10 April 2006

1. "Turkish clashes raise questions on Kurdish future", Turkey's Kurds see Iraq as inspiration, Turks fear nightmare of civil war.

2. "Diyarbakir shook the regime", Kurdish uprise in Diyarbakir and Kiziltepe. These events came just after the 2-million-strong mass demonstrations in Newroz (Kurdish national fest) during a funeral of PKK guerillas.

3. "Two soldiers killed in landmine explosion in south-east Turkey", two soldiers were killed and a further two injured when a landmine exploded in south-eastern Turkey Saturday, according to Turkish authorities.

4. "Letter To The PM Of Turkey From Members Of The European Parliament", (..) as members of the European Parliament - and among us there are many who voted for the opening of EU-Turkey accession negotiations - we are particularly shocked at what is happening in Diyarbakir and at the way in which the Turkish authorities are dealing with the current crisis. It is unacceptable that the Kurds of Turkey, a community of at least 18 million people, cannot exercise any significant fundamental right related to their cultural, social and political identity, and that the government in Ankara refuses to recognise that people's identity.

5. "Turkish soldiers angry for not taking part in oppressing Kurds", the Turkish soldiers were serving in a Turkish city and were on leave at the time of the hostage taking. They protested because they were not serving in Northern [Turkey’s] Kurdistan to be active in killing and eliminating Kurdish protesters.

6. "Publisher Stands Trial for Barzani Book", Doz Publisher's editor Vural is standing trial because of a book named, "Barzani and Kurdish National Freedom Movement" by Barzani. He faces up to 3 years in prison for the book which includes memories on the Kurdish revolts and Armenian deportation.

7. "Turkey faces battle to stamp out 'honour killings'", experts say about 70 women fall victim to so-called "honour killings" in Turkey every year, mostly in the southeast. The true figure may be much higher.

8. "Free Kurdistan", recent nuances and nudges in government policy as well as tacit support for the most obscene anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism by the ruling political party of Turkey ought to cause the United States to begin to rethink its comprehensive policy toward Asia in general and toward one non-Arab minority in Iraq in particular: the Kurds.

1. - AP - "Turkish clashes raise questions on Kurdish future":

Turkey's Kurds see Iraq as inspiration, Turks fear nightmare of civil war.

DIYARBAKIR / 9 April 2006 / by Selcan Hacaoglu

For Ramazan, an elderly Kurdish businessman, the recent battles between masked Kurdish youths and Turkish police have rekindled a dream — the creation of an autonomous zone for his people in Turkey, much like the one carved out of Iraq.

But while Kurds look to northern Iraq for inspiration, Turks see it as an example of what the future could bring: a collapsed central state and a brewing ethnic civil war.

Iran and Syria also are concerned that Kurds in Iraq's oil-rich north could set up an independent state if the Iraqi central government collapses — serving as a rallying call for their own restless Kurdish minorities and potentially destabilizing the entire region.

Iran's ambassador to Turkey, Firouz Dowlatabadi, warned in an interview published Tuesday that Turkey, Iran and Syria need a joint policy on the Kurdish issue or "the U.S. will carve pieces from us for a Kurdish state."

But international politics was of little concern to Ramazan when he headed out into the streets as soon as he heard Kurdish protesters were confronting Turkish police.

The protests started late last month in Diyarbakir, the largest city in southeastern Turkey, the predominantly Kurdish region devastated by more than a decade of warfare between autonomy-seeking Kurdish guerrillas and the army. On March 28, funerals for 14 militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party killed in combat with Turkish soldiers the previous weekend swelled into large protests, and then they turned violent. At least 15 people were killed and hundreds were injured and detained as the rioting spread, with mass demonstrations throughout the southeast and smaller protests in Istanbul.

"I did not throw any stone, I did not enter the clashes. I am old, you know," said Ramazan, who refused to give his last name or details about his life for fear the police could track him down. "But I went out to support the Kurdish revolution. I had to be there since I am a Kurd."

"I am a Kurd, we want our language, our rights," Ramazan said.

Turkey refuses to recognize Kurds as a minority, and speaking Kurdish was illegal until 1991. At the prodding of the European Union, Turkey recently has granted some cultural rights to Kurds such as limited broadcasts on television, but many say it is too little, too late.

Turks fear that increasing cultural rights could lead to the breakup of the country along ethnic lines. Stoking that fear is the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, complete with its own government and militia.

