Adana: 3,155 Children Arrested in 2009

Adana is a city where a lot of Kurd who were forced to move out of Kurdistan have relocated. The governor of Adana has threatened Kurdish parents by taking their children away from them if the children were to participate in demonstrations. Bianet article summarizes how children are treated in Turkey by building on the situation in one city alone.

A report prepared by the Human Rights Association (İHD) Adana Branch revealed that 3,155 children aged 13-18 were arrested in Adana in 2009. 122 of them were taken into custody in the course of social uprisings. 299 children were taken into detention, 54 of them in the scope of social uprisings.

The association demands: "Detained children who came into conflict with the law should be released immediately".

According to the data compiled by İHD Adana, 48 children were sentenced to a total of 203 years, three months and 15 days imprisonment under charges of "throwing stones to police forces" and "spreading propaganda of illegal organizations".

Torture in police cars, at police stations and in prison

İHD Adana received 62 applications related to children in 2009. According to the report, the children were beaten in police cars and at the Police Department; they were threatened and restrained by hand-cuffs or chains when they were taken to another place.

Two children claimed to have been beaten by the police when they came back from a wedding ceremony. They were allegedly taken to an orange grove where they were beaten and threatened to "confess their crimes".

16 people detained in the children's prison of Kürkçüler Prison in the town of Pozantı stated that they were beaten by soldiers. Moreover, the soldiers supposedly told the guards that the children were terrorists and that "they could do with them whatever they wanted". One child said that he was insulted by the house physician and was made to clean the infirmary bathroom.

Violations in the Pozantı Children's Prison as revealed by the report read as follows:

- 13 people are forced to sleep in bunk beds designed for six people

- Beating wet hands with plastic pipes

- Neglect of health problems

- Implying pressure on the children regarding the election of the ward headman

- Forced education of the National Anthem

"Stop prosecuting children for terror crimes"

These are some of the recommendations comprised in the İHD Adana report:

The respective articles of the Anti-Terror Act and the Criminal Code providing for the prosecution of children for "terror" crimes should be amended as well as politics assessing children as "members of terror organizations".

Children should be tried at juvenile courts.

A Social Studies Report should be prepared to understand the reasons behind the crimes committed by children and to establish recommendations for prevention.

Experts should prepare reports regarding 12-15-year-old children's understanding of their crime and of the consequences of their behaviour.

No child should be deprived of his or her rights, including the right to education. Psychological and developmental support should be provided to children throughout the duration of prosecution and afterwards.

All kinds of violence against children should be prevented and forbidden by law. (TK/VK)

This is the Turkey who is sympathetic to Palestinian children throwing stones at IDF soldiers. Yet, when Kurdish children express their frustration against the forces that burnt their homes and killed their relatives, the children immediately become terrorists. Ridiculous.

I am a Turk, I am true, and my state is guilty

Some important facts to consider when discussing the Kurdish issue, especially in the lights of the recent events. Below is partial translation of an opinion piece by Roni Margulies. You can read the fully text (in Turkish) here.

Roni Margulies - 28.10.2009

Among all these words of "friendship", "brotherhood", and "living together", there is a reality that goes unnoticed, unmentioned. The answer of the most fundamental question is being forgotten.

The question is this: Why did Kurds go up to the mountains?

The answer is obvious: Because of the policies of the Turkish state.

Probably not because they are fond of clean air and they like to die by getting bombarded while exercising in the arms of mother nature.

If there wasn't denial, oppression, humiliation, and violent policies of the state, neither "friendship" and "brotherhood" nor arrivals from the Habur [the border gate between Iraq and Turkey] would come up. We would be living without any trouble and not commit unapproved activities. Some of us would still be struggling against this state but the words "Kurd" and "Turk" would not be present in this struggle.

In short, the answer to the question "who is guilty" is "the state of Turkey".

When one forgets this basic question and its answer, it becomes easy to blame DTP of making a "show", bad mouth PKK because it's not laying down arms, and have a problem with every word Ahmet Türk or Emine Ayna [co-chairs of DTP] says. It's also easier to complain about nationalistic inclinations among Kurds. It's easy to cry for the pain of the families of martyrs [Turkish]. It's easy to talk about how wrong armed politics and all nationatilisms are.

Talk is cheap but let's not forget this: the only reason for the problems Turks have among themselves for the past 25 years and Kurds have among themselves for the past 80 years is the state of Turkey. Moreover it's not the "old state" in the Armenian issue but the current state that has been slapping our necks.

This state is responsible and guilty for the martyrs, turning a large portion of the country into a war zone and making it poor, and cutting from health and education services and pouring the money into war.

If Turkish writers, reporters, and politicians remember this fact before they criticize and blame Kurdish organizations and establishments, the [Democratic] Opening will have more chance of being successful. The Opening's success will be guaranteed if every morning kids say "I am a Turk, I am true, I am a hard worker, and the state is guilty of war" [this is a reference to the pledge of allegiance children must say every morning].

There is no need to remind Kurds of this. I don't think they have the slightest doubt about why their children went to the mountains.

Kurds not only know why those who went up the mountains did so but also what they have accomplished today.

[...]

It's not right to do politics based on ethnicity, fine. Using weapons is wrong in every situation, alright. One must object to every kind of violence, good.

[...]

So tell me, what other choice did Kurds have? What other choice the Turkish state left them?

They used the only choice they had, they went up to the mountains. And they succeeded. Now they are celebrating.

Those who finds Kurds' celebrations inappropriate should briefly think who is the guilty one.

Kurdish civilians are getting attacked and told to leave the western cities in Turkey. They had to go to those cities because the state burned down their villages and evacuated them.

The Kurds must unite!

Denial...

The Republican People's Party (CHP) has always been the true face of the fascist Turkish state. The current speeches of the party's leader is nothing more than the ultra right wing and racist National Movement Party (MHP) says. Let's rewind back to 1930, when many massacres were being committed against Kurds, including the Zilan Massacre:

"Because this party (CHP), with the things it has done, has returned back the position of Turks, the true masters... The master of this country are Turks. The ones who are not pure Turk have only one right in the Turkish homeland, that is to be servants, to be slaves." (Hakimiyeti Milliye 19 September 1930)

The CHP and the Turkish state mentality represented by it tried to wipe off the very existence of Kurds and Kurdistan then and they are pretty much repeat the same tune now. CHP leader Baykal recently claimed there has been no Kurdish problem in Turkey for the past 87 years. I swear, I don't get him and so many that are like him (hint hint the TSK generals and their heard of ducks) who can openly tell such stupid lies that a five year old wouldn't believe. They do deserve an Oscar or two though because even Forrest Gump couldn't genuinely be that stupid.

So all these sorry excuses for humanity, including the generals who kill their own soldiers to undermine the peace process can talk and say all kinds of nonsense and it's all good. But if DTP, Mr. Öcalan, or PKK talks the whole Turkish media starts screaming about how that is out of line.

It seems to me that Turks want to solve the Kurdish problem without talking to Kurds. These people seem to have forgotten why all the Kurdish uprisings, including the last one lead by the PKK came into existence. Here is just a summary of human rights abuses that happened so far in 2009. It's not, by any means, a comprehensive list.

The fascist Turkish regime must understand that "life is like a box of chocolate..."

