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Open letter to the U.S. Administration,
regarding Turkish bombing of Kurdish civilians 19.1.2008
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Open
letter to the U.S. Administration, State Department
and Defense Department regarding Turkish bombing of
Kurdish Civilians
January 19, 2008
We are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams,
presently living and working in Kurdistan, the
Kurdish north of Iraq. We have closely watched the
news reports that detail the Turkish military
invasions and bombings of Kurdish territory over the
last five months. We note that the United States has
provided intelligence for those attacks and has
chosen to open Iraqi air space for those incursions.
We have had regular contact with the United Nations,
the ICRC, and local Kurdish NGOs that have assisted
the casualties from those attacks. Those attacks
killed at least three civilians and injured at least
six. CPT has visited two of the families who had a
member killed or injured. Additionally, reports
indicate those bombings have damaged or destroyed
homes, schools, mosques, and hospitals.
CPT visited mayors of communities to which some of
the 600-800 displaced families, approximately 3000
individuals, fled for refuge. Those mayors shared
photos and videos of the damages in the villages and
encouraged us to visit some of the families who are
now unable to return home.
The bombings killed hundreds of sheep and cows,
animals upon which families depend for a living.
Other animals are uncared for because families are
afraid to return as flights by Turkish military
continue. Farmers now wonder how they can do spring
planting.
As CPT talks to Kurdish people, we hear a call for
the United States to abide by the standards to which
it holds other countries: Do not kill or injure
civilians and an occupying power is responsible to
protect and care for the civilians who are under its
control.
The United States identifies the Kurdistan Regional
Government as a model of democracy, but it is clear
that democracy is not served by opening air space to
an outside military to attack civilian targets.
These civilians had no voice in this decision.
On a larger scale, we have observed a dramatic
change in the Kurdish population from unapologetic
support for the U.S.www.ekurd.net
military presence in
Iraq to anger at the way in which the United States
has dumped one of its most loyal allies in the
Middle East. Kurdish people have experienced the
Anfal assaults under the Saddam Hussein regime and
fear U.S. support will encourage Turkey to move even
more aggressively against Kurdistan.
Therefore, CPT in Iraq deplores the decision by the
United States to aid these attacks on a civilian
population. We beg you as U.S. officials to reverse
this decision that assists Turkey in violence toward
civilians. We encourage U.S. pressure on Turkey to
pursue diplomatic solutions to the PKK/Turkey
disputes and other underlying issues. We call on the
people of the United States to learn more about
these events and advocate for the safety of these
Kurdish people.
Sincerely,
Peggy Gish, Anita David, Michele Obed-Naar, and
Cliff Kindy
afterdowningstreet org
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