Kurds — brutally repressed under Saddam Hussein before the autonomous zone was created after the Persian Gulf War in 1991 — have played a key role in the new Iraqi government and are prepared to stay in a federal Iraq. But many Kurds say their real aspiration is independence.

Turkish businesses already are flocking to the area as the Kurdish economy in northern Iraq grows. Some Turkish Kurds living on the border regions are sending their children to universities in the area.

That is coming as Turkey's economic program to build up the southeast is faltering. The government has done little to improve ruined roads or the dilapidated health care system, and blackouts are common.

Fighting between government and rebel forces — which has left 37,000 dead since 1984 — largely ended after the 1999 capture of guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan but began to flare up again after the guerrillas declared an end to their unilateral cease-fire in 2004.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged not to give in to the rioters.

"No one should dare to test the power of the state or the nation," Erdogan said Tuesday in an address to his party."

Sezgin Tanrikulu, a human rights lawyer in Diyarbakir, said he thought that only action by both sides could head off more violence, though he said such steps were unlikely soon.

The rebels should disarm, he said, and the government should develop a more aggressive plan to improve Kurds' lives. "This is not a random or one-time event," he said. "If we fail to see the graveness of the problem, we will see worse times in the future."

Unemployment is extremely high in the region, which helps increase support for Kurdish guerrillas based in northern Iraq. Ankara says the guerrillas also have been able to acquire sophisticated plastic explosives in Iraq for bombings in Turkey.

"No doubt, the region is affected by winds of change from northern Iraq," former Kurdish lawmaker Hasim Hasimi said.

For Ramazan, the fate of the Kurdish dream lies with Washington and the European Union.

"Give us a federal status like in Iraq, that's enough," he said. "I hope, it will happen this time."

2. - Atilim - "Diyarbakir shook the regime":

10 April 2006

The following article is the editorial of Atilim, issue 101, regarding the Kurdish uprise in Diyarbakir and Kiziltepe. These events came just after the 2-million-strong mass demonstrations in Newroz (Kurdish national fest) during a funeral of PKK guerillas. The funeral was four 4 guerillas of the total 14 killed by chemical weapons. The Kurdish masses took the streets of all the cities in the Kurdish region and devastated the state authority. The police opened fire to the popular crowd and killed totally 14 people in the demos.
Semdinli... Newroz... The Insurrection of Diyarbakir... These were the steps of struggle which carried Kurdistan to a new turning point. The first thing of interest in this rise is the role and quality of the popular movement which had gained a more advanced level. In that sense we can say that the events of Diyarbakir and the following events can be specified as an insurrection situation, comparable bir the period of 1991-‘92.

Why? Firstly, a destructive mass movement aiming the state institutions have developed. Secondly the masses have directly collided with the militarist forces of the regime. Thirdly, the mass movement resulted in paralysing the local institutions of the state and shaking the established order.

Some additional remarks can be pointed. Regarding the role of urban mass uprisings in the struggle strategy of the PKK we can analyse a change. In the years 1991-‘92 uprisings did not have a special place in the strategy of the PKK. Kurdish uprisings of these years were a side effect of the PKK strategy and partially, were “unexpected”. In the beginning of the ‘90’s the revolutionary situation in Kurdistan was deepening basicly along with the guerilla warfare. Today, the position of the mass struggle is different. PKK puts the masses forward, opens the way of the mass initiative. The masses become the subject of the development of the national struggle. Today the revolutionary situation is deepening along with the mass struggle. PKK establishes his strategy over the mass struggle. PKK wants to put forward his reform program (based on the rejection of the denial and gaining some of the national democratic rights) on this basis. Guerilla keeps its’ role as a moral force uniting the masses and as an insurance of the right to make politics for the Kurds, but its’ role will stay limited.

This new level of the mass movement –“civil disobedience”, “democratic protest of the people” what ever it is called– is pressurizing the state authority. This reality leaded the state to rearrange its’ forces for dirty war tactics. The interim-period policy organised by the state after 1999 (no rejection, no solution, leaving the problem to corruption) recieved a heavy strike with the end of the unilateral cease fire in June 2004, and totally collapsed with the intensive retaliatory urban and rural strikes of the guerilla after the spring of 2005. Semdinli, Newroz of 2006 and the Insurrection of Diyarbakir were the final breaking points of this interim-policy. The concept of “Hope Breaking”* collapsed.