Qandil Observations: Part III

This is the third and final part of Mr. Murat Karayılan's interview with Filiz Koçali and Ramazan Pekgöz of Günlük daily. You can read Part-1 and Part-2. The original, in Turkish is here.

Qandil Observations -3

'Let the state take one step, we will take two'

As the interview goes on, it becomes clear how they [the PKK] weighed the latest developments. They are expecting well-meaning steps that are reassuring rather than words that sound nice. They don't seem to be receptive to any proposition about them without seeing these [well-meaning] steps. Yesterday the papers reported about the [Turkish] government would send a team to Makhmur [Maxmur]. Talks have been going around about emptying the Makhmur camp and sending the PKK members there. We ask what they think about the suggestion that they should be placed in the Makhmur camp. He gives a similar response to the suggestion that they should retreat their forces to Qandil. But this time, Murat Karayılan starts with a joke:

"Makhmur is too far... Our place is better than anywhere." Then he continues: "We won't move down to Makhmur. If a solution materializes, it can be discussed. Forces, based on an agreement out of the solution can behave according to a protocol developed there [in Makhmur]. But not in any other way. The stories of 'they will move down to Makhmur or they will return to Turkey, the leaders will go to Europe' is a scenario that is constantly brought up during the past few years. This scenario first came up during the first United States intervention in the region. Because we didn't accept this scenario, we started a new process on 1 June 2004. Now, even if I decide myself, I cannot execute it [the old scenario]. No administration [of the PKK] can."

'We have to be realistic'

He stresses that they [the PKK] have been acting extremely responsibly and they would try their best to open the doors for any positive development. He wants to make sure what he says is not misunderstood: "Why am I saying these? We have to be realistic. If we are really going to discuss the solution, we have to consider these facts."

He says that wrong information is being distributed about their situation. Their persistence on solution [to Kurdish question] is being interpreted differently and that it's not realistic to interpret their persistence as they are losing strength. "We are not desperate. But we are saying now that let's stop the violence. This is a societal problem and it can be solved with dialogue, with modern methods. The role of violence in solving societal problems is over now. Now the problem is in a form that can be solved through dialogue and democratic means. This is our strategy."

Then he explains that the PKK has reached a new paradigm and that they are working to implement the democratic and ecologically sensitive paradigm.

I really recommend some of the reporters such as those who "report" news like this to read what's following:

'Even if they offer an independent state we will not want it'

He says "It's not being understood why we don't want to establish an independent state. Even if they offer us an independent state we will not want it. Because we are against the power of the state. But this doesn't mean that we will do armed struggle because we are against power of the state. We are saying that the state system has been in effect for five thousand years. As long as the current concept of state is implemented, there will be separation among people, there will be high class and lower class. Therefore there will not be real democracy, there will not be equality; there will be a high class and a low class. We propose a more equality based system compared to the current state concept. What we are saying is a new society, a democratic society, a new system which is based on women's revolution, which has accomplished the ecological revolution.

He stresses again: "We have unilaterally started the 'conflict avoidance' phase. We are still seriously trying to implement this. We are still working hard for 'no-conflict' phase to come to life despite the operations in the field, despite the attacks and operations that target Kurdish politicians. We sincerely want development of a phase in which weapons will not be used anymore."

'It [solution] will empower development of democracy'

He says they find it more realistic for peoples to live together in a system based on equality and freedom than establishing a separate state. He gives the European Union as an example. States like Germany, France, and England, which were enemies 50 years ago and killed millions of people from one another, have now lifted the borders and are preparing a constitution together and asks "why shouldn't we develop the same thing in the Middle East".

He stresses that solving the Kurdish question by peaceful and democratic means will empower the development of democracy in the Middle East and can be a starting point to prepare the ground for democratization of the Middle East. He says that the reverse will just empower and solidify the anti-democratic systems in the region.

He draws attention to the fact that this position is not a tactical one but a strategic one: "That is the reason we want to develop a solution to the Kurdish question that would not pressure the the unity of Turkey. We are not moving along with the logic of 'let us pass this stage like this'. We are talking about permanent solution."

'We are in the 'we' too'

He says that if the people of the Middle East would self govern and develop themselves, it would reduce external intervention and it's crucial that we [the people of the Middle East] solve our problems with self-reliance. We say that the [Turkish] government is saying similar things. He continues:

"Yes, there are similar words coming from the government officials recently. But, for example, the most receptive person, the Minister of External Affairs says 'let us solve the problem ourselves, with our self-strength', but he keeps us out. The same minister holds talks with the USA, Iraq, and EU. Instead of discussing the Kurdish question with the Kurds, he discusses it with external powers. He doesn't include Kurds in his self-strength, he doesn't include any of the Kurds' representatives. If there is an external actor that can play a positive role, one should benefit from it. But it is necessary that we solve the problem with our own strength, based on internal dynamics."

'We rely on natural things'

"There is one way for solution: sincerity" he says and continues: "We are sincere about this subject, we are serious. We can solve our problems ourselves based on having the ability, strength, and willpower for mutual respect, overcoming the mistakes made in the past, and knowing how to mutually forgive the consequences of those mistakes.That's what we expect. We are serious about this, we are sincere. There is only one way; to move toward the solution sincerely. Overcoming the prejudices, improving trust, and efforts to create a common future must be on the agenda."

He says that the guarantee of a common future is theirs and continues: "Everyone says we are like finger nail and tissue but they provoke the peoples against each other very much. If fights between peoples is not happening it's mostly due to our ideological approach. We never told our people that 'Turks are like this, Turks are like that' and plant seeds of animosity between peoples [Turks and Kurds]. We criticized the system." He states that there has been 'reciprocal damages' and brings up the Commission for Investigating the Truth and Reconciliation which they proposed for this purpose.

'We are ready before anyone else'

[...] "Look" says Karayılan, "we rely on things that are natural; Kurdistan's geography and its people." He says that they are a movement which constantly changes, transforms, and updates itself both organizationally and tactically and continues: "the defense work is only about five percent of the work we do".

His final words for the interview are "Approach to the road map to be announced by Öcalan will be a measure of sincerity. We say that the government should take a step and ask us to take two. If the solution is truly wanted, we are ready for it before anyone else."

Serkeftin.

Go back to Part-1 or Part-2.

Qandil Observations: Part II

Today, I am posting the Part-2 of Mr. Murat Karayılan's interview with Filiz Koçali and Ramazan Pekgöz of Günlük daily. You can read the Part-1 here. Many thanks again to the heval who helped me with this piece. The original, in Turkish, can be read here.

Qandil Observations -2

'We completely agree with Yaşar Kemal'

[...]

We ask Karayılan about Yaşar Kemal's interviews at our paper [Günlük] and Radikal daily. "I read them last night." he says. He couldn't read it on time because of the Kongra Gel meeting. He states that Yaşar Kemal's words sincere and had good intentions. Karayılan invited the Turkish officials to think and reflect on the things Yaşar Kemal said in those interviews. He continues: "we completely agree with what's said there. Turkey has to understand this: what we say is exactly what any other person in Turkey who thinks realistically would say."

