the couple received from the Turkish state.
The couple has spent their entire life in a political struggle aimed at granting more political and cultural rights for the Kurds, an ethnic group that formally and constitutionally does not exist in Turkey.
Layla is called Layla Zana named after her husband Mahdi Zana, who spent 16 years behind bars.
In a rare interview with Rudaw, she said she was fine to talk much but preferred to see little published, as she still feared that her words might end her up in prison like they did in 1993.
She was then a member of the Turkish parliament as a candidate for the now-defunct pro-Kurdish Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP). Layla got the prison term particularly for speaking in her mother tongue, touching on one of the taboos of the Turkish political arena.
She is the first Kurd to have had the audacity to do so. Suddenly after her, 7 other Kurdish MPs were jailed for the same reason. They were accused by the Turkish Supreme Court of violating Turkish constitution and attempting to divide the nation.
Some Turkish parliamentarians shouted: “What is this? Who dare to speak inside the Turkish Parliament in another language?”
Though Layla was sentenced for a15-year prison term, she was freed after spending 11 years in jail after Turkey came under a pressure by the European Union to release her.
She was here in Iraqi Kurdistan earlier this month. One of the places she visited here was a prison in Dohuk where she cried for almost two hours.
She said she had remembered the punishments and the unpleasant time she had spent during her prison time.
Layla has received several international peace prizes and awards including Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament.
"My massage is peace and I love peace. I hope every one in the world lives in peace especially the Kurdish nation and Kurdish woman," she said in Duhok.
She was here in Kurdistan to make preparations for a conference about Kurdish women expected to be held in the north of Iraq.
Layla Zana was born on May 3, 1961 in Bakhcha village (20 Km near Farqini Town in Diyarbakir). Her village has 8 houses and all of them are relatives. They follow the religious school of Sunni Muslims Naqishbandi.
“When Layla wanted to became a member of parliament, I told her she would face arrestment, punishment, and prison, if we speak in Kurdish. But we have to,” said her husband; Mahdi Zana has told Rudaw in another interview.
By ABDULLA NIHELI
28/09/2010
DOHUK, Iraqi Kurdistan: Layla was put behind bars for 11 years for her political activism in Turkey, a country that has yet to recognize her ethnic group. She became married to her cousin when she was only 14, but she spent only 5 years with her spouse due to punishments the couple received from the Turkish state.
The couple has spent their entire life in a political struggle aimed at granting more political and cultural rights for the Kurds, an ethnic group that formally and constitutionally does not exist in Turkey.
Layla is called Layla Zana named after her husband Mahdi Zana, who spent 16 years behind bars.
In a rare interview with Rudaw, she said she was fine to talk much but preferred to see little published, as she still feared that her words might end her up in prison like they did in 1993.
She was then a member of the Turkish parliament as a candidate for the now-defunct pro-Kurdish Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP). Layla got the prison term particularly for speaking in her mother tongue, touching on one of the taboos of the Turkish political arena.
She is the first Kurd to have had the audacity to do so. Suddenly after her, 7 other Kurdish MPs were jailed for the same reason. They were accused by the Turkish Supreme Court of violating Turkish constitution and attempting to divide the nation.
Some Turkish parliamentarians shouted: “What is this? Who dare to speak inside the Turkish Parliament in another language?”
Though Layla was sentenced for a15-year prison term, she was freed after spending 11 years in jail after Turkey came under a pressure by the European Union to release her.
She was here in Iraqi Kurdistan earlier this month. One of the places she visited here was a prison in Dohuk where she cried for almost two hours.
She said she had remembered the punishments and the unpleasant time she had spent during her prison time.
Layla has received several international peace prizes and awards including Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament.
"My massage is peace and I love peace. I hope every one in the world lives in peace especially the Kurdish nation and Kurdish woman," she said in Duhok.
She was here in Kurdistan to make preparations for a conference about Kurdish women expected to be held in the north of Iraq.
Layla Zana was born on May 3, 1961 in Bakhcha village (20 Km near Farqini Town in Diyarbakir). Her village has 8 houses and all of them are relatives. They follow the religious school of Sunni Muslims Naqishbandi.
“When Layla wanted to became a member of parliament, I told her she would face arrestment, punishment, and prison, if we speak in Kurdish. But we have to,” said her husband; Mahdi Zana has told Rudaw in another interview.
Torturers Will be Called to Account
Tuesday, September 28 2010
Erol ÖNDEROĞLU- The Facts Research and Justice Commission decided to take the torturers of the Diyarbakır prison from the time around the 1980 military coup to court. Kurdish politician Miroğlu who was detained in the prison for several years, is both a victim and a witness.The Diyarbakır Prison Commission on Facts Research and Justice, established by the 78'ers initiative, decided in a symposium to file criminal complaints against the people on duty who maltreated the prisoners during the martial law after the military coup on 12 September 1980.
The Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organized a two-day symposium themed "Turkey faces the Truth of Diyarbakır Prison". In a declaration it was announced that the vicitims and witnessess of 12 September file a criminal complaint at the Diyarbakır Public Prosecution. Diyabakır is a Kurdish-majority city in the south-east of Turkey.
Celalettin Can, spokesman of the 78'ers Initiative, read out the declaration of the symposium. According to Can, interviews made with 461 victims within three years were recorded in 800 hours of voice records and 7,500 pages of decrypted information were evaluated. He said that an application would be made to the Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor for the prosecution of the responsible people.
According to an estimation made by Forensic Medicine Expert Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı and Psychotherapist Dr Murat Paker, around 5,000 people were tortured in the Diyarbakır Prison.
Miroğlu: "I am a witness and a victim"
One of the witnesses of the commission is the Kurdish politician and writer Orhan Miroğlu, who was detained in the Diyarbakır prison for six years. In an article entitled "What did you do to this people - 1" published in Taraf newspaper on Monday (27 September), he wrote: "I was talking about what happened in Diyarbakır Prison to an elderly fellow inmate. He did not believe it was real. He said, 'No, we are dead and this is hell and the guards are demons'".
Some of the testimonies written down by Miroğlu
Serdil Büyükkaya (daughter of Necmettin Büyükkaya who died as the result of torture in the Diyarbakır prison in 1984): On a visiting day they took us inside and told us to turn our heads towards the wall. [...] People with handcuffs and tied feet were made to get off a prison vehicle... They were like white slaves... I hugged my father during one visit. He whispered into my ear: 'Tell your mother, the conditions here are very bad'. My father was 41 years old. He died as a result of torture carried out by Captain Abdullah Kahraman and a military officer called Ali Osman.
Serap Mutlu Doğan (sister of Mazlum Doğan who hung herself in her cell on 21 March 1982): Mazlum had no fingers left. We do not know whether the rats ate them or whether they were burned with electricity.
Mehdiye Özhan Özbay (describing the situation in the women's ward): When it came to collective beating, 2.5-year old Reco would hug the legs of the guards to hinder them from beating his mother... [...]
Salih Sezgin: I was 17 years old when I was taken to prison. I did not know Turkish very well. I would not have believed that any state would be able to treat its citizens that badly - until I came to the Diyarbakır Prison... The cells were full of excrements; 30-40 people stayed in once cell. In winter, we were taken outside naked and they forced us to get on top of each other. There was one single reason for all the torture: We were Kurds. (BT/EÖ/VK)
This news is partly based on the www.diyarbakirzindani.com website and the article written by Orhan Miroğlu in the Taraf issue dd. 27.09.2010.