One other important sign of this new turning point is the result of the bankruptcy of the interim-policy for the balance between the generals and the capital oligarchy. Diyarbakir showed clearly that the Kurdish people is not confronting only the generals, but also the line of the liberals. The insurrection showed that the Kurdish people will neither accept the denial of their national existance and the destruction policy nor the degenaration line of the liberals. But, of course the force it opposes directly is and will remain to be the generals.

The fascist regime is preparing to put forward reactionary crowds manipulated by nationalism and chauvinism as a result to the massive uprise of the Kurdish people. Nationalist (MHP) and Islamist civil fascist focuses are the first to be mobilized, for sure. The lynch attempt in Adapazari and the Gypsy’s attack against Kurdish demonstrators in Taksim are some examples of this line. They are preparing the psychological environment for this type of massive fascist attacks. Mass media and the chauvinist and fascist parties like CHP, ANAP, DYP and MHP are busy with constructing a basis for provoking clashes among the peoples. The generals are trying to give the message; “everything is out of control” to the society for executing their plans. They are urging for different options, including a new Martial Law or a new Anti-Terror Law and want unlimited capacity of state terror in practice. They are trying to renew their concept of “hope breaking” with massive imprisonments, lynches and massacres.

We are entering a period in which the role of the means of violence in politics will increase.

The possibility of civil war is being prepared by the generals as a recent threat. This preparation is basicly for supressing the Kurdish national movement, revolutionary and progressive movement. But this plan also carries beneath itself a dimension to affect the clash between the ruling class factions in favor of the generals. Although the liberals don’t want a civil war, the initiative which the generals took in their hands make this danger a concrete reality for them too. Of course, regarding these type of moves, it should be stated that the force of the generals have a limit too. Even though the generals can be effective in the short term, it is clear that they cannot be the sole player. It is clear that the capital oligarchy (focused in TÜSIAD) EU and USA will not only watch the course of events, but they will take the initiative in some moments and make moves for their interests.

At this point, the position of the government party (AKP) gains importance for the bourgeois solution tendencies. AKP is very confused. They are puzzled. Indetermined. Prime Minister Erdogan was speaking of a “Kurdish problem” and telling that this problem is “their problem”. He was trying to get the support of the pro-EU forces. Now, he speaks with the mouth of general Büyükanit (who is the primary responsible of the new assault line in the army, tn.) and says “whether they are women or children we will do what is necessary to everyone who becomes a device in the hands of terror”. (Erdogan made this statement after the shooting of 4 children aging 3 to 10 in the demonstrations of Diyarbakir, tn.) AKP is trying to reach the year 2007 (which is the legal end of their mandate, tn.) and trying to secure the next elections.

It can be foreseen that the course of events are leading to a more apparent differentiation between the ruling class on the Kurdish issue. The tendency to supress with military devices (including a new Martial Law) and the tendency to accept the Kurdish reality and find “acceptable” interlocutors on the Kurdish side (for talking about the disarmament of the PKK and the right of making politics for the Kurds) will be more apparent. This second tendency also means a more active intervention of the EU and US imperialists in the process. This, in a sense, is coinciding with the aim of the PKK by aggrandizing the clashes and forcing the regime. This is the expectation that the points of solution put forward by Mr. Abdullah Öcalan (the imprisoned president of the PKK, tn.) to be put on the agenda by the international and local bourgeois forces. DTP (Democratic Society Party, tn.) already appeared as a declared interlocutor for this process.

It should be boldy underlined that the developing sitation in the Kurdish question is creating and will create results which is going to affect the development of the revolutionary movement in our country. The development of the Kurdistan-based popular movement and the social and political shaking this creates, does not only result in the grow of nationalism among the masses and the aggrevation of fascist attacks. Meanwhile these development widen the revolutionary possibilities and potentialities, which more important for us. For shaking the consciousness of the Turkish workers and labourers and showing the real content of the contradistion between fascism and the oppressed, the possibilities widen. The economical price of this dirty war is burdened on the working masses. The want for freedom, justice, bread and employment is growing among the popular masses. This basis means a wide possibilities for showing the Turkish people how this dirty war is humiliating their national honour and calling them to get in action, to take an attitude.

