Questions of War and Peace!

Questions of War and Peace!

As Turkey ignores all voices for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question and savagely represses all voices for peace.

Still, even at this late stage, when all signs are pointing to an all out Civil War in Turkey, the likes of which have not yet been seen in this conflict, the Kurdish voices are still challenging the Turkish Regime to come to their senses and seek a peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question in Turkey.

HPG issued a statement today, saying that although units under their command carried out the military strike against a Turkish military convoy in Lice district, it was an operation that was carried in defence of the Kurdish people and in response to the recent repression against the DTP, Kurdish people and children in Hakkari. Despite the profound provocations of the Turkish military the HPG say that the stated ceasefire will continue until 1st June as announced by the KCK.

Read Ahmet Turk's interview with Taraf, heroically translated by Azadixwaz so non Turkish readers can follow events.

...and the Al Jazeera Interview with Murat Karayilan!

Roj TV Still There!

Hevallo read an article saying that Roj TV had been closed down so I checked. No, Roj TV is still broadcasting, check for yourself.

PKK say, "We are Ready for Peace with Turkey!"

PKK 'ready for peace' with Turkey

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is ready for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with the Turkish government, the group's leader has told Al Jazeera.

While the PKK remains on alert against the Turkish military, the organisation is also open to resolve the conflict peacefully, Murad Karalyan said from a secret location in Iraq's Mount Qandil region.

"Now, the situation is very delicate and dangerous. There are two possibilities, and we are ready for both - a big war or a peaceful resolution to the conflict," he told Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Iraq.

About 40,000 people have died in the 25-year conflict between the Turkish authorities and the outlawed PKK, which is fighting for autonomy for Kurds living in southeast Turkey.

Solution 'near'

The PKK is closer than ever before to a negotiated solution with Ankara, Karalyan said.

Karalyan 'ready for peace' with Turkish government "Turkey wasn't able to get rid of us militarily and they also tried politically and they failed. That is why a political solution is close," he said.

The PKK has bases ranged across Iraq's Mount Qandil region, in an area where the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) does not have a presence.

The group's attempts to win self-rule for Turkish Kurds has been frustrated by a lack of support from other nations in the region, who each fear that recognising their own Kurdish communities' claims for autonomy could provoke instability.

But in the Kurdish heartland in southeast Turkey, the Democratic Society party (DTP), a party which the PKK supports, won in local elections last January.

"If they get rid of the PKK in northern Iraq, it doesn't mean we are finished because we are inside Turkey and we are strong," Karalyan said.

Turkish 'plan'

The United States and Turkey have both designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation, and Ankara has tried to use the Iraqi Kurdish political parties to help them crush their opponents.

"Turkey's new policy is to involve the Kurdistan Regional Government," Karalyan said.
"They used to have a red line not to deal with the regional administration in northern Iraq. Now they are in direct contact with them.

"The Turkish government wants the KRG to fight us. I do not expect the KRG to use force, but they have been taking measures against us restricting our movements. The Turks want them to do more than that."

But Masoud Barzani, the president of the KRG, said that although Turkey wants his administration to move militarily against the PKK it will not do so.

"We are ready and we will not accept our land to be used to help any party to threaten and destabilise our region. We will not be part of anything to solve it militarily," he said.

"The PKK is an internal Turkish problem. We are ready to be part of trying to find a peaceful solution. Not more than that. No pressure and no military solution."

The central government of Iraq, led by Nuri al-Maliki, in 2007 signed a memorandum of understanding with Ankara pledging to rid Mount Qandil of PKK fighters, but Baghdad has failed to dislodge them. Al Jazeera.

AKP Fail to Islamify Kurds!

"What do we do now?"

The AKP and the Kurds: Lessons of election

25 April 2009 / by Zafer Yörük

The AKP government's Kurdish policies are incomprehensible without a psychiatrically informed insight on bipolar disorder. Symptoms of the 'manic' phase usually occur before elections to be followed by a long-lasting episode of severe 'depression'.

In the wake of the June 2007 general elections, euphoric Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced to his functionaries that he wanted Diyarbakir in the approaching municipal elections. Driven by their leader's desire, the AKP deputies adopted a line of systematic degradation of the DTP deputies in the Parliament. The AKP tried to force the Kurdish deputies to 'confess' and condemn from the Parliament bench the 'crimes' of the PKK publicly announcing that until this 'confession' is obtained they would carry on ignoring the existence of DTP representatives in the Parliament. AKP hostility against the Kurds reached to its peak in March 2008 particularly in Hakkari and Van, when the police opened fire on Newroz demonstrat ors, killing two and injuring many. Many children were arrested during the disturbances, and charged by the Turkish courts according to Anti-Terrorism Act. Erdogan declared at the time that child or adult whoever disturbed the order would be punished appropriately. The trial of hundreds of Kurdish children for charges of 'terrorism' continues, with dozens of them still held in prison for more than a year by now.

AKP's post-election strategy aimed to push DTP to the margins of political legitimacy and occupy their place as the 'proper' representatives of the Turkey's Kurdish population. This strategy has been pursued through a discourse of 'politics of service' presented as the opposite of 'identity politics'. The AKP was accusing the DTP of pursuing a blind line of identity politics in the expense of serving their electorate's interests, whereas the AKP was allegedly concerned exclusively with serving the Kurdish people. Being deployed abundantly by the AKP, the term 'service' has almost become an 'empty signifier', difficult to associate with a content or meaning beyond ambivalence. What 'service' included in practice were the distribution of coal, foodstuff and in some Kurdish provinces furniture, refrigerators and washing machines to the public by the government appointed governors. In addition to these 'charitable' or 'bribery' activities, 'politics of service' also contained a covered threat: if the Kurdish people voted for the DTP mayoral candidates in the local elections, the AKP controlled funds of the central government would never be available to them.

AKP's pre-election Kurdish Mania

The discourse of the 'politics of service' accompanied the AKP's transition from post-election depressive episode to the pre-election manic phase. While charity distributions by pro-Islamist government officials gained an unprecedented momentum in the Kurdish provinces, the Prime Minis ter Tayyip Erdogan announced in a broken Kurdish accent the opening of the Turkish State Broadcasting Institute's new TV channel (TRT-6/ Shesh), which would exclusively broadcast in Kurdish. Allocating the Turkish state funds for Kurdish broadcasting was, according to Erdogan, had nothing to do with 'identity politics', but it should be perceived as another government 'service'.

AKP's 'service' discourse, consisting of the elements of 'divine bribery' and terrestrial threats, which boiled down in practice to the classical 'carrot and stick' tactics, backfired in the Kurdish provinces. In the municipal elections of 29 March 2009, the DTP won most of the Kurdish provinces, substantially increasing their vote, while the AKP failed to repeat their performance of July 2007 general elections.

AKP's post-election Depression leads to the Kurds' repression

It did not take long for the Prime Minister to ann ounce the commencement of his government's predictable post-election stress disorder, or the 'depressive episode' of the AKP's ongoing bipolar disorder, by accusing the DTP functionaries in the Kurdish provinces with bullying and threatening the Kurdish electorate. The implication of this vengeance seeking statement has immediately materialized in a wave of arrests targeting DTP cadres around Turkey. The detainees included a number of top officials of the DTP's party structure along with many party officials and grassroots Kurdish activists, who are charged with clandestine PKK activities within the party.

While the shock of the DTP arrests and the Kurdish protests were still fresh, the news of the resignation of the Kurdish singer Rojin from TRT-Shesh has brought a new dimension to the political climate. Rojin's agreement to present the main day-time show of the TRT-Shesh had received extensive publicity, and therefore her resignation was also a significant event. Rojin decla red on her resignation that the TV administration's attitude towards her had fundamentally changed after the elections and that she had been bullied, threatened and her authority as the producer and the presenter of the show had been breached by the administrative intervention.

While the launching of the TRT-Shesh had been welcomed by most of the Kurdish opinion leaders, the skepticism towards this development had also been expressed by the same circles. They pointed out the pessimistic possibilities of this channel turning into a government propaganda channel in an additional language, and of this development being an exclusive electoral investment, not expected to be lasting long. The Kurdish skepticism seems to be vindicated by the recent developments.

Diagnosis and Prospects

If the medical model of bipolar stress disorder helps us to explain the AKP's Kurdish policies particularly before and a fter elections, then a prediction of the developments of the near future also becomes possible. Predicting the future, however, requires a further diagnosis regarding the nature of AKP's 'politics of service'. Although the AKP has systematically denounced the line of 'identity politics', it should be noted that doing politics is impossible without appealing to certain identities, and therefore all politics is to a certain extent identity politics, or put in Althuserrian language, there is no outside of identity politics. It is therefore more appropriate to investigate the AKP's identity appeal concealed within their discourse of 'service', rather than concluding prematurely (as many AKP advisors do) that in the recent municipal elections the politics of service was defeated by DTP's identity politics.

Through many years in office, AKP has developed the posture of a conservative-liberal centre-right party. However, it is not an urban myth that this posture has been built around a backbone of political Islam. To pursue an analogy to its limits, if the liberalization of Turkey's political system is a programmatic expression of AKP's 'politics of service', then the Islamisation of Turkish society is the political implication of AKP's understated Islamic identity. The grammar of AKP's approach to the Kurdish question does not simply consist of a play of 'service' against 'identity' but it is derived mainly from the historical and universal discourse of political Islam, based on a belief that the feeling of attachment to a larger community of believers could override differences based on ethnic identity. To put in simpler discourse, the AKP has pursued deep down a certain type of identity politics towards the Kurdish electorate, calling the Kurds to unite with other ethnicities of Turkey under the extensive umbrella of being Muslim. It is precisely this call to Islamize in the expense of the freshly recognized Kurdish identity that has been decisively refused b y Turkey's Kurds in the recent elections. The Kurdish people's message clearly emphasizes that they are not prepared to accept the call by any overriding identity politics, which has the potential to harm their Kurdish identity, for the award of which they had to sacrifice so much.

