Posted on 12/25/2004 8:51:11 PM PST by chava
The EU has negated its democratic principles in considering Turkey`s candidacy 25/12/2004 The Kurdistan Democratic Alliance Press release - 24 December 2004
Kurdistan Democratic Alliance, as a Kurdistan-wide organisation, eagerly followed the recent process about Turkey’s candidacy to the EU membership. While many European governments took a position based mainly on economic gains and losses, the basic human rights of the Kurds, Armenians and Assyrio-Chaldeans were again marginalised and ignored in the process of considering Turkey’s candidacy.
As Kurds, our main concern is about the systematic annihilation of the existence of our people in northern Kurdistan (currently within borders of Turkey) and Turkey from 1923 to the current day. Turkey’s policy against our people has varied greatly in its intensity with periods of relative calmness followed by either selective or mass killings. For many historians, the ideology of the Turkish state is ultra-nationalistic and has led to crimes and genocide against our people and minorities in Turkey. When the "physical liquidation" in certain phases of the process was stopped temporarily, "cultural genocide" - which manifests itself in the destruction of the Kurdish language and culture and Kurdish villages and towns - continued and has never lost its vigour. Rural Kurdistan was almost entirely destroyed by the end of 1999. Several million Kurds displaced to the main cities in Turkey such as Istanbul. Since then few cosmetic reforms by the Turkish state to appease Europe cannot deceive Kurdish people. Most Kurds are not naïve; they recognise that such legislative reforms have no practical use.
However, over 20 million Kurds in northern Kurdistan and Turkey have been deprived of their basic human rights such as their identity, culture and education in their own language. Yet, the EU did not emphasise the Kurdish question. The European Union’s ignorance of the plight of Kurds during its recent deal with Turkey in Brussels is not consistence what the free world is striving for. Many European politicians, whose nations have pretentiously championed the Human Rights, democracy and justice, has often acted hypocritical regarding the issues of the 20 million Kurds of northern Kurdistan (Turkey). They often praised Turkey for its "secularism" and "democracy" while witnessing systematic discrimination against anything Kurdish, Kurdistani or non-Turkish. The EU’s position seems to be a moral decay for a block that once was a champion for human rights and democracy.
The EU reposition on the Kurdish question during its negotiations with Turkey on 16 and 17 December 2004, was a great disappointment for the Kurdish people. This should make the Kurds rethink their position in world politics on the international stage. The Kurds need to revise their strategies when seeking real friends in Europe, USA and other parts of the world. We expect the free world to adhere to its principles and demand a true reform from Turkey.
Kurdistan Democratic Alliance 23 December 2004
Contacts:
Dr Rebwar Fatah – UK: rebwar@ikurd.com Mr Ayoub Barzani – Europe: shilo@infomaniak.ch Dr Hussein Tahiri – Australia: tahiri@ikurd.com Dr Rashid Karadaghi – North America: Karadaghi@aol.com Dr Kamal Artin – North America: kamalartin@yahoo.com
The nature of the Kurdistan Democratic Alliance
The Kurdistan Democratic Alliance is an alliance of Kurdish individuals and political, social and cultural organizations who seek a peaceful solution to Kurdish grievances through a non-violent political campaign.
The Alliance is vital for both the Kurds and also for the international community, as there currently exists no other organization that works toward the Alliance’s objectives. The Alliance will support and work with any organization that contributes to achieving any of the Alliance’s objectives, and will attempt to build constructive partnerships with them.
The Alliance is distinct from other Kurdish organizations in that its primary focus is the promotion and development of the social, political, economic and cultural life of Kurds. It intends to achieve Kurdish aspirations through a non-violent campaign and it rejects any use of violence to achieve one’s aims.
This brings the Alliance into the international arena as it strives to achieve its objectives through a non-violent political campaign. The Alliance shall embrace democracy within its own ranks and within a future Kurdistan parliament and government, in order to reinforce democratic principles and contribute to the wellbeing of the international community. The Alliance wishes to be a proactive partner in condemning terror anywhere in the world and in building a prosperous world for all mankind.
EUarabia, anyone?
Where is tihis Kurdistan they're talking about? Do you guys actually believe a word of this? Since when has this forum been a place to post declarations from terrorist organizations?
Which terrorist organization are you talking about?
PKK/KADEK the international terrorist organization with which these nutcases are all affiliated with.
Check the article again. It was not written by PKK/KADEK/KGK or HPG, neither are any of the men who wrote it, the founders of the Kurdistan Democratic Alliance, in any way related to PKK/KADEK/KGK or HPG.
If criticism of Turkey's atrocious treatment of Kurds constitutes membership in PKK/KADEK/KGK or HPG, then the US State Department is also a member of this terrorist organization. Check their human rights reports on Turkey for the proof of this.
It is fair to say that conditions a tough and people could be treated better, government services can be given more effectively (e.g. the civil servants in the area are there becuase either they've done something wrong in other regions of the country and hance have been exiled to a deprivation region or are on what is called a compulsory service out of obligation and not choice) etc. but to refer to Turkey's treatment of its people as attrocious is downright absurd. Kurds are not a minority, they are an integral part of the Turkish nation as are the 30 or so other ethnic groups.
(actually languages - as there are many different dialects in Kurdish which do not even understand eachother properly)
I may have made an overstatement:
the differences are not that severe but the language has basically two main dialects : Zaza and Kirmanchi with numerous regional variants
I agree there is a huge economic problem in the Southeast. I also think there were mistakes made on both sides and the economic problems of the Southeast stem from those mistakes. However, a few language schools is not enough. RTUK programming regulations for broadcasting in Kurdish is not enough.
There are still problems with torture while in detention and with impunity that security forces enjoy. I know about cases of torture and sexual abuse of Kurds by Turkish security forces from my NGO and UN contacts working in South Kurdistan.
Kurds make up 20% or so of the total population, therefore they are a minority ethnicity and as long as they are willing to deny their ethnicity they enjoy full rights.
I know that things have gotten better but there is still a way to go.
If I go to Turkey, will I be permitted to enter with my Kurmanci dictionary?
You can bring whatever book you like with you. This isn't Nazi Germany.
Then why was an American woman, an aid worker on her way home to the States, refused entry to Turkey from Northern Iraq last year? Because she was carrying 4 children's books written in Kurdish.
She was refused becuase she declared that she was coming from Kurdistan which is non-existent. I think she'd also had her passport stamped by some people there pretneding to have a seperate country.
"I think she'd also had her passport stamped by some people there pretneding to have a seperate country."
Sorry. Wrong. That does not happen.
Why would she say she was coming from Kurdistan when Americans recognize only Iraq?
Why would she say she was coming from Kurdistan when Americans recognize only Iraq?
I don't know. It's her problem. Noone is denied entry because of a few books which can easily be found in Turkey too.
Just out of curiosity, when did the EU demonstrate 'democratic' principles?
Since when does the EU claim "democratic" principles? It is a "socialist" organization in prinicple with the french elitists thrown in for good measure.
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