Friday, March 5, 2010

Armenian Vote in US, Roj TV Raids and F35 Fighter Jet Contracts!







The raids on Roj TV in Brussels has shocked, saddened and angered millions of people and exposed the lack of democracy in the European countries.

How could this happen in the political centre of Europe?

How could masked Turkish Intelligence operatives be helped by Belgium police to raid Roj TV's offices and smash the computers linked to the transmitters shutting off the uplink to the satellite?

Well, yesterdays vote in the US calling the Armenian Genocide what it is.......a Genocide could be a clue.

Arms companies in the US were warning before the vote that billions of dollars worth of arms contracts could go to Europe if the resolution was passed. (Turkey's Foreign Minister estimates the contracts are worth $7billion)

Europe anticipating this vote has moved against Roj TV in the hope that Turkey will withdraw its support of the F35 Fighter Jet project which it in partnership with US arms companies to produce the next generation of fighter jets.

Europe has the same project and has been lobbying Turkey hard to join its project. The contract is worth billions of Euros.

It will be interesting to watch how this now develops and if Turkey does sign up to Europe's consortium.
HUMAN RIGHTS BEFORE THE RIGHTS OF ARMS COMPANIES SHAREHOLDERS!!!!!

The EU provokes the Kurd into violence!



  • KurdishMedia.com 
  •  By Kardo Bokani
  • 05/03/2010 

While the Turkish government closing down the only pro-Kurdish party in the Turkish parliament which had 22 seats as well as 99 municipalities, few months later the Belgian Police raids the Kurdish National Congress based in Brussels and arresting the truth representatives of the Kurds in an inhuman degrading way which provoke anyone who has the feeling of honour. While the Turkish cops shooting Kurdish civilians in the peaceful demonstration, at the same time the Italian and French police forces raiding the Kurdish community centres ostensibly to fight the terrorists. While the Turkish military aircrafts flying over the Kurdistan sky intimidating the Kurdish population, at the same time the Belgian Police forces raids the Kurdish national ROJ-TV based in Brussels, crushing all the equipments, provoking and injuring the journalists, ostensibly to capture the terrorists!

It seems to me that they are all parts of the same plot against Kurdish resistance movement in Turkey, with a little difference that Turkey is not a member of EU. But the EU is demonstrated its capacity to be worst than Turkey. Turkey believes that there is no such a thing as the Kurdish issue but a terror one which must be responded militarily, the EU is doing the same thing but under different title, “anti-terror operations” ostensibly! Turkey claims that there is “one language, one flag, one identity in this country; whoever doesn’t like it can leave”, the EU is acting along the same line of mentality. Equating the Kurdish nationalist movement is not going to be a good option to face the realities in the world. The reality is that the PKK is the true voice of the Kurds. The PKK and the Kurdish question are bounded together, separating them will not develop a solution and we all know this, even those who pretend to be after a peaceful solution to the Kurd case.

The Belgian police forces raiding more than 24 Kurdish community centres including Kurdistan National Congress are well aware that those who they are raiding and arresting are not terrorist and they have a good background of them. But what really they want to show by putting a bag over the head of Dr. Remzi Kartal, the leader of Kurdish National Congress, and dragging him behind……? Apart from humiliating and hurting the feelings of millions of the Kurds what else they are hoping for? Are they really aware that the humans can be unpredictable? Are they really aware that the Kurds are well able to protect their values and their honours? Are they really aware that the similar thing happened to Ocalan, the Kurdish national leader in the Imrali prison, and it sparked the violence among those who were agitated by these provocative treatments? But would provoking the masses into violence really help to solve the issues? The Belgian police could have sent summons to Dr. Kartal and his three colleagues to attend the court of law, if there is still any court of justice in Belgium! Who are those that they arrested in such a humiliating way? Where is the place that they raided at 5 am in the morning? By the way Dr. Kartal was arrested in 2004 in Germany and in 2009 in Spain under the same charge and he won his case and released respectively.

They raided Kurdistan National Congress which is in the vicinity of the European Parliament, a place that diplomats from different countries paying regular visits to; a place that has nothing less than the Belgian Parliament in the eyes of not only the Kurds but any one who sides with democracy and freedom and the rights of the oppressed nations. The Belgian Police need not to raid it in this way and if they had, there was no need to treat the truthful voices of the Kurds in that humiliating way. That will not only put into question the Belgian standard for human rights but it will also create disgust and hatred toward Belgian authorities.