Erol ÖNDEROĞLU- The Facts Research and Justice Commission decided to take the torturers of the Diyarbakır prison from the time around the 1980 military coup to court. Kurdish politician Miroğlu who was detained in the prison for several years, is both a victim and a witness.The Diyarbakır Prison Commission on Facts Research and Justice, established by the 78'ers initiative, decided in a symposium to file criminal complaints against the people on duty who maltreated the prisoners during the martial law after the military coup on 12 September 1980.
The Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organized a two-day symposium themed "Turkey faces the Truth of Diyarbakır Prison". In a declaration it was announced that the vicitims and witnessess of 12 September file a criminal complaint at the Diyarbakır Public Prosecution. Diyabakır is a Kurdish-majority city in the south-east of Turkey.
Celalettin Can, spokesman of the 78'ers Initiative, read out the declaration of the symposium. According to Can, interviews made with 461 victims within three years were recorded in 800 hours of voice records and 7,500 pages of decrypted information were evaluated. He said that an application would be made to the Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor for the prosecution of the responsible people.
According to an estimation made by Forensic Medicine Expert Prof. Şebnem Korur Fincancı and Psychotherapist Dr Murat Paker, around 5,000 people were tortured in the Diyarbakır Prison.
Miroğlu: "I am a witness and a victim"
One of the witnesses of the commission is the Kurdish politician and writer Orhan Miroğlu, who was detained in the Diyarbakır prison for six years. In an article entitled "What did you do to this people - 1" published in Taraf newspaper on Monday (27 September), he wrote: "I was talking about what happened in Diyarbakır Prison to an elderly fellow inmate. He did not believe it was real. He said, 'No, we are dead and this is hell and the guards are demons'".
Some of the testimonies written down by Miroğlu
Serdil Büyükkaya (daughter of Necmettin Büyükkaya who died as the result of torture in the Diyarbakır prison in 1984): On a visiting day they took us inside and told us to turn our heads towards the wall. [...] People with handcuffs and tied feet were made to get off a prison vehicle... They were like white slaves... I hugged my father during one visit. He whispered into my ear: 'Tell your mother, the conditions here are very bad'. My father was 41 years old. He died as a result of torture carried out by Captain Abdullah Kahraman and a military officer called Ali Osman.
Serap Mutlu Doğan (sister of Mazlum Doğan who hung herself in her cell on 21 March 1982): Mazlum had no fingers left. We do not know whether the rats ate them or whether they were burned with electricity.
Mehdiye Özhan Özbay (describing the situation in the women's ward): When it came to collective beating, 2.5-year old Reco would hug the legs of the guards to hinder them from beating his mother... [...]
Salih Sezgin: I was 17 years old when I was taken to prison. I did not know Turkish very well. I would not have believed that any state would be able to treat its citizens that badly - until I came to the Diyarbakır Prison... The cells were full of excrements; 30-40 people stayed in once cell. In winter, we were taken outside naked and they forced us to get on top of each other. There was one single reason for all the torture: We were Kurds. (BT/EÖ/VK)
This news is partly based on the www.diyarbakirzindani.com website and the article written by Orhan Miroğlu in the Taraf issue dd. 27.09.2010.
The COE delegation met co-chair of DTK Aysel Tugluk
28 September 2010
After their request to visit Kurdish leader Ocalan was rejected Council of Europe met Tugluk
The delegation composed of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lydie Err, Albrecht Konecny and Jhon Austin met the co-chair of Democratic Society Congress Aysel Tugluk was in Imrali Island in order to visit the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The delegation composed of Lydie Err of Luxembourg Socialist Group, Jhon Austin of British Socialist Group and Albrecht Konecny of Austrian Socialist Group visited Aysel Tugluk at Asrin Law Office in Istanbul. While the meeting was closed to the press it is reported that recent developments in the Kurdish problem and the situation of Abdullah Ocalan were among the discussed topics.
The delegation assigned by the Council of Europe in order to observe the human rights in Turkey, particularly the situation of the children who are on trial within the scope of the anti-terror law, the situation of women rights wanted to visit the imprisoned leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan in his prison cell in Imrali Island. However, their application for the visit has been rejected by the ministry of interior. The MP's are still expecting to hear the response from the Turkish Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin for an appointment.
The delegation is expected to visit some Kurdish organisations including the Kurdish Institute today.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
After their request to visit Kurdish leader Ocalan was rejected Council of Europe met Tugluk
The delegation composed of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lydie Err, Albrecht Konecny and Jhon Austin met the co-chair of Democratic Society Congress Aysel Tugluk was in Imrali Island in order to visit the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.
The delegation composed of Lydie Err of Luxembourg Socialist Group, Jhon Austin of British Socialist Group and Albrecht Konecny of Austrian Socialist Group visited Aysel Tugluk at Asrin Law Office in Istanbul. While the meeting was closed to the press it is reported that recent developments in the Kurdish problem and the situation of Abdullah Ocalan were among the discussed topics.
The delegation assigned by the Council of Europe in order to observe the human rights in Turkey, particularly the situation of the children who are on trial within the scope of the anti-terror law, the situation of women rights wanted to visit the imprisoned leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan in his prison cell in Imrali Island. However, their application for the visit has been rejected by the ministry of interior. The MP's are still expecting to hear the response from the Turkish Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin for an appointment.
The delegation is expected to visit some Kurdish organisations including the Kurdish Institute today.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Village guards laid down their weapons
28 September 2010
Fourteen village guards in Yuksekova laid down their weapons
Fourteen village guards in Yuksekova district of Hakkari laid down their weapons. Aydin Er who gave his weapon back to the state officials after 21 years said: "I would get retired soon. However, the result of the boycott campaign and the massacre in Gecitli (peyanis) village made me to take this decision. Now the Kurdish people are all unified against denial and destruction but we village guards are out of our own people. It is the time for village guards to realise this fact."
It is reported that 14 village guards quit after the controversial roadside bomb attack in which 9 civilians lost their lives in Peyanis village. The village guards submitted their rifles back to the Gendarmerie Headquarters in Yuksekova.
One of the guards Fahri Oymen stated that he buried his weapon the day he was given and when he gave it back to Kamisli Gendarmerie station he faced an investigation on account of not looking after his weapon.
Meanwhile, Head of pro-Kurdish BDP office in Yuksekova welcomed the decision from village guards and said: "The village guards system is being used against our people for years and hopefully there will be more guards giving up their weapons."
ANF / YÜKSEKOVA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Fourteen village guards in Yuksekova laid down their weapons
Fourteen village guards in Yuksekova district of Hakkari laid down their weapons. Aydin Er who gave his weapon back to the state officials after 21 years said: "I would get retired soon. However, the result of the boycott campaign and the massacre in Gecitli (peyanis) village made me to take this decision. Now the Kurdish people are all unified against denial and destruction but we village guards are out of our own people. It is the time for village guards to realise this fact."