In the present moment, the position of the Turkish people against the Kurdish problem is basicly enmity or viewer position. It is clear that only a small portion of the Turkish people is standing friendly with the Kurdish national movement. That is the most important point for the revolutionary movement of Turkey: Being the subject of changing this reality. Pushing the labourer masses who are in a viewer position to the ranks of friendship/brotherhood with the Kurdish people, or at least cutting their support to the state’s dirty war policies. To salute the honorable and brave stand of the patriotic Kurdish people is not enough. We need to get in action with all the possible means, to develop solidarity.

In this context, we can state that there are hope-giving signs in the attitudes of the revolutionary organizations in the period of Semdinli-Newroz and Diyarbakir. The increase of sensitivity of the TKP-ML and MKP is a sign of this. The active attitudes of the Marxist-Leninist Communists are, from a long time period representing a pioneer attitude in this question. In this period we witnessed active attitudes of the ML communists, but also these need to be developed. These attitudes show the line to be walked along: To tell the fascists that “You cannot do these to the Kurdish people before you need to smash us.” This attitude will shake the consciousness of the Turkish popular masses. This is the political determination, internationalist stand and pioneer will, which the history orders to the revolutionaries of the oppressor nation Turkey. We will comply with it!

*Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish army, Ilker Basbug stated in a press conferance after the Newroz of 2005 that the aim of the “anti-terrorist policy” should be to “break the hope that they can be successful”, so that they will leave away their aims.

3. - DPA - "Two soldiers killed in landmine explosion in south-east Turkey":

ISTANBUL / 8 April 2006

Two soldiers were killed and a further two injured when a landmine exploded in south-eastern Turkey Saturday, according to Turkish authorities.

The device, which authorities said was planted by militant Kurds, exploded as a vehicle from the paramilitary gendarmerie passed over it.

The injured were transported by helicopter to a military hospital in Elazig province.

Following the attack, searches were stepped up in the region for fighters from the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK).

4. - Flash Bulletin - "Letter To The PM Of Turkey From Members Of The European Parliament":

STRASBOURG / 5 April 2006

cc:
Mr Schussel, President of the EU Council Mr. Rehn, EU Enlargement Commissioner Mr. Borrell, President of the European Parliament

Prime Minister, Mr Erdogan,

As members of the European Parliament - and among us there are many who voted for the opening of EU-Turkey accession negotiations - we are particularly shocked at what is happening in Diyarbakir and at the way in which the Turkish authorities are dealing with the current crisis.

It is unacceptable that the Kurds of Turkey, a community of at least 18 million people, cannot exercise any significant fundamental right related to their cultural, social and political identity, and that the government in Ankara refuses to recognise that people's identity;

We state solemnly that there is no military solution to the "Kurdish question" and that the search for a political, non-violent and negotiated solution to the problems of the region is necessary; bear in mind that for us, the recognition of the Kurdish population's right to exercise their fundamental rights is a condition for the accession of Turkey to the European Union.

At the time of the decision on the date for the formal opening of EU-Turkey accession negotiations, the Commission and the Council stressed that any negotiations would be suspended in the event of a serious violation of democratic principles and of human rights by Ankara; the Union will have to take appropriate steps in this direction if the Turkish authorities and army continue in their unilateral contraventions of the rights of the Kurdish population.

We condemn the government of Ankara and the local representatives of the Turkish army and of the state authority for the activities which led to the death of many innocent civilians in Diyarbakir; we call on all the parties in conflict to suspend their military activities immediately and without conditions, so calm can be restored and a political process of dialogue can begin.

Finally, we ask the Presidency of the European Union and the Commission to take the appropriate political steps so that a formal, political and constructive dialogue, between the government of Ankara and the Kurds can finally take place.

