1 October 2001

1. "Anti-war activists arrested at Istanbul protest", Turkish police on Saturday arrested some 50 people who were trying to hold a protest against plans for a military response to terror attacks in the United States, the Anatolia news agency said.

2. "Analysts concern over possible authoritarian processes in Turkey", when the state of war, which appeared after the terror attacks on the United States, brought concern about national security into focus, democracy and human rights issues took a new turn.

3. "An Adjoined Partnership?", a special relationship between Turkey and de facto Kurdish administration should develop into a real partnership.

4. "Europe in trial", Murat Karayilan, member of PKK Council of Leaders, asked for EHRC to blaze a trail on the Kurdish problem. Evaluating the Case of the Century in EHRC, Murat Karayilan emphasized that peace and democracy line should dominate.

5. "Birand: northern Iraq could be left up to Turkey's control", Turkey's Iraq policy has changed!

6. "Iran parliament rejects collective resignation of Kurdish MPs", Iran's reform-majority parliament has refused to accept the resignation of six members representing the nation's Kurdish minority in parliament, the state IRNA news agency reported Sunday.


1. - AFP - "Anti-war activists arrested at Istanbul protest":

ISTANBUL

Turkish police on Saturday arrested some 50 people who were trying to hold a protest against plans for a military response to terror attacks in the United States, the Anatolia news agency said.

The protesters gathered in the Bakirkoy, on the European side of the city, under a banner reading "Anti-war platform", before police arrested them and took them away, the agency said. Among slogans shouted by the group, which contained members of several non-governmental organizations, were "No to war" and "Curses upon American imperialism." Those arrested included the head of the Istanbul branch of the Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD), the lawyer Eren Keskin, the report said.

A top official in the city's security service, Turan Tuna, was quoted as saying that the demonstrators were arrested because their demands "had no basis in law," and were critical of government policy. Turkey, which is a NATO member, has offered help for any US-led military action against those considered responsible for the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.


2. - Turkish Daily News - "Analysts concern over possible authoritarian processes in Turkey":

ISTANBUL

When the state of war, which appeared after the terror attacks on the United States, brought concern about national security into focus, democracy and human rights issues took a new turn. While it has been discussed whether the measures, which many countries will take against terrorism, are against human rights, Turkey began to hesitate about democratic reforms such as the abolition of the death sentence that it had undertaken to implement.

Despite having undertaken in the framework of the National Program presented to the European Union (EU) that it would take steps to lift death sentence, to increase the civilian members of the National Security Council (MGK), to redefine terrorist crimes and to make more difficult the closure of political parties, Turkey no longer appears very willing to go forward. This attitude is reflected in the constitutional amendment package on which parties came to an agreement. While it is estimated in Article 37 of the constitutional amendment package the death sentence will continue to be meted out for crimes of terror, the area of terrorist activity has not been narrowed as expected.

A new process

While the constitutional amendment package, which is currently under discussion at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), did not satisfy many jurists, including Supreme Court Chairman Sami Selcuk, and civic organizations, political observers claimed that Turkey would enter a more repressive and authoritarian period.

Stating that a new period would start in the United States after the terror attack, Prof. Mahir Kaynak said democracy and U.S. values would loose some of their former significance and security issues would become more urgent. Recalling that this process would be reflected in Turkey, Kaynak said Security will come to the fore in Turkey. The military and economy will be reestablished in the U.S., which will create military and economic strongholds in the world. One of these centers will be Turkey. The U.S. will play a more direct role in Turkey. There will be investments, most of all in the finance sector. Turkey will be a regional -- but not a strategic -- power. Since it will sever its ties from the EU during this process, more authoritarian and repressive administrations will appear.

Factor of Islam

Stating that the shadow state in Turkey gave importance to cooperation with the U.S. since it was aware of the importance of this country for Turkey, Kaynak said Turkey's Islamic identity would gain precedence. Noting the February 28 process, which bolstered the secular state, was based on the assumption of a strong Turkey and Israel, Kaynak said the opposition may become louder in the coming days.

Kaynak summarized the new process as follows: Some circles in the U.S. claimed that the February 28 process would cause difficulties in Turkey and cut it off from the Islamic world. The current Bush government has the same worries. During the new process Islamist circles in Turkey will receive less pressure and get more freedom. The Bush government keeps its distance from Israel, it gives importance to a Turkish-Jewish alliance rather than Israeli cooperation.