It is reported that 14 village guards quit after the controversial roadside bomb attack in which 9 civilians lost their lives in Peyanis village. The village guards submitted their rifles back to the Gendarmerie Headquarters in Yuksekova.
One of the guards Fahri Oymen stated that he buried his weapon the day he was given and when he gave it back to Kamisli Gendarmerie station he faced an investigation on account of not looking after his weapon.
Meanwhile, Head of pro-Kurdish BDP office in Yuksekova welcomed the decision from village guards and said: "The village guards system is being used against our people for years and hopefully there will be more guards giving up their weapons."
ANF / YÜKSEKOVA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Hatip Dicle on trial for separate charges
28 September 2010
Trials combined for Hatip Dicle
Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Ex- Co-Chair Hatip Dicle’s file about is trial for “membership of an organization”, has been combined with the file of KCK (Kurdistan Democratic Confederation).
On the demand of his lawyers’ Dicle’s case file on “membership of an organization” because of 3 separate speeches, which was advanced at Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court, was combined with KCK file.
Reminding that Dicle will be tried in KCK file also for “organization membership” due to same speeches, Dicle’s lawyer demanded the combination of the file with KCK file as he was separately tried by 6th High Criminal Court in the running case. The demand of the lawyers, which remarked that two times trial would be a repeating, was taken into consideration by the court and the file was combined with KCK file.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Trials combined for Hatip Dicle
Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Ex- Co-Chair Hatip Dicle’s file about is trial for “membership of an organization”, has been combined with the file of KCK (Kurdistan Democratic Confederation).
On the demand of his lawyers’ Dicle’s case file on “membership of an organization” because of 3 separate speeches, which was advanced at Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court, was combined with KCK file.
Reminding that Dicle will be tried in KCK file also for “organization membership” due to same speeches, Dicle’s lawyer demanded the combination of the file with KCK file as he was separately tried by 6th High Criminal Court in the running case. The demand of the lawyers, which remarked that two times trial would be a repeating, was taken into consideration by the court and the file was combined with KCK file.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Turkish court sentences president of BDP to 10-month imprisonment
28 September 2010
Demirtas tried for 'disseminating propaganda'
Diyarbakir Heavy Criminal Court Nr.5 sentenced co-chair of pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selhattin Demirtas to 10-month imprisonment on account of "disseminating propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers' Party". The punishment came in a period while dialog and peace demands are raising and the government officials started meeting BDP.
The case was launched because of Selahhating Demirtas speech on Kurdish satellite channel in which he was criticising the state officials for the prison conditions of the imprisoned leader of Abdullah Ocalan. Demirtas was the president of the Diyarbakir Branch of Human Rights Association in Turkey (IHD) at the time.
While the hearing was held in Selahhatin Demirtas's absence his lawyer Meral Danis stated that the said speech falls within the scope of the freedom of expression. However, the court considered the press release organised by the Diyarbakir Democracy Platfrom for the same topic and Selhattin Demirtas read out the statement as the platform spokesperson sentenced him to one-year imprisonment. The court then reduced the imprisonment to 10-month. As a result of the punishment Selahattin Demirtas will be observed whether he commits the same crime.
While he was still the chair of IHD Diyarbakir office before he was elected to parliament in 2007 Demirtas was also punished for "praising crime and criminal" a year and 6 month imprisonment over a speech he made on Roj TV through telephone. However, the court of appeals over ruled the punishment and send the case back to the local court in order to be handled within the scope of the anti-terror law rather than penal code. After Demirtas was elected to the parliament the process continued despite the parliamentary immunity on account of being charged for terror crimes.
ANF / DIYARBAKIR
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Demirtas tried for 'disseminating propaganda'
Diyarbakir Heavy Criminal Court Nr.5 sentenced co-chair of pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selhattin Demirtas to 10-month imprisonment on account of "disseminating propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers' Party". The punishment came in a period while dialog and peace demands are raising and the government officials started meeting BDP.
The case was launched because of Selahhating Demirtas speech on Kurdish satellite channel in which he was criticising the state officials for the prison conditions of the imprisoned leader of Abdullah Ocalan. Demirtas was the president of the Diyarbakir Branch of Human Rights Association in Turkey (IHD) at the time.
While the hearing was held in Selahhatin Demirtas's absence his lawyer Meral Danis stated that the said speech falls within the scope of the freedom of expression. However, the court considered the press release organised by the Diyarbakir Democracy Platfrom for the same topic and Selhattin Demirtas read out the statement as the platform spokesperson sentenced him to one-year imprisonment. The court then reduced the imprisonment to 10-month. As a result of the punishment Selahattin Demirtas will be observed whether he commits the same crime.
While he was still the chair of IHD Diyarbakir office before he was elected to parliament in 2007 Demirtas was also punished for "praising crime and criminal" a year and 6 month imprisonment over a speech he made on Roj TV through telephone. However, the court of appeals over ruled the punishment and send the case back to the local court in order to be handled within the scope of the anti-terror law rather than penal code. After Demirtas was elected to the parliament the process continued despite the parliamentary immunity on account of being charged for terror crimes.
ANF / DIYARBAKIR
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Sur to keep going with multilinguism
28 September 2010
Municipality of Sur keeps up multi-language work
A new decision taken by Sur Municipality implies the hanging out Kurdish and English signs for the names of the mayoralty and unit directory.
Diyarbakır Sur Provincial Municipality changed its signboards that show the way to the mayor, deputies and unit chiefs with the new ones written in Kurdish, Turkish and English.
Hanging out the signs, Sur Deputy Mayor Bedri Turan stated that 72 percent of the citizens in the municipality speak Kurdish in their daily-life, while 24 percent is speaking Turkish. Turan spoke as follows; “Language, which is the main symbol of self-expression and understanding his environment, is the builder and transmitter of the culture. All cultural factors are expressed and more fundamentally, thought with language. At this point; except from determining the meanings of the cultural elements one by one, language is the key element which connects them into a system and clarifies them. Besides self-expression in mother-tongue, people from all strata should also be able to use international languages in the globalizing world. So, the prohibition and the restriction on languages should absolutely come to an end.”
Turan remarked that the people in the region have a serious lack of data and information in technological and public fields although they recorded some progress in the direction of Multilingual Democratic Municipalism mentality.
Turan also indicated that they are now trying to serve people in their mother-tongue after the conversations held with 6 thousand 920 families in the borders of the municipality, adding; “In relation to the contentedness of our people, we are in a struggle for improving our services. In this respect; besides the official language Turkish, we are rewriting the names of all directorates in the municipality in the most common spoken language Kurdish and in English, hoping to provide benefit in international extent too. In this way, our citizens that come to the municipality to get service will be guided by the multilingual advice service and they will able to find the names easily.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / DIYARBAKIR
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Municipality of Sur keeps up multi-language work
A new decision taken by Sur Municipality implies the hanging out Kurdish and English signs for the names of the mayoralty and unit directory.
Diyarbakır Sur Provincial Municipality changed its signboards that show the way to the mayor, deputies and unit chiefs with the new ones written in Kurdish, Turkish and English.