Of course the Kurdish nation has seen many days as such in their history and has demonstrated huge potential for victory. In fact the Kurdish nation has been triumphal in its struggle against the Turkish regime, with the great sacrifices of our nation we defeated the denial and annihilation policies of the Turkish government and are in the final stage of victory. The Turkish government now are having a really tough time and has lost their vision; they don’t know how to pave their last steps of defeat in their fascist war against the Kurds. One might argue that orchestrating multi-faceted attacks on the Kurdish community centres and lately the Kurdish National Congress and ROJ- TV are steps to give the defeated Turkey solidarity and condolences.

But to conclude with I should say that the Belgian Polices forces acted in an extremely immature and provoking way that might only bring about hatred and disgust. Apart from negative effects, it would definitely not bring about any result in the favour of peace and democracy and above all it would only add up to more problems of the war-torn country such as Turkey and it might also “lead” the people who have been hurt and humiliated, into violent protests around the world, that the Belgian Authorities should stand accountable to.

Kurdish opposition could boycott election results


04-03-2010

Rudaw - The main Kurdish opposition parties will boycott the results upcoming 7 March, if there is electoral fraud.

Nazm Abdullah, spokesman of the Islamic Group (Komal) says that in a meeting between the Change movement (Gorran), Komal and the Islamic Union of Kurdistan (KIU) decided to boycott the results of the elections, in case of fraud.

The opposition parties that have 30 seats in the Kurdish parliament, expect especially fraud in the Kurdish capital of Erbil (Hawler). Last Summer the Kurdish opposition accused the ruling parties of carrying out fraud. "But we are also afraid that there will be fraudulent practices in Slemani," the spokesperson said. 

In case of a major fraud, the three parties will boycott the results. The parties handed over four documents to the Iraqi electoral commission. These documents allegedly prove that fraud is likely. Change list candidate Ali Askeri for Kirkuk already accused the ruling parties of voting fraud in Kirkuk. On Thursday security officers started with voting. The civilians will vote on Sunday.. He also expects fraud in other Kurdish cities.

A spokesman of the PUK said the criticism is unfounded. "These parties know they will not get many votes, because they know the Alliance list (of the ruling parties KDP and PUK) is strong. That’s why they talk about fraud. But the Alliance and the PUK don’t need fraud," said Aref Rushdi..

© Rudaw

Kurdish journalists condemn Belgian police actions


05-03-2010

Hewler - On Thursday, the Belgium police carried out an operation against Kurdish organizations. 39 journalists and writers in Southern Kurdistan condemned the ‘ugly acts of the Belgium police’.

The journalists ask the Belgian authorities to free the detainees and to let the TV to start its own free broadcasting. “We also ask the Belgium to apologize to the Kurds because of their undemocratic act against the only Kurdish TV for Kurds in Turkey. We surprised by this act because we realize Europe as the source of democracy and the land of freedom of speech for the others,” said the statement.

On Thursday 22 Kurds were arrested, eight of them are still in custody. This includes the prominent Kurdish politicians Remzi Kartal and Zubeyir Aydar. The offices of the Kurdish TV-station Roj TV, National Kurdistan Congress (KNK) and the pro-Kurdish BDP party from Turkey were raided. Kurdish organizations planned a demonstration on Saturday in Brussels. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) strongly condemned the police operations.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Roj TV is the Voice of the Kurdish People! It can Never be Silenced!



Press Release 1300hrs 4th March 2010.


At 5am on 4th March 2010, Belgium police simultaneously raided all of the Kurdish institutions based in Brussels including the Roj TV studios and transmissions facilities, Kurdistan National Congress and the BDP’s European office.

Currently 30 people have been taken into custody including, it is reported, the chair person of the Kurdish People’s Congress, Remzi Kartal and KCK member, Zubedir Aydar. Kurdish workers at the Kurdish TV Sattellite station were taken away in handcuffs.

It is significant that the police first went directly to the uplink room and switched off the transmission signal for Roj TV and then smashed the equipment and computers linking the Roj TV signals to the transmitter. It is clear from these actions that the main aim of the police operation is to suppress the voice of Roj TV.

These actions are not new. This has happened just one week after the German authorities were forced to lift the ban on Roj TV being watched in Germany. These two incidents are obviously related to each other. What is clear from these incidents is that the suppression of Roj TV has been shared between European States.

This increased suppression by the European States of Roj TV, supports the state suppression by Iran and Turkey who have sabotaged and suppressed the Kurdish channel by broadcasting jamming signals to prevent and suppress the Kurdish Media.

What we conclude from these actions is that there is a coalition and partnership of hypocritical European States who call on Turkey for democratic change but aid Turkey and Iran in the suppression of the Kurdish free media and political expression.