Old ghosts

Social Problems Research Center (TOSAM) Chairman Prof. Dogu Ergil noted that two feelings, which were the world just watched terror in Turkey for years. But everyone reacts when it happens to someone else. It serves them! and Our geopolitical location was important.

Recalling that political and legal standards in Turkey should be brought to the level of developed democracy, the judicial system should be impartial and the causes of terrorism should be abolished to have a just case in fighting against terrorism, Ergil said Then terrorism becomes a criminal event without cause. Otherwise it is impossible for the world to cooperate with Turkey against terrorism. You cannot abolish terrorism by killing people since the radical terrorist is willing to kill himself.

Opportunity for reactionaries

Noting that some groups in Turkey, who took advantage of the current regime, found a new chance to bolster their privileged status, Ergil said keeping the death sentence on the pretext of fighting terrorism would do Turkey more ill than good. Recalling that many countries did not extradite criminals to Turkey because of the death sentence, Ergil said the following: Those who want to benefit from the current state of affairs can cause Turkey to make concessions with regard to lifting the death sentence and amending the counterterrorism law. They may succeed in the short term. Turkey should develop its democracy in the long term. Otherwise its EU membership will be a dream.

Eurasia Strategic Research Center Chairman Prof. Umit Ozdag claimed that Turkey did not take a lesson from the latest terrorist attacks. Stating that the constitutional amendment package was inadequate, Ozdag said there were still 6,000 PKK members in Northern Iraq despite claims that terror was over. Noting that Turkey tried to adapt its laws to EU standards in disregard of this fact, Ozday said society would pay the cost.

Period of security

Higher Strategy Center Chairman Can Fuat Gurlesel recalled that the new process might cause Turkey to circumscribe liberties. Stating that the steps that Turkey may take to fight terror would have negative repercussions on human rights and freedoms, Gurlesel said a total turnabout will not come into question but those, who say that democratization will increase terror, might get more power by fixing on the latest terrorist attack. Probably there will be a similar process in the world.

Stating that the U.S. would define the concepts of national and international security in a new way, Gurlesel said the U.S. might need Turkey in its bid to create a new world order.


3. - Turkish Daily News - "An Adjoined Partnership?":

By Hussain Sinjari

A special relationship between Turkey and de facto Kurdish administration should develop into a real partnership. Turkey like Iraqi Kurds have suffered a lot because of the despotic authority in Baghdad, which caused many wars, and allow no opportunity for political reform and democratic change. Iraqi government by its defiant attitude is incapable of any kind of integration. Iraqi people, Arabs, Kurds, Turkomen, Assyro-Chaldeans, but also Turkey continue to suffer the consequences of international sanctions.

Baghdad's dangerous chemical, biological and nuclear programs according to many reliable sources are still on the agenda. The possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is not only dangerous for the neighbors of Iraq but it is firstly dangerous for the local population. Today serious research works show that Iraq's campaign with chemical weapons in the North has led to cancer and birth abnormalities and other reproductive problems among Iraqi Kurds. Who wants a poisonous snake as a neighbor.

Kurdish Predicament:

When today's Iraq became a state in the last century, the Kurdish North was annexed to it against the will of the people. There were many Kurdish revolts protesting this annexation. Armed movements continued demanding Kurdish rights. Successive Iraqi governments used extensive force not only against the rebels but also the population at large.

During the First Gulf War the Iraqi army destroyed 4000 Kurdish communities. Nearly 25% of the population including Kurds, Turkomen and Assyro-Chaldeans was forcefully displaced. More than 180.000 Kurdish men disappeared in military operations code-named "Anfal". Chemical and biological weapons were used on large scale.

In the aftermath of the Second Gulf War and as a consequence of the massive and tragic exodus of Iraqi Kurds and Turkomen into Turkey and Iran, the Safe Haven was created by the Coalition Forces. In October 1991, the Iraqi Government withdrew all governmental departments from the area as to deprive the population from all kinds of services, in a time those services were most needed, after their painful return of the people to their towns and villages. The Iraqi Government also imposed an internal embargo, disconnecting Iraqi Kurdistan from the national electricity network and has taken a few other measures to block the supply of the necessary heating and cooking fuels with other vital items. It believed the area would collapse and fall into a state of chaos. Yet the Kurdish political parties, aware of the consequences of the absence of an administration quickly, decided to call for general elections so that an elected parliament and government takes over.