Hanging out the signs, Sur Deputy Mayor Bedri Turan stated that 72 percent of the citizens in the municipality speak Kurdish in their daily-life, while 24 percent is speaking Turkish. Turan spoke as follows; “Language, which is the main symbol of self-expression and understanding his environment, is the builder and transmitter of the culture. All cultural factors are expressed and more fundamentally, thought with language. At this point; except from determining the meanings of the cultural elements one by one, language is the key element which connects them into a system and clarifies them. Besides self-expression in mother-tongue, people from all strata should also be able to use international languages in the globalizing world. So, the prohibition and the restriction on languages should absolutely come to an end.”
Turan remarked that the people in the region have a serious lack of data and information in technological and public fields although they recorded some progress in the direction of Multilingual Democratic Municipalism mentality.
Turan also indicated that they are now trying to serve people in their mother-tongue after the conversations held with 6 thousand 920 families in the borders of the municipality, adding; “In relation to the contentedness of our people, we are in a struggle for improving our services. In this respect; besides the official language Turkish, we are rewriting the names of all directorates in the municipality in the most common spoken language Kurdish and in English, hoping to provide benefit in international extent too. In this way, our citizens that come to the municipality to get service will be guided by the multilingual advice service and they will able to find the names easily.”
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
ANF / DIYARBAKIR
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Tugluk says meeting with Ocalan important
28 September 2010
Co-chair of DTK met Kurdish leader Ocalan
Co-chair of Democratic Society Congress Aysel Tugluk who went to Imrali Island where the PKK leader Ocalan is kept said: "We had an important meeting with Mr. Ocalan. He said he will continue his attitude based on peaceful and democratic solution of the Kurdish problem. He also said he is decisive and believe in the solution."
Aysel Tugluk together with the lawyers of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Lawyers Doğan Erbaş and Aydın Oruç visited Ocalan yesterday morning. Tugluk spoke to the journalist upon her return from the Island. She said: "The meeting with Mr. Ocalan was very important. He will continue his approach towards a peaceful and democratic solution. He also said that his attitude is not tactical but strategic and everybody should be aware of this fact. He further stated that Turkey is going through a critic period and the state official!s willingness is important to be able to keep this non-action/ceasefire position. Meanwhile the government, political parties, NGO's as well as the intellectuals should play their their role."
Upon a question from a journalist who asked: "You have been to he island before. What is the difference between this time and the previous times? Can you said that peace is closer than before?" Tugluk said "We are closer to the peace more than ever" Tugluk did not respond any further questions about Ocalan's views on ceasefire.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Co-chair of DTK met Kurdish leader Ocalan
Co-chair of Democratic Society Congress Aysel Tugluk who went to Imrali Island where the PKK leader Ocalan is kept said: "We had an important meeting with Mr. Ocalan. He said he will continue his attitude based on peaceful and democratic solution of the Kurdish problem. He also said he is decisive and believe in the solution."
Aysel Tugluk together with the lawyers of the imprisoned Kurdish leader Lawyers Doğan Erbaş and Aydın Oruç visited Ocalan yesterday morning. Tugluk spoke to the journalist upon her return from the Island. She said: "The meeting with Mr. Ocalan was very important. He will continue his approach towards a peaceful and democratic solution. He also said that his attitude is not tactical but strategic and everybody should be aware of this fact. He further stated that Turkey is going through a critic period and the state official!s willingness is important to be able to keep this non-action/ceasefire position. Meanwhile the government, political parties, NGO's as well as the intellectuals should play their their role."
Upon a question from a journalist who asked: "You have been to he island before. What is the difference between this time and the previous times? Can you said that peace is closer than before?" Tugluk said "We are closer to the peace more than ever" Tugluk did not respond any further questions about Ocalan's views on ceasefire.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
Monday, September 27, 2010
Indispensable cooperation needed: message from victims of Mehabad bombing.
Soran Khedri: For the last 200 years Kurdish people have been struggling to gain their legitimate rights. The Kurdish struggle moved forward after the collapse of Ottoman Empire and emergence of new “nation states” in the region, which the Kurds were deprived from having their own state under the terms of Lausanne treaty in 1923.
Ever since Kurds commenced their political struggle, they have avoided all kinds of violence against the civilians, suicide bombing and car explosion in venues.
Tracing back Kurdish political history to its outset, it will be noticed that the Kurds have always attempted to adopted peaceful method in their legitimate struggle. However, because of the regimes violence policies against the Kurds, formation of armed groups was and still indispensably necessary in order for the Kurds to protect themselves and prevent regimes from committing atrocities against the Kurdish civilians as the Islamic regime since its foundation and Saddam Hussein did during his ruling era.
Kurdish political parties merely used force in self defence, which is justified by virtue of article 51 of United Nations Charter, whereas the Kurdish oppressors committed atrocities against the Kurds and violated all International Human Rights conventions.
But unfortunately because of some super powers national interest and regimes mainstream media propagandas against the Kurdish legitimate struggle, Kurdish political parties were blamed for the crimes committed by the oppressors against the innocent Kurdish civilians in Kurdistan.
Purpose behind the bombing:
The Islamic regime since its emergence in 1979 has utilized different policies to manipulate the Iranian citizen’s opinion with regard to the Kurdish struggle, aimed to discredit the Kurdish political movement. For instance, the Islamic regime spread propagandas that the Kurds beheading non Kurdish civilians and they are trying to divide Iran. As a result of regimes effective propagandas, majority of the Iranian people avoided having any close contact with the Kurds, which served regimes propaganda purposes.
In addition to that, last year several Sofi Msulim clerics were assassinated by the Iranian revolutionary guards in Sena city with the purpose to incite hatred and violence among the Kurdish Sofi Muslims and Wehabi Muslims, which few days later Iranian interior minister claimed that their forces were involved in an armed clashes, which resulted to the death of Wehabis whom were identified by the regime as assassinators. However, Islamic regime has not yet published the dead person’s identity to the Kurds and the Iranian people.
Wednesdays bombing, however, was designed and engineered by the regimes forces for two purposes. First, Iranian regime aimed to spread fears among the people of Eastern Kurdistan and diverse the attention of regimes opponent in central and other parts of Iran towards Kurdish region by saying that it is an act of foreigners, particularly USA and its allies. Iranian officials through their English channel which is based in London (Press Tv) accused “anti-revolutionaries” by that official indirectly were referring to the Kurdish political parties. In addition to that, Human Rights, political activists and Kurdish politicians assuming that the Iranian authorities planning to follow up further arbitrary arrests and executions in the Kurdish region on alleged bombing charges.
Secondly: Wednesday’s explosion at military parade in Mehabad city is directly connected to the roadside bombing in Northern Kurdistan which resulted to the death of 9 villagers in Jolemerg.
Wednesday plot was a clear message to the Turkish army and government that the Iranian government still faithful ally to Turkish government on its war against the Kurds.
Since the foundation of Ottoman and Savavian Emperors, Iranian and Turks constantly fought each other for centuries. However, they had common interest too: oppression and suppression of Kurds was the key common point among the Turks and Iranians. Several security treaties have been ratified and signed between two states against the Kurdish people, and Turkey continuously provided Iran with advance technology and intelligent information.
