THE KURDISH CASE AGAINST TURKISH MILITARY ACTIONS
By Martin Zehr

CounterCurrents.org
http://www.countercurren ts.org/zehr151007.htm
Oct 15 2007
India

Recent activity by the Turkish military and government presents a
real danger of invasion by Turkey against the Kurdish Autonomous
Region. Next week the Turkish Parliament will be voting to approve
military action against the Kurdish Autonomous Region. While the US
State Department has opposed such actions, as have the EU and Russia,
it clearly remains a likely scenario in the near future that Turkish
troops will invade southern Kurdistan in its never-ending military
campaign against the Kurdish resistance movement. Americans who support
the rights of the Kurdish nation confront a mixed proposition. While
I adamantly oppose the US occupation of Iraq, I cannot simply stand
by and accept Turkish military intervention as a solution to the
oppression of Kurds as a viable option in resolving the longstanding
conflict. For too long, Turkish troops have displaced hundreds of
Kurdish villages and killed tens of thousands of Kurds in Turkey
with impunity. It is important now to present a strong and singular
warning to Turkey of the consequences of such an attack on the Kurdish
Autonomous Region within Iraq.

The US Senate recently approved a resolution that recognized the
concept of federalism within the Iraqi state. It is not binding on
Iraq, or on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). It does propose
that the national aspirations of the Kurdish people be recognized
internationally in the political reconfiguration in regards to
the rights of both sects and the Kurdish nation in post-occupation
scenario. The KRG has proposed a national dialogue within Iraq on
this issue. Too often there is a presumption that the three have
common but distinct goals in the removal of US troops. The fact is
that the Kurdish position focuses on preserving the autonomy of the
Kurdistan Regional Government within the context of a weaker central
Iraqi government or, failing that, to establish its own state. There is
no desire to subordinate the KRG’s ability to protect Kurdish people
to others whose failure to defend the Kurdish people in the recent
past stands as a historical legacy. Neither is it acceptable for the
US to stand blind to the mass murders of Kurds as it did after the
Persian Gulf War.

There is no obscuring the issue given the recent activity of the
Turkish military. Its record in regards to displacements of Kurdish
villages and mass murders stands despite its denials. The historic
actions of the Ottoman Empire against Armenians stand as a clear
warning that the Turkish government’s actions do not match their
words. A Congressional Committee approved a resolution condemning
this genocide of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire. Clearly, the Turkish
government of Prime Minister Erdogan is seeking not only to continue
to deny the genocide against the Armenians but is seeking to widen
its conflict against the Kurds today.

Americans need to support the Kirkuk referendum as a non-violent and
democratic means of determining the status of Kirkuk within Iraq. If it
is decided to be integrated as part of the Kurdish Autonomous Region,
this would empower those within the borders of Iraq to decide their own
destiny. The Turkish opposition to the right to hold this referendum is
an unwarranted interference in the affairs of another country. Turkmen
within Kirkuk are by no means excluded from this process, but they
are by no means represented by the Turkish government. If the Turkish
goal is to annex the Kurdish Autonomous Region into Turkey, clearly
a military invasion will attempt to make this a fait accompli. This
will not demonstrate the will of the Kurdish people who have voted
overwhelmingly in support of their national sovereignty. At issue is
the very right for the Kurdish nation to establish their own government
to represent their people.

American people need to be taught the recent history of relations
within Iraq and the roles of Iran, Iraq and Turkey and why it is
so critical that Kurds have the ability to determine their future
for themselves. This is not an advocacy for US occupation of Turkey,
or for military action against Iran. There is no hidden alliance here
between the Kurdish nation and Israel to increase Israeli control. It
is solely an effort to defend the legitimate demands of the Kurdish
people and their right to construct their own future. American
military aid to Turkey has made possible their ability to become
such a powerful force in the region. This aid should be suspended
until Turkey ceases its provocations. Turkish occupation is not an
alternative to US occupation. As it stands, the US military has not
played any significant role in the Kurdish Autonomous Region. Peace
and tranquility has been established by the current consensus of
Kurdish peoples to self-government within the Iraqi state.

The rights of the peoples of southern Kurdistan have been
constitutionally defined. The Kirkuk referendum has been mandated in
the Constitution in Article 140. While this is by no means the final
resolution of the issue, the Kurdistan Regional Government has worked
as a distinct entity, recognized by all other parties within Iraq. It
has distinct interests that distinguish it from those in the Sunni and
Shi’a sects. Americans sometimes confuse the sectarian positions from
the Kurdish national right to self-determination. As a politically
recognized entity within Iraq, the Kurdish Autonomous Region is
distinguished from the status of the sects and the parties that
represent them. It is possible to promote the Kurdish rights without
presuming the right of US occupation. There is a need to demonstrate
international commitments to the defense of the Kurdish nation.

American people can readily accept the distinctions. We have no right
to impose on the Kurdish people, given the actions of Saddam Hussein,
the requirement to support any subjugation of the Kurdish nation. The
solution lies within the expressed desires of the Kurdish people.

Americans need to understand what this means. It means that Turkey
has NO right to interfere in the rights to self-government of the
Kurdish peoples within Iraq.

Educational work is necessary to expose the true character of the
Turkish war against Kurds that has been going on for 30 years. The
role of the PKK in this struggle remains a matter that needs to be
included without fear of being critical of particular tactics that it
has used in its history. The fundamental issue is the discrimination
and national oppression of Kurdish people by the Turkish government
and the reign of terror on rural Kurds by the Turkish military. To
suggest that recent military moves by the Turkish military are based
on attacks on the Turkish military by the PKK needs to be exposed
in the context of Turkey’s unending dedication to crush ANY form of
Kurdish self-government in the region and prevent the construction
of a stable economy.

Martin Zehr is an American political writer whose article on the Kirkuk
Referendum has been printed by the Kurdish Regional Government, PUK
, Kurdishmedia.com, and OPEDNEWS.COM He is a Contributing Writer to
Kurdish Aspect where his articles have appeared on line and in print.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress