SloMax

Kurd Rebels in Iraq Vow to Keep Up Fight

By YAHYA BARZANJI, Associated Press Writer

KHUNERA, Iraq - In the jagged mountains here along the Iranian border, a leader of the Kurdish rebels who have been battling Turkish soldiers for two decades vowed to keep up his fight until Turkey agrees to open a dialogue with militants.

But it is a call that Turkey refuses, saying all the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, must surrender or die. Recently, the fighting has intensified.

Since May, 30 soldiers and 24 rebels have been killed as the rebels stepped up attacks, concentrating more on bombings than direct assaults. On Sunday, a bomb planted by a rebel splinter group injured 18 Turks and three tourists in Cesme, a popular Turkish resort.

Both sides are looking to Washington to help create a solution to a two-decade fight that has left some 37,000 people dead and parts of southeastern Turkey in ruins.

Turkish generals say the United States, which controls Iraq, must do more to stop rebels from crossing the border and carrying out attacks.

Murat Karayilan, the military leader of the PKK, says that Washington, which is pressing for more democracy in the Middle East, must allow the Kurds a voice and vows to keep fighting on.

"We seek peace, but Turkey seeks war and wants our surrender," he said in an interview with The Associated Press "It wants to get rid of us entirely. The Kurds' resistance will continue."

He also said that the rebels, who were once fighting for a Marxist Kurdish state in the southeast of Turkey, now want to be part of a democracy.

"We want to live in a democratic way and establish a democratic Kurdish movement while giving up extremist socialist ideas," Karayilan said. "We also notice a change in American policies, which now support democratic governments. America came to change the Middle East, and Kurds have a great role in this matter."

Turkish officials have dismissed that claim as a mere change in tactics by the group, which the Turkish government and the United States consider a terrorist organization.

Turkish land forces commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit recently rebuffed a suggestion that the army end its offensive against the rebels.

"In Turkey, no one in their right mind could say yes" to that request, the Cumhuriyet newspaper quoted Gen. Yasar Buyukanit as saying last month. "Our struggle against terrorism is continuing and will continue."

Turkey considers all of its Muslim citizens to be Turks and has rejected Kurdish aspirations as an attempt to break apart the country. It was illegal in Turkey to speak Kurdish until 1991, and broadcasting in Kurdish only began in 2004.

Statements from the rebels are rarely printed in Turkey, where such comments could be considered as aiding a terrorist organization, and rights activists have been jailed for saying that there should be a negotiated solution to the fighting in the southeast.

The PKK announced a unilateral cease-fire in 1999 shortly after its leader Abdullah Ocalan was captured but annulled it in 2004, saying that Turkey had not responded.

During a recent visit, Kurdish fighters escorted a journalist along a curvy, five-hour nighttime route to meet Karayilan. The visit included a stop at the PKK's "Martyr's Cemetery," which contains the graves of 25 fighters killed in battle and a large picture of Ocalan.

"We no longer believe only in armed struggle as we did in the past," Karayilan said. "Today we believe in the diplomatic and political struggle in order to obtain our legitimate rights."

The presence of an estimated 3,500 PKK fighters in Iraq, which effectively remains under U.S. control more than two years after the U.S.-led invasion, complicates American efforts to rebuild this country after decades of dictatorship, war and the ongoing insurgency. There are believed to be some 2,000 PKK fighters in Turkey.

Confident of the safety of their mountain redoubt, the PKK fighters appeared to enjoy good relations with local villagers and Iraqi arms merchants who sell them weapons. As a concession to Iraqi sensitivities, however, PKK fighters routinely move about only at night.

"We want to solve the problem through dialogue," Karayilan said. "But if they attack us, we will defend ourselves."

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050712/...kurdish_rebels

This spells a lot of troble for young Iraqi government and the US.

SloMax

Well they did what they promised...
But that is not the right way... !

PKK 'behind' Turkey resort bomb

Turkish authorities believe Kurdish PKK separatists planted Saturday's bomb on a tourist bus, said the UK ambassador after visiting the injured in hospital.

"They are virtually certain this is the PKK, which is a Kurdish guerrilla group terrorist organisation," Sir Peter Westmacott told the BBC.

But he added that the situation was far from clear - and urged people not to be deterred from visiting Turkey.

Five people, including one British and one Irish woman, were killed.

At least 13 others were injured, including five Britons.

Sir Peter told the BBC two of the Britons remained in a serious condition.

The PKK, considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, has been staging a violent campaign against the Turkish government for an independent Kurdish state since 1978.

More than 37,000 people have been killed in the campaign.

The rebels declared a unilateral truce in 1999, but ended it in 2004, saying Turkey had not done enough to meet their demands.

'Repugnant act'

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday's blast, which Turkish officials suspect may have been caused by a parcel bomb, not a suicide bomber as first believed.

Although the Turkish authorities were quick to the bombing a terrorist incident they have not speculated on who might have been behind it.

The British woman died of her injuries after having been taken on to the nearest city, Izmir - 90km (56 miles) away - for medical treatment, along with the other wounded Britons.

UK tour operator Thomas Cook has confirmed that two of those killed in the attack and the five injured Britons were their customers.

"One guest was travelling with Thomas Cook Tour Operations, and the other with Thomas Cook UK & Ireland's subsidiary company, Sunworld Ireland," company spokeswoman Faith Wooton said of the dead holidaymakers.

"Thomas Cook's first priority is the welfare of its customers, and the company's overseas team is on hand to support the injured guests and their families," she added.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern have condemned the attack, while UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called it a "repugnant act".

But the UK ambassador told the BBC the feeling among many holiday-makers in Turkey as well as among the Turkish locals was that "life must go on" - similar to the response to the London bombs.

The minibus blast came six days after a bombing in the nearby town of Cesme, which left at least 20 people injured.

Kurdish militants claimed responsibility for that attack, as well as one in Kusadasi in April, in which one policeman was killed and four other people were wounded.

Militants both from the far left and from Islamist circles have carried out bombings in Turkey in the past, as have Kurdish rebels.

link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4690181.stm

SloMax

Turkish response, but not very good one because this will hurt their bid to join the EU.

Turkey's Kurdish Language Schools to Close

By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey - The directors of Turkey's eight privately owned Kurdish language schools announced Monday they were closing them due to bureaucratic hurdles and Kurdish demands for the language to be part of the regular school curriculum.

Turkey, working toward membership in the European Union, changed its laws in 2002 to allow limited Kurdish classes as part of reforms demanded by the EU, which is pressuring Turkey to grant greater cultural rights to Kurds.

The change was a major step for Turkey, where until 1991 it was illegal even to speak Kurdish.

The Kurdish language schools opened in 2004. Although welcomed by many Kurds as a first step toward language education, the schools have also been criticized by those who see them as products of a halfhearted government attempt to improve Kurdish rights and win EU approval.

Critics say the classes are too expensive for many Kurds. Some are calling on the government to allow Kurdish language classes in state schools.

"We took this decision because of ...the request for education in the mother tongue at schools," said Suleyman Yilmaz, director of the course in Diyarbakir.

"The Kurdish people do not want to learn their mother tongue the way we teach it, but want education in their mother tongue," Yilmaz said.

He said that while it takes two or three months for most private schools to obtain government permits, it can take up to 18 months for the government to grant permits for Kurdish language schools.

He spoke on behalf of seven directors of private Kurdish language schools and one who is still waiting for a government permit to open a school in Agri province in eastern Turkey.

Turkey is to begin EU membership negotiations in three months, and closure of the schools was seen as a move to pressure the government to take bolder steps toward Kurdish language rights.

The EU has called on Turkey to press ahead with reform and has warned that any backtracking on democracy or human rights could lead to a halt in the negotiating process.

Nazmi Gur, vice chairman of the pro-Kurdish DEHAP political party, said his party first welcomed the opening of Kurdish language schools "because they broke a taboo in Turkey."

"But it is an insult to Kurds to expect them to pay to learn their own language," he said, adding that Kurdish should be taught in schools alongside Turkish.

Officials from the Turkish Culture Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.

Turkish nationalists have long opposed increased cultural rights for the country's estimated 12 million Kurds, fearing that would embolden separatists. Turkish soldiers have battled Kurdish guerrillas in the southeast since 1984, a conflict that has left 37,000 dead. There has been a recent surge in violence.

link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050801/...rdish_language

SloMax

Syrian Kurds clash with police

Violent clashes between Syrian Kurds and police have erupted in the northern town of Ein al-Arab, according to a human rights organisation.

The Arab Organisation for Human Rights in Syria said rioting broke out after Kurds were prevented from showing their support for a banned separatist group.

Cars were damaged and stones thrown at police who responded by firing tear gas and making a number of arrests.

The Kurds are supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

A statement from the rights group condemned the violence of both sides, stressed the importance of national unity and urged self-restraint.

There was no response from the Syrian government, which rarely comments on security issues.

Conflict

There are more than 1.5 million Kurds in Syria, who often complain of harassment by the security services.

In June, a popular Kurdish cleric was found dead in eastern Syria. Many Kurds blamed the government for his death.

Last year, five days of riots in Kurdish areas left 25 people dead and hundreds injured. They were sparked by a brawl at a football match in the northern town of Qameshli between rival Arab and Kurdish fans.

