(A.W.)—On Jan. 13, reports surfaced about clashes between pro-Kurdish protesters and police in Diyarbakir. The confrontation happened in front of the Diyarbakir municipality building and courthouse, where 150 defendants are standing trial. The defendants are accused of having ties to the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), which allegedly has links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organization in Turkey.
Among those on trial are Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir and 11 other mayors, as well as politicians, trade unionists, and human rights advocates. More than 100 of the defendants have been in custody for around 1.5 years, sources say.
The protesters were family members of the defendants, there to support their relatives. The case has drawn criticism for a number of reasons, including the fact that the defendants have been denied the right to represent themselves in their native Kurdish tongue. Some say the case is political in nature, and its aim is to suppress Kurdish identity and unity.
The protest was organized by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). Protests were also reported in the southeast Anatolian province of Hakkari and the district of Yuksekova.
Only a day earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking with Al Jazeera, defended the Palestinian Hamas, saying, “Hamas is not a terrorist movement. They are people defending their land. It is a movement that entered the elections and won.” Hamas is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, and the European Union.
Erdogan also called on Israel to remove its foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, from office, calling him “a problem at the head of Israel” and a “despicable” man.
“Israelis must rid themselves [of Lieberman]…that is surely their duty and not ours,” said Erdogan, adding that “Netanyahu’s government is the worst or the least fortunate in the history of Israel… As long as Netanyahu’s government does not change its policies, it cannot expect us to change ours.”
A week earlier, Lieberman had likened Israel to Iran, and attributed the change in Israeli-Turkish ties to an Islamist Turkish government. “The completely unilateral change in the relations is not reflective of our actions; rather it is the result of Turkey’s internal politics,” he said. “Unfortunately, recent events in Turkey are reminiscent of Iran before the Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Like Turkey, Iran was among Israel’s closest allies and the two nations held good relations between both governments and people.”
Tensions between Turkey and Israel have been high, especially after the May 2010 flotilla raids. Eight Turks and one Turkish-American were killed when their ship—part of a Turkish-sponsored flotilla attempting to break Israel’s embargo on Gaza—was raided by Israeli soldiers. Israel insists the soldiers acted in self-defense, but Turkey rejects the claim and has demanded an official apology and compensation for the lives lost. Israel has refused to comply, maintaining that its soldiers acted in self-defense.
Nanore Barsoumian
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It is time for Armenians to realize and truly internalize that using contempory examples of human rights violations in Turkey is the most effective ways to connect the Republic of Turkey and the Ottoman predecessors. The depicable treatment of Kurds should be publicized by Armenian organizations and Armenian public relation channels.
We need to put aside our reluctance from the past and recognize that this is a political process of alliances based on mutual interests. The Kurdish “problem” is not going away. We know that the only solution the Turks know is to “Turkify” and oppress. Sure, there will be moments of ‘reform”, but their core strategy has never changed.
The question is…. what will we do to help others recognize this and do we have the political maturity to realize that helping others is in our interests. Centuries of betrayal have made us a very “introverted” people in the diaspora when it comes to political relationships. We usually are reluctant because we ask” what’s in it for us” and we can’t convince ourselves that it’s a good investment. This should be done selectively, but the Kurdish relationship is an obvious one… they are an historically and currently oppressed people…. they are indigenous to the area.. and we have much in common relative to the land. Just as the Greek experience in Cyprus and Istanbul is an ongoing opportunity, the Kurdish plight is a window into our reality.
Very well put,Stepan.Few here know that they are an asset to us for all future undertakings by us. Fact is they have lately-comes to mind the kurdish mayor of Diarbekir(Tigranagert) openly stated ,through him- THIS CITY IS AS MUCH YOURS AS OURS..this as an example.But much more can be realized if kurds in Europe(Belgium?)are contacted ,hope it is done by our eruo Armenian org.s and by and by break the ice,so to speak. Turkey is very much concerned about this and it would be a pity if we let this oppertunity pass through our fingers just like that.Also there have been some other signs that indicate to that direction. Caution should be in place indeed as to stress that if we do so,i.e. cooperate, they should officially recognize our pLIGHTS abd stand for us too,etc., etc., etc.,
Stepan,
I have in the past extensively spoke with a Kurdish man from Dikranagerd “Diarbekir” on these sites along with a few others as well, whereas we were very sympathetic towards them and the way the Turks were treating them like they treated us before the Armenian Genocide; but unfortunately we have been confronted with some challenges from a few people in here that we shouldn’t speak or be so nice to the Kurds altogether. Then I had to bring it to their attention that even our patriotic writer, Raffi-Hagop Melik Hagopian used to encourage open dialogue even with our enemies and with others as he found it to be not only beneficial for us, but also as a progressive behaviour on our part. I also thought so before I read about Raffi and what he had to say or thought. Furthermore, about a year ago our intellectuals in California already got together with the Kurds and our youth picketed on the streets about a young teenage Kurdish girl that was incarcerated by the Turkish police and the authorities in Diarbekir, because she objected about one of her family members that was also prisoned. Also, ANCA for a few years now already advocates and speaks out about the injustices of the Darfurians. They have often times said that all Genocides including the Armenian Genocide is a crime against humanity. They collected monies to send it to the Genocide victims in Darfur. I have also supported the victims of the Genocide in Darfur. I communicated with them and I supported them fully. One thing for sure; our Armenian organizations do support good behaviour of sovereignty around the world and speak out vehemently and work against the ones that suppress people or cause Genocides. Yes, our organizations already know that it is certainly in our best interest to act for other peoples’ as well as for our own interests when necessary.
