Turkey´s Incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan – Only Another Round of Bloodshed
Rauf Naqishbendi
March 12, 2008
Turkish authorities have asserted that their mission is accomplished; therefore the Turkish military aggression against the PKK stronghold, Qandel, in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) will be halted. Contrary to Turkish claims, the mission is far from being accomplished. For Turkey, a complete mission would include the obliteration of the PKK and the silencing of their constituents, the Kurds in Turkey. In reality, PKK minutemen survived Turkish gunfire, demonstrating courageous resistance, while their constituents by the tens of thousands demonstrated and protested the war, waving Kurdish flags, everywhere from their small towns to their biggest metropolis, the city of Dyarbaker. Moreover, their sympathizing brethren in Iraqi Kurdistan embarked on a display of their unity through their peaceful demonstrations. The question is what the direction of the Turkish warmongers is from here on out.
After the beginning of talks regarding a Turkish military incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan, a year of debate in the Turkish parliament followed, hurdles were surmounted between military generals and politicians, and several visits were made by the Turkish prime minister and foreign secretary to Washington to attain the Bush Administration´s endorsement. At last President Bush endorsed the Iraq invasion, clearance was obtained and the military aggression commenced. The Turkish army fought the fierce PKK minutemen, and according to them, they lost twenty of their solders and more than a hundred PKK men were killed. For now the Turkish artilleries are silenced, troops are back in their posts, and the PKK is celebrating its victories. The only thing the warmongers have gained is more bloodshed to fan the flames of this unresolved conflict. It is in keeping with their ravenous appetite for human blood, including that of the members of their own flock.
The exigency for equitable justice for Kurds in Turkey gave birth to the PKK to combat the tragic suffering, intolerable oppression, and heartless indifferences practiced by the chauvinistic Turkish system of people and government. Callous Turkish authorities, in order to combat the PKK and rationalize their atrocities, labeled the PKK a terrorist organization. The US government sallied in assent with the Turks instead of brokering a peace deal. The irony is that the PKK was founded in the hearts of disenchanted Kurds dreaming of freedom and liberty. It is not a theologically-oriented or a sectarian-based organization such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah or the like. The PKK does not aim at effacing Western civilization as Al-Qaeda does; neither is the PKK a devil-worshiping institution. The PKK has not targeted American or Western interests, military bases or civil institutions. They have not declared war against the West but war against the chauvinistic system of Turkey that constitutionally deprived Kurds of their identity and refuted their most natural human rights, including but not limited to the speaking of their own language.
The Turkish army´s visitation of vengeful fire on Iraq is completed for now. However, this is not their first and it will not be their last unless the Turkish government wakes up to the need for peace making. The bloody fight between Turkey and the PKK has lasted for more than two decades. At first, the PKK demanded statehood for Kurds in Turkey; nevertheless, at present they are willing to disarm predicating on comprehensive amnesty for its members along with the assurance of securing Kurdish human rights. The PKK´s demands seem reasonable, yet the Turkish response remains only that of violence. It is about time the Turkish government sought a peaceful solution and retracted its policy of violence to avoid this insane armed confrontation between its own citizens.
Turkey must realize its Kurdish population has endured nearly a century of atrocious dehumanization at the hands of Turkish authorities, and they will continue their struggle until the dawn of a democratic day when every citizen of Turkey will regain their God- given rights of dignity, liberty and equality. Turkey´s politicians and its warmongering army generals must acknowledge that violence will not bring peace but merely increases the bloodshed. If Turkey endeavors to obtain peace and prosperity, they must create a tranquil society in which the nation is united on the basis of social, moral and economic justice. Along with justice for all, humility is required to achieve pacification and diplomacy versus bloody confrontation is the inroad to tranquility. If Turkish leaders were to embark on a path to genuine peace, armed confrontation and destruction would be obviated, lives would be saved, peace would be restored and economic prosperity would be attained. Belligerent nations lack respectability in the world community; for Turkey to come clean with its past and gain the high ground amongst nations it needs to come to terms with peace, and the time for that is now.