Then he brings up claim of several Turkish newspaper columnists on the Democratic Society Party (DTP) becoming like the PKK rather than PKK transforming into DTP and says "what we say is the same with everyone who sides with democracy and thinks realistically be it a shepherd in a village, a businessman in a city, a worker, intellectuals, or politicians."

'The most reasonable solution project'

A lot of factions in Turkey are talking about the road map that is to come out of İmralı island [from Öcalan] and make suggestions about its content. People wonder about [Öcalan's] recommendations related to the PKK which will be in the road map. We ask Karayılan about his predictions on the road map.

Karayılan's prediction is that the road map will be referencing the 1921 constitution, it will be on an axis that doesn't bring forth any ethnicity and that this road map would be the most reasonable and refined solution proposal from the Kurdish side. He states that saying 'this is Abdullah Öcalan's road map' and setting it aside would be very wrong and continues "This road map will be the pinnacle of peace endeavors developed since 1993, that's why it's important".

'I talked about pulling back in 99'

We mention that some factions expect to see 'the PKK laying down arms' in the road map and ask 'Will it be proposed that PKK pull back to outside Turkey?'

He reminds us the decision to pull outside Turkey in 1999. He himself announced to the PKK forces the decision to mocve them outside the borders of Turkey. He spoke to the forces for one hour. We ask him about his emotions during that talk. "If I put it honestly, I wasn't very hopeful. But our leader had asked. I was seeing it as a risky move but I was thinking it needed to be done. I remember it as a sad speech."

He tells about over 300 guerrillas were ambushed and killed while retreating to outside Turkey's borders. He talks about the traps, mass executions and massacres on the road [committed by the Turkish forces]. "But we still didn't change our mind and stood by our decision" he says.

He he asks a question and answers himself: "We didn't move for five years. Was any step taken? No! Was this period utilized? No! Now a lot people say that period was not utilized properly. We acted responsibly but the [Turkish] authorities of the time didn't act responsibly. The importance of our decision to retreat to outside Turkey's borders is being understood better today."

During those years, although they were outside Turkey's borders, in the South [Kurdistan], they were not left alone; the international forces along with Southern forces (he refers to Barzani and Talabani's forces) tried to surround and annihilate them. He states that after these developments they had to 'move back inside [Turkey]'. "Security and protecting lives was becoming a problem. Situations with danger to our own lives came up."

'I can't say retreat again'

We know that some factions are in the expectation of PKK's retreating outside the borders. This expectation doesn't just belong to the factions who say 'there can be no deals with terrorists' but also to some of those who see the PKK and İmralı as a reality and say that discussions with the PKK are necessary. We tell him about these expectations. He knows about it and says:

"This is not a scoreboard for a card game. No, why should we retreat? We stay where we are. Let the weapons be silent and we discuss the solution. Why should someone walk three months and come from Dersim? Let's discuss, talk, whatever is going to happen there, we solve the problem where it belongs. We don't see solution in this kind of requests. Who is going to guarantee that the same things will not be repeated again? [He is referring to retreating forces being ambushed and destroyed] I can't give such an order for a second time. Those who really want a solution, who want democracy shouldn't offer this."

'Mutual assurance and trust is a must'

Much pain has been lived. Now Prime Minister Erdoğan too, without distinguishing, says 'Let mothers not cry'. There are those who say that retreating outside the borders will assure those who believe that 'those at the mountains' have contribution to the pains lived?

He says that they value everyone who tries to contribute to the process and if they see sincerity for the solution they would certainly respond. But there are 'but's...

"Yes, we want to give assurances but in return we need assurance too. I am saying it candidly: we see such stand as move to weaken us, perhaps the initial phase of our annihilation. That's why I think those who want solution shouldn't defend such things. I know the state officials defend this. If mutual assurance and trust is to be mentioned, there is no trust in this [what's being asked of us], we don't trust this. Let me state clearly: don't force this on us because we don't trust [it]."

The issue of 'trust' a few days after our talks in Qandil was brought up after the meeting between DTP Chairman Ahmet Türk and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Erdoğan said "I believe we benefited from one another and for the future there will be positive steps based on trust". Apparently, 'trust' still remains to be an important issue before us.

'Öcalan is a force beyond the power of our administration'

What if such an offer [retreating beyond the borders] comes from İmralı, as some expect?

He says "let me be clear. Leader Apo's power is far beyond our administration's power."

But he says he doesn't think such an offer will come from İmralı: "Because he too knows that repeating such a thing for the second time will be difficult. Therefore not in that way but there may be something like a phased withdrawal, I can't know that. But he knows it too that retreating completely outside the borders will be difficult. That's why I don't expect something like that to be on the agenda right away."

If it doesn't take place on the agenda right away when do you think it could come up? How are the weapons going to get out of stage? Is it possible to reach a solution without having the weapons out of stage? We know that the public is discussing this and wants to know about it. He answers:

"It is possible to have a plan that will realize taking arms off the stage in phases. We are already discussing this at various levels. But let me say this: the road map will be presented to both sides, to the public. The road map will be presented to the state side and to us, the PKK. I don't think it will include measures that cannot be refused by either the state side or by us. That's why I said 'most reasonable'. But the state is already made some maneuvers which signal that the state doesn't care about the road map and it is trying to weaken the impact of the road map. We don't find this an approach conducive to solution."

Go to Part-1 or Part-3.

Qandil Observations: Part I

Filiz Koçali and Ramazan Pekgöz of Günlük recently interviewed Mr. Murat Karayılan. The interview appeared in three parts on August 7, 8, and 9, 2009. Here is the link for the original. I would like to thank the heval who translated this piece.

Qandil Observations -1

We did what Hasan Cemal asked

"We did what he [Hasan Cemal] asked. He [Hasan Cemal] said 'Everyone should keep their fingers away from triggers and PKK should take one step back'. Our forces in Turkey are trying their best to avoid conflict and not to be visible; they almost went under the ground. That's why the losses have reduced"

[...]

"We value every move and approach toward solution to Kurdish question regardless of who makes the attempt. It could be from the members of the state or civilians" says Karayılan.

'We pulled back'

Karayılan carefully read Hasan Cemal's series of writing after his interview with Karayılan. He reminds Hasan Cemal's following words "Everyone should put fingers away from the trigger and PKK should take one step back". "We did what he said. He said 'Everyone should keep their fingers away from the triggers', we started a no-conflict period and extended its duration.

Despite the operations conducted against our forces, we are still trying to keep the no-conflict process sustained. He [Hasan Cemal] said 'PKK should take a step back'. We pulled back. Our forces in Turkey are trying their best to avoid conflict and not to be visible; they almost went under the ground. That's why the losses have reduced."

Stopping the operations is at the top of requests made by various factions. In fact, stopping the operations [against the PKK] is seen as the first and important condition toward solution [to the Kurdish Question]. We ask about operations and he says 'there are still operations conducted but not as much as before'. He adds, "which means the state can stop the operations completely and turn the no-attack [from the PKK] period into no-conflict phase. Together we can develop a phase for complete cease fire where everyone stays put at their locations. We demonstrate, with all our might, our will for developing this phase". Then he says environment for dialogue can be created.