The attack against Roj-TV is deeply hostile and illegal and a direct attack on the freedom of expression of the Kurdish people. The aim of the suppression of Roj TV is to silence the voice of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle by illegal and dirty means.

Roj TV has exposed and reported on the deficiencies and human rights abuses of undemocratic countries specifically the policies of the governing party in Turkey, the AKP. Roj TV has become an advocate of those fighting against injustice and human rights abuses in undemocratic countries.

Roj TV has also been central to the struggle to keep the culture and language of the Kurdish people alive. Roj TV is not a state television station but a station of the Kurdish people worldwide.

This attack against Roj TV is a major attack against freedom of expression. There is not a law that can ban the freedom and right to struggle for one’s language and culture. The legitimacy of one’s right to exist and to freely defend oneself from attack cannot be constrained within a legal framework.

Freedom of expression is a basic human right and any regime that violates this basic human right is anti democratic a camp now including much of Europe. We, the Kurds are not going to be silent in the face of this attack on and suppression of Roj TV.

We are aware that the attacks are not limited to a single studio based in Brussels. The main aim of these raids is to suppress the voice of the Kurds struggling for their basic political and human rights.

Protecting and defending Roj TV is not only the responsibility of Kurdish people but it is also the responsibility of our non Kurdish friends and of all people who believe in and support basic rights and freedoms.

We call on everybody to respond to these attacks and to protest to the relevant authorities and bodies.

UK’s Kurdish People’s Committee, Kurdish Federation, Fed-Bir, Kurdish Community Centre, Halkevi and Roj Woman Association.

Contact: Arzu Pesman 07861800823 or Savas Kurt 07584132960 or fedbir@gmail.com

Turkish Police in Balaclavas Help Belgium Police Smash Roj TV Computers.

Workers from Roj TV have reported that there were Turkish speaking police, in balaclavas, who carried out the raid alongside Belgium police.

Computers were smashed by the Turks and Roj TV workers led away in handcuffs. Just like Turkey!

Turkey is carrying out raids against Kurdish media and politicians in exile in the heart of political Europe.

What has happened to European democracy that this can actually happen.

This is an extension against of Turkey's war against the Kurds in Turkey supported by the European authorities.

This is a very dangerous game to play!

Let us not forget that there are millions of Kurds in Europe who support the PKK and the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.

Does Europe really want to import the Kurdish/Turkish conflict onto the streets and cities of Europe?

It is time for all democratic institutions to condemn this latest afront to democracy.

Please join the Kurdish Community in London outside the Belgium Embassy

1200pm 5th March 2010

Belgium Embassy,
17 Grosvenor Crescent,
London, SW1X 7EE (nearest tube Hyde Park Corner)

Green Party Statement of Roj TV Turkish/Belgium Raids!

04 March 2010 - Statement from Caroline Lucas, Green Euro-MP and Green Party leader, and Jean Lambert, London’s Green Euro-MP:

“We are alarmed at the reports today that Belgian police have raided the Roj TV. The welfare of those arrested, some of whom are well known and highly respected activists in these arrests is not yet clear, and we would urge the Belgian authorities to clarify why they have felt it necessary to take this repressive step within the supposedly ‘safe’ borders of the EU. ROJ TV offices – and are concerned for international campaign for Kurdish human rights. The justification behind

"ROJ TV is a crucial broadcaster for Kurds in the ongoing effort to end Turkey’s suppression of the Kurdish community’s right to fully assert their identity, language and culture. Such a move by the Belgian police risks seriously undermining efforts towards a peaceful solution for Turkey and a better situation for the Kurdish community."

Italy arrests Iran weapons smugglers as nuclear pressure builds


Five Italians and two Iranians police believe are members of the secret service have been arrested in Italy. One is the Rome correspondent of Iranian TV. Two other Iranians are on the run.

All are accused of involvement in an illegal arms smuggling ring in contravention of an international arms embargo on Iran.

The weapons were bought in Germany and then often shuffled via shell companies through the Czech republic and Romania before being sent for shipment from Italy.

“The material, weapons and ‘dual use’ objects whose sale is forbidden were not directly sent to Iran. This is because it would have been forbidden and thus immediately uncovered. They were ‘triangled’ through various stops in London, Romania, Switzerland and the United Emirates,” said Armando Spataro of Milan’s public prosecutor’s office.

The seized material included large quantities of tracer ammunition, hi-tech gunsights, body armour, firebombs and explosives.

Copyright © 2010 euronews

Mass arrests of Kurds in Belgium causes great concern across Europe

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010


Manager of the Belgian Roj TV branch.