As the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan should have learned by now, this conflict cannot be concluded militarily. It is time for a meaningful dialogue; the PKK is ready and his government should reciprocate. Also, the Bush administration must realize that taking sides is diabolical and doing so entices the continuation of the bloodshed that has consumed the lives of thousands. It is time for President Bush to act as a peacemaker not a troublemaker, and not hand out American foreign aid for destruction and human misery, but for the propagation of respect for genuine human rights.
After the beginning of talks regarding a Turkish military incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan, a year of debate in the Turkish parliament followed, hurdles were surmounted between military generals and politicians, and several visits were made by the Turkish prime minister and foreign secretary to Washington to attain the Bush Administration´s endorsement. At last President Bush endorsed the Iraq invasion, clearance was obtained and the military aggression commenced. The Turkish army fought the fierce PKK minutemen, and according to them, they lost twenty of their solders and more than a hundred PKK men were killed. For now the Turkish artilleries are silenced, troops are back in their posts, and the PKK is celebrating its victories. The only thing the warmongers have gained is more bloodshed to fan the flames of this unresolved conflict. It is in keeping with their ravenous appetite for human blood, including that of the members of their own flock.
The exigency for equitable justice for Kurds in Turkey gave birth to the PKK to combat the tragic suffering, intolerable oppression, and heartless indifferences practiced by the chauvinistic Turkish system of people and government. Callous Turkish authorities, in order to combat the PKK and rationalize their atrocities, labeled the PKK a terrorist organization. The US government sallied in assent with the Turks instead of brokering a peace deal. The irony is that the PKK was founded in the hearts of disenchanted Kurds dreaming of freedom and liberty. It is not a theologically-oriented or a sectarian-based organization such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah or the like. The PKK does not aim at effacing Western civilization as Al-Qaeda does; neither is the PKK a devil-worshiping institution. The PKK has not targeted American or Western interests, military bases or civil institutions. They have not declared war against the West but war against the chauvinistic system of Turkey that constitutionally deprived Kurds of their identity and refuted their most natural human rights, including but not limited to the speaking of their own language.
The Turkish army´s visitation of vengeful fire on Iraq is completed for now. However, this is not their first and it will not be their last unless the Turkish government wakes up to the need for peace making. The bloody fight between Turkey and the PKK has lasted for more than two decades. At first, the PKK demanded statehood for Kurds in Turkey; nevertheless, at present they are willing to disarm predicating on comprehensive amnesty for its members along with the assurance of securing Kurdish human rights. The PKK´s demands seem reasonable, yet the Turkish response remains only that of violence. It is about time the Turkish government sought a peaceful solution and retracted its policy of violence to avoid this insane armed confrontation between its own citizens.
Turkey must realize its Kurdish population has endured nearly a century of atrocious dehumanization at the hands of Turkish authorities, and they will continue their struggle until the dawn of a democratic day when every citizen of Turkey will regain their God- given rights of dignity, liberty and equality. Turkey´s politicians and its warmongering army generals must acknowledge that violence will not bring peace but merely increases the bloodshed. If Turkey endeavors to obtain peace and prosperity, they must create a tranquil society in which the nation is united on the basis of social, moral and economic justice. Along with justice for all, humility is required to achieve pacification and diplomacy versus bloody confrontation is the inroad to tranquility. If Turkish leaders were to embark on a path to genuine peace, armed confrontation and destruction would be obviated, lives would be saved, peace would be restored and economic prosperity would be attained. Belligerent nations lack respectability in the world community; for Turkey to come clean with its past and gain the high ground amongst nations it needs to come to terms with peace, and the time for that is now.
As the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan should have learned by now, this conflict cannot be concluded militarily. It is time for a meaningful dialogue; the PKK is ready and his government should reciprocate. Also, the Bush administration must realize that taking sides is diabolical and doing so entices the continuation of the bloodshed that has consumed the lives of thousands. It is time for President Bush to act as a peacemaker not a troublemaker, and not hand out American foreign aid for destruction and human misery, but for the propagation of respect for genuine human rights.