There Can't be solution without talks

Karayılan answers the suggestions developed for PKK and stresses that approaches such as 'PKK is different than the Kurdish question' are wrong and notaimed to solve the problem. He said that the Kurdish freedom struggle brought the Kurdish question to the daylight and similar things happened elsewhere in the world: "It is not necesary for Turkey to invent something new. Even if she tries, without being a proper solution, it will not bear any results. The

Minister of Internal Affairs says 'we will develop a solution unique to Turkey and sets an example for the world' and I hope that will be the case. But we don't know of solving a problem anywhere else in the world without talking to the stakeholders. Saying 'there is a problem, I will solve it myself but I will annihilate the owners of the problem' is not an approach for solution but for war. If war is not wanted and developing solution is wanted then the parties sit down, talk, and discuss."

Voluntary unity, not a forced one

Why talks and discussions? The answer is clear: "What's our purpuse for the solution? To achieve the societal reconciliation. To transform the currently existing forced unity into a voluntary unity. That's why the sides who are going to live together voluntarily must sit down and talk." He also states that willing to sit down and talk would be an indication of sincerity about wanting the solution.

He lists his expectations

He carefully watched the speech by Minister of Internal Affairs Beşir Atalay. Karayılan found Atalay's speech as 'positive' and stated that it was important and positive that Atalay for the first time spoke for the government and the state saying that 'we will solve this problem'. However he finds the content of Atalay's speech incomplete and insufficient: "nice words but the set up is not in a line which will bring solution."

He says "Mr. Atalay is someone who is responsible from security" and that they expected use of following sentences for starters: "From now on, we will not try to solve the problem with violence but by political and peaceful means. The operations will stop; we will not produce operations anymore but ideas." Karayılan states that from now on they will look at the actions.

PKK and the Kurdish question are like nail and tissue

Karayılan stresses the following: "An approach like 'I will not recognize your will, I will solve it my way, I will even talk to some sections of the society but I will not speak to you' will not bring complete solution. Kurdish question and the PKK problem are like nail and tissue, bound together. Separating them will not develop a solution."

Sincerity and trust needed

"Kurdish question is not a problem that formed yesterday. It's not a problem created by the birth of the PKK either. Existence of this problem has given birth to the PKK. That's why if Turkey really wants to completely solve the problem, she should set aside the prejudices. We should avoid the distrustful and prejudicous manners. If the state and the government presents and approach which shows trust and belief in Kurdish people, the Kurds will make every effort to honor that trust with practice."

Where Karayılan sees his hand strong is 'non-separation'. He continues: "Since there is no thought like separation is on the table, the discussions can be held with mutual respect along the lines how how to create conditions for equality, freedom, and living together."

Filiz Koçali - Ramazan Pekgöz

Readers of this blog can check Hasan Cemal's interview with Mr. Karayılan published in Rastî: Part-1, Part-2, Part-3, and Part-4.

Finally, I have to point out two things. The first one is the the PKK guerrillas are trying VERY hard to avoid any kind of conflict while Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) didn't halt its operations. Quite a few guerillas have been killed during the conflict-avoidance phase PKK has initiated unilaterally. However, when guerillas are surrounded and fired upon, they do defend themselves. Wouldn't you? So, a Turkish soldier died in a recent clash and Washington Post published an article. It says One Turkish soldier died in PKK violence. Of course, there is no mention of any of the sincere moves and sacrifices the PKK has been unilaterally making to prevent bloodshed. The article tries to portray the PKK as if the PKK is opposing to the solution to the Kurdish Question:

The armed attack comes as the government prepares to announce a series of measures aimed at reducing years of problems between the Turkish state and its Kurdish population, which have been a cause of violence and poverty for years.

Pathetic.

Karayılan, during his interview, stresses something again: non-separation. The PKK wants the problem solved within the unity of the state. The same article goes on calling PKK "separatist".

Did the TSK manage to buy some foreign reporters?

Go to Part-2 or Part-3

Mass Grave in Turkish Military Installation

A soldier who served in Semdinli Derecik Internal Security Brigade during 1994-1995 came out about an event in which 12 korucular (government paramilitary forces used against PKK and Kurdish people) were tortured, shot, and buried in a mass grave in the garrison.

The soldier even provided a schematic of the mass gave and alerted the prosecutor's office and spoke to Taraf daily. You can read the full article in Turkish.

The soldier stated that the commander of the brigade then was Lt. Colonel Ali Çamurcu, a known member of JITEM who is known to kill a lot of civilians after having them kidnapped.

The soldier who came out talks about the details of the encounter of how the korucular we tortured nonstop with allegations that they were helping the PKK while in fact they were not. The poor korucular were screaming for days that they were fighting against the PKK.

Some could say these 12 korucular met their demise but I feel sorry for them. Because the korucular are stupid enough to think that the fascist state will actually value them for betraying and killing their own people. The fascist regime will never forget that korucular betrayed their own people and so they can betray her too. That's why they have no value for the fascist regime.

A reporter has found the relatives of the killed and they described what happened. It appears that after a clash between the PKK and the military, the military raided the village, set the homes on fire, tortured people, beat up a pregnant woman and killed her baby, incinerated a person alive and took these 12 korucular to the military installation for torture and later killed them.

After the story hit the news construction work started in the military post where the mass grave is supposed to be located. It wouldn't surprise me though that the remains of the people have already been removed and incinerated. JITEM's professional killers have reported in the part that they were professional enough not to leave any body parts behind.

When the families of the "missing" complained, the government refused to investigate. Later when the matter was taken to the European Human Rights Court, Turkey simply said that the "disappeared" must have joined the PKK and the atrocities were committed by the terrorist organization.

It seems to me that Turkey conveniently omitted specifying the fact that the terrorist organization was the Turkish State.

Stop Military Operations and Solve Kurdish Question

From Bianet:

Parties of the left and NGOs have called for a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.
Bawer ÇAKIR
bawer@bianet.org
Istanbul - BİA News Center
16 July 2009, Thursday

On Wednesday, 15 July, representatives of NGOs and political parties gathered in Galatasaray Square to call on the government to act.

Following the announcement by the militant PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) that they would extend their unilateral ceasefire until 1 September, the crowd called on the government to stop armed operations.

The group read out a press statement, and then handed out a flyer headed "Make your voice heard for peace".

Hüseyin Akçiçek of the Socialist Platform for the Oppressed (ESP) said in the statement that both the Turkish and the Kurdish people were paying the price for the ongoing 30-year war:
Denial and opportunism

"Those who meet the existence of a Kurdish people with denial and methods of destruction protect their own children, while not hesitating to send the children of the poor people into the war to die. They then use their dead bodies for their politics."

He added, "It is necessary to demand brotherly, equal and free coexistence of the people of Turkey in order to obstuct the games of those who want war."

He called on the "proletarian Turkish people to be aware of the game being played with their future" and to support the voices calling for peace and the Kurdish people's peace efforts.

As for the government, the statement called on the government to match the Kurdish demands for peace and the decision by armed groups to cease fighting with an end to operations.

"Yes, we believe that there are opportunities for a fair and honourable solution to the Kurdish question and for peace."