In May 1992, the day of the elections, people turned in a huge number. Thanks to the republic of Turkey, which allowed entry visas to many international observers and journalists, the elections were monitored. For the first time in their life people voted for their representatives according to their tastes and beliefs. Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Masud Barzani got 51% of the votes. But, the political leaders reached a consensus among themselves to share power 50-50. between the KDP and the Patriotic Union Of Kurdistan (PUK) of Jalal Talabani.

That arrangement proved to be wrong. A fledgling democracy was established with all claiming leadership. For a democracy to be truly functioning, the lesson learned, is that there should have been the loser party as opposition. This would have promoted liberal critical press and independent trade unions with lively political debate in the parliament as well as reforms to accumulate.

Lust for power and quarrels about tax revenues encouraged rivalries and caused fratricidal fighting. Thanks to many mediations including Turkish ones but especially the pressure from within the population both parties, KDP and PUK, now agreed to stop this suicidal in fight. Still Kurdistan has two separately administrated areas: Suleymania Province bordering Iran, is controlled by the PUK, while Erbil and Dohuk Provinces bordering Iran and Syria but mainly Turkey, is controlled by KDP. The time has come for one leader to concede to the other. The outcome of the elections of 1992 is still valid.

Accumulation of Democratic Reforms:

Many villages are rebuilt now and farming land is fertile again. There is law and order. Both Kurdish administrations, compared to Baghdad, are making better use from the region's 13% share from Oil for Food Program. On 26th of May 2001, municipal elections were carried out for the first time in Iraq after 60 years. Turkish satellite TV stations are very popular in the area and not only by the Turkomen.

Digital satellite TVs are widespread and popular among the population. Access to the internet is available and growing fast. All sorts of newspapers and books are available including the Ba'ath ones published in Baghdad. Cultural and ethnic centers are growing.

People in Kurdistan enjoy freedoms, which are not imaginable in the parts of Iraq under the regime. Political parties have their own newspapers and publications or even radio and TV stations. Religious and ethnic minorities like Turkomen, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Yezidies have their own political parties or social and cultural associations and schools. Women rights are flourishing. Independent NGOs are immerging. People are not anymore afraid of expressing their political views and enjoy freedom of information for the first time in Iraq. Kurdistan, with its democratic freedoms, pluralistic and secular system looks more like Turkey than Iraq.

Insecurity:

Meanwhile democratic reforms are accumulating in Iraqi Kurdistan, yet people do not feel safe. Insecurity is a dark cloud hanging over the heads of the population. Iraqi Kurdistan has no political legal status. No-Fly-Zone is not deterrent against Iraqi army ground troops, which may move any time, anywhere further North. Iraqi Intelligence continues to send explosive to Kurdish towns and districts. Recently KDP leadership openly accused Iraqi Government for planting bombs in Erbil, Zakho and Duhok. Deportation of Kurds and Turkomen is taking place almost every day unless these unfortunate people "Change Nationality" that is to 'become' Arabs. Iraqi officials continue to openly threaten Kurds, Chaldeans, Turkomen, Assyrians and Yezidies not to associate with foreigners that means those who work for the UN humanitarian programs in Kurdistan.

Last year, Iraqi Army massed tanks, artillery and ground troops and actually opened fire aiming to cease Ba'adree, a Yezidy district near Duhok, where the most sacred Yezidy temple is. Iraqi army was forced to retreat, thanks to the determined courage of the Yezidies and their Prince Kameran, who fought back. Villages and communities in Kurdistan, close to the Iraqi Army bases in Duhok, Erbil and Suleymania provinces, are continuously attacked by artillery shells. Military advances as recent as 5-6 September 2001, where Iraqi army bombed Kurdish and Turkomen communities in Kifri Area. Farmers along the borders in all of those provinces are not able to cultivate their agricultural lands for the last ten years.

Unemployment but above all insecurity and fear of come back of totalitarian authority of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party makes people shiver and thousands of young people to flee the country illegally seeking asylum anywhere available in the world.