The AKP's post-election depression is therefore far deeper than it seems. It is not simply the loss of votes in the Kurdish provinces but the bankruptcy of the project of political Islam imagined by the AKP circles as capable of providing the appropriate cure for the wounds of the Kurdish conflict. The immense dimensions of this failure must be responsible for the traumatic perception of the prime minister and the AKP officials of their electoral failure, and the government's symptomatic aggressive turn against the representatives of Kurdish political identity. The DTP's electoral victory in the Kurdish provinces, regardless of its immediate political discourse and implications, indicates that the Kurdish people of Turkey are not prepared to compromise their invaluable Kurdishness as a political identity, no matter how sweet the carrot is and how mighty the stick might be.


The Kurdish Globe, Iraq Kurdistan

Why Do Kurdish People Choose Armed Struggle?

This brilliant post, The Making of a Kurdish Guerilla, by Mizgin at Rasti should be read and used by Kurdish activists around the world. It gives the reasons why Kurdish people go to the mountains and pick up arms to fight the Turkish state.

Kurds in London Defy Criminalisation!

Photo above by Umut. Photos below by Fil Kaler.

Police had to make a hasty retreat when they made the mistake of trying to criminalise the Kurdish people in London on a demonstration called to

"Stop the Criminalisation of the Kurdish Freedom Movement and No to a Political Solution to the Kurdish Question in Turkey without the PKK"

Fed up with the intimidation and harrassment the Kurdish community is fighting back.

At the end of a very successful demonstration that was called to 'Stop the Criminalisation of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle' police officers began photographing anybody with a T Shirt expressing support for the Kurdish Freedom Movement and taking their names and address's, even though the organisers had been told that such T Shirts would be allowed.



The young Kurdish girl with the Abdullah Ocalan T Shirt above was told by the police officer, that she was being photographed and having her details taken, "Because she was chanting 'PKK'!"



Furious, the Kurdish protestors gathered around the police and everybody began chanting,

"We are PKK, PKK is us! We are PKK, PKK is us!"

And as the police officers beat a hasty retreat the protestors chanted:

"Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!"

As the Turkish police and army continue to repress the Kurds in Turkey with arrest, torture and murder, the UK authorities should feel nothing but shame! (to be fair to most of the rank and file police officers who had been ordered to carry out the work, they were as mystified as the protestors as to what they were doing and many could not state under which law they were collecting this information.)

And the Kurdish Community nothing but pride!

UK Supports Turkish State Terror and Suppression of Kurdish Freedom Movement.

This shocking video shows the reality of the Turkish regimes suppression of the Kurds in Turkey. Shocking, because it shows the everyday hatred that many Turks have towards Kurds. Unsurprising, because this happens all the time. The only difference here is that it was caught on camera!

It shows a masked Turkish 'Special Forces' army personnel beating a young Kurdish boy of 14 years old unconscious with a machine gun and then being congratulated by a Turkish policeman who is wearing a gas mask. (The young boy remains in hospital being observed for bleeding on the brain.)

He is wearing a gas mask because the Turkish authorities have been busy gassing the children as well. Oh, and also spraying them with high powered water mixed with a coloured red dye.

Another boy of 14 died when running from the gas fired at him he reportedly fell over a cliff top.

This all happened on Turkey's Official Children's Day.

Turkey is at the moment increasing it's suppression of the Kurds after the Kurdish victory in the local elections on 29th March. It has no tolerance for democracy and has begun a vicious suppression of the Kurdish Freedom Movement with over 250 DTP officials being dragged into prisons and tortured.

This is being helped by the UK authorities who over the last three months have increased their own suppression of the Kurdish exiles in the UK. This happened after a visit to Turkey by Jacqui Smith the Home Office Minister. So the UK are now helping one of the world's worst human rights abusers, Turkey to suppress their opposition as well as arming them to kill Kurds.

Defy and Reject Terrorist Label in Turkey and UK!

Kurds to Defy and Reject Terrorist Label.

Press Release. 23^rd April 2009.

The Kurdish Community in the UK will demonstrate on Saturday to protest against the increased harassment, imprisonment and intimidation of Kurdish political activists by the UK and Turkish authorities.

They will exercise their right to freedom of expression by challenging a ban on symbols and flags that show support of the PKK, a so called ‘proscribed’ organisation.

In Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria the PKK has popular support amongst Kurdish people and are fighting those oppressive governments for basic human and political rights.

In Turkey, flags in support of the PKK are flown openly but in the UK the British authorities have said they will arrest and detain anyone flying a banned flag.

In Turkey, over 250 Kurdish activists from the Kurdish party DTP have been detained all over the country under the pretence of ‘fighting terrorism’.

The increased repression follows a historic victory by the Kurdish party in the Kurdish region of Turkey in the local elections of 29^th March.

In the UK many Kurdish activists and community members have been detained and a campaign of ‘criminalising’ the Kurdish community has been implemented over the last three months following a visit to Turkey of the embattled Home Office Minister Jacqui Smith.

The Turkish authorities have labelled anything associated with Kurdish rights as ‘terrorism’ and it is a sad reflection on UK foreign policy that they choose to support one of the world’s worst human rights abusers in suppressing Kurdish exiles in the UK

NO TO THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE KURDISH FREEDOM STRUGGLE!

25th April 2009
Assemble: Dalston Junction 12.30hrs Depart 1300hrs.
(on corner of Balls Pond Road junction, behind Barclays Bank)
March to Kurdish Community Centre.

Called by the Kurdish Federation in UK.
Supported by Londra Apocu Genclik, Kurdish Community Centre, Halkevi, Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre, Kurdish Solidarity Committee and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign

For more information please call:

Arzu Pesmen: 07960302192 or Mark Campbell: 07865079415

Feb-bir (Kurdish Federation in UK) 11 Portland Gardens, London N4 1HU.

Ahmet Turk in UK Parliament; "Kurds too, have Dreams!"

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. " Martin Luther King.



LONDON - The leader of the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, said Kurds have dreams too and called on British parliamentarians to support a solution to the Kurdish problem, in a speech during a reception at the House of Commons in London.

"We see that even the strongest country in the world changes. The Martin Luther King dream has become a reality in America. The Kurdish people too have a dream just as beautiful as King’s," Ahmet Türk said.

Türk also attended a meeting hosted by a newspaper that publishes in Turkish and Kurdish. Türk said the only struggle the Kurds are engaged in is one of creating an atmosphere where they can express themselves freely in the region where they live. "We live in an important region.

The Kurds are one of the most important peoples in the Middle East. Unfortunately the Kurdish people have to live in four separate countries and their democratic rights have been violated," he said.

He said the Kurdish people understand human rights so much more since they have been the people to suffer most in the Middle East. He said despite their will to live democratically, Kurds are still viewed as a potential danger in the region. He said despite all the difficulties of the past 30 years the Kurds will continue to remain active in democratic politics.

Reflecting on the results of the March 29 local elections, Türk said his party still faces the same dangers as in the past despite the party’s election success. "Our party received strong support in the Kurdish-populated regions.

We see this as an important opportunity for peace and democracy. Despite our strong showing in the elections and the support of the people, important members in our cadre were arrested following the elections.

Such events harm not only the Kurdish people but democracy as well. We hope that problems are dealt with through dialogue in the future," Türk said. Türk asked the parliamentarians present for support to solve the Kurdish problem saying it should be solved internally but it has international dimensions too.

He said Kurds want to be free and equal citizens in a united Turkey. When asked about a map of "Kurdistan" in a Kurdish cultural center in London, Türk said: "I haven’t seen such a map. I haven’t paid attention either. Statements that create nervousness in the people are of no good to anyone." Source:Hurriyet.

Public Meeting House of Lords: Kurdish Question After the Turkish Elections?

Public meeting

Turkey after the elections: new prospects for a solution to the Kurdish question?

Tuesday, 12 May, 6.30pm

Committee Room 2, House of Lords, Westminster Hosted by Lord Rea

This meeting has been called to hear a report back from some members of a UK delegation who acted as observers during Turkey’s recent local elections on 29 March and the Leyla Zana trial on 31 March;

the observer mission included Lord Hylton, Margaret Owen, Barrister, Director of Widows for Peace through Democracy and advisor to the KHRP on Women and Children’s Rights; Eurig Wyn, Plaid Cymru candidate for European elections; Jonathan Fryer, writer, lecturer and Chairman, Liberal International British Group; Roger Tompkins, retired international human rights lawyer; Omer Moore, Xhen Maman and Sherri Semsedini from Trott & Gentry Solicitors, Kurdish solicitor Eylem Guler and Ozgur Selby.

The meeting will provide an early opportunity to assess the new political landscape in Turkey following the elections which were marked by an upsurge in support for the DTP.

There will also be discussion of the renewed threat of a jail sentence facing Leyla Zana, whose trial resumes on 2 June; the UK observers witnessed a court hearing during their visit.

In the recent elections despite widespread coercion and intimidation, Kurdish voters gave overwhelming support to the Democratic Society Party (DTP) which as a result saw its elected local candidates increase from 54 to 99.

The voting patterns unambiguously demonstrate the resilience and determination of the Kurdish people to stand up for their rights and it means their demands cannot now be easily ignored.

Among the new DTP members returned were many women as well as some prominent members of Abdullah Ocalan’s legal team, which itself is an indication of the strength of feeling among Kurds.

In the run up to the election, the ruling AKP had confidently predicted that it would sweep the board in the main Kurdish cities of the southeast and Prime Minister Erdogan had declared that his aim was to “take Diyarbakir”.

The outcome has confounded the AKP as well as all the pundits who were expecting the eclipse of the DTP. Quite the reverse has happened and this means that a major rethink is essential.

The DTP needs to be listened to more attentively as it articulates the voice of the Kurds at the political level and its input will prove invaluable to break the deadlock and find a solution acceptable to both Turks and Kurds.

The meeting is supported by Peace in Kurdistan Campaign, Kurdistan National Congress and Kurdish Federation UK

For information contact: Estella estella24@tiscali.co.uk tel 020 7586 5892 orRachel knklondon@gn.apc.org tel 020 7272 4131

Resist Turkey's New Wave of Repression against Kurds.

DEMOCRATIC ROAD FOR KURDS BEING CLOSED DOWN!

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign statement 19 April 2009

Turkey’s new wave of repression must be resisted.