The protest was supported by the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the 78'ers Initiative, the Human Rights Association (İHD), the People's Houses (Halkevleri), the Socialist Labour Movement (SEH), the Labour Party (EMEP), the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), the Socialist Party, the Labour Movement Party (EHP), the ESP, the Revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party (DSİP), the Social Freedom Platform (TÖP), the Teori ve Politika magazine, the KESK trade union confederation, Anti-Kapitalist, the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the Free Democratic Alevi Movement. (BÇ/AG)

I am becoming more pessimistic day after day as I know very well that a fascist regime and people who have been brainwashed don't easily change.

Turkish-Arab Alliance

Surprise, surprise to brothers and sisters in Kurdistan-Iraq. Turkey and are Iraqi central government are at work hard to make sure Kurds cannot rise their heads. How delightful it is to be surrounded by brothers some of whom are "progressive democracy" in the region. Read the article titled "A Troubled Pipeline" that just appeared in Newsweek. Here is an excerpt from the article:

[...]

The deal quickly drew criticism from Baghdad and Ankara, which have actively sought to block Kurdistan's oil ambitions over fears that independent energy revenue could help bolster the region's bid for political autonomy. Earlier this month the Iraqi government vetoed the Kurds' Nabucco arrangement, saying that the Kurdish regional government could not strike its own energy deals without violating Iraq's Constitution. Baghdad offered to supply Europe from another field instead—one not under Kurdish control—but it couldn't promise gas until 2014 at the earliest. Oil has long been a source of simmering tensions between the Kurds and the central Iraqi government, which has also moved to bring border controls in the Kurdish region under Baghdad's authority.

Turkey, too, has expressed its unhappiness over the Nabucco deal. Rather than allowing Iraqi Kurds to enrich themselves with gas money—which would likely bolster their de facto independence from Baghdad—Turkey prefers to bank on the chance that its ally Azerbaijan will be able to produce enough gas to fill the pipe.

[...]

Êdî bese.

TURKEY'S DIRTY WAR AGAINST THE KURDS

The German media hardly says much about Turkish state's terrorist acts on Kurds due to heavy trade between the two countries. The following article has made its way to Spiegel Online. You can read the full text here:

'We Used to Murder People at Night When the Soldiers Weren't Around'

By Daniel Steinvorth in Istanbul

When members of the special Turkish police unit Jitem arrived at night, Kurdish inhabitants of southeast Turkey knew there would be another disappearance. Investigators are now looking into the activities of this allegedly disbanded secretive organization from the 1990s -- and the 'death wells' where its victims were hidden.

[...]

Shot 'Like an Animal'

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, thousands of civil rights activists, politicians and businesspeople suspected of having ties with the PKK were kidnapped and murdered. No one knows their exact number, and it was only in rare cases that the victims were even identified. Many corpses were dumped into wells; others were doused in acid and thrown into fields. The horror of the sight was meant to serve as a deterrent. But the majority disappeared without a trace and are still listed as missing.

One of the missing is the Kurdish construction worker Ramazan Solmaz. His wife Piroze last saw him on January 15, 1993. "He was on his way to work when they caught him," she says. "That's all I know. There are no traces, no clues. I'd just like to know where his body is. I just want to bury him." Piroze and a friend have put their faith in Cizre's bar association. "My husband, Selahattin, was shot in broad daylight in 1998 right on the street," say her friend, who is wearing a pitch-black version of the traditional Kurdish gown. "Just like that. Like an animal."

At the time, the women didn't even think about filing a criminal complaint. In Cizre, confronting those in power had its consequences. The powerful included not only the soldiers and the people from Jitem, but also members of the radical-Islamic Turkish Hezbollah, a militant Kurdish organization unrelated to the Lebanese Hezbollah. The war between the Turkish army and the PKK raged in the mountains surrounding Cizre. But in the city itself, it was this group that held power over life and death. A brutal leader of this clan named Kamil Atak once let himself be nominated to become mayor. As local politicians will tell you, the former shepherd used to take pleasure in "feeding" his captives to his Hezbollah fighters.

Spreading Fear and Anxiety

Even after the state of emergency was lifted in 2002, Atak remained under the protection of state security forces. Just over two months ago, on March 23, police arrested Atak as part of a nationwide operation after he garnered the attention of investigators working on the "Ergenekon" case. Soon after Atak's arrest, authorities also arrested Cemal Temizöz, a colonel in the military police, who also sowed fear and anxiety among the inhabitants of Cizre.

[...]

Jitem's Bestial Interrogation Methods

For the top brass in Turkey's military forces, the issue of Jitem remains taboo. The government continues to deny its existence. According to the semiofficial version, at least, the organization served as something like a "counterguerrilla" force against the PKK that completed its mission long ago and has since been disbanded. The last fact seems to have been confirmed by former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, when he claimed in a television interview that Jitem "no longer" existed.

By far the most comprehensive reports of Jitem's activities can be found in the memoirs of the organization's former agents. One of them is Abdülkadir Aygan, who now lives in Sweden. Aygan tells a shocking tale of having first been a member of the PKK before being recruited to work for Jitem. "We used to murder people at night during the long hours when the soldiers weren't around," Aygan says, describing Jitem's activities. "Many of the people we captured had been indicted by a court or the gendarmes," he adds. "But many of them had also been denounced by their completely normal fellow citizens. No one survived an interrogation by Jitem people."

[...]

Seeking Certainty and Closure

In the end, all the searching and inquiries of Ergül's brothers had been in vain. But after Aygan's confession, they did succeed in figuring out where Ergül had been dumped, where fishermen later hid his body and where his unidentified corpse had been buried in an anonymous grave not far from the lake. "Now we're waiting for the results of a DNA test," says Ergül's brother Ata. "Then we will finally have some certainty."

This is a sign of progress -- but there are also contradictory signals coming out of Turkey. For the first time, the country seems prepared to come to terms with its recent past. But even though light is now being thrown on the dirty war waged during that period, the war between the Turkish military and the PKK continues to rage. In military terms, the separatist movement has been significantly weakened, and its leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has been in prison for years. But it is still capable of launching deadly bomb attacks, such as the one in late April, when a remotely denoted bomb threw a military vehicle into the air, killing nine Turkish soldiers.

The government avoids talks with the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), which has channels of communication with the PKK. Instead, in recent weeks, the government has preferred to impose order high-handedly by arresting more than 200 DT politicians.

One would think after all these came out the Turkish state would try to solve the Kurdish problem in a fair and just way. Alas, that's not the case.

Solution Discussions

Discussions are going on about peace talks between Kurds and Turkey. I thought I would present two opinions which I hope you will find interesting and worthwhile to read. The first one is partial translation of an article from Hasan Bildirici, published 10 May 2009 in Kurdistan Post, titled "Qandil Trip" (emphasis added by me):

[...]

Unilateral decision is enough to start a war however inadequate to end it. We have seen this clearly during various times when PKK declared unilateral cease fire. These attempts were left unanswered and didn't bear any fruit. It's easy to start a war, difficult to end it.

But every war has an end. The first World War lasted four, the second World War lasted six years. PKK and Turkish state have been at war for thirty years. It has been a long and tiring war. Babies held by Kurdish woman at demonstrations are now managing demonstrations, going to the mountains...

[...]

In discussions about solution to the Kurdish issue one method always gets my attention.

"PKK should unconditionally lay down arms and then discussions about solutions should start!"

