Turkey which still denies the constitutional
existence of Kurds, refuses to recognize its Kurdish
population as a distinct minority. Kurds ask for
more cultural rights for ethnic Kurds who constitute
the greatest minority in Turkey, numbering more than
20 million. Kurds call for lifting the ban on
education in Kurdish, paving the way for an
autonomous democrat Kurdish system within Turkey. A
large Turkey's Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK rebels.
August 11, 2012
Violence breeds
violence, it may be a cliché but it’s so true and
this ideology will never eliminate the very real
Kurdish problem neither within Turkey or externally.
It’s been said in Turkish circles that Kurds ask for
too many rights and privileges but has Turkey really
gone anywhere near exhausting diplomatic solutions
to Kurdish issues?
The ruling AKP party's "Kurdish opening" was
welcomed by Kurds as well as international human
rights activists. A Kurdish-language state TV
station was introduced, prisoners were given the
right to speak to their families in Kurdish and an
unofficial amnesty was introduced for those with
links to the PKK. Although such actions were steps
in the right direction, they were little steps in
the eyes of Kurds and the process has long since
stopped. this was partly down to Turks feeling
mocked as Kurds celebrated the return of PKK members
from the mountains but is that really a good enough
reason to abandon diplomacy?
To be fair, the AKP has to fend of pressure from the
nationalistic tendencies of some Turks and the likes
of the MHP party but these groups are the reason
moderate Kurds can become sympathetic to the PKK.
Granting the Kurds a real political platform would
be a start. This means not imprisoning hundreds of
Kurdish advocates and politicians on vague charges
or links to the PKK as has happened to members of
the BDP. If Kurds have a solid voice being heard
this will In turn, alienate and reduce support for
armed strugglers.
Then there are the neighbours. Turkey really needs
to try and build bridges with Kurds from
neighbouring countries rather than look at any
external Kurdish gains with hostility. You have to
look at it from Kurd's point of view.
Rebaz Hassan
The rise of the Kurdistan region of Iraq since the
demise of Saddam's regime and the strengthening of
our autonomy is very important for us, especially as
we are largest ethnicity in the world without a
country.
From a Kurdish perspective, it seemed that any turn
of events that had potential to strengthen our
identity and autonomy was looked at with suspicion
from Ankara. Examples include the lack of
recognition of our people including the refusal to
meet KRG representatives and the continued emphasis
on territorial integrity (a clear reference to the
Kurdistan region). It’s not like we were stepping on
Turkey’s toes as we have been and remain the
majority in the regions that we govern. This stance
hasn’t and will never encourage Kurds to go out of
their way to fight or even condemn the PKK.
You may say that the Kurds of Turkey will tomorrow
turn around and want their own independence which is
a legitimate concern but I ask does upsetting your
neighbouring Kurds and holding down the identity of
those within Turkey, really going to eliminate these
aspirations? If anything it will strengthen them.
Let’s take a look at Syria from a Kurdish
perspective. Kurds were second class to Arabs and
weren’t even allowed citizenship until recent
measures taken by a desperate Bashar Assad. The
potential control of NE Syria by Kurdish factions
has seen a hostile reaction from Ankara even though
Turkey cannot do much about it as the likes of Iran
and Russia, let alone the Kurds, will reject direct
militarily intervention.
It’s not like Turkey can guarantee Kurds won’t be
oppressed again either and even if they could where
is the logic in taking a negative stance against
something that may be inevitable anyway?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to take the Kurds by the
hand and try and cooperate with them even if it may
include involving the PYD too? You may answer “Do
you expect us to negotiate with terrorists?” but
remember many Kurds (rightly or wrongly) don’t see
them as terrorists and the PYD leader recently said
they have no interest in Turkey and are independent
of the PKK. Even if he is bluffing, what does Turkey
stand to lose by reaching a hand out?
You could potentially gain a strategic partner from
the start and not lose time as happened with the
KRG. Remember this scenario would be supported by
KRG leader Barzani,www.ekurd.net
who the Syrian Kurds look up to. You may think it’s
unfair on the Arabs and co, for a small part of
Syria to fall into Kurdish hands but the areas have
a Kurdish majority anyway and are Syrian Kurds any
more likely to treat Arabs badly?
Even if still deemed unfair again I ask would it
benefit Turkey to take a strong stance against a
scenario that may anyway be inevitable?
The fact is Turkey needs to step up a convincing
“Kurdish opening”, allow a domestic Kurdish party to
function without fear and continue/establish close
ties with neighbouring Kurdish groups. Barzani and
all those faithful to him would remain on side and
reject instability in Turkey, if not for the love of
the nation, at least for trading and economical
purposes.
The influence of the military, the scars from blood
spilt and a sense of defeat mean, of course, it’s
not easy to comprehend some of these options, let
alone implement.
However, the Kurdish problem will not just fade away
and every step Turkey takes towards building bridges
will not only gain support among Kurds, it would
also bring the majority of the international
community on side which would at least give Turkey a
hedge that Syria doesn’t have.
Rebaz Hassan, for Ekurd.net, you can tweet the
author (Twitter: @Re2baz)
Copyright
© 2012 Ekurd.net. All rights reserved.
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