Elected Kurdish mayors are handcuffed while taken to the court. That was not necessary. Probably it is the work of an officious local police chief….
Turkey and Kurds
Thus spake Öcalan, DTP MEPs shall not resign!
So DTP MPs decided not to resign because PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan said it was not all right. Some dailies quoted peaceful messages from Mr. Öcalan today. I wonder what he was thinking in the last two months. Because he also contributed by his statements sabotage of Democratic Initiative that lead to the closure of DTP. Now he talks again about peace. Pro-Kurdish politics is as dirty as Turkish Nationalist politics. That’s certain…
Ergenekon at work. From Dolapdere and Tokat to Muş. DTP Closed (3)
I only pray civil authority will crash civil war mongerers…
Two killed at pro-Kurdish protest today. A shop owner machine-gunned protesters…
This asshole who targeted Kurdish protesters with his gun, told under arrest that he was paid to do that… any surprise?
And did anyone realize that mainstream newspaper Hürriyet, which I quote extensively, stated in yesterday’s edition under this photo: “Citizens pulled out weapons against protesting DTP members”. This is the newspaper who is bulshitting daily about freedom of press..
Those DTP MPs who are not banned yet joined the others and decided to resign today.
PM Erdoğan claimed that recent Tokat massacre by PKK is part of a larger conspiracy against Turkey Democratic Initiative. I agree him totally.
DTP closed (2) Turkish nationalists trying hard to start a civil war
A Turkish nationalist (left) fires a gun during clashes with Kurdish activists in the Beyoglu area of Istanbul. Turkish nationalists and Kurdish activists clashed in Istanbul, leaving at least one person injured from a gunshot during street battles, an AFP reporter said. (AFP/Bulent Kilic)
As of now, Turkey has lost her Kurds. If there is any cooperation between Turks and Kurds from now on, Turkish nationalists have no role to play. I have been watching news and commentaries and these sorry asses are so happy that DTP is closed and they are having hard times to contain their fascistic attitudes. Many of my Kurdish friends are going through a very intense bitterness towards the nation state they are living in and towards Turks in general. Even I was subject to a slight dose of bitterness. I do not think there has been much street action but this state of bitterness is more dangerous in the long run. I am sorry that our nationalists and our nationalist establishment circles are so fixed minded and arrogant. Their mental capacities are so limited that they cannot see what is happening: The unity of their country is in peril…
Supporters of Turkey’s opposition Nationalist Action Party wave national and party flags during a rally to defend Turkey national unity and denounce the government’s ‘Kurdish initiative’, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009. (AP Photo )
Banned Kurdish party may boycott Turkish parliament – CNN.com
Great illustration from Eminimsi. All contributed to the closure of DTP. Two opposition party leaders have been howling to create a tense political climate. Captured PKK leader Öcalan and hawkish DTP leader Emine Ayna got their part and Constitutional Court concluded….
Turkey Bans Kurdish Party
from NYT > Turkey by By SEBNEM ARSU
ISTANBUL Turkey?s constitutional court disbanded the only pro-Kurdish party in Parliament on Friday, a move that could threaten efforts to resolve the conflict with the Kurdish minority by peaceful means.
Dark games at play against the Democratic Initiative?
Is it a coincidence that 7 Turkish soldiers are killed probably by Kurdish guerillas, a Kurdish demonstrator killed in riots, and a civilian dies wounded by Kurdish rioters in 48 hours?
All have their own genealogies, but happening at the same moment signifies a conspiracy of parties against further democratization. It is ironic to see that both pro-Kurdish activists and nationalist Turks are campaigning against government’s Democratization Initiative a.k.a. Kurdish initiative. Both militaristic and both will lose initiative if the Initiative has success…
here comes: Gov’t said it postponed to discuss an amendment to lower down charges against under-age demonstrators….
Serap Eser died today. She was burnt in high degrees when rioters threw molotov cocktails to a public bus…Facebook page.
Aydın Erdem, a demonstrator, a college student, was killed yesterday during pro-PKK riots with a bullet…Facebook page.
AFP: One dead as violence flares in Turkey protests
May god bless their souls, those 7 soldiers killed today:
Uzman çavuş Harun Arslanbey (Adana); erler: Onur Bozdemir (Adıyaman), Kemal Pide (Ordu), Ferit Demir (Muş), Yakup Mutlu (Muş), Cengiz Sarıbaş (Giresun) ve Fatih Yonca?nın (Hatay)
HUMAN RIGHTS RELATED ROUNDUP FOLLOWS
Öcalan's new cell becomes an obstacle for the Kurdish initiative
A nearly 12 square meter room for Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned PKK leader, caused uproar among PKK members. Ministry of Justice yesterday released photos of Öcalan’s cell which is nearly 1 m2 smaller than the previous one. More photos here.