This is a Turkish state solution. Even if some well known Kurdish personalities say it, to take arms from Kurds and then start talks is a Turkish solution. According to the official records, Kurds laid down arms 29 times, but there has been no solution. I don't believe those who say the result will not be the same for the 30th uprising.

[...]

PKK doesn't need to rush. PKK doesn't have a Kurdish problem, Turkish state has a Kurdish problem it needs to solve.

In conclusion, three things are very important.

First, to reduce the tension and to prevent degeneration and attacks the DTP and the PKK must include other Kurds in solution discussions and ask for their support...

Second, if PKK and Öcalan are not being accepted, the peace discussions should definitely be carried through DTP... As a party that won elections in Turkish system this is DTP's most legitimate and legal right...

Third, it's time to leave reporters' messages, behind the door meetings, facial gestures, and good intention wishes behind in solution discussions...

It's time for committees with clear composition and demands to meet and hold talks...

If not, there is no need to rush...

Turkish state didn't let anyone do anything about the illegitimate status of Cyprus for 35 years...

Kurdish problem is not Kurds problem, it is problem the Turkish state who usurped Kurdistan...

Let the Turkish state try to solve Kurdish problem for once without fraud, without lies...

I don't think the Turkish military wants the conflict to end. If Turkey wanted solution, they would halt operations for a while. On the contrary, Turkey says they want the problem to be solved while they conduct operations and pressure PKK who declared cease fire. Turkish military says they want the problem solved but yet the Chief of General Staff says "we are against collective cultural rights" in other words, no freedom for Kurdish language or any other cultural right for which Kurds have been going up to the mountains to begin with.

Here is another interesting piece; an interview with Michael Gunter published at Kurdish Media and titled "Dr Michael Gunter:It is not rational for Turkey to refuse to deal with the PKK" (emphasis added by me).

Gunter’s voice has always been one of balance and compromise, he explains “Therefore, the Kurds and their supporters must continue to press the Turkish state for the necessary reforms that will lead to Turkey’s EU accession and as a result help solve the Kurdish problem within the confines of a unitary but truly democratic Turkey. To help this process along, the PKK must not initiate any new violent and deadly attacks that would give the Turkish state the excuse to dismiss Kurdish reforms as unjustified. Indeed, the PKK should work toward winning a full and genuine amnesty from the state that would allow it to participate freely but peacefully in the political process. This can only happen if the PKK maintains its military capabilities until it is given the proper guarantees for genuine democracy. Otherwise, the PKK would be simply committing suicide.”

One has to ask. If PKK lays down arms prematurely would it be just their suicide or all the things that are Kurdish too? Given the history and nature of Turkish state, it would be both.

Commanders of the armed forces request that Mayor of Diyarbakir [Amed] be removed from his post

AKPasha Inc's efforts to get rid of DTP and its politicians is nothing new. Check the discussions during AKPasha Inc's Security Meeting held on 4 January 2006.

[...]
Commanders of the armed forces request that Mayor of Diyarbakir [Amed] be removed from his post:

All units of government must show their decisiveness about terrorism. We have two expectations. The first one is that the mayor of Diyarbakir is committing a crime. Conditions for his [Mr. Baydemir] removal [from his post] by the Ministry of Internal Affairs have ripened. This request is not out of legal norms. If tolerance continues, the terrorist organization will bring its activities all the way to the cities. Our second expectation is that the village guards [korucular] are targets of sympathizers of the terrorist organization; we benefit from their contribution to the security forces. There are two problems regarding these issues. First: we cannot make up for the loss of village guards. We want the declaration and action plan of 2000 to be reviewed. The second [problem regarding village guards] is with softening down the volunteered village guard system.

Minister of Defence: The Ministry of Internal Affairs thought about removing Diyarbakir's Mayor [Amed's Mayor Mr. Baydemir] from his post. But because of problems with legal justification of such an action, they changed their mind.

Prime Minister: As you know, we discussed the issue of Diyarbakir's Mayor at the National Security Council Meeting (NSCM) [MGK]. There are some judicial problems regarding this issue. The issue of carrying of a corpse [of a slain guerrilla] was taken to the court. However, the court decided in their favor. His removal from his post by the the court is different than if we were to do it. If we remove him it will be misunderstood. These mayors are not one, there are 56 of them.

Well, now there are 99 of them! Is it clear now why DTP is being attacked and its mayors and party members are being arrested? Erdogan continues:

They tried to do something during the latest disaster but as the government we cut them off. We have something in the works regarding temporary village guards. We will issue a new law.


Right after the meeting, the following discussion took place between the commanders of forces [pashas]:

Commander of Gendermerie Forces: When a mayor goes out [of country] he must request permission from the governor. We will have Governor of Diyarbakir not let Mayor Baydemir go out [of country].

Chief of General Staff [Gen. Özkök. Replaced by Buyukanit later in the year]: In fact DTP doesn't like it when mayors (especially Baydemir) go abroad without permission. If we can find bad seeds to plant, cause division among them so they will fight one another, then weakening them will be easier.

Commander of Army Yasar Buyukanit [the previous General Staff who recently left the post]: I don't believe the government is sincere. On this issue, I concur with the Commander of Gendermerie Forces. Most of the advisors for the Prime Minister have originated from the region [Kurdistan] and this is one of the issues negatively impacting the fight against terrorism [emphasis added].

Fast forwarding to 29 April 2009, we see pretty much the same thing at play:

The reporters, during the press meeting today, asked Chief of General Staff Ilker Başbuğ about soldiers coming to the parliament during the visit of Obama and not coming to the parliament at other times.

Chief of Gen Staff Başbuğ said "As armed forces we can never have a position or thought on protesting the parliament or political parties" then he continued on, referring to the DTP group in the parliament:

"However, without a certain political party clarifying its relationship with the terrorist organization or its position on the terrorist organization, it's impossible for us to be in the same environment with them. The public will understand it that we won't be in the same environment with a political party that can't distance itself from the terrorist organization and can't clearly express this. Nobody should expect us to be in the same environment with them."

What changed from 2006 to 2009, with three different Chiefs of General Staff taking post? Nothing, really. DTP members are being singled out, arrested, talked down, discriminated. Kurds, even when they try to serve the state at AKPasha Inc's side are still not trusted and viewed as a threat.

DTP Parliamentarian Hasip Kaplan said the following on 22 April 2009 during a session at the parliament:

"I would like to make this clear: tomorrow we are going to celebrate National Sovereignty Day, right? Since the day I was elected -(showing the inscription on the wall behind him) here 'sovereignty belongs to the nation without any condition'- my general staff, the land forces commander, came and sat here only when Obama was here. I came out of ballots; if they don't respect the votes of 3 million people... The head of ruling party, the prime minister of 7 years, still refers to my party as "that party". If he doesn't acknowledge me or the will of the people on 22 of July, he just lost on March 29, in the east and southeast, if he is losing the local election in the town that made him the prime minister (Siirt), if he loses in Van and Diyarbakir from where he has ministers, if he cannot enter Şırnak, he cannot come here and call me "that party"

Tell me Mr. Hasip doesn't have a point!