For 15 years, the PKK fought the Turkish state in a conflict which claimed more than 30,000 lives.

In recent years, the Syrian authorities have clamped down on the group as relations with Turkey have improved. It was outlawed in Syria in 1998.

link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4156226.stm

It's true that they were oppressed for decades, but now they are starting trouble in all neighboring countries. More instability for the Middle East.

thales

There are over 20 million "Kurds" in the world, yet what constitutes a Kurd? These are people who live inside nations and who are citizens. Theyre all just separatists who have come together and allied themselves with the united states and done most of their dirty work during the iraqi war. İf it wasnt for that, the "Kurdish problem" would have never been so overblown in the media. And its also obvious that the american government is supplying them with munitions and using iraqi suppliers as a ploy.

İ dont see how Turkey could be so blind as to go to America for help in such an issue. Why are they seeking to have their hands held? Who do they think that the United States will side with; a) people who cringed to help us through the war, but were forced to because of massive debt or b) Kurdish volunteers who risked their lives to get on the good side of the US.

İ think Turkey and Syria both need a wake up call, Kurdish people are a war-like society, theyre extremely poor but well connected both inside those 2 aformentioned nations and with America. İf Turkey doesnt understand this, then theyll quite likely see their borders divided soon.

Shek

You should visit Iraq above the green line and then make your comments about how poor the Kurdish people are. The "Kurdistan" economy is booming and the standard of living is much higher for the Kurds in Iraq vs. the rest of Iraqis. And that's with only a fraction of reconstruction aid going to Kurdistan, so don't try to argue that it's all American $$ that are propping up the Kurdish economy.

SloMax

I don’t share your view of Kurds as a war-like society. They were prosecuted throughout centuries and this made them good in handling suppression and taking advantages of situations. Also they have a big wish to have their own state (Kurdistan) that never materialized and they know all nations neighboring them would try to destroy their dream. They have the right to their freedom (even inside another country).
On the issue of America I think you are not realistic. Kurd only fought alongside US special and airborne forces. The Kurd could never defeat Sadams troops in the northern Iraq and Kurds were never in combat South so they only did a little “dirty work” compared to the US forces. US did supply them with weapons before Iraq War but now it’s stopped.
Turks and Syrians and the world community would never allow drawing of new borders in the region. Turkey would fight to the end and they are a regional superpower.
The best thing for all is Kurdish autonomy (federalism) in regions in which they represent the majority of population.

snc128

my views on Kurds and and related topics:
Kurds are usually, when talking about Turkish Kurds (the term Turkish Kurd is not a dilemma since the concept of Turk[ish] is widely used for the ppl who lives in Turkey), ppl from south east of Turkey. actually there are small minorities of Kurds in Iraq,Iran and Syria;however,the Kurds in Turkey are one of the main founders of the Republic of Turkey as well as Turks. However,to tell the truth,the existing problem is not a Kurdish problem but a terrorism problem.( It resembles Palestinian conflict when the Palis tried it to broaden for all muslims as if it is the problems of all muslims. Their problem is not my problem because they are muslim, but I am against all kinds of atrocity,and oppression.)
To be honest, as I said earlier,there is not a specific problem that contains all Kurds but a South East region problem . I am talking about social problems due to illiteracy and similar problems ; economical problems that basicly result from deficiency of investment to that region.there are Kurds, Turks, Arabs , Syriacs and many others who had suffered form the situation that used to take place in that region. But yes, there is a problem and no solution yet,but it is notKurdish problem,it is South east problem which results from both by terrorist s(main reason) and by most of the ex governments.

__________________
Peace at home, peace in the world

LetsTalk

Correct!

Personally I think much of this will be improved/resolved when and if Turkey joins the EU.

Zemco

So? Turkey can join the future Eastern European Union founded by Russia.

Kansas Bear

The Republic of Turkey has a strange way of showing its appreciation...

Article 3 of the constitution declares Turkish to be the official language, while
Article 42.9: Aside from Turkish, no other language shall be studied by or taught to Turkish citizens as a mother tongue in any language, teaching, or learning institution.


By 1930, publishing in languages other than Turkish was prohibited by an act of parliament that was heralded under the slogan of “Citizen, Speak Turkish!” (Vatandas, Türkçe Konus!). The Kurdish names of towns and villages in southeastern Turkey were also changed to Turkish.

Ucar

During the process of nation and identity building, Turkish decision makers unfortunately planted seeds that would crack the fabric of the society in years to come. Nowadays we are forced to bear the results of such ill-advised thinking.

"Normality" as defined by a common Westerner, defines "abnormality" and "a threat to the nation and its people" for Turkish decision makers and public in general.