TURKISH NGOS: "PM ERDOGAN INCITES HATRED"

BIA net
March 22 2010
Turkey

Prime Minister Erdogan was harshly criticized in his own country for
saying to expel 100,000 illegal Armenian immigrants from the country.

More than 30 NGOs condemned the PM’s reaction to the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide in 1915 by the Swedish parliament.

Bawer CAKIR bawer@bianet.org Istanbul – BÄ°A News Center22 March 2010,
Monday Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was harshly criticized by
non-governmental organizations for his statement that the Armenian
people in Turkey were going to be called to account for parliaments of
other countries that recognize the Armenian genocide perpetrated by the
Ottoman Empire in 1915. On 11 March, the Swedish parliament decided by
one majority vote to describe as genocide the killing in World War I.

In a joint press release, the NGOs reminded Erodogan that he committed
a hate crime. "It is unacceptable to make thousands of vulnerable
people the subject of a bargain in order to dismiss the decision that
might be taken by the parliaments of third countries".

The joint press release by the NGOs was signed by the following
organizations:

SayStop Initiative, Amargi Women Co-operative, Anti-capitalistic
Students, Women’s Peace Initiative, Arts Peace Initiative,
Conscientious Objectors’ Platform for Peace, Solidarity Platform,
Bosporus Performance Arts Society, Cigli Women Solidarity House
(CEKEV), Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSÄ°P), Diyarbakir
Communication Platform, Labour Party (EMEP) Ä°stanbul Provincial
Organization, Ev Eksenli CalıÅ~_anlar Sendikası, Young Civilian
Population, Immigration Solidarity Network, Human Rights Association,
Izmir Women Solidarity Association, Kaos GL, Kumbara Art Studio,
Global BAK, Global Action Group, Lambdaistanbul, Nor Zartonk, Women’s
Initiative against Violence and Discrimination in Trade Unions, Social
Transformation Association, Social Solidarity Association, Freedom
on Earth Association, The Greens Party, Confrontation Association,
70 Million Steps Coalition and the 78’ers Initiative.

"Don’t trade defenceless people" In an interview on the Turkish BBC
in London on 16 March, Erdogan said:

"Look, there are 170,000 Armenian people in my country. 70,000 of them
are my fellow-citizens. But we are tolerating another 100,000 people
in our country. So, what am I going to do – I will tell them to go
back to their country tomorrow if necessary. I am going to do that.

Why? They are not my fellow-citizens… I do not have to keep them in
my country. Unfortunately, with their attitude they have a negative
effect on our current sincere approach and they are not aware of that".

The 31 NGOs described these words as a shame and criticized the Prime
Minister for showing Armenian workers as a target, who lack any kind
of protection, defence and social security. The organizations reminded
Erdogan of the following points:

* Nobody abandons the place where he/she was born for insignificant
reasons; and nobody stays in a country where they cannot find work.

* The Armenian immigrant workers have the right to humane treatment
just as anybody else.

* It is unacceptable to make thousands of defenseless people subject
to bargaining in order to dismiss the decisions that might be taken
by third countries parliaments.

* Erdogan is the Prime Minister of a country that alleges to bring
together civilizations, to sort out the quarrels and normalize
relations with Armenia which are international demands. In these terms,
Erdogan’s statement carved out a huge contrast.

The group of NGOs condemned a mentality which in the 21st century is
still inclined to relocation. They demand to abandon this disgraceful
bargain made upon defenseless people as soon as possible.