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Turkish Intellectuals presented letter to
President Abdulla Gul to solve Kurdish issue
20.2.2008
Translated by Ozlem Yagmur
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February
20, 2008
Ankara, -- A letter signed by 100
intellectuals in Turkey has been presented to the
President in an effort to solve the Kurdish problem.
During the elections of July 22, people were assured
that democratic expansions would be accelerated,
political and economic reform operations would be
raised, and peaceful steps would be taken in order
to solve the Kurdish problem. Unfortunately, the
process has not been implemented in this way;
increasing violence and nationalism have discouraged
rationalist solutions. Recently, Turks and Kurds
have started to move towards living together. We
need to shape the future of our country with a mind,
which cares about human life, justice and peace. We
would like to signify that we will support all kinds
of steps taken in this direction. |
Turkey Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül |
The Supreme Court of
Appeals thinks that the Democratic Society Party
(DTP) constitutes a threat for the entire country.
We think that the real threat is that of closing a
political party which entered parliament with the
votes of almost 2 millions of people. If DTP is
closed, the democracy will be gravely damaged.
If there are Kurds in this country who would like to
launch into politics, they will of course have
political parties. This principle should be accepted
as soon as possible. The root of the trouble is a
mentality that is intolerant to differences. We
think that because there is a sufficient number of
deputies,www.ekurd.net
Turkish Parliament (TBMM)
can perform legal modifications. The way of the
solution should open and the legislation regarding
closing political parties should be equipped
according to democratic norms. The Kurdish problem
has cultural, social, political, psychological, and
economic facets.
We observe that the Kurdish problem is discussed
among Americans, Europeans, etc… But unfortunately,
the opinions of real actors—including Kurds,
deputies of DTP, mayors—are not taken into
consideration. The Kurdish problem can only be
solved by listening to all sides and taking their
opinions into consideration as well. At first, it is
very important to talk to deputies of DTP for the
process of peace.
It is vital to end armed operations in order to
start a free dialogue process. It requires
constructive steps and the success of these kinds of
projects depends on persuading militants to defend
their requests by democratic means instead of
weapons. In order to be successful,www.ekurd.net
it is necessary to deal
with PKK within this perspective. People should not
feel that they are in a derogatory position, it is
necessary to arrange a social project to achieve
peace and agreement.
We miss living brotherly very much and the
constitution gives a mission to the President to
represent whole country. We are expecting you to
have an active role in solving all of the
aforementioned problems.
*
Over 39,000 Turkish soldiers and Kurdish PKK
guerrillas have been killed since 1984 when the PKK
took up arms for self-rule in the country's mainly
Kurdish southeast of Turkey. A large Turkey's
Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish
PKK rebels.
The PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds'
identity in its constitution and of their language
as a native language along with Turkish in the
country's Kurdish areas, the party also demanded
an end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and
constitution against Kurds, ranting them full
political freedoms.
The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by
the U.S. and the EU.
Source: Taraf Newspaper | PUKMedia.com
**
Kurds are not recognized as an official minority in
Turkey and are denied rights granted to other
minority groups. Under EU pressure, Turkey recently
granted Kurds limited rights for broadcasts and
education in the Kurdish language, but critics say
the measures do not go far enough.
The use of the term "Kurdistan" is vigorously
rejected due to its alleged political implications
by the Republic of Turkey, which does not recognize
the existence of a "Turkish Kurdistan" Southeast
Turkey.
Others estimate over 40 million Kurds live in
Big Kurdistan (Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Armenia),
which covers an area as big as France, about half of
all Kurds which estimate to 20 million live in
Turkey.
Turkey is home to over 25 million ethnic Kurds, a
large Turkey's Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK for a
Kurdish homeland in the country's mainly Kurdish
southeast of Turkey.
Before August 2002, the Turkish government placed
severe restrictions on the use of Kurdish language,
prohibiting the language in education and broadcast
media.
The Kurdish alphabet is still not recognized
in Turkey, and use of the Kurdish letters X, W, Q
which do not exist in the Turkish
alphabet has led to judicial persecution in 2000 and
2003
The Kurdish flag flown officially in Iraqi Kurdistan
but unofficially flown by Kurds in Armenia. The flag
is banned in Iran, Syria, and Turkey where flying it
is a criminal offence"
Southeastern Turkey:
North Kurdistan (
Kurdistan-Turkey)
wikipedia
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