The question about being more actively involved with the Kurds to protect their plight and their cause, yes of course I am 100% with you and it should be done. I hope that our organizations will hear us out and start collaborating even more with the Kurdish Assembly that are situated in Europe. Btw; the Kurdish Assembly have already legally accepted the Armenian Genocide.
Frankly, Erdogan is a loudmouth.
The policy is very simple: One country and one official language like most of the world’s countries. This should not be hard to understand. This is the same case in the US. There are 10 million Italians living there and they have to use English officially. When you examine the issue from outside, you naturally try to benefit from the case and do the same act as “yes, they did the same thing to us, they were and are bad, they are the Turks, run away from them…”
Let’s look at the issue more closer. As a policy, the goverment is trying to implement some reforms about the Kurdish minority, but every country has some principles that it has been based. The goverment implies the country has only one language but the one having a different mother language is free to use it but not in official jobs. And some courses to teach Kurdish were opened a few years ago but the classes were empty.
What I mean is that such cases are used against Turkey as a trump but before criticizing, one should listen to the issue from both sides.
What about the Hamas case? Hamas and Kurdish Worker’s Party are two different things. Hamas had come to power as a result of the demeocratic elections and they were the representatives of the Palestina’s people and they have fought against an invader country. PKK is a terrorist organization founded in the same place as ASALA founded and the basic aim is to kill the Turkish soldiers to get “so called rights”. Please, be more rational and just give up considering every of any Turk as an enemy. Just try to understand us, because the way you are acting now will not bring about any good result.
Ugur.. sorry but you sound very arrogant and ignorant..
First off.. who says that Turks living in Turkey are above everyone and should remain as such..
Second-Turkey is not just the country for Turks.. you people live on stolen lands and stolen wealth so who gave you the right to dictate ….??? If anything else, Kurds should kick the crap out of Turks for such unequal treatment and mistreatment of them..don’t forget… your ancestors disended from the Altay Mountains and Mongolian Steppes…they did not own the lands they are living in ….and your govt don’t either..so get off your high horse…
and lastly….Dont’ compare USA with Turkey..
Mr. Ugur, no.
“one country and one official language” is a nice way to dodge the realities that Kurds have been massacred since the founding of the Turkish Republic (see Dersim 1938, I doubt you read it in school), that today they make up 20% of the population of Turkey (way more than Italian-Americans) and are still unrepresented in parliament (because their political parties are ‘banned’), and that until recently their existence was not even recognized by the state.
America did not conduct ethnic cleansing against Italian-Americans; America accommodates the growing Hispanic population with generous language provisions in most services (I live in Harlem, New York); America recognizes its minorities.
Your definitions of terrorism make me laugh. Yeah, a democratically elected party definitely needs to blow up the headquarters of the executive branch
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/world/middleeast/14mideast.html.
Hamas apologists. LOL
And also Mr. Ugur, maybe the PKK could “come to power democratically” if there weren’t a ridiculous 10% threshold for party representation. The way Turks justify the patently objectionable behavior of their government is beyond me.
Alex,
I wonder what Armenia’s policy would be if a minority calls for a second official language. This is something related to “internal affairs” therefore with respect to international policy affairs, the act against this issue should not go beyond more than constructive recommendations. Therefore, a terrorist organization like PPK should not be promoted just because of the hate against Turkey. I still insist on Hamas’s case. They are the majority, not the minortiy and the minority party in Turkey, as you say, cannot exceed 10% of the total votes. This makes some difference between these uncomperable things.
Well said gayane!!
Ugur, you seem to be willfully ignorant. The 10% threshold intentionally exists to stifle minority representation. THAT IS OPPRESSION.
Armenia treats its tiny Jewish minority way better than Turkey treats one-fifth of its population, the Kurds. Armenia has never carpet-bombed any minority villages.
Please get the message: if Turkey wants to build its country on the lands of indigenous peoples, especially such a large one like Kurds, then it has to accomodate these indigenous peoples when they become “minorities” in the new country.
Mersi Alex jan.. likewise..
It seems there is a balance between the hard core reality and the sugar coated reality among Turks.. i don’t get it.. i mean how can one govt just make her citizens such zombies? how can they accomplish this? i just can’t imagine it…