Iraq keeps threatening the northern population. Last week Babel's newspaper has published an editorial stating openly: "The Great Iraq of Saddam's will retake the North while the US is engaged with Afganistan." This threat does not concern the North only but it is also threatening Turkish security.

Turkey and the North must now prepare themselves for a common policy. The Northern Kurds no longer impeded by lies and evils of nationalism are awakened now and are aware how their interest are best represented and defended. Their great Turkish neighbor must now come forward and offer assistance, based on suspicion-free mutual interest partnership. This partnership must serve both sides, which demands equally from Turkey a change in attitudes. Nationalistic policies must give way to a new thinking based on tolerance and acceptance of others.
A partnership as such will not be successful unless Kurdish rights are respected and recognized. The negative lesson learned from Baghdad with its culture of defiance, arrogance, ignorance, and zero compromise is an open book for all of us.
Turkey should understand the aspiration of the Kurds so that to facilitate this change to happen.

Hussain Sinjari: former Kurdish Minister. President of Iraq Institute for Reform and Democratic Culture, Erbil, Iraq.


4. - Kurdish Observer - "Europe in trial":

Murat Karayilan, member of PKK Council of Leaders, asked for EHRC to blaze a trail on the Kurdish problem. Evaluating the Case of the Century in EHRC, Murat Karayilan emphasized that peace and democracy line should dominate.

CEMAL UCAR

Murat Karayilan, member of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) Council of Leaders, stated that they expect from the case of PKK President Abdullah Ocalan in European Human Rights Court (EHRC), which began on September 28, a friendly solution for the Kurdish problem. Replying our questions about the EHRC case, Karayilan said, "This case is a national case rather than an individual one." Karayilan stressed that the Kurdish people faces with a policy of denial and this policy should be tried. Karayilan reminded that within the last 30 years a practice of massacre and state terrorism have been developed, continuing with words to the effect: "We do not think there will be a fair and healthy trial without seeing it and putting it before the court. What is experienced in Kurdistan is a war. The Kurdish people has resisted in the name of its humanity, struggled for its humanity in an atmosphere of impossibilities against repression of the colonialist military forces, devastation of everything it has as well as its mother tongue and culture. Its leadership cannot be tried alone. If EHRC approaches the problem really within the norms of law, if it takes the justice as its basis, it should see the problem within this framework."

A new court

Murat Karayilan asked for EHRC to study the roots of the problem and consider the trials in Imrali invalid, continuing to say the following: "If EHRC rules a retrial, if it rules out that both sides of the war should be tried, a process of solution may develop. We know that EHRC is not a platform which solves the national problems. Rather it judges the human rights violations and makes decisions. But in Kurdistan wherever you go there are human rights violations and injustice. Because a people is denied altogether and on it there waged a war of annihilation. For this reason the court should be involved, like it or not."

Adding the international conspiracy to the injustice in Kurdistan, Karayilan said, "The real face of the conspiracy should be brought into the open and unjust, wrong policies of denial and annihilation against the Kurdish people should be tried. Therefore both sides of the war should be tried."

"We are open to be tried"

In case that both sides are tried, they are open to this, Karayilan continued as follows: "We expect to change the court into a platform for free unity and democratic solution. It will be a rule useful to both of the people. If the problem is left without a solution, it will mean making way for the war. EHRC should not assume such an evil consequence. It should decide on the solution of the Kurdish problem. Such a decision may change into a platform for a solution. A war has been waged. We had our faults in the war too. For example in 1988-89 there were mistakes because of effects of the "gang of four". We are ready to give account for this. But there is also fact that the other side has burnt 4 thousand villages, slaughtered ten thousands of civilian people. There was an intensive state terrorism. We want them be tried too. Who commits this war crime? It should be put forth. The court should open the way for a friendly solution, a democratic solution."

"The people should claim it"

Calling out to the Kurdish people, Karayilan gave the following message: "Our people should follow this case, should claim the case by its political actions. The case of President Apo is the case of the people. Even as a solution there will affect the Middle East, it is a solution process of the Middle Eastern countries. We cannot leave the case to the initiative of other people. Our people should claim it by its thought and participation, by its political-democratic actions, by crying its democratic will."

The order of law

Criticizing the approach of the European states towards Kurds harshly, Karayilan asked for this point of view not to be reflected to the court. Karayilan stated, "If the order of law, freedom of the peoples and democracy are considered the most sacred values of all humanity, let's then not stain the law by dirty interests, keep it unaffected and untouched. The European law faces a trial."