News of a wave of arrests of Democratic Society Party (DTP) members across the Turkey is deeply dismaying and can only bode ill for the future of the country.

On 17 April it was reported that Turkish police had carried out raids in places from Izmir in the west to Batman in the south-east and the capital Ankara. Some 43 people were reportedly arrested for alleged links with the PKK.

This was the second wave of arrests in the space of a week. Earlier more than 70 people were arrested, including senior members of the DTP. The names published by the DTP lists a total of 90 arrested DTP members (available from PIK).

Firat news agency reported that 245 people had been arrested over a four-day period.

Such actions are an affront to democracy and can only be viewed as a cynical attempt to crush the hopes of all the Kurds who only a few days earlier had courageously braved the harassment and intimidation from police and military to cast their votes in overwhelming numbers for the DTP.

The strong support for the party had confounded all the pollsters and pundits who had been predicted that the ruling AKP would sweep the board in the main Kurdish cities.

During the local elections held on 29 March, the party almost doubled its number of municipalities (from 56 to 98). In ten provinces of the East and South-East, the DTP obtained the highest popular support, clearly demonstrating that it is now a formidable political force.

The DTP sees the arrests as an attempt by the AKP government to weaken it following its impressive gains which had shaken the AKP and humiliated Prime Minister Erdogan who had wanted to “take Diyarbakir”.

The response of the Turkish state amounts to a repudiation of the democratic process and a crude attempt to silence the voices of the Kurdish people who had spoken so resoundingly.

It seems that of the Kurds go for the peaceful electoral option they are rejected and repressed. This is a backward step and represents a grave miscalculation by the shaken authorities in Ankara.

It is the duty of all those who truly want to see peace and stability prevail in the country to support the responsible calls for a just democratic solution to the Kurdish question. The DTP has a key role to play and cannot be allowed to be simply repressed. The hopes of the Kurds cannot be crushed so easily.

We support the call by The European United Left/Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament for the immediate release of all those who have been arrested.

For information contact: Peace in Kurdistan CampaignEstella24@tiscali.co.uk tel 020 7586 5892

NO TO THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE KURDISH FREEDOM STRUGGLE!

25th April 2009
Assemble: Dalston Junction 12.30hrs Depart 1300hrs.
(on corner of Balls Pond Road junction, behind Barcleys Bank)
March to Kurdish Community Centre.

Called by the Kurdish Federation in UK.
Supported by
Londra Apocu Genclik, Kurdish Community Centre, Halkevi, Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre, Kurdish Solidarity Committee and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign

For more information please call:

Arzu Pesmen: 07960302192 or Mark Campbell: 07865079415

Ahmet Turk at the Kurdish Community Centre in London.

Ahmet Türk, chairman of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), has harshly criticized recent police operations against his party’s branches, saying the police crackdowns on politicians serve as proof that Turkey is a country that closes its doors to the outside world and retreats into its own shell.

“Turkey is now at a point where it has retreated farther into its own shell in comparison to the past,” Türk stated, refuting comments made by European politicians that the country now has a stronger democracy.

Türk’s remarks came on Sunday during a speech he delivered at the Kurdish Community Center in London.

Türk slammed the recent police operations against dozens of individuals suspected of ties with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which resulted in the arrest of several DTP members.

Officials said the raids and arrests were the culmination of a yearlong investigation into the PKK’s “urban extensions,” but the pro-Kurdish party said the police crackdown was the government’s revenge against the DTP because it defeated the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern cities in last month’s local elections.

“A public cannot live peacefully with another public unless it is set free. ... We are evaluating the issue in terms of the brotherhood of nations rather than of ethnic nationalism,” Türk stated.

The DTP leader also complained about discrimination against his party’s deputies in Parliament. “We have been struggling to solve our problems through democratic means since we entered Parliament, but the other parties represented in Parliament turn a blind eye to our existence,” he said.

He noted that the DTP pursued a strategy of emphasizing the ethnic identity of Kurdish citizens living in Turkey in last month’s local elections, adding that no one can deny the demands of the Kurdish population. “We released a message in the elections that no one needs to be afraid of Kurds. But they couldn’t tolerate it. They launched an operation against our party shortly after the elections,” he said.

Türk also urged Turkey to shed light on the unsolved murders in southeastern Turkey. There are claims that thousands of people who disappeared in the Southeast in the 1990s were executed by JİTEM, a secret gendarmerie intelligence unit.

Source:Images from Radikal and text from Zaman.

No Turkish Government Election Victory. No Kurdish Conference. Only Repression!

The Kurdish people have spoilt the international conspiracy plotted against them. Now the plotters are going home and taking their toys or rather, their conference, with them.

There will be no Kurdish conference in Arbil!

AKP was so confident of victory in NW Kurdistan that they had a conference organised with the help of Talabani to 'solve the Kurdish Question'!

The plan was that they were going to point to a defeated DTP and tell the PKK to lay down its arms and admit defeat.

But the decisive and historic victory for the Kurdish Freedom Movement of March 29th 2009 has exposed their 'psychological warfare' for what it is, lies and spin. AKP is now requested that it is 'postponed', however many believe it now will not happen!

From Zaman: In an article published in the Radikal daily on Wednesday, Cengiz Çandar expressed disappointment over the lack of any development vis-a-vis the Kurdish conference.

"There are no developments regarding the Kurdish conference. It was highly expected to be held in Arbil in late April or early May. Putting aside April, it will be a miracle if this conference gathers in May.

How do I know that? I recently went to Washington to give a presentation on Turkish and Iraqi Kurds. The person who accompanied me was a Kurdish official from the Kurdistan Regional Administration responsible for the preparations of the conference. He said there was no preparation for the conference at the time being," Çandar wrote in his article.

So now AKP is so angry at being defeated in the local elections that it is rounding up the victors of the election, torturing and imprisoning them. This is so obviously not going to solve anything and only create further conflict.

How long is it going to take before they finally realise that perhaps the best policy might be to include the PKK and DTP in any conference they might be going to organise to solve the Kurdish issue.

BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION!

OPEN THE DOOR ON IMRALI AND YOU OPEN THE DOOR FOR PEACE!

Mandela and Ocalan. Both Jailed for Fighting for the Freedom of their People!

The Lawyer for Nelson Mandela was recently in Turkey and publicly spoke of Nelson Mandela's support for the Kurdish people's Freedom Struggle.

Essa Moosa, spoke out when visiting Turkey on official buisness, against the criminalisation of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle and compared Abdullah Ocalan to Nelson Mandela.

Expressing Nelson Mandela's support for the Kurdish Freedom Struggle he said,"Both Mandela and Öcalan have struggled for their people!" He also emphasized that both had been arrested almost in same condition and held on island prisons and noting that the Kurdish leader was even more isolated than Nelson Mandela was.

“Mandela’s fight was all about South African’s freedom, as Abdullah Öcalan’s fight is about Kurd's freedom!"

But when Ahmet Turk the leader of the pro Kurdish rights party, DTP made the same comparison publicly recently, the Turkish procecutors have now taken out a court case against him! They are now trying to "criminalise the truth!"

The Kurdish people are still on their long and painful road to freedom!
But they will get there!

10 Downing Street, London. Post your letter through the door!

Knock on the door!

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Recognise Abdullah Ocalan as the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement and pressurise the Turkish authorities to release him so as to reach a peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish Question in Turkey."

There is a new petition to Free Abdullah Ocalan that has been approved and, interestingly, allowed to be included on 10 Downing Streets ePetitions website. It is for UK residents only and I appeal to everyone who can, to sign it, copy the URL and pass it around as widely as possible.

PLEASE SIGN HERE NOW!

Kurdish Martyr Delila Finally Finds Peace in Silvan!

Sang by Martyr Delila who was killed by the Turkish army August 25th 2007 by Chemical weapons against all international law in relation to conflicts. Her body was finally put into the Kurdish earth for which she fought and died, today in Silvan by the Kurdish people.

May She Rest in Peace!

Sehid Namerin!

European MP's Protest DTP Detentions in Turkey.

Declaration by Francis Wurtz, President of the GUE/NGL group

On the situation in Turkey after recent local elections: Yes to political struggle - No to political oppression!

Brussels, 15/04/09

According to recent information, the Turkish police have undertaken a large-scale raid against the leaders, activists and offices of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) in Turkey, particularly in the south-eastern part of the country.

More than 70 people, including three of the party's Vice-Presidents have been arrested. The police action was also directed against a TV station and the headquarters of the Union of South-East municipalities, which were searched.

This political move by the Turkish police follows the impressive results of the DTP in the local elections on 29 March 2009, in which the party almost doubled the number of municipalities it won (from 56 to 98).

In ten provinces of the East and South-East of Turkey, the DTP obtained the highest popular support, meaning it has developed into the strongest political force there.

Immediately after these results were made public, a number of problematic statements were made by representatives of the Turkish government and the security forces, for example regarding the success of the DTP, which they considered a matter of concern and even a threat to the national security!

Against this background, the police action can only be seen as politically motivated.

We therefore call on the Turkish authorities to respect the will of the people, expressed in the recent local elections, and to guarantee citizens their rights, especially freedom of activity for political parties in Turkey, in this instance the DTP, of other regional organisations, such as the Union of South-East municipalities, and of the media.

The European United Left/Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament calls for the immediate release of all those who have been arrested as well as the re-opening of the TV station.

GUE/NGL press officer - Gianfranco Battistini + 32 475 646628 - gbattistini@europarl.eu.int <mailto:gbattistini@europarl.eu.int>

Amara! The Kurdish 'Bloody Sunday'!

The 4th of April is the birthday of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish leader, imprisoned on the Robben Island type prison of Imrali.

Abdullah Ocalan had requested that if people wanted to mark his birthday they should plant trees. Thousands of people gathered for a two day festival, with concerts and celebrations and on the actual day of Abdullah Ocalan's birthday to march to his birthplace of Amara to plant trees. As you can see from the video compiled by the Italian delegation it was festive and peaceful, old and young joining together after the historic election victory for the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

The Turkish regime brutally crushed this peaceful activity killing two young Kurdish men and injuring many more.