Kurdish Children and AKPasha Inc

Everyone knows AKPasha Inc wants to close DTP but they can't do so. That would cause serious problems in accession talks to EU. EU frowns on shutting down political parties. What was left for the AKPasha Inc to do was arrest the DTP politicians and not close the party. Essentially same thing only more passive aggressive. Being passive-aggressive is the modus operandi for the fascist thugs like the AKPasha Inc.

In Colemerg (Hakkari), on 23 April 2009, a group of 50 people were protesting against recent AKPasha Inc attacks on DTP; arrest and detainment of over 300 DTP officials and party members. Police intervened with tear gas and water cannons and the group responded by throwing stones.

Additional support arrived for the police and they attacked the crowd. Of the many children running from the police, one of them, a 14 year old, fell off the cliff and hit his head on a rock. He is dead. The other child, who is 15 years old, was caught by one of the special forces and repeatedly beaten by the butt of an automatic rifle and kicked. Although this is not something unusual for the AKPasha Inc, this time it was caught on camera.The child will have to stay at the hospital because his life is still in danger. His skull is badly cracked. Hevallo has posted a video which shows the whole thing including another police officer who walks over to beat the kid but he doesn't. He walks away to his buddy and congratulates him. The kid is on the ground, unconscious. No calling of medical personnel. They just left him to die. His family members arrived on the scene to call an ambulance.

AKPasha Inc police last year caused mayhem during 1 May celebrations in Taksim. Here is their picture congratulating one another after their victory over public:
I wonder how they celebrated killing one and deadly injuring another Kurdish child? They must have rushed to hamam.

Here is one thing many people don't know because it's hardly reported:

"Yesterday [23 April 2009] at about 18:00 power to the city was cut. There is still no power. The public still didn't see the images of the child being beaten by butt of a rifle. There is no Internet either."

Perhaps you didn't know but AKPasha Inc cuts off power and all communication lines, including cell phone communications when they attack the public. It's common practice. TSK has been using this tactic for years.

Passive Resistance Alone?

A Kurdish Tale
The hunter asked the rabbit. "You have shorter legs than my dog, yet you can run faster. How come?" To which the rabbit responded: "I am running for myself, your dog is running for you"

Discussions have been going on for some time about how Turkey generously will let PKK to disarm itself and those who haven't been a part of armed conflict would be allowed to return home based on a "regret and cooperation" law again courtesy of AKPasha Inc. There are a few problems with this:

• PKK guerrillas didn't go up to the mountains for a picnic. They are individuals who chose the way of armed struggle because they didn't see any hope for any change in the fascist and brutal Turkish Regime.
• These people experienced that passive resistance alone meant you are sheep for slaughter. Passive resistance needs backing of someone powerful.
  

I would like to hear from those who support passive resistance alone. Please explain to me about 17500 civilians who went missing (killed) in the regime's hands after they were taken into custody. What did the world do about these missing people other than calling the fascist regime "an advanced democracy"? Who, just who is going to justify torturing two month old babies to get a guerrilla speak? Who is the real terrorist here?

A note for those who spend their lives for protecting the fascist regime with lies and misinformation. It's a Turkish paper (Radikal) that wrote about torturing of a two month old baby by the interrogators.

I challenge those who get into polemics on armed struggle to simulate a luxurious version of guerrilla lifestyle at the comfort of their home. Here are a few pointers:

• Take a few cold showers in the winter. Make sure you have no fire to warm you up.
• Don't eat anything for two days. Make do with 2 liters of water meanwhile.
• Ok, you were not required to sleep in the snow or on the rocks. But sleep on the carpet, no covers allowed.
  

Please understand, this is a luxurious version. You were not asked that you should be constantly on the move, walking atop mountains. You were not asked to refrain from using toilet paper, painkiller, and so on. You could have been asked to give up on hundreds of other things you currently enjoy. Just to make sure things are in perspective for you, you were not asked to be a small group of people (say four or five) who has nothing but AK-47s with limited ammunition and you have thousands of soldiers and guards coming at you. The soldiers have access to F-16s, Cobra helicopters, night vision, artillery, phosphor bombs, and every other state of the art military hardware. So, you are ballsy enough to do all that and someone will come and be generous enough to let you apologize for rebelling against their wrongdoing. What would you do?

The guerrillas don't drop from the outer space. They are people who are courageous enough to say NO to being hurt, mistreated, and sacrificing themselves for their loved ones. You can't tell people you are going to deny them their basic rights, massacre them, kill their brothers and sisters, humiliate them, and have them just sit back and thank you for it by supporting your system and basically give up on the values that make them human.

Let's now bring the recent "operations" of the AKPasha Inc against Democratic Society Party (DTP) to put things in perspective a little better. Turkey says "lay down the guns, come down from the mountains, and be a part of the democratic political process". So, you will detain over 240 people because they work at or belong to a legitimate party which kicked your as* in the elections? You will then put them up in jail and call that a democracy? That's AKPasha Inc's current Political Process for you. The detained and arrested people are politicians, lawyers, and alike who didn't touch a gun. God forbid if these people even had a toy water gun in their possession or be part of any corruption (AKPasha Inc, hint hint), I am sure the magazinews channels would be running stories 24/7. Does this revenge-for-losing-elections-in-Kurdistan campaign presented by AKPasha Inc give you an idea of what they would do to PKK guerrillas if they laid their arms and came down to cities without democratization of the fascist system?

Given the status quo, Kurds need both passive resistance but they also need an armed force for defence of their people. If you don't want someone to have to defend themselves, you don't attack them. Killing civilians at a peaceful event where they simply want to plant trees is just off-limits.

Denial and Destruction

Nusret Demiral recently spoke to Turkish media (see Sabah daily, April 10, 2009) recently and stated his regrets that he wasn't successful in having Kurdish parliamentarians executed. Demiral was referring to Leyla Zana and her colleagues who took their parliamentarian oath in Kurdish. Leyla Zana served a ten year prison sentence for that oath alone. Mr. Demiral goes on denying existence of Kurds and Kurdish language. He says Kurds are Turks. Same old military propaganda. Remember the post on if you tell a lie often enough you will end up believing in it yourself? The delusional ex-chief prosecutor of High Tribunal Court has certainly got his brain washed clean with fascist lies. This is the man who ordered the police to surround the Turkish Parliament for 18 hours in 1991. He goes on saying he wanted to protect the lives of Kurdish Parliamentarians (so why in the earth he would say they should have been executed, it beats me) but he makes sure they serve ten years in the prison. How sad is that such an old man expresses "his regrets" so bitterly. Nusret Demiral belongs to an interesting species. If you were to amputate his index fingers, he would go mute.
This old crook has directed torture too. Below is an excerpt from Erol Ozbolat's statements published in Kurtulus, Issue: 29, May 7, 1999. Mr. Ozbolat was detained in Ankara on February 11, 1991.

During the late days of my custody, I was taken to a lonely field and asked to run away. They were aiming to murder me and later claim that I was shot while escaping. During these tortures, the conspiracy was tried to be supported piece by piece by the testimonies taken torture. From the beginning, the torture interrogations were directed by the DGM prosecutors who, themselves, came to the torture center. The DGM prosecutors who came to the torture center and joined the interrogations were Nusret Demiral, Talat Salk, Nuh Mete Yuksel. I was subjected to torture every time they wanted to make me sign the scenarios prepared by the DGM prosecutors. In the last 9- 10 days of the 1-month-custody, I was not tortured. They waited for the wounds of torture to heal. On the 30th day, I was taken to DGM and arrested on March 11, 1991, depending on the testimonies, which I was made sign by torture. Directing the tortures were not the only little masterpieces of the DGM prosecutors, they prepared fake documents as well. These documents are available in the trial file. As a result of this conspiracy I have been sentenced to death penalty.