Tories cooperation with Islamic regime against terrorists:
Although several weeks ago US foreign office listed Iranian government as the key sponsor of International terrorists, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Israel, unfortunately British Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt contradicted British and Western statements with the regard to Islamic regime global terrorist sponsorship by stating that “This horrific bombing underlines the need to stand together against terrorism wherever it rears its head”
Doubtlessly all democratic movements and nations have to stand together against terrorist attacks and activities, but to what extent it is reasonable to ask state terrorist sponsorship such as Islamic regime of Iran to cooperate in war against terrorist.
Coalition forces constantly blamed Iranian authorities for their involvement in terrorist attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan and they have claimed that they possess documents and evidence to support their claims.
It is important to analyze Tories statements carefully, because such statements will pave the way for the theocratic regime to implement its plots and commits further atrocities against the Kurds on the grounds of operations against terrorists.
Western Medias: who they serve?
Western Media immediately suggested in their reports that the Kurdish political movements might have carried out the bombing, and they referred to Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) as an active opposition which occasionally involves in clashes with the regimes forces.
Such reports psychologically manipulate public opinions and backs regimes false statements, which stated that “anti-revolutionaries” carried out the bombing. Kurds are well known for being “anti-revolutionaries” among the Iranian nations ever since the Islamic regime was founded by the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Therefore, it could be stated that the Western Media are functioning within the circle, which serves the Islamic regimes plot purpose and terrorist activities. On regular bases Western Media assumed and stated that the Iranian officials are behind most of the terrorist activities in the region. However, with regards to the Mehabads bombing Western Medias approaching the horrific incident very carefully and does not want to provoke theocratic regime.
In addition to that, in reports published by the Western Medias it could be said that the Medias are representing regimes ideology by stating that the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) is an offshoot of Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK). Iranian regime used all its diplomatic influence throughout the world to limit PJAKs activities, but failed. Therefore, claimed that PJAK is an offshoot of PKK and Israel is supporting PJAK in order to exploit Turkey in its diplomatic war against PJAK.
Division among Kurdish political parties:
The division among the Kurdish political parties facilitates regimes horrific plots implementation in Eastern Kurdistan. Unfortunately, Kurdish political parties also functioning within a frame, which serves regimes interest and policies.
Political parties do not accept each other, politicians are power thirsty and they are focusing on each other rather than on their common enemy, which is the Islamic regime of Iran.
It is important for all Kurdish sides to review their policies and form Kurdish national congress as soon as possible, because without re-uniting their forces and powers, Iranian regime will carries further similar plots in Eastern Kurdistan.
By now Kurdish politicians should have come to a conclusion that indispensable cooperation is needed among the Kurdish political parties in order to be able to dismantle regimes evil plots.
Ever since Kurds commenced their political struggle, they have avoided all kinds of violence against the civilians, suicide bombing and car explosion in venues.
Tracing back Kurdish political history to its outset, it will be noticed that the Kurds have always attempted to adopted peaceful method in their legitimate struggle. However, because of the regimes violence policies against the Kurds, formation of armed groups was and still indispensably necessary in order for the Kurds to protect themselves and prevent regimes from committing atrocities against the Kurdish civilians as the Islamic regime since its foundation and Saddam Hussein did during his ruling era.
Kurdish political parties merely used force in self defence, which is justified by virtue of article 51 of United Nations Charter, whereas the Kurdish oppressors committed atrocities against the Kurds and violated all International Human Rights conventions.
But unfortunately because of some super powers national interest and regimes mainstream media propagandas against the Kurdish legitimate struggle, Kurdish political parties were blamed for the crimes committed by the oppressors against the innocent Kurdish civilians in Kurdistan.
Purpose behind the bombing:
The Islamic regime since its emergence in 1979 has utilized different policies to manipulate the Iranian citizen’s opinion with regard to the Kurdish struggle, aimed to discredit the Kurdish political movement. For instance, the Islamic regime spread propagandas that the Kurds beheading non Kurdish civilians and they are trying to divide Iran. As a result of regimes effective propagandas, majority of the Iranian people avoided having any close contact with the Kurds, which served regimes propaganda purposes.
In addition to that, last year several Sofi Msulim clerics were assassinated by the Iranian revolutionary guards in Sena city with the purpose to incite hatred and violence among the Kurdish Sofi Muslims and Wehabi Muslims, which few days later Iranian interior minister claimed that their forces were involved in an armed clashes, which resulted to the death of Wehabis whom were identified by the regime as assassinators. However, Islamic regime has not yet published the dead person’s identity to the Kurds and the Iranian people.
Wednesdays bombing, however, was designed and engineered by the regimes forces for two purposes. First, Iranian regime aimed to spread fears among the people of Eastern Kurdistan and diverse the attention of regimes opponent in central and other parts of Iran towards Kurdish region by saying that it is an act of foreigners, particularly USA and its allies. Iranian officials through their English channel which is based in London (Press Tv) accused “anti-revolutionaries” by that official indirectly were referring to the Kurdish political parties. In addition to that, Human Rights, political activists and Kurdish politicians assuming that the Iranian authorities planning to follow up further arbitrary arrests and executions in the Kurdish region on alleged bombing charges.
Secondly: Wednesday’s explosion at military parade in Mehabad city is directly connected to the roadside bombing in Northern Kurdistan which resulted to the death of 9 villagers in Jolemerg.
Wednesday plot was a clear message to the Turkish army and government that the Iranian government still faithful ally to Turkish government on its war against the Kurds.
Since the foundation of Ottoman and Savavian Emperors, Iranian and Turks constantly fought each other for centuries. However, they had common interest too: oppression and suppression of Kurds was the key common point among the Turks and Iranians. Several security treaties have been ratified and signed between two states against the Kurdish people, and Turkey continuously provided Iran with advance technology and intelligent information.
Tories cooperation with Islamic regime against terrorists:
Although several weeks ago US foreign office listed Iranian government as the key sponsor of International terrorists, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Israel, unfortunately British Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt contradicted British and Western statements with the regard to Islamic regime global terrorist sponsorship by stating that “This horrific bombing underlines the need to stand together against terrorism wherever it rears its head”
Doubtlessly all democratic movements and nations have to stand together against terrorist attacks and activities, but to what extent it is reasonable to ask state terrorist sponsorship such as Islamic regime of Iran to cooperate in war against terrorist.
Coalition forces constantly blamed Iranian authorities for their involvement in terrorist attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan and they have claimed that they possess documents and evidence to support their claims.
It is important to analyze Tories statements carefully, because such statements will pave the way for the theocratic regime to implement its plots and commits further atrocities against the Kurds on the grounds of operations against terrorists.
Western Medias: who they serve?
Western Media immediately suggested in their reports that the Kurdish political movements might have carried out the bombing, and they referred to Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) as an active opposition which occasionally involves in clashes with the regimes forces.
Such reports psychologically manipulate public opinions and backs regimes false statements, which stated that “anti-revolutionaries” carried out the bombing. Kurds are well known for being “anti-revolutionaries” among the Iranian nations ever since the Islamic regime was founded by the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Therefore, it could be stated that the Western Media are functioning within the circle, which serves the Islamic regimes plot purpose and terrorist activities. On regular bases Western Media assumed and stated that the Iranian officials are behind most of the terrorist activities in the region. However, with regards to the Mehabads bombing Western Medias approaching the horrific incident very carefully and does not want to provoke theocratic regime.