They used gas, batons, live bullets and high pressurised water. They shot one young man in the back of the head, killed him and killed another too. Mashum Karaoglan a young with his life ahead of him who was studying a Dicle University and Mustafa Dag, a loving father of two beautiful children.

Although there have been many such atrocities perpertrated against the Kurds this came at a time just after the Kurdish party, DTP, had won a massive and historic victory in the local elections, just days before.

The Kurdish people had great hopes!The above video tells this story.

And actually the Kurdish people have had thousands of 'Bloody Sunday's'!

And thousands of 'Bloody Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays too!

Don't Miss Ahmet Turk at The Kurdish Community Centre in London. 19th April 2009.

Ahmet Turk, the leader of the DTP and veteran Kurdish rights campaigner and politician will be speaking at the Kurdish Community Centre in London on 19th April 2009.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear, directly, from this Kurdish politician who is at the frontline of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.

Ahmet Turk was one of the politicians who was jailed with Leyla Zana for speaking out about the Kurdish Question in Turkey. He has led the DTP through some very difficult waters and continues to be one of the most important Kurdish politicians.

Ahmet Turk, DTP Leader
Kurdish Community Centre
Begins: Sunday, 6pm 19th April 2009.

Come early if you want a good seat.

Nureddin Sofi. New Commander of Kurdish People's Army, HPG.

Heval Mizgin looks at Dr Bahoz Edal's influence on the movement.

Barack Obama Gives Green Light for Suppression of Kurdish Civil Rights!

Kurdish Civil Rights March in Diyarbakir Today!

"We will resist until the end!"

By Hevallo

When Barack Obama gave his speech to the Turkish Parliament he said nothing of the racist killing of two innocent young Kurdish men, days before his speech, whose only crime was a desire to mark the birthday of the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, Abdullah Ocalan, at his village of birth, Amara. All they had wanted to do was to plant trees as had been requested by the Kurdish leader through his weekly visits from his lawyers on the Robben Island type isolation prison.

Now their blood mixes with the earth of Kurdistan. Instead of giving water, Kurdish people know that they must give their own blood to nurture the tree of freedom.

Long live all Kurdish martyrs who have given their lives for Kurdish Freedom!

Barack Obama also said nothing of the state of emergency imposed in the Kurdish town of Agri, days before his visit, where Turkish soldiers and police were brutalising the Kurdish civilian population by beating them, men, women and young children, with wooden sticks, punching them in the face and body and pulling them through the streets by their hair.

Spraying high pressured waterguns on protesters who were protesting about the rigging of the election against DTP, knocking them over and covering them in water mixed with a red dye.

Barack Obama chose not to mention any of it.

He did though, praise the racist Kemalist ideology that was the building block of the assimilation policies of the Turkish regime and the denial of the Kurdish identity:

“I have the honour to pay tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk a man whose vision, tenacity and courage put the Republic of Turkey on the path of democracy and whose legacy continues to inspire generations around the world. As the 44th president of the United States of America, I look forward to strengthening US-Turkish relations and to supporting Atatürk’s vision of Turkey as a modern and prosperous democracy giving hope to its people and providing ’peace at home, peace in the world’,”

This vomit and the other heaps of approval shovelled onto the racist Turkish regime in their bucketfuls meant that the Turkish regime felt completely confident, assured that not a word of protest would be heard, to suppress Kurdish civil rights workers from the DTP who had worked so hard for the historic election victory in the 29th March 2009.

Over 50 Kurdish activists from the DTP have been imprisoned all over the country facing torture and humiliation. The Kurdish Roj TV satellite station faces closure and Kurdish people all over the world are shocked and stunned. European countries stay silent and acquiesce in Turkey's human rights crimes being carried out quite openly for all to see, shamelessly!

Barack Obama, who himself, is in debt and owes his own position to Martin Luther King and the civil rights marchers of the 60's and 70's in the US has shown himself, clearly, to be a suppressor of civil rights activists and not a defender of civil rights. Shame on him!

"The Kurdish people will resist until the end!"

Tens of thousands of people came onto the streets of Amed today to press further for civil rights for the Kurdish people in Turkey and to protest at the shameless suppression of the Kurdish people's elected will. What Barack Obama called "a modern and prosperous democracy giving hope to it's people!"

Slogans included, "PKK are the people, the people are here!" "Long live our leader Apo!" [Abdullah Ocalan] and "Berxwedan Jiyane!" [Resistance is Life]

Many speakers spoke of the detention of the DTP activists as a policy of revenge by the ruling party AKP who had, themselves, held up hopes of winning the Kurdish areas following a dirty tricks campaign of bribes and intimidation.

Speakers also spoke that it is time for People's Politics, for a civil rights movement of peaceful actions designed to show that the Kurdish people, despite the horrendous repressive policies showed to them, are a peaceful and honorable people.

One speaker, Ali Simsek, Diyarbakir provincial DTP President addressed the crowds:

"We will resist until the end.

March 29 local elections have revealed the will of the Kurdish people.

No power on earth can break our will.

The will of the people mixed with the hope of the people will break those who try to break our hopes.

These operations are designed to try to break the will and unity of the Kurdish people.

But we will resist today, tomorrow and always.

Kurdish People will continue on their freedom march until we have our freedoms.

Freedom will always win!"

Other speakers including Osman Baydemir and Selahattin Demirtas spoke of the determination of the Kurdish people and that there is no fear left in the Kurdish psyche and the Kurdish people see detention as an honour in their freedom struggle and that they are not afraid because their cause is a just, honorable and legitimate one.

Selahattin Demirtas addressed his words to the Turkish regime:

"We are a peaceful people but do not play with fire and test the Kurdish people's patience!"

And the crowds roared, "Biji Serok Apo!"

Leyla Zana: Her Only Crime, like most Kurds in Turkish Prisons, is to Seek Kurdish Rights!

REPORT ON OBSERVATION OF TRIAL OF LEYLA ZANA

MARCH 31ST, DIYARBAKIR

Margaret Owen. Member Bar Human Rights Committee. Adviser on Womens’ and Children’s Rights to the KHRP.

Representing, as Observer, Peace in Kurdistan and the KNK.

Leyla Zana appeared in the Diyabakir Court on March 31st to answer charges that she is a terrorist, praises crime and undertakes propaganda for an illegal organisation (the PKK). She is indicted under the Anti-Terror Law and under certain articles of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC), as evidenced by her speeches made abroad between 2007 and 2008.

Over a hundred foreign observers many from Germany and Italy, and others from Sweden, the UK and representing the European Parliament and the Commission) had come to attend the trial, which was due to open at 10.am. However, since only 2 days earlier the DTP had won a resounding victory against the AKP and other parties in the local elections in the South-East, and tensions were running high, which were thought might severely influence the judge and prosecutor in the case, the defence lawyers sought and obtained an adjournment to June 2nd.

The judge accepted Leyla’s lawyers’ plea that they needed further time to formulate the defence. Nevertheless there was still a short hearing.

As always (to a UK observer) the physical geography of the court room both shocks and surprises, since it seems to reflect the Kafkaesque features of the Turkish judicial system.

High up behind the platform sit 4 people in it seemed, identical judges’ robes; but the one sitting close to the central figure, the chief judge, is in fact the Prosecutor.

On the other side are the two other judges who appear to take little part in any discussions on the bench, show little interest in what is said, while they twiddle with the mouse on the laptop. (Could they be playing solitaire?)

Lower down in the court-room, to one side, sit the defence lawyers, Meral Bestos, Muharrum Erbey and another. Visually there is clear inequality between prosecution and defence, and the proximity of prosecutor to judge raises questions of course about the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of any trial given this scenario.

Although we had been told that an adjournment had been granted, there was still a short hearing in which Leyla Zana read out, in turkish, (or rather repeated) the speech she had made as her defence to her prosecution in April, 2008 for the speech she had made at the Newroz of 2007, defending her defence.

She said “Respectable Judges, I would like first to point out that I consider it a disgrace for the democracy of Turkey that I am being tried because of my thoughts.

The fact that expression of thought is being considered within the scope of the fight against terrorism underscores yet another topical and burning issue.

It is a fact that to be able to express one’s thought is a guarantee of all other freedoms”.

She spoke about fundamental rights of the Kurds to freedom of expression, assembly and of their language rights.

She also described Abdulla Ocalan as being the “the heart and brain of the Kurdish people”.

Concluding she said “I would also like to take this opportunity to announce an important decision of mine. From now on, whatever the “charge” may be, I am thinking of not using my right to defend myself in trials.

I believe in the senselessness of repeating ourselves.

I wish for a process where an evolution of thought has been completed in which our people will not be suspects , defendant or prisoners because of their thoughts”.

After the adjournment the observers were invite to a lunch with her lawyers, and later on the day the UK delegation, and Stefano Squarcina had a further meeting with Muharrem Erbey.

There we learnt more detail about the danger for Leyla Zana of the indictments under a combination of laws, under both the TPC and the Anti-Terror Law. Under the TPC, Article 304 para.2 and Article 220 para. 6 in particular.

The latter spells out that even if a defendant is not an active member of an illegal (terrorist) organisation, and does no work on its behalf, if he or she “ acts like a member” the charge of terrorism can be sustained.

TPC Article 222 para. 4 provides for the Prosecutor to appeal when he considers the court has given an inadequate and too lenient a sentence.

Whilst the charges arising from the speeches made between 2007 and 2008 outside the jurisdiction but recorded and circulated in the country ( including one made at a meeting held at a House of Lords Committee room last summer, 2008), will be prosecuted on June 2nd, Leyla Zana also faces an appeal, by the Prosecutor, at the Court of Cassation in Ankara, against the sentence of 10 years imprisonment for other speeches and writings on the grounds that the sentence is “not enough” for a conviction on both providing propaganda for an illegal organisation and for being a member of a terrorist group.

He is asking for a further 23 years.

However, Leyla’s lawyers emphasized that the hearing on June 2nd. is the crucial one, rather than the Ankara appeal, for which no date is expected to be given for another 4 or 5 months.

They earnestly request the presence of foreign lawyers to observe this hearing, and hope that the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) can be persuaded to send observers to report on the fairness of this coming trial.