Pro-PKK Kurds used Öcalan’s cell as a pretext to celebrate the anniversary of PKK’s establishment. There were riots in many cities and I provide some photos below. My first reaction is that this is a case of habitus. PKK members does not know any other way to continue. After 3 decades of fighting, Kurdish question has come to a new and positive level and with major parts’ contribution, we might witness historical moments. However, PKK reactions mostly serve Turkish nationalists…I do not claim AKP does all good but I am not sure if pro-PKK Kurds help the process at all.. but let me not forget to add. This is a friend’s idea. There are nearly no PKK leaders who can really handle the process. Most of reasonable PKK leaders like Musa Anter were assassinated by either hawkish Kurds or the State apparatus and now we have a different sort of leadership problem…
AFP: Turkey defends prison conditions of Kurdish leader
Uproar over Öcalan?s prison conditions
In a move likely to block the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government?s Kurdish initiative, which aims to expand the rights of the country?s Kurds, sympathizers of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) are taking to the streets and resorting to violence in the cities.
Alleged civilian Ergenekon leader spotted in Amsterdam
 | |
Bedrettin Dalan, who is claimed to be one of the highest leaders of Ergenekon gang and who is on the run, was spotted in Amsterdam as several dailies gave the news…
Ergenekon fugitive Dalan photographed in Amsterdam
Today’s Zaman
Former Mayor of istanbul Bedrettin Dalan, who is named as a suspect at large in the Ergenekon investigation, was spotted at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport .
![]()
Today’s Zaman
Former Mayor of istanbul Bedrettin Dalan, who is named as a suspect at large in the Ergenekon investigation, was spotted at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport .
Ruling through manipulation and provocation: The unwritten history of Turkey
Today’s Zaman
Later, its president, Sinan Aygün, was indicted in the Ergenekon trial, but no one paid any attention to the active campaign his organization was conducting
Today’s Zaman
Later, its president, Sinan Aygün, was indicted in the Ergenekon trial, but no one paid any attention to the active campaign his organization was conducting
”ve ersele aleyhim tayran ebabil…” (Pul)
by iç-mihrak
An anarchist art case: juxtaposing Quranic verse with Turkey’s first female pilot, Sabiha Gökçen, who was one of the bombers over the Dersim rebels in a fictional stamp: “And send against them swarms of flying creatures,…” (Quran, 105/3)
First Kurdish signs by Diyarbakır municipality, a huge roundup on Ergenekon case etc follow:
CHP's views on the Kurdish Question
Main opposition party, CHP, has recently opened up an office in Brussels. Some thought it as a good sign that finally CHP would actually support the EU process. There has not been any positive signs though. In the mean time, Brussels office sends email-bulletins. The last one was about CHP’s views on the Kurdish Question. EU leadership proves to be more and more naive and I guess in this respect good, abstract but without substance statements may have an impact on EU public. If only ignores the fact that CHP triggers more nationalist hysteria than nationalist MHP does…Below, there is also a roundup on the EU-TR relations and TR’s Foreign Policy moves…
CHP VIEWS AND PROPOSALS ON THE KURDISH QUESTION
The Turkish Parliament debated the government?s initiative on the Kurdish question on November 10th and 13th.
Background: In 1991, the first proposal of law in Turkey on the abolishment of all obstacles to the use of the Kurdish language was a social-democratic initiative. It was signed and introduced by Mr Deniz Baykal and his colleagues. In 2002, during the rule of the coalition government (Social-Democrats-Liberals-Nationalists) several reforms were adopted to allow the teaching and broadcasting in Kurdish. Recently, the Turkish government declared its intention to implement a new reform on the ethnic issues without making public its proposal. CHP responded in reminding its previous comprehensive reports on the Kurdish question and its very recent concrete proposals.
Step by step, Kurdish initiative continues….
We were expecting more fist-fighting in the parliament meeting on Friday but relatively civilized quarrels dominated Friday’s meeting. Main opposition CHP is gone all crazy- literally indeed- and their reaction is ridiculous and beyond reason. Their childlike reaction and nearly criminal discourse (one higher official of CHP explicity stated that the best solution is what the State did during Dersim Rebellion, that is outright massacre…) have to be contained. I believe that AKP, DTP and a few liberals with possible indirect support from MHP can further the Initiative. Yes, MHP, nationalist party, does in fact acted quite civilized yesterday and despite their harsh criticism on the Kurdish Initiative their love of and support for the State may turn out to be a positive sign in this case. Because they wery well realized that this initiative may help unite the nation again. Armed suppression did not work as the the three decades had demonstrated…
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal addresses members of parliament as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu listen in the background during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, November 13, 2009. Turkey’s parliament is set to discuss on Friday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict, moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Turkey unveils reforms for Kurds
from BBC News
NYT article relies on pro-Ergenekon lobby?