In addition to that, in reports published by the Western Medias it could be said that the Medias are representing regimes ideology by stating that the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) is an offshoot of Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK). Iranian regime used all its diplomatic influence throughout the world to limit PJAKs activities, but failed. Therefore, claimed that PJAK is an offshoot of PKK and Israel is supporting PJAK in order to exploit Turkey in its diplomatic war against PJAK.
Division among Kurdish political parties:
The division among the Kurdish political parties facilitates regimes horrific plots implementation in Eastern Kurdistan. Unfortunately, Kurdish political parties also functioning within a frame, which serves regimes interest and policies.
Political parties do not accept each other, politicians are power thirsty and they are focusing on each other rather than on their common enemy, which is the Islamic regime of Iran.
It is important for all Kurdish sides to review their policies and form Kurdish national congress as soon as possible, because without re-uniting their forces and powers, Iranian regime will carries further similar plots in Eastern Kurdistan.
By now Kurdish politicians should have come to a conclusion that indispensable cooperation is needed among the Kurdish political parties in order to be able to dismantle regimes evil plots.
Really, Who’s Behind the Bombing in Mahabad?
Kurdishaspect.com - By Sharif Behruz
In looking for clues who really was behind the Wednesday attack in Mahabad, there were many reports by various news outlets, primarily relying on regime’s statements and claims in particular the notorious Revolutionary Guards who are not shy about committing any acts of aggression against the Iranian people. Remember, those club-swinging plain-clothers in Tehran’s streets last year, they are members of Revolutionary Guards without any stars on their shoulders.
There were many news sources such as the AP, AFP and Reuters that reported the news of the bombing from the regime sources without considering any other statements or news from the organizations and groups whom the regime blames for the attack.
In almost all the news reporting, there is a reference to ‘Kurdish separatists’ while no organized movement can be traced in Iranian Kurdistan that seeks separation from Iran, they are all seeking rights and respect for their rights and freedom within Iran.
There were also some independent reporting on the case such as this one by Medya News “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Claim to have Killed those behind the Mahabad Attack” that clearly shows the twisting of information in regards to the attack and its perpetrators by regime’s various crime doers.
In search of who was really behind the attack among the English media there were also some bloggers, in particular the author of this blog that dug in for some clues of who might have carried the murder: “Who’s Behind the Bombing in Mahabad, Iran?”
The Persian media outside Iran, paid for with the British, French, German and US tax-payers money also danced with the regime’s tunes and disregarded almost all the Kurdish organizations’ claims and statements condemning the attack.
This is unethical journalism, because one side has been unjustly and partially condemned to ’separatism’ [though in my opinion not a crime] and ‘terrorism’ without being given the opportunity to defend itself and being heard.
Courageous reporters and news outlets should not fear reprisal from this terrorist regime in Iran. I remember the images from Aljazeera last year where one of its reporters was confined to report from a basement in Tehran without access to outside world filled with protesters, but still content and comfortable reporting ‘the truth’ from Iran.
There are many incidents in Kurdistan and other areas belonging to national groups in Iran, and we in the English media only hear those that the regime wants us to hear. To add injury to the insult, we only hear the regime’s interpretation of the event as there are no independent media in Iran.
Major news wires should either completely abandon reporting from Iran or seek some independent investigation of the events they are covering, and rely on all sources involved in the incident for their reporting.
___________________
In looking for clues who really was behind the Wednesday attack in Mahabad, there were many reports by various news outlets, primarily relying on regime’s statements and claims in particular the notorious Revolutionary Guards who are not shy about committing any acts of aggression against the Iranian people. Remember, those club-swinging plain-clothers in Tehran’s streets last year, they are members of Revolutionary Guards without any stars on their shoulders.
There were many news sources such as the AP, AFP and Reuters that reported the news of the bombing from the regime sources without considering any other statements or news from the organizations and groups whom the regime blames for the attack.
In almost all the news reporting, there is a reference to ‘Kurdish separatists’ while no organized movement can be traced in Iranian Kurdistan that seeks separation from Iran, they are all seeking rights and respect for their rights and freedom within Iran.
There were also some independent reporting on the case such as this one by Medya News “Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Claim to have Killed those behind the Mahabad Attack” that clearly shows the twisting of information in regards to the attack and its perpetrators by regime’s various crime doers.
In search of who was really behind the attack among the English media there were also some bloggers, in particular the author of this blog that dug in for some clues of who might have carried the murder: “Who’s Behind the Bombing in Mahabad, Iran?”
The Persian media outside Iran, paid for with the British, French, German and US tax-payers money also danced with the regime’s tunes and disregarded almost all the Kurdish organizations’ claims and statements condemning the attack.
This is unethical journalism, because one side has been unjustly and partially condemned to ’separatism’ [though in my opinion not a crime] and ‘terrorism’ without being given the opportunity to defend itself and being heard.
Courageous reporters and news outlets should not fear reprisal from this terrorist regime in Iran. I remember the images from Aljazeera last year where one of its reporters was confined to report from a basement in Tehran without access to outside world filled with protesters, but still content and comfortable reporting ‘the truth’ from Iran.
There are many incidents in Kurdistan and other areas belonging to national groups in Iran, and we in the English media only hear those that the regime wants us to hear. To add injury to the insult, we only hear the regime’s interpretation of the event as there are no independent media in Iran.
Major news wires should either completely abandon reporting from Iran or seek some independent investigation of the events they are covering, and rely on all sources involved in the incident for their reporting.
___________________
DC Kurdish Festival of Arts at George Mason University
Distinguished and honored guests,
On behalf of the Kurdistan Student Organization at George Mason University and the Kurdish Youth Club-DC Chapter, I would like to cordially invite you to our annual DC Kurdish Festival of Arts Evening Event and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 30th 2010. The event will include the "Kurdistan's Got Talent" talent show competition, door prizes, the premier of a short documentary about the Kurdish Diaspora in the US and American knowledge about Kurdistan, live music and entertainment, dinner and dessert, and Kurdish dancing. A large portion of the evening's events and a large portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to raising money for the Preemptive Love Coalition, a non profit organization that has worked tirelessly to save the lives of Kurdish and Iraqi children in desperate need of heart surgery.
Admission is $10 per person. Because space is limited, we request your RSVP as soon as possible. Table reservations (one table can seat 8 people) are $100. We look forward to seeing you again this year, and sincerly appreciate your dedication to supporting our Kurdish youth. Please see the attached flyer for more information about our event, and feel free to distribute it to your friends and family.
Who: The Kurdistan Student Organization and the Kurdish Youth Club DC Chapter
What: The DC Kurdish Festival of Arts Fundraiser
When: Saturday, October 30th, 2010 from 6:00 pm-12:00 am
Where: George Mason University, SUB II Ballroom
*The closest and most convenient available parking is at the Sandy Creek parking garage
For information about the Preemptive Love Coalition, please visit: http://www.PreemptiveLove.org.