Margaret Owen. Adviser to the KHRP on Women’s and Children’s Rights. Member of UK Bar Human Rights Committee.

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign:

Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question.
44 Ainger Road, London, NW3 3AT

Rachel Bird - Tel: 020 7272 4131 Estella Schmid - Tel: 020 7586 5892

Patrons: Lord Avebury, John Austin MP, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, John Bowis MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas

Turkish Laurel and Hardy!

"But Olly, you said if you spoke a few words of their language, gave them some fridges, a TV station and pretend to be angry at that Israeli man they would like us. Oh Olly, that's another fine mess you gotten us into!"

"Shut up Stanley, I know a nice man in a uniform who is going to help us get outa this mess!"

"Ohhhhh No Olly, do you really think it will work this time?"

"I don't know, I don't think our buddies in Europe are going to like it much, but hey they don't seem to mind much anyway!"

"Ohhhh Olly!"

"Shut up Stanley!"

"Hey Olly, wot if just put them all in prison and tell everybody that they is terrorists?"

"Hey, Stanley my boy, now your thinkin!" "That's ma boy!"

"Gee thanks, Olly! Does that mean I still be the President?"

"Of course, Stanley ma boy, of course you can!"

KCK Statement on Elections, Ceasefire and Proposals for Peace.

Press Release and Statement from the KCK.

(Before the DTP detentions)

Turkey`s local elections in which all the parties have participated went ahead with an atmosphere of a general election.

The election closely watched by eveybody, was won by the patriotic democratic line. Externally-internally, biased or unbiased all the political parties and media indicated that Kurdish people rejected the policies of the state and the AKP government.

The election result showed that the problem will not reach a solution without acceptance by our leader Apo, the PKK and the DTP.

The result of the elections increased the expectations of both internal and external public opinion for the Kurdish problem to be solved with new policies and leaving the old ones behind.

Although the elections were not undertaken with equal and fair conditions as there was a heavy presence of soldiers and police in Kurdistan, the result basically showed the general trend.

DTP achieved an absolute success in the important cities and towns of North Kurdistan.

People of Kurdistan have showed their will through the DTP which has a project for a democratic solution to the Kurdish problem.

If the Kurdish people are seen as part of the population of Turkey, political decision makers in Turkey have a responsibility to take the consequences of what this will demands, into account.

Taking this responsibility is one of the obligations of a democratic state as well as respecting the election results. The Kurdish People celebrated Newroz with the slogans of “free identity”, “free Ocalan” and “democratic administration”. And DTP used these slogans during the party`s election campaign.

By the people of Kurdistan accepting the DTP`s program also gives responsibilities to our movement. The Kurdistan Freedom Movement has always showed an effort to solve the Kurdish problem in a political way.

Since December 2008, our movement prevented clashes up until the 29 March elections in order to show both a political solution was necessary for Turkey as well as to make sure the elections are undertaken in a peaceful atmosphere, and not to strengthen the hands of those of demagogy propaganda to solve the Kurdish issue by methods of war which leaves the problem unresolved as a result.

Military inactivity in clashes up until 29 March elections was a result of our movement`s decisions.

The Turkish army being in compliance to this approach at an important level has resulted in a situation which everybody in Turkey felt and asked for. For the first time the thought that Kurdish problem could be solved seemed possible.

Our movement will continue with the non military approach until 1 June in order to give a chance for dialogue and policies based upon a democratic solution.

Our decision on a ceasefire has been supported by our leadership who remaining in one sole prison at the Imrali Island defended decisively a democratic solution and peace.

However, an increase in the Turkish army`s operations in Sirnak and Dersim at a time when Leader Apo has stated his support for the ceasefire is thought provoking and significant.

At the same time the meeting of the coordination in Bagdad for an elimination plan, together with the Turkish media`s supportive war coverage do not allow peace and the democratic process to proceed.

On the contrary, it damages the process as such.

The events that took place aftermath of the elections; two Kurdish youth being killed, increased number of arrests and the increase in operations make it difficult for a solution to come about.

The elimination plans at an international level does not serve the problem to be solved. It does not matter from whom it comes, labelling PKK as a terrorist, strengthens the hands of those that insist on deadlock of the problem.

The last 25 years has showed that policies based upon military operations, clashes, repression and violence cannot solve the problem. The deadlock policies are not beneficial for Turkey or anyone else.

The Kurdish problem`s democratic solution is in the interest of Turkey and the governments in the region.

Our movement is for the option for a democratic solution and it is our expectation to be encouraged on this.

We also believe that Kurdistan National Conference can contribute to a democratic and peace process.

Our movement believe that the problem can be solved through dialogue and progressive approaches and that our decision on the inactiviation of our armed struggle until 1 June gives a way to it.

Unless there is an attack, we will adhere to our decision.

We will strengthen our decision by an intensive project that we will in the near future declare.

We call upon firstly on the Turkish State and other forces, those who are for the peace, to be responsible and contribute to the solution of the problem.

We call upon on all Kurdish sides and Kurdish democratic public opinion to show intense effort for the process to proceed for a democratic solution.

Also the USA and all the international and regional forces to be liable of their responsibilities and contribute for the Kurdish problem to be solved by means of peace.

12 April 2009

PRESIDENCY OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF KCK

Turkey Responds: "Fuck Democracy!"

Let it be known that the Kurds want peace and the Turkish state wants war!

Let it be known that the Kurdish Freedom Movement has bent over backwards and resisted every provocation to fulfil it's promise of peace!

Let it be known which side is for continued repression and continued war in Turkey.

There have been raids all over Turkey against DTP officials where many high ranking DTP Party officials have been taken into custody.

Over 90 DTP officials have been arrested over 16 different provinces. (This report from Ozgur Gundem does not translate well on Google translation but you get the message.)

This is the Turkish state's response to the PKK's recent ceasefire announcement and the historic victory of the Kurdish Freedom Movement in the local elections.

This is the real face of Turkey!

This racist Turkish state hates democracy as much as it hates the Kurds!

This is why we could be now facing the real possibility of a civil war in Turkey.

Turkey's response is clear. "We do not want democracy and peace! We want war!"

Kurdish People Denied Basic Human Rights by the International Community!

1999.....

``Despite the great sympathy in the UK for the Kurdish people, it is not in the public interest for any broadcaster to use the UK as a platform from which to incite people to violence'', intoned the chairperson of Britain'sIndependent Television Commission (ITC), Sir Robin Biggam, on April 23.

He was revoking the broadcasting licence of the Kurdish satellite television station Med TV. Biggam denied the decision was political or influenced by pressure from the governments of Britain, Turkey or the United States.

Biggam failed to mention that he is a director of British Aerospace (BAe), which has signed a multimillion-pound deal - with the approval of the British Labour government - to produce 500,000 assault rifles and 1500 grenade launchers for the Turkish military.

BAe has sold Turkey missiles and tanks in the past, weapons that have been used to kill more than 30,000 Kurds in Ankara's war.

Rachel Harford of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said, ``It is hypocrisy for Sir Robin to accuse Med TV of incitement to violence when he is a director of a company selling arms to a security force which tortures and kills Kurds''.

US ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris, speaking at a function in Washington on May 6, could hardly contain his glee as he described the kidnapping of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan and the ``closing of assets like Med TV'' as ``blows to the PKK [which] bring within reach victory in Turkey's long struggle against terrorism''.

It is no coincidence that the pro-imperialist Kurdistan Democratic Party,which rules northern Iraq under the protection of the US/British enforced``no-fly'' zone, has established, in collaboration with the US and Turkish governments, a satellite TV station to fill the void left by the banning of Med TV. On April 7, the US Congress approved the sale to Turkey of the first shipment of 84 short-range, laser-guided, helicopter-fired missiles. On May 17, Congress gave permission for the sale of 50 Black Hawk military helicopters to Ankara by the Sikorsky Aircraft company worth $560million.Turkey already has 45 Black Hawks from a deal approved in 1992.


THAT WAS THEN!



THIS IS NOW!

2009......



Now, the extraordinary contempt for the Kurdish people's right of freedom of expression is being shown again. And again by political support for a country that abuses human rights and rights of freedom of expression and association.

After the speech by President Obama in the Turkish parliament Roj TV is coming under pressure from the Danish authorities. Obama has put pressure on Denmark to bow to demands from Turkey that the Kurdish Satellite station is closed.

But I'm not sure that President Obama has been briefed properly about the strength of feeling over this issue. The Kurdish people are resolute and determined not to allow such hard won freedoms to be so easily taken away.

Turkey has used all sorts of dirty tricks to gag and stifle the Kurdish voice, including sending jamming beams to interupt the signal of the Kurdish TV. They finally even set up their own Turkish... 'Kurdish' TV (Read this report on why Rojin, the only famous Kurdish singer that agreed to participate has now withdrawn)

They have cajoled and threatened, lobbied and boycotted, shouted and screamed and yet the Kurdish voice cannot be silenced.

Whatever they do it is a waste of time, energy, effort and money.

The Kurdish people are nearing the mountain top and are in no mood to be rerouted or diverted from their Freedom March!

Despite the most horrendous provocations and attempts to derail the Kurdish Freedom Struggle's determined and disciplined journey, it remains on track and travelling full steam ahead.

The decision by the KCK, the supreme body of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle to implement a unilateral ceasefire to give the opportunity for the democratic voice of the Kurdish people to be heard is further reason not to touch a hair on the head of Roj TV.

In the last local election the Kurdish people have spoken with one voice, loudly and clearly, that they support the Kurdish Freedom Struggle and it is now the duty of every democrat and politician in the world to slide themselves away from the warmongers, racketeers and politicians in the pocket of the Turkish regime and firmly and resolutely support the PKK's ceasefire call and call on the Turkish side to bring their troops into the barracks and off the streets of Kurdistan.

And to begin serious and sincere negotiations with the political representatives of the Kurdish people.

To release Abdullah Ocalan as a gesture of goodwill and begin the political process.

That is what the PKK want! That is what the DTP want! That is what the Kurdish people want!

Any attempt to close down Roj TV is a waste of time and will be counter productive to the powers that want it.

