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Roj TV key to democratization?
12.2.2006
By Vladimir van Wilgenburg Journalist - Netherlands
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Roj TV makes sure that
Kurds are not obliged to watch the scarcity of
images directly controlled by the Turkish state.
Because of Roj TV’s modern satellite technology, Roj
TV escapes the hands of Turkish dominance and
censure.
Despite some EU-reforms in Turkey, there isn’t
something you can call real Kurdish television. The
30 minutes of state-run broadcasts and 45 minutes of
private-run broadcasts are frankly not enough. This
is an example that Turkish homogenisation and
assimilation policy is still out there.
Roj TV, like KurdistanTV, Zaghros TV and KurdSat TV
makes sure that Kurds in Turkey and Kurdistan regain
their pride, by becoming more aware of their Kurdish
identity by delivering an alternative to Turkish
television.
Kurds will become educated on their own identity, by
educational information on Kurdish history, Kurdish
literature, landmark geographical sites in
Kurdistan, Kurdish culture, etc.
With the on-going debate about freedom of expression
because of the cartoon-row, Roj TV is also in
danger. Premier Erdogan concluded that, freedom of
speech has it’s limits. I cannot agree with this,
because if I would, it would give pretence for
anti-democratic measures like closing Roj TV,
stopping criticism on religion, family and
governments under the name of “respect”. This would
mean the end of freedom of speech and the start of a
new dictatorship.
In the discussion about Roj TV, PKK is not the
point. If you think the Turkish state is sacred and
holy, then I can assure that this isn’t true. Just
look to the number of Turkish nationalists still
roaming in the Turkish government (MHP). Frankly Roj
TV is offering a platform for more Kurdish parties
from all parts of Kurdistan. It isn’t only focusing
on Northern edges of Kurdistan, there is attention
for situation of Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian
`occupied´ Kurdistan as a lot of Kurds would say.
An example is that Roj TV last year invited
politicians from the opposition parties Komala and
KDP-I, after demonstrations in Eastern-Kurdistan
(Iranian). They also once asked parties from Western
Kurdistan (Syrian) to comment on the events there.
Roj TV therefore creates more unity among the Kurds,
which was also seen in the support of Kurdistan TV
for the survival of Roj TV.(“ rival” TV-station of
KDP)
Another good point of Roj-TV that it is multilingual
like the most of the Kurdish TV-stations. Roj TV can
be seen as an example for the mostly Turkish
programmes on Turkish television. Roj TV even
broadcasts in Turkish, although it’s meant to also
reach Kurds who have forgotten their mother
language.
Roj TV actually promotes democracy by giving an
alternative view and showing Kurdish television 24
hours a day. Turkey still not managed to close Roj
TV in the EU and therefore became a needle in the
eye of Turkish republic. Even Turkish
journalists-writers didn’t deny that Roj TV is
popular and watched by non-PKK-Kurds, as well pro-PKK
Kurds.
Therefore Roj TV is a source of pressure, next to
the developments in South-Kurdistan and the EU
democratization process. Turkey may realise that the
only way to decrease the influence and support for
Roj TV is by allowing more and longer Kurdish
television broadcasting. This only can be seen as
something positive. I think that even people within
Roj TV would welcome more Kurdish television, as a
the Roj-TV producer Hessen Qazi told me: ”Every
Kurdish television station must be welcomed, because
it will result in more pluralism” .
Then at last Roj TV could compete with those other
Kurdish channels, instead of being subject of
Turkish intervention and pressure. This is the only
way it should be and that’s why the closure of Roj
TV must be stopped. The destruction of Roj TV would
mean the end of freedom of speech and would partly
stop the further development of the Kurdish issue
and the democratization of Turkey.
http://vladimirkurdistan.blogspot.com/
Kurdistan: "South Eastern Turkey" is Northern
Kurdistan. "Western Iran" is Eastern Kurdistan.
"Eastern Syria" is Western Kurdistan. "Northern
Iraq" is Southern Kurdistan
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