Best regards,

AGNOLETTO Vittorio, MEP
ADAMOU Adamos, MEP
AUKEN Margrete, MEP
BATZELI Katerina, MEP
BEGLITIS Panagiotis, MEP
BERTINOTTI Fausto, MEP
BOURZAI Bernadette, MEP
BRIE André, MEP
CAMRE Mogens N.J., MEP
CARLOTTI Marie-Arlette, MEP
CASACA Paulo, MEP
CATANIA Giusto, MEP
CHIESA Giulietto, MEP
CORREIA Fausto, MEP
DE BRUN Bairbre, MEP
DEMETRIOU Panayotis, MEP
DIMITRAKOPOULOS Georgios, MEP
EVANS Jillian, MEP
FORD Glyn, MEP
GOMES Ana Maria, MEP
GOUDIN Helene, MEP
GRUBER Lilli, MEP
GUIDONI Umberto, MEP
GURMAI Zita, MEP
HAMMERSTEIN David, MEP
HASSI Satu, MEP
JOAN I MARI Bernat, MEP
KARATZAFERIS Georgios, MEP
KASOULIDES Ioannis, MEP
KAUFMANN Sylvia-Yvonne, MEP
KUSSTATSCHER Sepp, MEP
LAMBERT Jean, MEP
LUDFORD Sarah, MEP
MARKOV Helmuth, MEP
MATSAKIS Marios, MEP
MEYER Willy, MEP
MORGANTINI Luisa, MEP
MORAES Clause, MEP
MUSACCHIO Roberto, MEP
ORTUONDO LARREA Josu, MEP
PANAYIOTIS Demetriou, MEP
PAPADIMOULIS Dimitrios, MEP
PFLUEGER Tobias, MEP
PORTAS Miguel, MEP
PRODI Vittorio, MEP
ROURE Martine, MEP
SACCONI Guido, MEP
SMITH Alyn, MEP
SPERONI Francesco, MEP
STAES Bart, MEP
SVENSSON Eva-Britt, MEP
TRIANTAPHYLLIDES Kyriacos, MEP
UCA Feleknas, MEP
VAKALIS Nikolaos, MEP
WAGENKNECHT Sahra, MEP
WURTZ Francis, MEP
ZIMMER Gaby, MEP

5. - Kurdish Media - "Turkish soldiers angry for not taking part in oppressing Kurds":

LONDON / 9 April 2006

Two men reported to be soldiers and wearing T-shirts with "Turkey" written on them took a hostage at a popular Burger King restaurant in Istanbul on Saturday and then released him after negotiations with police.

The Turkish soldiers were serving in a Turkish city and were on leave at the time of the hostage taking. They protested because they were not serving in Northern [Turkey’s] Kurdistan to be active in killing and eliminating Kurdish protesters.

One of the Turkish soldiers were seeing pointing a gun to his head and holding a knife in the other, shouting Turkish nationalist and anti-Kurdish slogans.

Istanbul Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah misinformed the international media by stating that the soldiers were protesting clashes between Kurds and security forces in the southeast [Kurdistan]. "They carried an action like this out because they were very affected by the events in the southeast," Cerrah said.

A local eyewitness, who does not want to be named, told KurdishMedia.com, “The Turkish soldiers were serving in a Turkish city. They were basically very angry because they were not serving in Kurdistan. They were very angry and eager to go to Kurdistan to kill a lot of Kurds.”

“That is what happens when the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan declarer an open war against Kurds,” he added.

He elaborated by saying: “Erdogan recently stated, ‘You who let your children roam the streets, tomorrow your cry will be in vain. Our security forces will act against anybody, whether it is children or women that work as a tool for terrorism. I want this to be known. Nobody should make wrong calculations.’ This is a green light for the Turkish police and security forces to kill Kurdish civilians. Now we pick up the fruits.”

6. - Bianet - "Publisher Stands Trial for Barzani Book":

Doz Publisher's editor Vural is standing trial because of a book named, "Barzani and Kurdish National Freedom Movement" by Barzani. He faces up to 3 years in prison for the book which includes memories on the Kurdish revolts and Armenian deportation.

ISTANBUL / 7 April 2006 / by Erol Onderoglu

Doz Publishing House editor Ali Riza Vural is standing trial because of a two-volume book named, "Barzani and the Kurdish National Freedom Movement" by Mesut Barzani.

A case was brought after the first volume got published in February 2003 but then was dropped after a legal amendment. Another case was brought after the second volume got published in May 2005.

Editor Vural, who is being charged with "insulting the Republic through a publication," is facing up to three years in prison based on article 301/2 of the Penal Code.

During the hearing, the allegations by the prosecutor were read out loud. Vural also presented the court with an address containing his thoughts on the allegations.

Following are some of the expressions the publisher is being held responsible for:

"Kurds revolted time after time and rebelled against the imperialists, the counties in the region that usurped their rights. All revolts were violently quelled. In Turkey, Mustafa Kemal crushed Kurds very harshly."