Everyone knows the strength of the PKK and the Kurdish Freedom Movement at the moment and no one, surely, is going to be stupid enough to think they can carry on denying the Kurdish reality or by continuing to apply a military solution!

The Kurdish people have travelled far in their search for justice and if need be are ready to go that extra torturous and bloody mile!!

But let's not go there!



Save Roj TV....sign the petition here.

Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan! Freedom for the Kurdish People!

Do NOT shut Roj TV!

Sign the international petition that is gathering hundreds of names as the minutes tick by.

Close Roj TV?

No, this would REALLY be a very silly thing to do!

SIGN HERE!

STOP THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE KURDISH FREEDOM STRUGGLE! JOIN THE DEMONSTRATION!

The African National Congress was labelled a 'terrorist' organisation by Margaret Thatcher. By doing this she supported the racist Aparthied regime in South Africa.

Countries with geopolitical interests in Turkey and the Middle East have turned a blind eye to the massive and systematic war crimes of the Turkish regime against the Kurdish population in Turkey.

They have done this by providing Turkey with arms and weapons.

But more effectively, they have done this by remaining silent of Turkey's crimes and labelling the very people who are victims of Turkish State terrorism as 'criminals and terrorists'.

The Kurdistan Workers Party emerged from within the Kurdish people in Turkey at one of the darkest moments for the Kurds.

The Turkish state was pursuing a stated aim of annihilation of the Kurds and forced assimilation into Turkish society, language and culture. This meant a policy of forced depopulation with the most horrendous and horrific savage repression against the Kurds.

Repression on a scale that has been seen against the Jews in Germany and Black South Africans in the Aparthied era.

It was only the PKK that fought back against these racist murderous policies.

Racism began as a justification for slavery. The victims being labelled as inferior or criminal and so justifying the barbaric murderous polices of mass genocide.

And so the Kurds are labelled as 'terrorists' as the Irish were during the 800 years of English colonial rule in Ireland.

The time has come to challenge this label hung around the necks of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle. Especially at a time when Turkish state terrorism against the Kurdish people is increasing!

In the UK over the past 3 months the UK have again been supporting Turkish suppression of the Kurds as there has been a determined effort to clamp down and label supporters of the Kurdish Freedom Movement.


Nelson Mandela's lawyer, Essa Moosa, recently spoke out when visiting Turkey on official buisness, against the criminalisation of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle and compared Abdullah Ocalan to Nelson Mandela. Expressing Nelson Mandela's support for the Kurdish Freedom Struggle he said,

"Both Mandela and Öcalan have struggled for their people!"

He also emphasized that both had been arrested almost in same condition and held on island prisons and noting that the Kurdish leader was even more isolated than Nelson Mandela was.

“Mandela’s fight was all about South African’s freedom, as Abdullah Öcalan’s fight is about Kurd's freedom!"


Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams is also said to be supportive of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle and against the criminalisation of the Kurds legitimate struggle for human and political rights in Turkey.






It is a critical time for the Kurdish Movement still 'criminalised' by Turkey and countries with geopolitical interests.

This one of the world's biggest international injustices of the world still outstanding and is crying out for a solution.

EVERYONE who supports the legitimate struggle of Kurds for freedom must join this demonstration to say:

NO TO THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE KURDISH FREEDOM STRUGGLE!

25th April 2009
Assemble:
Dalston Junction 12.30hrs Depart 1300hrs.
(on corner of Balls Pond Road junction, behind Barcleys Bank)
March to Kurdish Community Centre.

Called by the Kurdish Federation in UK.
Supported by
Londra Apocu Genclik, Kurdish Community Centre, Halkevi, Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre, Kurdish Solidarity Committee and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign

For more information please call:

Arzu Pesmen: 07960302192 or Mark Campbell: 07865079415

Sehid Namerin! Long Live Our Martyrs!

Martyr Nucan Nurhak sings a Kurdish song in memory of Martyr Beritan, the legendary Kurdish Freedom Fighter and poet, who rather than fall into enemy hands when she ran out of bullets, leapt to her death from a clifftop.

TOUSSAINT, the most unhappy man of men!

Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough
Within thy hearing, or thy head be now
Pillowed in some deep dungeon's earless den
O miserable Chieftain!
where and when
Wilt thou find patience?
Yet die not; do thou
Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow,

Though fallen thyself, never to rise again,
Live, and take comfort.
Thou hast left behind
Powers that will work for thee;
air, earth, and skies;
There's not a breathing of the common wind
That will forget thee;
thou hast great allies;
Thy friends are exultations, agonies,
And love, and man's unconquerable mind.

William Wordsworth's Sonnet to the slave army leader, Toussaint L'Overture.

THE PKK ARE NOT TERRORISTS!

THE KURDS ARE VICTIMS OF TURKISH STATE TERROR!

Only in Turkey You Cannot Say No to War!

You are kindly invited to attend the forthcoming KSSO seminar at SOAS:

SEMINAR ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION AND THE CASE OF TURKEY

The objection to participation in war is as ancient as war itself. Throughout history people have made use of various methods in order not to partake in war and military organisations.

The most direct of these methods -- conscientious objection -- means refusing to perform compulsory military service in the armed forces or any other direct or indirect participation in wars for reasons of conscience or profound conviction.

Currently, out of 47 member states of the Council of Europe, only Turkey does not recognise conscientious objection as a human right.

Conscientious objectors in Turkey risk repeated prosecution and imprisonment for their refusal to perform compulsory military service.

They and their supporters are also frequently prosecuted for speaking out publicly in defence of the right to conscientious objection.

These two events mark the launch of a new book "Conscientious Objection: Resisting Militarized Society" published by Zed books with a panel discussion on the right to conscientious objection in Turkey.

These seminars will include contributing authors to the new book alongside activists on the right to conscientious objection: Speakers:

Prof. Cynthia Cockburn - Feminist researcher, activist and writer
Özgür Heval Çınar- Lawyer, PhD Candidate and book editor
Halil Savda - Conscientious objector from Turkey
Andreas Speck - Total objector and campaigner at War Resisters' International.

Venue:

SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies)
Khalili Lecturer Theatre
Date: 14 April 2009
Time: 18.00-20.00 p.m.

The event will be followed by a drinks reception. This event is free of charge and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis.

This event is organized by KSSO. For further info contact: mc@ksso.org.uk or http://www.ksso.org.uk/ <http://www.ksso.org.uk/> Kind Regards Kurdish Studies and Students Organisation (KSSO) -- KSSO Management Committee
Kurdish Studies&Student Org.http://www.ksso.org.uk/mc@ksso.org.uk

Welsh People in Solidarity with the Kurds!

Press Release 8 April 2009

Strong Support for Kurds among Plaid Cymru Conference Delegates.

Peace in Kurdistan organised a highly success fringe meeting at the Plaid Cymru Spring Conference which took place at Cardiff University on 3-4 April.

Akif Wan, UK representative of the Kurdistan National Congress and David Morgan spoke on behalf of the campaign, each expressing their profound appreciation for the support that Plaid Cymru has given over the years whether in Westminster, the Welsh Assembly or European Parliament.

David Morgan drew parallels between the history of the Welsh and Kurdish peoples’ struggles to achieve self-determination. The Kurdish nation was today emerging out of the shadow of the larger colonial power Turkey just like the Welsh nation had emerged out of the shadow of colonial Britain, he said.

Akif Wan underlined the significance of the recent elections in Turkey where the Kurdish people, despite all the coercive pressures from Turkish state forces, had given their overwhelming support to the Democratic Society Party (DTP) which had consequently seen the number of its elected local candidates increase from 54 to 99.
Among the new DTP members returned were many women as well as some prominent members of Abdullah Ocalan’s legal team, Akif Wan said.

Only a few weeks ago the ruling AKP had been expressing confidence of sweeping the board in the main Kurdish cities of the southeast, with the Prime Minister Erdogan declaring that his aim was to “take Diyarbakir”.

What has now turned out to be the AKP’s false confidence had been repeated almost without exception by Western media commentaries in the run up to the election, including the major political and business analysts, David Morgan said.

The voting has unambiguously demonstrated the resilience and determination of the Kurdish people to stand up for their rights and their wishes could not now be ignored, everyone agreed.

Although taking place at the end of the conference late on Saturday afternoon, the fringe meeting attracted a good attendance including Plaid Cymru president Dafydd Iwan, influential party policy makers and some election candidates.

Members of the local Kurdish community in Cardiff also attended.
The meeting was chaired by MP Hywel Williams, who expressed his ongoing support and friendship.

The key speaker was former Plaid MEP and European election candidate, Eurig Wyn, who had recently returned from a visit to the Kurdish region to observe the elections and attend the trial of Leyla Zana.*)

He declared how he had broken Turkish law by addressing a large crowd of Kurds by making a few remarks in the still largely publicly forbidden Kurdish language, which is officially defined by Turkey as an “unknown language”.

Wyn concluded that, “an increasing body of international opinion is opposed to allowing Turkey to become a member of the EU until it resolves the Kurdish issue.”
Plaid Cymru leaders once more stressed their strong sense of friendship and solidarity with the Kurdish people and in particular said they would try to send observers to the Leyla Zana trial when it resumes in early June.

Lobbying the Plaid conference over the two days, Akif Wan and David Morgan also attended a “policy speeding dating” event on the Friday evening which gave them the opportunity to speak to all the party leaders, policy makers and candidates squeezed within one hour. Several of the people met at this event later attended the Peace in Kurdistan fringe meeting and expressed a willingness to do something practical to help the Kurds.

*) Reports on the delegation available from KNK and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
For information contactEstella 020 7586 5892 Rachel 0207 272 4131

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish questionPatrons: Lord Avebury, John Austin MP, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, John Bowis MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark ThomasTel 020 7586 5892 Fax 020 7483 2531e-mail: estella24@tiscali.co.uk

Demonstrate: Stop the Criminalisation of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle.

The African National Congress were labelled a 'terrorist' organisation by Margaret Thatcher. By doing this she supported the racist Aparthied regime in South Africa.

