ON BORDER OF NORTHERN IRAQ
By Romy Kerwin
Korea Times, South Korea
Nov 4 2007
Northern Iraq or Kurdistan is bordered on the West by Turkey, on the
East by Iran. Turkey is on the left side of Kurdistan and Iran on
the right. There are guerillas fighting on both fronts.
On the Turkish side, the Kurd insurgents are called the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party or simply PKK. The Kurds attacking Iran are calling
themselves PJAK or Party for Free Life in Kurdistan. There are constant
squirmishes along the borders.
It is believed that the United States backs the PJAK and even arm them
even though Washington denies it. That probably means it is true. On
the opposite, Washington does not hide the fact that they are on the
side of Turkey, a vital ally in the region.
The Turkish government preaches moderation and non-involvement in war
measures. The Turkish people, on the other hand want to go to war
with Iraq. If the Kurds continue to attack Turkish citizens during
night raids, war will be inevitable.
On the border with Iran, we know that the Iranian Kurds have the
upper hand in a very hostile terrain. They are also well armed. If
Turkey attacks Iraq, it is almost certain that Iran will join in and
Iran is in possession of nuclear weapons.
The situation is potentially very explosive. What is South Korea
doing in this dangerous region which may explode at any time? Have
you forgotten the massacre of the Armenians in early 20th century?
The Turkish government ordered the annihilation of the Armenians living
in Turkey in the summer of 1915. To this day, the Turks deny that they
massacred one million and a half Armenians under the cover of the First
World War. They got away with it. If they had been justly punished,
it is certain that Hitler would have thought twice about the Holocaust.
The fate of the Armenians, which remained a secret gave him the idea
for the Final Solution. Turkey is not a democracy and like Japan,
continues to deny its atrocities. It could happen again in Kurdistan.
In this part of the world, war is a way of life, of solving problems
and then denying that there was a problem in the first place..
Do not make the mistake of believing that President Bush cares about
South Korea. He doesn’t. Why continue to please him ? Bush only cares
about Bush first and the US second. That is all.
Get out of Iraq while it is still possible. The Kurds love you because
you have made them what they are now : strong and Kurdistan fortified.
Why is Bush interested in Kurdistan ? Because there is OIL. You will
never get all the glorious contracts that you fancy, not for long.
Life in Kurdistan can only be lived one day at a time under the
present conditions.
What will happen when Iraq is left to its own devices and all allied
troops are left? I prefer not to think about it. But, you should.
Romy Kerwin was born in Algeria of French parents. She taught
philosophy and political science at the Department of Environmental
studies of York University, Toronto. She has worked voluntarily and
unofficially for the Ministry of Foreigns Affairs in Seoul for 6 years.