"However, he was only able to establish the Republic, to kick the Greeks out of Turkish territories and to make hostile countries recognize the Turkish state, thanks to Kurds. Mustafa Kemal at the beginning made generous promises to Kurds but then when he was able to stand on his feet, he forgotabout his promises."

In another section of the book, the forced migration of Armenians is also depicted through memories.

The book includes the memories and sayings of Molla Mustafa Barzani (1903-1979), the father of Mesut Barzani. The next hearing will be held on July 20.

7. - Reuters - "Turkey faces battle to stamp out 'honour killings'":

DIYARBAKIR / 7 April 2006

Fatma's family wanted her killed because they said she was having an adulterous affair while her husband was away doing his military service. Returning home, the husband preferred to believe his wife's protestations of innocence, but the couple faced ostracism from people in their village who also believed the woman had sullied the family's honour and should pay the ultimate price. Helped by a women's support group, which feared for Fatma's (not her real name) life, the couple were resettled with new identities in Diyarbakir, the largest city in Turkey's poor, mainly Kurdish southeast where they now live.

Some are less fortunate. Experts say about 70 women fall victim to so-called "honour killings" in Turkey every year, mostly in the southeast. The true figure may be much higher. "There are no accurate figures for honour killings. Villages often support a decision by family elders to kill a woman. Such killings can be passed off as something else, like suicide," said Naime Kardas of the Ka-Mer group, which helped Fatma. Women may be killed for adultery or extra-marital pregnancy -often the consequence of rape by a neighbour or family member for seeking a divorce or even for simply being seen outside unaccompanied by a male relative or with her head uncovered. There are signs that Turkey's government, police and non-government organisations are starting to work more effectively to combat this crime, which badly tarnishes the European Union candidate's image as it struggles to improve its human rights record.

Ka-Mer is helping to set up similar women's centres in the southeast, complete with telephone hot lines. Special "intervention" teams grouping women activists and representatives of the police, local government and the mosques are being set up to help save women and, if necessary, to resettle them with new identity papers in other parts of Turkey. In the conservative southeast where religion remains strong, clerics have told the faithful in Friday sermons that honour killings are not sanctioned by the Koran, Islam's holy book. Under Turkey's new penal code approved last year, those found guilty of honour killings now face life sentences. In the past, judges have often shown leniency towards men who killed wives, daughters or sisters for reasons of "honour".

A man who killed his wife and a taxi-driver for having an affair a few years ago was jailed for just two years, said Aytekin Sir, an expert on honour killings at Diyarbakir's Dicle University. Today the man would face 18 years in jail. Although welcome, tougher laws barely begin to tackle the deep social and cultural roots of honour killings, the expression of a rigidly patriarchal society which sees women as commodities to be used or cast away as men see fit. "It is so hard to change people's mentality. It will take many years," Sir, a psychiatrist, told Reuters. "We have to try to solve the problem through education, especially of women," he said. More than half the women in southeast Turkey are illiterate. Many are Kurds who speak little or no Turkish and are entirely dependent economically on their menfolk. The tougher penal code may be having unintended results, Sir said, with more women being forced by their families to commit suicide to spare their male relatives a lifetime in jail. "Women may be forced to eat rat poison. Or they may be locked away in a room and put under heavy emotional pressure to end their lives," he said.

There are also fears that children are increasingly being used to kill women since they face lighter penalties if caught. Ka-Mer fears Turkey's largely male, conservative-minded judiciary may hamper efforts to combat honour killings. "The law has changed, but you don't see it yet in the courts when verdicts are handed out. Judges don't always follow the new laws, they follow their own feelings too," said Kardas. Every state body should practise positive discrimination in favour of women, Kardas said, noting that policemen sometimes tell women who suffer abuse just to put up with their lot. The findings of a survey conducted by Sir in the villages and towns of southeast Turkey last year make for grim reading. Asked what should happen to a woman guilty of adultery, nearly 40 percent of those polled said she should be killed by far the most popular punishment recommended, ahead of divorce or such penalties as having her nose cut or hair shaved.
"There was no difference between the answers of the men and the uneducated women in the poll. Only educated women believed the woman should not face punishment," Sir said. Experts say honour killings have become a bigger problem in recent years because of large-scale migration to towns and cities, accelerated by fighting between Kurdish rebels and Turkish security forces in the southeast. "These people brought the mentality of small villages into the big cities," said Sir. Ka-Mer remains undaunted by the scale of the task ahead. All 31 of the women who applied to the centre for help in 2005 are still alive. More plays, films and books on the problem are appearing and the Turkish press has stepped up its coverage. More male relatives and members of the public are helping to put endangered women in touch with Ka-Mer, Kardas said. "There are signs that the younger generation is different, that they will not kill their daughters for perceived violations of the family 'honour'," said Sir.