Countries with geopolitical interests in Turkey and the Middle East have turned a blind eye to the massive and systematic war crimes of the Turkish regime against the Kurdish population in Turkey.

They have done this by providing Turkey with arms and weapons.

But more effectively, they have done this by remaining silent of Turkey's crimes and labelling the very people who are victims of Turkish State terrorism as 'criminals and terrorists'.

The Kurdistan Workers Party emerged from within the Kurdish people in Turkey at one of the darkest moments for the Kurds.

The Turkish state was pursuing a stated aim of annihilation of the Kurds and forced assimilation into Turkish society, language and culture. This meant a policy of forced depopulation with the most horrendous and horrific savage repression against the Kurds.

Repression on a scale that has been seen against the Jews in Germany and Black South Africans in the Aparthied era.

It was only the PKK that fought back against these racist murderous policies.

Racism began as a justification for slavery. The victims being labelled as inferior or criminal and so justifying the barbaric murderous polices of mass genocide.

And so the Kurds are labelled as 'terrorists' as the Irish were during the 800 years of English colonial rule in Ireland.

The time has come to challenge this label hung around the necks of the Kurdish Freedom Struggle. Especially at a time when Turkish state terrorism against the Kurdish people is increasing!

In the UK over the past 3 months the UK have again been supporting Turkish suppression of the Kurds as there has been a determined effort to clamp down and label supporters of the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

Everyone who supports the legitimate struggle of Kurds for freedom must join this demonstration to say:

NO TO THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE KURDISH FREEDOM STRUGGLE!

25th April 2009
Assemble:
Dalston Junction 12.30hrs Depart 1300hrs.
(on corner of Balls Pond Road junction, behind Barcleys Bank)
March to Kurdish Community Centre.

Called by the Kurdish Federation in UK.
Supported by Kurdish Community Centre, Halkevi, Kurdish and Turkish Community Centre, Kurdish Solidarity Committee and Peace in Kurdistan Campaign

For more information please call:

Arzu Pesmen: 07960302192 or Mark Campbell: 07865079415

President Barack Hussain Obama Landmark Speech in the Turkish Parliament.

President Barack Hussain Obama speaks in the Turkish parliament. full text

Points of interest:

Instead of labelling the PKK's legitimate Freedom Struggle as 'terrorism' (which interestingly, when speaking to Ahmet Turk for all 8 mins, he called the PKK's 'armed struggle') how come he did not congratulate the PKK for their cessation of the conflict during the elections?

If he is against 'terrorism' and violence, how come then he did not condemn the Turkish authorities for using state terror against the Kurds when they are trying to follow the democratic road?

Why when Kurdish people are trying to plant trees to mark the birthday of Abdullah Ocalan in his village does the Turkish military kill two young Kurdish people and injure many more, gassing and firing water at high pressure.

Even physically attacking the democratically elected representatives of the Kurdish people.

Why did he not condemn this?

Why does he not condemn this violence of the Turkish State against the PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC demonstrations of the Kurdish people's democratic freedom struggle?

Why does he not condemn the daily gassing and high powered water gun spraying of Kurdish demonstrations and the anti democratic actions of the Turkish army during the recent elections, especially in Agri where the Turkish army imposed emergency law after the DTP contested the result after 3,000 votes were found for DTP that were not counted?

Even as he was speaking and praising 'Turkish democracy' protesters were being arrested, detained and tortured.

Unfortunately, the Kurdish Freedom Movement cannot take any positive message from Obama's speech, except that he met with DTP if even only for a miserable 8 mins.

Imagine if he had gone to the racist Aparthied regime's parliament in South Africa during the dark days of racist rule and condemned the legitimate struggle of the African National Congress as 'terrorism'.

He does not even acknowledge the racist suppression of the Kurdish people in Turkey over last 70 years.

Not surprising, as the US has been a partner in Turkey's war crimes against the Kurds.

The Kurdish People's Freedom Struggle has succeeded despite massive American funding of Turkey's war against the Kurds so nothing has changed there.

The Kurdish people continue to rely on their own resistance and heroic struggle against the most powerful armies in the world with the support of the most powerful countries in the world.

AND THEY ARE STILL WINNING!

The Kurdish People's latest Martyr to Kurdish Freedom

Sehid Namerin!

Solidarity with the Kurdish Freedom Struggle from Basques.

Stop repression against Kurdish Movement

The Basque pro independence left wants to regret the arrests of the Kurdish activists Remzi Kartal and Eyüp Doru last 24th of March by the Spanish authorities in Madrid.

We call Spanish and Turkish governments to stop all security policies against the Kurdish movement and especially against the political party DTP.

Remzi Kartal, former MP in the Turkish Parliament, continues to work internationally for a democratic solution to the conflict in Kurdistan.

Eyüp Doru is a Kurdish activist involved in the international solidarity work towards Kurdish people. They have been both released but will face an extradition process demanded by the Turkish justice.

Spanish and EU authorities should respect all political activities of Kurdish representatives.

The last local elections in Kurdistan have again shown that the Kurdish DTP and the demand for a democratic solution to the conflict, gather the support of the majority of the Kurdish population.

The Turkish authorities should by once recognize the rights of the Kurdish nation and start a dialogue for a democratic resolution of the conflict.

Once again, from the Basque pro independence left, we would like to express our solidarity with the Kurdish people and we would like to claim for the respect of the democratic rights of the Kurdish people.

Biji Kurdistan! Freedom for Kurdistan! Basque Country, 6th April 2009,

Mustafa Dağ and Mahsum Karaoğlan buried by the Kurdish people.

The Kurdish people bury Mahsum in Amed.

When Mustafa Dağ ve Mahsum Karaoğlan went out of the doors of their houses to join a celebration of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish leader's 60th birthday by planting trees in his village, Amara, they had no idea that it would cost them their lives.

Mustafa Dağ was a wonderful and loving father of two young children. Mahsum Karaoğlan a young, brave and successful student at University killed by racist Turkish soldiers with hatred in their hearts.

The Kurdish people bury Mustafa in Urfa.

THE PKK ARE NOT TERRORISTS!

THE KURDISH PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS

OF

TURKISH STATE TERRORISM!

Turkish State Terrorism against Kurds! Video of Amara Incident.

Warning!

This is a video of what happened when Kurdish people wanted to visit the village of Abdullah Ocalan on his birthday, April 4th.

It is a shocking video and should not be watched by anyone who is disturbed by images of suffering. It shows blood pouring from the head of a Kurdish man struck by the racist Turkish military authorities. This man named, Mahsum Karaoğlan, was murdered!

Another Kurdish young man was killed in this incident too.

But the racist killers will never face justice!

Turkish Troops Out of Kurdistan!

Sehid Namerin!

The Snow is Melting! Is Hope also Melting?

The snow is melting!
by Hevallo

The Turkish state terror inflicted upon the Kurdish population over the last week has raised many people's worries over the Turkish State's reaction to the massive and decisive victory of the Kurdish Freedom Movement in Kurdistan.

The Kurdish party DTP won the local elections in Kurdistan sending a very direct message to the government in Ankara.

Even in places where they, 'lost' returning delegations confirm what local DTP officials have been saying, that thousands of votes that were cast for the DTP were found in bins, dumps and even in one case in Mus, visiting delegation found a burning pile of papers behind the election station and found them to be piles of election votes for the DTP.

This meant that with a combination of 'dirty' tricks and tactical voting by battalions of Turkish troops who occupy Kurdistan, democracy was denied.

While, again, the Kurdish people dare to hope.

Dare to believe that through participating in the democratic process and working night and day to produce a historic and powerful victory that, maybe, just maybe they will be rewarded with what is rightfully theirs.

Peace and Justice!

Peace from the racist assimilationist policies of the racist Turkish state.

And justice for the crimes against humanity they have been subjected to over the last 70 years or more.

We are at an historic crossroads.

The legitimate struggle of the Kurdish people, led since 1978 by Abdullah Ocalan and the Kurdistan Workers Party (Paritya Karkerin Kurdistan) has brought the Kurdish people from the darkness of racism and assimilation to the brink of freedom.

Barack Obama is visiting Turkey today and many people have hope. Hope that there will be recognition of the Kurdish people's struggle and hope that the dark days of Turkish state terrorism are behind us.

Hope that DTP/PKK will be invited to a 'Kurdish Conference' in Arbil to begin the negotiations for the end of this conflict that has taken so many lives.

But just as we dared to hope there have been two incidents, Amara and Agri, that indicate that this is not the thinking of the Turkish state.

That they have a different plan.

Could we be seeing the beginnings of the unity of the Turkish Generals and the AKP that we saw last year when we saw Abdullah Gul on the front line with the Generals, giving AKP's full support to the 'military solution'.

Now the elections are over, the real face of the racist Turkish state is coming to the fore, again!

They could not achieve election victory in Kurdistan so are they now returning to the only way they know how to occupy Kurdistan, by military force and suppression?

The snow is melting!

The Turkish state knows the snow is melting and knows that the Kurdish people's defenders are on the move.

Which road, war or peace?

As always, the Kurdish Freedom Movement is more than ready for both!

Turkish Colonial Repression in Kurdistan!

This is Turkish democracy in action in Agri (which aptly translates as pain, in Turkish) a Kurdish province on the border of Iran.

Agri was claimed in the 09 election as a victory for the AKP but only by a slim majority. So it was all the more alarming when 3000 voting papers for DTP were found thrown away.

When the people of Agri protested for three days a state of emergency was put into place and journalists including two German journalists were banned from the area with their films being confiscated.

From this secretly taken footage from Kurdish flats above the scene, it is easy to see why they did not want this documented.

Having thrown tear gas into this cafe the Turkish police battered men, women and children fleeing from the gas.

Watch closely what happens to one man who is beaten to the floor in the bottom frame. He is beaten to the floor at the bottom of the steps at 0.56secs, then when he comes around is beaten and led away, beaten again and taken to the security services vehicle where presumably is one of the many who were imprisoned and tortured.

IS THIS THE AKP'S REACTION TO ITS ELECTION DEFEAT IN KURDISTAN?

FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS

Latest News 1700hrs: At least two Kurdish people have been murdered by Turkish racist colonial occupiers when trying to march to the village of the Kurdish leader, Abdullah Ocalan to celebrate his 60th birthday! Thousands of Kurdish people tried to march to Apo's village but were prevented by Turkish Soldiers who sprayed them with water and gas. Kurdish MP's were subjected to abuse and sprayed with water too!

THE PKK ARE NOT TERRORISTS!

THE KURDS ARE VICTIMS OF TURKISH STATE TERROR!

4th April. The 60th Birthday of Abdullah Ocalan! The Birth of Kurdish Resistance!

Kurdish and Turkish Girls!

Ajda Pekkan&Aynur Doğan--Keçe Kurdan
Uploaded by sakp

And suddenly Kurdishness becomes cool...

by Işıl Eğrikavuk
April 3, 2009

ISTANBUL -When Turkey’s pop superstar Ajda Pekkan sang the Kurdish song "Keçe Kurdan" (Kurdish girl) during a benefit concert, it inspired headlines as Pekkan’s gesture received great media attention and was regarded as a symbol of fraternity.

When the same song was played by private radio station Dünya Radio two years ago, however, it caused an executive director to be taken to court for inciting violence among the public. Interestingly enough, it was last week that the court finally decided "Keçe Kurdan" was not actually an incitement to violence.

"There were rumors of the acquittal decision after Pekkan sang the same song," said Kenan Karavil, a Dünya Radio executive. "So we are not that surprised about the final decision. What we are sad about is the fact that only after Pekkan sang the song was our issue brought before the public eye," said Karavil.

Kurdish journalist and writer Muhsin Kızılkaya, on the other hand, finds Pekkan’s gesture a positive one. "Ajda Pekkan used to convert popular French and English songs into Turkish. Until today she was unaware of the existence of another population, which is closer to hers than the others. Plus, she has no political history or background and that actually makes her gesture more powerful," said Kızılkaya. "If it was done by other politically-conscious singers, it wouldn’t mean so much. Pekkan is speaking to a different audience. If singers like her had acted so 20 years ago, we would be in a different place."

Pekkan’s song is not the only example of the Kurdish issue being pulled into the sphere of popular culture. Another singer of Kurdish origin, Mahsun Kırmızıgül, recently made a film that speaks about Kurdishness and its problems.

"Mahsun had been working on that film for a while. I think it was a coincidence that his film was released during this time," said Kızılkaya.

Yet Kırmızıgül was another figure who 10 years ago had not opposed his compatriot being yelled at on stage. "Of course there are some people who are going to jump on the subject and make use of it. But that doesn’t mean we should disregard the positive ones. Those are in fact the ones we should cling to," said Kızılkaya.

However much it is looked down on, popular culture, especially film and music has always managed to address bigger crowds than other means of art. Indeed, in the ’90s there were many young artists in Turkey who had spoken out about the problems between Turkey and Kurds, yet not managed to reach such an audience.

"We have spoken about many issues regarding the Kurdish issue since the1990s but it was always confined to a specific audience," said contemporary artist Halil Altındere. "There was especially a generation of young artists in 1995 who opened up subjects such as the evacuated villages in southeastern Turkey.

Filmmaker Hasan Karabey made a film a long time ago about Kurdish mothers who lost their children and never saw them again. "Today I see there are many artists who have taken an interest in such subjects but only after things have calmed down," Altındere said. Turkey’s recent transformation regarding the Kurdish issue is indeed peculiar. Not only singers and filmmakers are speaking more openly about the subject but also politicians and statesmen seem more confident when it comes to pronounce the "K" word. Yet, there are numerous cases that ignore the existence of the Kurdish identity in Turkey, such as the spelling of the spring festival Nevruz in place of the Kurdish spelling "Newroz." During this year’s festival preparations, an application from the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, was rejected by the government of Kars, a city in eastern Turkey, for its using the letter "w," a letter that is not used in the Turkish alphabet.

Bureaucracy should not rule

Kızılkaya said he thinks that when it comes to such cases bureaucracy should not be taken as the overarching power. "Bureaucracy has a very strong position in Turkey and it will always want to keep its authority," he said. But Karavil from Dünya Radio does not seem optimistic. "Politicians are still being punished for speaking Kurdish. On the other hand, when the ruling party uses the Kurdish flag for propaganda, there is no punishment. As long as these discrepancies exist, the other developments mean nothing," said Karavil.

3 Nisan 2009

Hope!

ISTANBUL, April 3 (Reuters) - Turkey's only legal Kurdish party will call on U.S. President Barack Obama during a rare meeting next week to help end a 25-year separatist conflict, signalling the expanded role Kurds play in Turkish politics.

Obama will make his first visit as a president to a Muslim country next week, seeking to boost ties with a NATO ally.

He will also meet Turkish opposition leaders, including Ahmet Turk, head of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP).

The conflict in southeast Turkey, which has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people, is a destabilising factor in the region.

Ties between Turkey and Iraq have also suffered as thousands of separatist rebels are based in northern Iraq.But better cooperation between Turkey, Iraq and the United States, including intelligence sharing, has weakened the PKK.

Ankara has also started to address grievances by the Kurdish minority, which has long complained of discrimination.

"We expect the American president to help seek a resolution of the Kurdish issue,"

Selahattin Demirtas, deputy head of DTP's parliamentary group, told Reuters on Friday.

"This is acknowledgement that the DTP represents the Kurdish issue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict," he said.

The DTP has long been accused of being the mouthpiece of the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). It refuses calls by other parties to declare the PKK a terrorist organisation as it is labelled by Turkey, the United States and the EU.

It will be the first time a U.S. leader will hold talks, even if they are only expected to be very brief, with the head of a Kurdish party in parliament.The meeting was part of a normalisation of the Kurdish issue in Turkey that began with political reforms aimed at meeting European Union membership requirements, said Sahin Alpay, a political science professor at Bahcesehir University in Istanbul.

Ankara won European Union accession talks status in 2005 but has been criticised for being slow in improving cultural and political rights of the Kurdish minority, which makes up around 15 percent of the population.

The DTP, the first pro-Kurdish party in parliament since 1994, is on trial for alleged ties to the PKK and faces possible closure if found guilty. The DTP denies the charges.

Turk will hand Obama written proposals the party says can help end the conflict, including an amnesty for guerrillas and constitutional amendments to protect basic Kurdish rights.

Turk's proposals also call for limited autonomy for Turkey's Kurds, such as direct elections to a provincial government in the mainly Kurdish southeast, Demirtas said."Kurds don't want war but want a peaceful resolution within Turkish borders that includes greater democracy," Demirtas said.

Turkey has rejected a general amnesty for guerrillas, but has taken a more conciliatory tone towards finding a solution, as President Abdullah Gul's groundbreaking visit to Iraq showed.

Demirtas said the DTP would not call on the PKK to lay down its arms, despite growing pressure to do so.

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, himself a Kurd, did just that last month."The U.S. is still the authority in northern Iraq, and that makes Obama a party to the issue," Demirtas said. "We believe he can help to end the conflict peacefully." (Editing by Paul de Bendern and Giles Elgood)

Source: Reuters.

The Kurdish People's Victory!

More at Ozgur Gundem.

Time for a Solution to Kurdish Question in Turkey! Time to Free Abdullah Ocalan!

Knock on the door!

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Recognise Abdullah Ocalan as the leader of the Kurdish Freedom Movement and pressurise the Turkish authorities to release him so as to reach a peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish Question in Turkey."

There is a new petition to Free Abdullah Ocalan that has been approved and, interestingly, allowed to be included on 10 Downing Streets ePetitions website. It is for UK residents only and I appeal to everyone who can, to sign it, copy the URL and pass it around as widely as possible.

PLEASE SIGN HERE NOW!

Kurdish Language Seminar. Robert Olson.

Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales & Peace in Kurdistan Campaign

The Language Question: Influence on the ‘Kurdish Question’ in Turkey 2007-2009



Seminar:

Monday 6 April 2009 at 6.30pm

Garden Court Chambers,

57-60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ

Chaired by MARK MULLER QC

Addresses by:

PROFESSOR ROBERT OLSON, Professor of Middle East Politics and History, University of Kentucky, USA Prof. Olson is an expert on the Kurdish nationalist movement and how this has affected the domestic and foreign politics of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. He is author of seven books and over 90 research articles on aspects of Middle East history. His books include, The Emergence of Kurdish Nationalism and the Sheikh Said Rebellion (1989); The Goat and the Butcher: Nationalism and State Formation in Kurdistan-Iraq since the Iraqi War (2005); Turkey-Iran Relations, 1979-2004 (2004); Turkey’s Relations with Iran, Syria, Israel, and Russia, 1991-2000: The Kurdish and Islamist Questions (2001); and The Kurdish Question and Turkish-Iranian Relations: From WWI to 1998 (1998). His latest article deals with the Kurdish question in Turkey, entitled Turkish-Kurdish Relations: A Year of Significant Developments (Insight-Turkey, vol. 10, no. 4 (2008), 23-51)


KERIM YILDIZ, Executive Director, Kurdish Human Rights Project Kerim Yildiz is an expert in international human rights law and the Kurdish regions, and a co-founder of the Kurdish Human Rights Project. Yildiz received the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights award in 1996; and in 2005 received the Sigrid Rausing Trust’s Human Rights award for Leadership in Indigenous and Minority Rights. Yildiz has written extensively on human rights including numerous essays, articles and chapters on freedom of expression, national security, torture and minority rights published in English, Turkish, Finnish and Russian. His most recent publications include Turkey’s Accession to the EU: Democracy, Human Rights and the Kurds (Pluto Press, 2005); The Kurds in Syria: The Forgotten People (Pluto Press, 2005); The Kurds in Iraq: Past, Present and Future - Revised Edition (Pluto Press, 2007); The Kurds in Iran: Past Present and Future (Pluto Press, 2007, with Tanyel Taysi); and An Ongoing Practice: Torture in Turkey (KHRP, 2007, with Frederick Piggott).

All welcome. For more details please contact Estella at 0207 586 5892 or estella24@tiscali.co.uk or Jacqueline at 020 7993 7755 or bhrc@compuserve.com.