Called to win support for a ceasefire, dialogue and a political solution to the Kurdish question in Turkey
Ali Asker
the Kurdish question in Turkey
The meeting is being called at a time when the Turkish state's war against
the PKK and Kongra-Gel is continuing, despite the recent renewal of a
ceasefire by the PKK and Kongra-Gel, and at a time when human rights
violations of Kurdish people and journalists, publishers, writers and unions
are continuing at an alarming level in Turkey. It is our firm belief that
real peace will never be achieved inside Turkey until it opens up a genuine
dialogue with the chosen representatives of the Kurdish people.
Time for Justice - No to the Ban on Kongra-Gel
Called to win support for a ceasefire, dialogue and a political solution to
the Kurdish question in Turkey
Wednesday 15 November 7.30pm
Committee Room 9, House of Commons, Westminster
Hosted by Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru)
Supported by Mark Thomas, Peace in Kurdistan, CAMPACC and Liberation
A keynote speaker will be a representative Kongra-Gel
Other speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP, Smita Shah (Barrister, Garden Court
Chambers), Ben Hayes (Statewatch), Desmond Fernandes (Member of the Advisory
Council of the EUTCC), Les Levidow (CAMPACC), Nick Hildyard (Policy Analyst)
The meeting is being held to win support for a ceasefire, dialogue and a
political solution to the unresolved conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish
people. Several prominent human rights organisations, peace campaigners,
intellectuals and writers in Turkey - and internationally - have been
supporting this peace initiative. Failure to do so, according to several
commentators, may lead to a situation in which the terrible times of the
1990's - in which thousands were 'disappeared' by state-linked forces, an
'Emergency' was declared, 'thought' was declared a 'crime', villages were
bombed and depopulated, the economy was destabilised, the 'contra-guerrilla'
and the unaccountable 'mafia-deep state' was allowed to hold sway - may be
upon us once again.
We ask you to join the call of the following to act now to work towards a
peaceful, non-violent approach towards issues that need to be addressed
urgently:
. The final resolution of the Third EU-Turkey Civic Commission International
Conference on 'The EU, Turkey and the Kurds' that was held at the European
Parliament in October 2006:
Call[ed] upon all political parties in Turkey to help foster the conditions
within Turkey for a democratic platform for dialogue. Based on the present
ceasefire holding, the Conference calls upon the European Commission and
Council to endeavour to actively develop a democratic platform whereby the
constituent elements of Turkey, including the Kurdish people and their
representatives, can freely enter into dialogue and debate with the
Government over possible reform to the Constitution. In this respect the
Conference recalls the following declaration in the European Commission's
1998 report that:
'A civil and non-military solution must be found to the situation in the
Southeast Turkey particularly since many of the violations of civil and
political rights observed in the country are connected in one way or another
with this issue'.
The Conference further recalls that the EU Parliamentary Committee on
Foreign Affairs in December 2004 urged:
'all parties involved to put an immediate end to the hostilities in the
Southeast of the country" and invited "the Turkish Government to take more
active steps to bring reconciliation with those Kurdish forces who have
chosen to abandon the use of arms'.
The Conference also urges Governments of the EU not to criminalise peaceful
dissent of Turkey echoed by Kurdish organisations situated in Europe and to
review its recent proscription of certain Kurdish organisations, especially
in the light of recent ceasefire declarations and public commitments to the
search for a peaceful solution of the Kurdish question within the present
territorial integrity of a democratically reformed Turkey (Resolutions 19,
20, 21, 22, 30).
. "Expressions based on a military security strategy and remarks that the
problem can only be solved through violence are concerning. Violence creates
conditions where human rights are violated. Whatever it is called, to ignore
the 'ceasefire' or 'the [PKK] period of silencing guns' period and place no
value to it is not possible. People are dying. Silencing the guns will allow
for a dialogue to begin in an environment of tolerance. It is required to
give this its real importance, to see that insisting on violence does not
solve the problem" - Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) chairman Yavuz
Onen.
. "The country needs this chance at peace. If this situation is handled well
by all concerned - the politicians, the army and the PKK - we could obtain
an end to the hostilities" - Sirri Sakik, spokesman for the Party for a
Democratic Society (DTP).
. "A unilateral PKK ceasefire went into effect on October 1, although it was
rejected by both the Washington and Ankara governments' days before it went
into effect. This is in spite of the fact that the PKK prefers to negotiate
a political settlement to the Kurdish question in Turkey, and had indicated
its willingness to do so repeatedly over the last 13 years and, most
recently, in August, with demands that are fully consistent with Turkey's EU
accession criteria" - The Kurdish National Congress of North America, 26
October 2006.
The above appeals need to be read within the context of the following: In
August this year, the
Home Secretary banned the Kurdish party Kongra-Gel (People's Congress of
Kurdistan) for allegedly "glorifying terrorism". The Home Office wrongly
claims that KONGRA-GEL and the now defunct KADEK are simply two alternative
names for the already outlawed PKK. The ban ignores KONGRA-GEL's aims and
activities since it was founded on 15 November 2003. KONGR-GEL's main
objective is the attainment of "peace, democracy, freedom, equality and
justice for a solution to the Kurdish Question" and the promotion of a
"democratic and ecological society" through peaceful and political struggle.
It has widespread support among the Kurdish people both within Turkey and
internationally for these aims. There is thus no justification for imposing
this ban. It can only lead to further criminalization of and injustice
towards the Kurds. The ban must be lifted.
For further information, contact: Tel 020 7586 5892
(este...@tiscali.co.uk)
06.11.2006
http://www.kurdishinfo.com/