8. - News By Us - "Free Kurdistan":

7 April 2006 / by Bruce Walker

Recent nuances and nudges in government policy as well as tacit support for the most obscene anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism by the ruling political party of Turkey ought to cause the United States to begin to rethink its comprehensive policy toward Asia in general and toward one non-Arab minority in Iraq in particular: the Kurds.

What, today, is the most intractable political problem in Iraq? It is the very real political and religious aims of Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish regions of the nation. Since the inception of Operation Iraqi Freedom, President Bush has maintained that the unity of the nation of Iraq was non-negotiable. In politics and in war, however, nothing should be non-negotiable.

Iraq is not a nation in any real sense, but it was rather three separate concentration camps each with differing degrees of oppression. The Sunnis, the smallest group in the economically and landlocked center of Iraq, had the most to gain by making peace quickly and joining a unity government. Coalition forces have supported the ungrateful Sunnis by opposing a partition of Iraq. Now President Bush should embrace such a division.

This would divide Iraq into three separate nations: a relatively unimportant Bagdad Iraq of Sunnis, a Basra Iraq of Shiites who could govern themselves without the need for Iranian support, and an Mosul Iraq which would be the first true homeland for Kurds in many centuries, an oil rich area that is well able to defend itself and has shown the most gratitude to America of the three nations of Iraq.

Why has America shied away from this approach? The principal reason is that Kurds are a dispossessed people whose natural homeland stretches across much of the Middle East. A substantial number of Kurds live in Iran, which is as close to a mortal enemy of the United States as there is in the world today. American support for reclaiming those colonial possession of Teheran and the incorporation of those lands into Kurdistan would roughly double the area of the Iraqi Kurds.

A significant, but smaller, number of Kurds live in Syria, an enemy of America and a supporter both of the Iraqi insurgency and of international terrorism. If the Baathist regime did not give up its Kurdish lands, then the Kurds, with American military support, should smash the Syrian Army and force as humiliating a peace treaty as possible on Damascus.

The majority of the thirty million or so Kurds, however, live in Turkey – almost one quarter of the population of Turkey. That, more than anything else, has stayed our hand so far. Kurdistan with the southeast quarter of Turkey, is a fairly large nation. Traditionally, Turkey has been an ally of America, but that has been changing fast and Turkish support for American policies has always been based entirely on cynical self-interest. We owe Turkey – neutral in World War Two and our enemy in World War One – nothing.

Our support for Turkey costs us the goodwill of Greeks, Armenians and other European nations that suffered through centuries of Turkish oppression. It also has cost of much of the goodwill of Kurds, who would otherwise welcome the presence of a superpower that was not intolerant, not Arab, and sought nothing but friendly relations with it.

Another important reason for supporting a true Kurdistan is that the Kurds are a genuinely diverse people. Although they were forced to covert to Islam, today only about seventy percent of the Kurds are Moslem, and many of those only nominally, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians (or a faith much akin to that) and Bahai have lived within the long-persecuted Kurdish community with their first allegiance as Kurds, and there is no single branch of Islam that clearly dominates the Kurdish community.

Kurdistan could then be a democracy with an Islamic majority that was genuinely inclusive of all faiths, both needing the support of all Kurds to survive (much like Israel) and also because of centuries of living largely underground, tolerant of all Kurds. There is little doubt that it would become an affluent nation as capable of defending itself as Israel is today, and that along with the establishment of a truly free and democratic Lebanon, would create three strong, free and prosperous democracies which would naturally become allies or at least friends.

The dismemberment of Iran, which would lose ten percent of its population, and the humiliation of Syria, which would be forced into a very precarious position, would be great peripheral benefits. The downside has always been the impact on Turkey, but a Turkey which continues to deny its Armenian holocaust and is rapidly moving toward denial of HaShoah as it embraces vicious anti-Semitism, should increasingly lose our concern about its interests.