A new article in NYT by Mr. Bilefsky quotes extensively from sources critical of the Ergenekon trial. I have once noted the evidence question last year and I still believe it is a valid concern. However, there is a concentrated attempt to slow down or disorient the process and these people are certainly not doing out of innocent democratic aims. As the article underlines the issue is too complicated but it is not a fiction. It is real despite all problems, anybody in town knows that the deep state operated in this country and Ergenekon trial is here to reveal some of the facts. But of course it cannot be an easy process to do that and by putting “clouds” on the Trial itself, some Western Media production helpsthe anti-trial lobby…
Subversion Trial Puts Cloud Over Turkey
from NYT > Turkey by By DAN BILEFSKY
Prosecutors allege that an underground organization has committed dozens of terrorist acts and sought to topple Turkey?s Islamic-inspired government.
Plot colonel put behind bars over action plan
Today’s Zaman
Dozens of Ergenekon members, including businessmen, members of the military and journalists, are currently incarcerated while standing trial.
A small scale campaign continues: Adding “Brave” to the name of Bingöl city. People of Bingöl was brave enough to reject the military enforced constitution referendum after the 1980 coup d’etat. In fact, it was only city…
Members of Genç Siviller (Young Civilians) and the Ankara-based Bingöl Culture and Solidarity Association (BİNDAV) protested the anti-democratic 1982 Constitution, a byproduct of the 1980 coup, in front of the welcome sign to the city of Bingöl on Saturday…
Turkish opposition is a major obstacle for further democratization
Yesterday, main opposition MEPs made a scene in the Parliament, of course supported by MHP second biggest opposition party which led to scuffles while debates on the Kurdish Initiative continued. It is unfortunate that these two opposition parties can and may actually stop the process….
Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs hold banners during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara November 10, 2009. Turkey’s parliament is set to discuss on Tuesday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict — moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions. Banners are all about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey from 1923 and founder of the modern secular state, who died on November 10, 1938 when he was 57.REUTERS/Umit Bektas
The first President to be in Tunceli in 19 years
In another positively historical political moment in Turkey, President Abdullah Gül pays a visit to Tunceli. This city, predominantly Alevite, has been the symbol of radical opposition to Establishment. [I had just heard that fatally ill political prisoner Güler Zere may be released, news coming soon]
 | |
|
oh yes, she is released (though it might be too late)…
Turkey seems to have officially recognized Iraqi Kurdistan…
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu releases a white pigeon during the opening of the new Turkish Consulate in Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousuly
Turkey: Time to Rebuild Middle East
by USAK
Source: Turkish Daily Mail
Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009 0:24
Tags: Turkey and Middle East, Middle East, Kurd, Kurdish, Iraq
——————————————————————————–
ARBIL – Turkey extended a regional peace drive to Iraqi Kurds when Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with top Kurdish officials in a landmark visit to Arbil.
?It is time for Arabs, Turks, Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis to rebuild the Middle East. Therefore, it is time for everyone to take brave steps,? Davutoglu told a joint press conference with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani late on Friday. Barzani praised Davutoğlu’s visit, saying it is even more significant now as the Middle East is passing through such a sensitive time.
Davutoğlu’s visit to Arbil, the first by a Turkish foreign minister, is a sign that a taboo maintained in Turkish foreign policy until recently is no longer in place.
Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani (R) holds a joint conference with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Arbil, 310 km (190 miles) north of Baghdad, October 30, 2009. Picture taken October 30, 2009. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari
The Republic is 86
Instead of self-congratulations here how we stand at our human rights record:
Turkey’s dirty stories on display – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review
Turkey
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
October 26, 2009
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion; however, constitutional provisions regarding the integrity and existence of the secular state restrict these rights.
The Government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the Government during the reporting period. The Government continued to impose limitations on Islamic and other religious groups and significant restrictions on Islamic religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities, for the stated reason of preserving the “secular state.” Authorities continued their broad ban on wearing Islamic religious headscarves in government offices as well as public schools. The Government also continued to oppose “Islamic extremism.” Religious minorities said they were effectively blocked from careers in state institutions because of their faith. Minority religious groups also faced difficulties in worshipping, registering with the Government, and training their followers. Although religious speech and persuasion is legal, some Muslims, Christians, and Baha’is faced some restrictions and occasional harassment for alleged proselytizing.
Anti-Kurdish Initiative propaganda begins to gain ground…Political Cartoons at work…
I have begun to receive forwarded emails with highly ultranationalists propaganda against Kurdish initiative. DTP’s show of force triggered a Turkish nationalist reaction against the initiative. Here is a collection of cartoons that are found in mainstream press and forwarded as a bundle through emails…