Sincerely,
Behar Godani
President
Kurdistan Student Organization-GMU
___________________
On behalf of the Kurdistan Student Organization at George Mason University and the Kurdish Youth Club-DC Chapter, I would like to cordially invite you to our annual DC Kurdish Festival of Arts Evening Event and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 30th 2010. The event will include the "Kurdistan's Got Talent" talent show competition, door prizes, the premier of a short documentary about the Kurdish Diaspora in the US and American knowledge about Kurdistan, live music and entertainment, dinner and dessert, and Kurdish dancing. A large portion of the evening's events and a large portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to raising money for the Preemptive Love Coalition, a non profit organization that has worked tirelessly to save the lives of Kurdish and Iraqi children in desperate need of heart surgery.
Admission is $10 per person. Because space is limited, we request your RSVP as soon as possible. Table reservations (one table can seat 8 people) are $100. We look forward to seeing you again this year, and sincerly appreciate your dedication to supporting our Kurdish youth. Please see the attached flyer for more information about our event, and feel free to distribute it to your friends and family.
Who: The Kurdistan Student Organization and the Kurdish Youth Club DC Chapter
What: The DC Kurdish Festival of Arts Fundraiser
When: Saturday, October 30th, 2010 from 6:00 pm-12:00 am
Where: George Mason University, SUB II Ballroom
*The closest and most convenient available parking is at the Sandy Creek parking garage
For information about the Preemptive Love Coalition, please visit: http://www.PreemptiveLove.org.
Sincerely,
Behar Godani
President
Kurdistan Student Organization-GMU
___________________
Why we have failed to achieve our independence?
Kurdishaspect.com - By Baqi Barzani
Kurdish struggle for self-rule has lingered for centuries. We are the largest stateless nation in the world. It lasted the Kurds in southern Kurdistan {Iraq} hundred of years to merely achieve some confined type of autonomy termed today as” Kurdish Regional Government ”. Setting up a Kurdish emperor would not have taken so long. In the 21st century, Kurds in other secluded parts of Kurdistan are still struggling for the most fundamental cultural and linguistic rights.
The question propounded is what impediments did we counter, or were formulated for us that hampered us form being able to attain our ultimate goal? It took the Zionist Movement no more than maximum 5 decades to reclaim their historical homeland back. There have been a number of uprisings in Kurdistan, most of which either were stifled at the very outset, are in the offing, or coincidentally led to some form of autonomy, but not an internationally acknowledged independent Kurdish state cover where all Kurds in Kurdistan and Diaspora could converge under.
When one examines Kurdish account al least since last century, one would infer that before reprimanding global powers hypocrisies, the first to impugn for our failures is us, we. We are liable for our failures. We should not place the blame on others.
The grounds we did not succeed to establish an independent Kurdistan can be encapsulated in the following points, according to my individual analysis:
Lack of ample unity, a well-planned strategy, and a definite goal
Non-existence of sufficient, constant external support
Formation of joint alliances between and among strong occupying forces Versus dependent Kurds
Contentment to the least when opportunities loom
Overreliance and independence on foreign powers
Imposition and foreign meddling into our internal affairs
Double-standard global policies
World economic interests with the occupying regimes
The key stipulation to triumph and liberation of any nation is the emergence of strong national unification. An indissoluble union, together with a well-planned strategy, and a common goal could and can lead to sovereignty of a nation, something that we still lack. Other factors are less significant. Public solidity led to Indian independence from Britain, Pakistan’s fragmentation from India in 1947, and subsequently Bangladesh secession from East Pakistan in 1971 in a civil war. Most separatist movements are empowered by strong public determination and willpower. They start form people and end by people.
We fell and failed because very time a Kurdish political force grew to be enough powerful to oust a dictator regime, the only means its struggle was thwarted, was by seeking support from another Kurdish political party, or betrayed by supporting powers.
Imposition of foreign beliefs and meddling of foreign powers into Kurdistan domestic affairs is an indubitable fact that persists up to this moment. Neighboring Turkey, Syria and Iran can not remain apathetic to the developments in neighboring Southern Kurdistan [Iraq], mainly the oil rich city of Kirkuk. Deferring the implementation of article 140 0f constitution is another transparent paradigm.
For sure, the international community’s hypocrisy should be held liable partially for most of the worlds’ human debacles and the unending instabilities, as well. Had the developed industrial nations truly cared about global peace, millions of lives could have been salvaged during African genocides, natural disasters in Asia, civil wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, diseases and starvations all over the planet. A world of thanks is owed to major world powers for having supplied dictator Saddam’s military with stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, Mirage fighters MIG bombers, missiles and tanks that were mostly used against the Kurds during Iraq-Iran war. Gone is Gone. Experience instructs us that depending on global humanitarian intervention to uphold us is a vain optimism. Or may be in another parlance” false consolations”.
The United States, EU and UN preach pledges of respect for human rights, propagation of democracy, peace and granting the rights of minority groups for Iranian citizens. The instant that Iran truly announces calling off its nuclear program, none of these values would ever bear any significance, be ever discussed or outlined in mass foreign media any more. Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussain of Iraq and Turkish generals committed sufficient war crimes and human rights breaches before 1975 or 2003. World citizens are grateful to major powers for their role in trying to save humanity.
In today’s world of commercialism and capitalism, every government primarily pursues the economic interests and protection of its own citizens. No country would even bother to cite Kurds name if they are not insured with some kind of remuneration vows in response. Let alone championing our secession rights.
The UN and USA prop up the referendum to be held in Sudan due by January of 2011, but they can not apportion a session of the UN Security Council to address the affliction of 40 million homeless Kurds. Southern Sudan contains huge reserves of oil and high economic potentials, while Jamm and Kashmir, in contrast, depends mostly on agriculture.
Iraq was on the brim of total collapse in 1974; Saddam succumbed to the demands of United States, Iran and its allies in Algeria pact, resulting in stalling support for Kurdish revolution. Kurds in Northern Kurdistan were close to gaining some power in 1999, when Turkey’s allies equipped Turkish military with highly developed technology to counterbalance the expansion of Kurds. Republic of Mohabad collapsed because of our overreliance on soviet support and betrayal by western powers. Global powers did not, do not, and will not imperil their relations and economic interests for the sake of homeless Kurds. Therefore, it is indispensable for us to make certain that we gain full economic self-sufficiency through access to oil resources located in Kirkuk and other oil-rich terrains. Without a strong economy, Kurdistan won’t be able to stand on its feet. Realistically thinking, let us not brag about a few building complex and shopping centers. A natural disaster is enough to undo every progress we have made. We must get back Kirkuk at any cost.
Kurdish question has remained unaddressed deliberately. Kurds are valuable implements to be exploited in destabilizing the occupying regimes, should need rise. The United States does not endorse the inherent rights of oppressed nations to self-rule. The UN does not practice the right of ‘self-determination of the nations. The United States did not intend to let the Kurds establish an independent Kurdish state in South Kurdistan [Iraq] form the very outset of liberation, nor should the Kurds swindle themselves anymore relying on its backing. That does not imply disconnecting our ties. President Barrack Obama has stressed on the preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq on several occasions. What is expected from the US is not upholding our struggle, but respecting our rights and demands of the vast majority of Kurdish masses that were realized during legitimate referendums.
