It Is Time For The Kurds To Unite Together

By: Baqi Barzani

October 25, 2005

The Turkish regime has deepened its imprint on the political and social fabric of Kurdistan, buying influence in the new Iraqi government, running intelligence-gathering networks and funneling money and arms to Turkish militant groups. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is openly interfering in the sovereign, internal affairs of a state, namely Kurdistan, in fomenting and instigating unrest and conniving with neighboring forces to suppress Kurdish movements in Kurdistan which, whether he likes it or not, exists as the country’s legal representative. Sheer arrogance and hypocrisy would appear to be the two words best chosen to describe the attitude and external policy of Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s of Turkey, a country which sees fit to export food unfit for human consumption and banned inside the Turkey to Kurdistan and a country which says one thing and does another.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan repetitive bullying to launch military strike under the pretext of dislodging PKK militants in Northern Iraq is sustaining evidence that the adjacent countries do not respect the acts of non-interference in internal affairs of another country explicitly in total contradiction with the principles of International laws.

Recep Tayyip recently asked the United States and Kurdish political leaders to take action against the PKK, or Kurdistan Worker's Party, which he and his government hold responsible for claiming 37,000 lives since 1984. It sounds too absurd! Had Turkey abandoned her repressive policies against Kurdish population, the PKK would never resort to militancy to fight for their national rights. Kurdish residents in southwest Turkey (Northern Kurdistan) still live in sub-inhuman conditions, perpetual persecution and intense pressure. Turkey needs start dialogue with PKK representatives and solve this issue through peaceful and democratic means. Being incapable of unraveling the disarray within, does not justify Recep Tayyip to send threatening messages to Kurdish leadership. Iraqi President’s proposition of "general amnesty" by Ankara for Turkey’s Kurdish PKK members is the first step onto addressing that specific drawback.

We can perceive how defiant our antagonists are! It is tremendously relevant for us not to underestimate these threats, stay knowledgeable and improve our preparedness counter to any foreign encroachment. And the best defense is the creation of a robust and durable harmony among all Kurds in all parts of Kurdistan. The national unity should hold precedence than the interests of any individual, group or political party in Kurdistan. It is time to leave behind our long-standing rivalries, discrepancies and disputes and direct our meditations only on constructive strategies to further achieve state propagation. Now that Southern Kurdistan has been liberated by infinite sacrifices and genuine efforts of all Kurdish compatriots, we should not let it wither away. Our envious enemies are busy weaving conspiracies how to impose a civil war and cause more bloodshed among Kurdish masses. The enemies resorted to all modes of techniques including: nefarious propaganda, hypocrisy and fabrication but did not succeed in their ultimate goals i.e. take away out existing liberty; convince the Kurds to bear arms against their Kurdish brethren and lastly to see us under hegemony.

The international community has a responsibility to condemn and act against Turkey’s intervention in the internal affairs of Kurdistan.