5. - Hurriyet - "Birand: northern Iraq could be left up to Turkey's control":

Turkey's Iraq policy has changed!

Opinion by Mehmet Ali Birand

The U.S. administration is extremely pleased with the changes Turkey has made to its policy vis-a-vis Iraq. Iraq is going to occupy pride of place in Ismail Cem's meetings today. This is because it will soon be Iraq's turn and Turkey forms the most important link in the chain.

While you are reading this, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will be talking with senior
officials in the Bush administration. As well as meeting Secretary of State Powell, he will also meet Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and National Security Council head Rice. If he can spare the time, President Bush will open the door and speak with Ismail Cem while he is meeting Rice. He will shake his hand, pat him on the back and pose for a photo opportunity.

Ismail Cem is here to wave the Turkish flag. Contrary to what is expected, Turkey is neither going to be "sold out" or have its independence destroyed. I listened to those looking at Turkey from here and drew the following conclusions:

"Turkey has a really poor image in the American press. The movie Midnight Express is still very much alive. However, when it comes to the official authorities he situation is very different. For the U.S. administration Turkey is a country that keeps its promises and positively meets America's needs after Britain and Israel." The last attack has changed all the balances. Turkey seems to be one of the staunchest allies.

Iraq the most important factor

For those playing politics in Washington, Iraq is going to be next after Afghanistan. Saddam Hussein will be destroyed one way or another. The Bush administration is certain of this. What will Turkey do then?

The general impression in Washington is that Turkey has altered its basic policy. The speech made by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on CNN International is being seen as an example of this. It is believed that should the United States go up against Iraq, then Turkey will back it up to the hilt.

Up until a short time ago, Turkey (especially Prime Minister Ecevit) was opposed to any attack on Iraq or the elimination of Saddam Hussein. The message that Turkey has dispelled its reservations following this attack has been well received in Washington. It is being said that should this position continue and should there be an attack on Iraq, then the whole of northern Iraq could be left up to Turkey's control.

It seems certain now that the Bush administration is not going to give Saddam any peace. It also seems certain that once the Taliban in Afghanistan has been dealt with, it will then be Iraq's turn.

As for Iran and Syria; they have been put on the list of those countries wishing to bury the hatchet with the United States. It is believed that Iran will be saved from its pariah status and will rejoin the international community in the period ahead. Turkey's position will undergo major change.

Provided Ankara can get itself well organized, it may be able to preserve its long-term interests. This is why Ismail Cem's trip to Washington is of paramount importance.


6. - AFP - "Iran parliament rejects collective resignation of Kurdish MPs":

TEHRAN

Iran's reform-majority parliament has refused to accept the resignation of six members representing the nation's Kurdish minority in parliament, the state IRNA news agency reported Sunday.

It said the six MPs announced their resignation in a letter to parliament speaker Mehdi Karubi because "the government has not taken their opinion on the election of a governor for the Kurdistan province" in northwestern Iran into consideration. The six men handed in their resignations Thursday after a new governor to the Kurdistan province was designated without prior consultation with them, IRNA said, adding that Karubi rejected them as "unacceptable." "According to the chamber's regulations, we do not accept collective resignations. Your resignations have not been accepted," Mohammad-Reza Khatami, deputy speaker of the chamber and President Mohammad Khatami's brother said Sunday.

"But they can resign one by one," he added. Sunni Kurdish MPs have frequently accused the Islamic state of ignoring their rights. Reformist Kurdish MP Jalal Jalalizadeh in November alleged in parliament a campaign of repression and serial killings against the six-million-strong Kurdish minority in Iran. This included prohibition of religious freedom for the Sunni Muslim Kurds, in a country that has a Shiite Muslim majority, he said.

Although Shiite Islam has been the state religion since the 17th century, the Sunnis account for about eight million of Iran's roughly 65 million people. Iran's Democratic Kurdistan Party was officially banned following the 1979 Islamic revolution which toppled the shah and brought the Shiite clergy to power, and the party's leader was assassinated in Vienna in 1989.

Different Kurdish factions rebelled against the clergy after the revolution, prompting Islamic Iran's founder, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to put the revolt down by force.