    Press Release: Mass arrests of Kurds in Belgium causes great concern across EuropeAt 5am this morning, the offices of ROJ TV were raided by the Belgium along with several other addresses in Belgium. 30 people were arrested including Mr Remzi Kartal, Mr Zubeyir Aydar and Mr Eyep Duru. Though we understand that ROJ TV has not been closed down none of the journalists have yet been allowed back into the building and transmission has ceased for the time being. ROJ TV is the mouthpiece of the Kurdish community in Europe and is seen as a beacon of hope for all those who seek the resolution of the Kurdish Question.Remzi Kartal is particularly well known and respected across Europe and in the UK for his diplomatic activities on behalf of his people. Like many Kurds, Mr Kartal regarded Europe as a safe haven when he had to flee repression in his homeland. Mr Kartal had been elected to the Turkish Parliament as a Democratic Party (DEP) member along with Mr Aydar. They were prevented from playing their part in the democratic political process and were quickly attacked and detained with Ms Leyla Zana later serving a long prison sentence. Fearing incarceration and torture, they fled to Europe where they were granted asylum.In 2002 the European Court of Human Rights, ruled against Turkey and in favour of Mr Kartal and 12 others, under Article 3 of Protocol 1. The systematic torture of dissidents by Turkey was yet again proved beyond doubt and Mr Kartal received 50,000 Euros compensation.Undeterred Mr Kartal started to campaign in exile for the Kurdish cause and became well known in diplomatic and government circles all over the UK and Europe for his lobbying work and advocacy of a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey.All three men have been working constructively in the search for a peaceful settlement based on justice and respect for everyone’s rights inside Turkey. For their diplomatic efforts they should be honoured not incarcerated. Their vision of a just, free, peaceful and democratic Turkey is one that we all share and as such we demand that their freedom is returned to them to allow them to continue in their chosen and much valued roles.Mr Kartal and Mr Duru were arrested in Spain in 2009 but subsequently released without charge. We fully expect the same to happen again and already many of those arrested have been released but these tactics of intimidation against those working peacefully to further the Kurdish cause are of great concern, particularly in the lead up to the International Women’s Day on 8 March and the Kurdish New Year, Newroz which is celebrated on 21 March.An emergency demonstration is being held in the UK to protest the arrests at midday tomorrow, Friday 5 March outside the Belgian Embassy, 17 Grosvener Crescent, London.For further information contact: Peace in Kurdistan

    Rachel Bird: 020 7272 4161 / 07952 145854; knklondon@gn.apc.org

    Estella Schmid: 020 7586 5892; estella24@tiscali.co.uk

ROJ- TV was raided, Remzi Kartal and his colleagues arrested by the Belgian police



Over 300 Belgian Police officers today at 5 am raided the Kurdish national ROJ-TV and crushed all the computers and the broadcasting facilities in the building.

According to the statement made by the management of the ROJ-TV, today the Belgian police raided their work place and crushed all the computers and other broadcasting facilities.

During the raid the Belgian police also arrested several members of the staffs and the guests including the head of Roj-tv Gulshen Imsiz, Burhan Ardem, Dorim Akcedax, Murad Yadlaf. The rest of Roj-tv’s staff gathered outside of the building in protest to the degrading raid.

Roj-tv’s management said that they have been informed that the raid was carried in the framework of anti-terror operation. The Belgian Police would accordingly release their statement in regard to the raid today at 5 pm.

Amid Dicle, ROJ-TV journalist claimed that this undemocratic raid has been carried out in response to the Turkish demand and would not sever any thing to solve the Kurdish issue!

“We strongly condemn the raid and crushing our broadcasting facilities and demand an end to this, Amid Dicle said”

At the same time the Belgian police had raided 24 Kurdish community centres throughout the country, among those are the Kurdistan National Congress and the European branch of BDP.

During the raid they arrested a number of Kurdish prominent politicians including Dr. Remzi Kartal the head of Kongral-Gel, Zobeyer Aydar, Adem Ozun and Ayub Doru.

The Belgian police not only arrested those politician but they also crushed all of the facilities in the building.

 

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Turkey is gearing up to invade the Defensive Region of Medya



Turkey is not only preparing to invade Northern Kurdistan but also targeting the Defensive Regions of Medya (Mount Qandil).

After a series of progressive operations carried out by the Turkish military personnel, Joseph Anderson the head of the US forces in Iraq flew to Ankara and paid a visit to the Turkish Foreign Minster.

In this visit they evaluated a military offensive on a large scale carried out against the Defensive Regions of Medya.   

It has been clear that the Turkish foreign minster, Beshir Atalaye required American support in this operation. He required for the protraction of the American intelligence service by which the Turkish forces would be given intelligence about the positions of the Kurdish fighters.