So, another example of denial, which more subtle. Well, look at the picture below. It shows Beşir Atalay, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkey, who recently made racist remarks against Kurds due to DTP's victory in North Kurdistan, and his Iraqi counterpart Jawad al-Bulani after signing an agreement against Kurds. They shake hands on drinking Kurdish blood. How ironic is that the folders are colored red??

Beşir Atalay said "We expect both the central Iraqi government and the regional administration in the north to undertake concrete steps". This man would rather choke than use the term Kurdistan Regional Government. He is in Iraq and KRG is clearly spelled out in the constitution. He is not respecting Iraq's constitution and shaking hands on it. Well, Arabs love it as long as something is against Kurds. Good luck to KRG in pleasing their Arab and Turkish and Persian brothers.

You tell a lie often enough, you end up believing it

Turkey's president Mr. Gul was recently interviewed by Euronews. Here is the full interview. I will be touching on a segment of the interview, which of course happens to be related to the Kurdish issue.

euronews: “One new question is the Kurdish issue in the north of Iraq. Is Turkey prepared to give any ground over that?”

Abdullah Gul: “To be able eradicate terrorist organisations you have to apply sophisticated programmes and plans ..and Turkey does that.

Sometimes we do it in a public way.. sometimes behind the scenes. Those who want to fight to death and not give up their weapons, then our military must tackle that and fight these people to the end. I must say this.

But there are people on the fringes of terrorist organisations without knowing why they are part of them. It is important to try to get these people back on the normal path.

Until now the Kurdish Regional Government in the north of Iraq has refused to do what is necessary but I am pleased to say during our meetings with them over the last few months they realise that these terror groups are bad news for them as well.”

Yeah, the KRG is so bad that she doesn't help Turkey wipe off Kurds from the face of the earth. Only a messed up and insecure bully who wants to deny people their very basic rights and expects them to help with their destruction can say such a ridiculous thing. What exactly does Turkey want from the KRG? To fight against PKK so that Turkey can persecute Kurds more?? The KRG is smart enough to know that after Turkey is done with "her own Kurds" she will move down to neutralize the KRG.

euronews: “As far as international relations go you are very close to Israel. They consider Hamas a terrorist organisation. But your relations with Hamas are very different to Israel’s. Shouldn’t Hamas be considered terrorists, the same as the PKK?”

Abdullah Gul: “The PKK, Hamas and the Palestinians…they have no links with each other.
There are many groups linked with the Palestinians
in The Middle East. In respect of the Palestinians we would never support suicide bombers. I must tell you that.

But one group, the PKK, is using military means to
create a something outside its own territory and they attack Turkey.

This is where the famous Turkish saying "if you repeat something 40 times, it will come true" plays. The Euronews speaker couldn't just say "wake up, Mr. President, the PKK is in Kurdistan!". What territory is Mr. Gul talking about?? Turkish military is conducting military operations inside the borders of Turkey all the time! Is Mount Ararat in Iraq too? Seriously, if there is no PKK inside Turkey then against whom is Turkey conducting those military operations within its borders??? Civilians (let's remember 4000+ villages Turkey razed) or the PKK? Perhaps both?

On the relationship between Israel and Turkey, it's a co-dependent relationship no different than the one between a drug dealer and an addict.

But the Palestinians on the other hand are trying to defend themselves in their own country.

Kurds ARE defending themselves inside their own country, Kurdistan. They have lived there for over 4000 years (yes LONG before they let his ancestors enter Anatolia. He needs to go read some true history!

There is no discrimination in Turkey against the Kurds. Ethnic indentity doesn’t interest us.”

Whoa! Did he just say that pigs fly? Or did I just hear Ahmedinejad saying there are no gays in Iran?? So, why is that Turkey still denies Kurds their very basic rights?? Record speaks for itself. It's enough to look at the court cases against Kurds' use of letters q, w, x, and other letters. When stupid thugs use those letters it's all fine but when it's Kurds, security forces don't waste a minute. When did President Gul ever speak against such practices??

euronews: “Mr President. The question wasn’t about the moral value of the PKK and Hamas movements. The question is simply that Turkey has a bad relationship with the PKK and yet has a good relationship with Israel which in turn considers Hamas a terrorist organisation. This is a little contradicatory isn’t it? They are, after all, two movements which are struggling over territory.”

Abdullah Gul: “Palestine is a state under occupation and the Palestinians are using military means to end the occupation. Even after United Nations rulings, Palestine is still under occupation.”

Kurdistan has been under occupation by Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Despite all the resistance. Mr. Gul needs to go and check Ottoman archives and see "Kurdistan" state on Ottoman maps!

euronews: “ No, excuse me, because, perhaps…

Abdullah Gul: “Wait a minute. I must explain this important question. When Hamas carries out a terrorist attack, we condemn it. But don’t forget what Israel has done in Gaza.

They killed between 1,300 and 1,800 people ..this is something we can never accept. So if you are comparing Hamas and the PKK you are making a big mistake.”

So, what would Mr. President say about over 17,000 individuals, including women and children who were detained by Turkish security forces and never heard from again? Children and older women included. This figure is aside from civilians, including children killed by Turkish police and military. It's true one shouldn't compare Hamas with PKK as Hamas receives a lot of external support while PKK is supported by the Kurdish people alone.

Newroz and Kurds

In the history of every peoples, there are days that define their character and history. For Kurds, Newroz means new day (sun) and symbolizes the end of oppression and tyranny and represents the harbinger of brighter days. A story older than 4,300 years and has been passed down for generations. It's said that Newroz is the oldest celebration.

A god named Zarvan had two sons. One was Hurmuz (Hormuz, Hormuzd), who spread fertility and light, and the other was Ehriman (Ahriman) an evil who spread darkness and barrenness. The epic story of Newroz is eventually the fight between Hurmuz's son Zerdust or Zeratusht, commonly called Zoroaster who was sent to the earth and Hurmuz' brother Ahriman, the jealous evil spirit.

There are many slightly varying versions of Newroz Legend. The common theme in all of them is a cruel oppressor, an Assyrian King named Dehak (supported by Ehriman), and a hero who frees his people, a blacksmith named Kawa (supported by Hurmuz). After killing Dehak, Kawa informs the people of Ninowa of Dehak's death by lighting a fire.

Mark Campbell has published a recounted version in KurdishMedia.com on 19/12/2002. The article is worth reading and can be found at http://www.newrozfilms.com/the_legend_of_newroz.htm There is also an article by KNK on the History of Newroz.

Presenting Newroz simply as a spring festival is stripping it off its true meaning for Kurdish people.

Newroz is the symbol of resilience of Kurdish people,
Newroz is the symbol that oppressors will never prevail.

Her bîjî Newroz, 21 times!

Newroza we pîroz be. You guessed it, 21 times!