Submitting to pressure is another shortcoming of us. Many golden prospects have emerged for Kurds throughout the history, but we have consistently been convinced with the least in negotiations. What counts is what we have been able to gain so far, not what we have demanded from the concerned governments. At present, if we wish, we could and can create an independent Kurdish state in South Kurdistan. We are losing another historical opportunity. We have voiced out contentment to only 17% budget allotment from central government.
We necessitate a strong, united military to champion our rights, and reclaim Kirkuk and disputed areas back. Without a strong defense infrastructure, our territorial integrity, sovereignty and economy will remain vulnerable to foreign plundering. We necessitate foreign support, but more essential than foreign support is the support among our own Kurdish multitude. Are we expecting other states to bestow us our independence?
In conclusion, let me indicate to a verse summarizing the rationales for our downfalls, citing:” Determining the destiny of every nation lies in the hands of that nation”.
_________________________
Kurdish struggle for self-rule has lingered for centuries. We are the largest stateless nation in the world. It lasted the Kurds in southern Kurdistan {Iraq} hundred of years to merely achieve some confined type of autonomy termed today as” Kurdish Regional Government ”. Setting up a Kurdish emperor would not have taken so long. In the 21st century, Kurds in other secluded parts of Kurdistan are still struggling for the most fundamental cultural and linguistic rights.
The question propounded is what impediments did we counter, or were formulated for us that hampered us form being able to attain our ultimate goal? It took the Zionist Movement no more than maximum 5 decades to reclaim their historical homeland back. There have been a number of uprisings in Kurdistan, most of which either were stifled at the very outset, are in the offing, or coincidentally led to some form of autonomy, but not an internationally acknowledged independent Kurdish state cover where all Kurds in Kurdistan and Diaspora could converge under.
When one examines Kurdish account al least since last century, one would infer that before reprimanding global powers hypocrisies, the first to impugn for our failures is us, we. We are liable for our failures. We should not place the blame on others.
The grounds we did not succeed to establish an independent Kurdistan can be encapsulated in the following points, according to my individual analysis:
Lack of ample unity, a well-planned strategy, and a definite goal
Non-existence of sufficient, constant external support
Formation of joint alliances between and among strong occupying forces Versus dependent Kurds
Contentment to the least when opportunities loom
Overreliance and independence on foreign powers
Imposition and foreign meddling into our internal affairs
Double-standard global policies
World economic interests with the occupying regimes
The key stipulation to triumph and liberation of any nation is the emergence of strong national unification. An indissoluble union, together with a well-planned strategy, and a common goal could and can lead to sovereignty of a nation, something that we still lack. Other factors are less significant. Public solidity led to Indian independence from Britain, Pakistan’s fragmentation from India in 1947, and subsequently Bangladesh secession from East Pakistan in 1971 in a civil war. Most separatist movements are empowered by strong public determination and willpower. They start form people and end by people.
We fell and failed because very time a Kurdish political force grew to be enough powerful to oust a dictator regime, the only means its struggle was thwarted, was by seeking support from another Kurdish political party, or betrayed by supporting powers.
Imposition of foreign beliefs and meddling of foreign powers into Kurdistan domestic affairs is an indubitable fact that persists up to this moment. Neighboring Turkey, Syria and Iran can not remain apathetic to the developments in neighboring Southern Kurdistan [Iraq], mainly the oil rich city of Kirkuk. Deferring the implementation of article 140 0f constitution is another transparent paradigm.
For sure, the international community’s hypocrisy should be held liable partially for most of the worlds’ human debacles and the unending instabilities, as well. Had the developed industrial nations truly cared about global peace, millions of lives could have been salvaged during African genocides, natural disasters in Asia, civil wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, diseases and starvations all over the planet. A world of thanks is owed to major world powers for having supplied dictator Saddam’s military with stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, Mirage fighters MIG bombers, missiles and tanks that were mostly used against the Kurds during Iraq-Iran war. Gone is Gone. Experience instructs us that depending on global humanitarian intervention to uphold us is a vain optimism. Or may be in another parlance” false consolations”.
The United States, EU and UN preach pledges of respect for human rights, propagation of democracy, peace and granting the rights of minority groups for Iranian citizens. The instant that Iran truly announces calling off its nuclear program, none of these values would ever bear any significance, be ever discussed or outlined in mass foreign media any more. Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussain of Iraq and Turkish generals committed sufficient war crimes and human rights breaches before 1975 or 2003. World citizens are grateful to major powers for their role in trying to save humanity.
In today’s world of commercialism and capitalism, every government primarily pursues the economic interests and protection of its own citizens. No country would even bother to cite Kurds name if they are not insured with some kind of remuneration vows in response. Let alone championing our secession rights.
The UN and USA prop up the referendum to be held in Sudan due by January of 2011, but they can not apportion a session of the UN Security Council to address the affliction of 40 million homeless Kurds. Southern Sudan contains huge reserves of oil and high economic potentials, while Jamm and Kashmir, in contrast, depends mostly on agriculture.
Iraq was on the brim of total collapse in 1974; Saddam succumbed to the demands of United States, Iran and its allies in Algeria pact, resulting in stalling support for Kurdish revolution. Kurds in Northern Kurdistan were close to gaining some power in 1999, when Turkey’s allies equipped Turkish military with highly developed technology to counterbalance the expansion of Kurds. Republic of Mohabad collapsed because of our overreliance on soviet support and betrayal by western powers. Global powers did not, do not, and will not imperil their relations and economic interests for the sake of homeless Kurds. Therefore, it is indispensable for us to make certain that we gain full economic self-sufficiency through access to oil resources located in Kirkuk and other oil-rich terrains. Without a strong economy, Kurdistan won’t be able to stand on its feet. Realistically thinking, let us not brag about a few building complex and shopping centers. A natural disaster is enough to undo every progress we have made. We must get back Kirkuk at any cost.
Kurdish question has remained unaddressed deliberately. Kurds are valuable implements to be exploited in destabilizing the occupying regimes, should need rise. The United States does not endorse the inherent rights of oppressed nations to self-rule. The UN does not practice the right of ‘self-determination of the nations. The United States did not intend to let the Kurds establish an independent Kurdish state in South Kurdistan [Iraq] form the very outset of liberation, nor should the Kurds swindle themselves anymore relying on its backing. That does not imply disconnecting our ties. President Barrack Obama has stressed on the preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq on several occasions. What is expected from the US is not upholding our struggle, but respecting our rights and demands of the vast majority of Kurdish masses that were realized during legitimate referendums.
Submitting to pressure is another shortcoming of us. Many golden prospects have emerged for Kurds throughout the history, but we have consistently been convinced with the least in negotiations. What counts is what we have been able to gain so far, not what we have demanded from the concerned governments. At present, if we wish, we could and can create an independent Kurdish state in South Kurdistan. We are losing another historical opportunity. We have voiced out contentment to only 17% budget allotment from central government.
We necessitate a strong, united military to champion our rights, and reclaim Kirkuk and disputed areas back. Without a strong defense infrastructure, our territorial integrity, sovereignty and economy will remain vulnerable to foreign plundering. We necessitate foreign support, but more essential than foreign support is the support among our own Kurdish multitude. Are we expecting other states to bestow us our independence?
In conclusion, let me indicate to a verse summarizing the rationales for our downfalls, citing:” Determining the destiny of every nation lies in the hands of that nation”.
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