What is threatening Turkish National Security: Independent Kurdistan, Kirkuk, or Freedom?

By: Amed Demirhan

Feb 6, 2005

Turkish Politician, military leader and jingoistic media for years have been focused in Southern Kurdistan and Kirkuk issue in Iraq. Almost every word they use in this context is shameful and racist except they don’t have guts like Western countries racist openly stands for their primitive inhuman ideology. In fact despite using “Turkishness” as an identity they are biggest enemy of the Turks and every statement they make in regards to the Kurds they further divide Kurds and Turks and other ethnic groups. The Kemalist Republic from its foundation has declared Anatolian people as enemy of the state by calling them “Islamist = Irticaci”, declaring Kurds as separatist, strongly prohibiting Alavi religions practices, going as far forcing people to give up their traditional dress and way of life, and enforcing a perverted uniformity; in the name of modernity. Therefore the Kemalist state has never been representative of free will of people of Turkey and they don’t have legitimacy to speak on behalf of Turkish people. Let see if their claim makes any sense to any reasonable person?

The claim if Kurds in Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan) declare independent this will threaten Turkey’s national security: How come a newly independent country with five – six million population will threaten a country relatively developed and with 70 million population and member of NATO? One wonders if any one could find any rational in this statement? OK, I can hear one will ask about what about Kurds in Northern Kurdistan? As long Turkey is not willing to share the state and let Kurds, other ethnic, and religious groups become stakeholders in the state they will be against state regardless what happened anywhere far or near. They will try to free themselves from oppression and tyranny. The fundamental fear here the freedom for Kurds on the other side of border and free Iraq.

Claim of Turkmen’s right in Kirkuk: No one can claim that Turkmen in Kirkuk or any where in Iraq has less rights now than under Saddam’s regime, like vast majority of Iraqi and Kurdistani Turkmen’s have more rights now than before. In fact Turkmen in Iraq has more rights than Turks in Turkey because unlike Turks in Turkey they have freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of worship the way they choose. Turkmen never had this kind of freedom in their modern history like most Iraqis. Turkish government never defended Turkmen’s rights against Saddam’s oppression.

Pre Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan (RTE) in his 2/01/2005 statement in regard to Iraq stated: “…. we don’t approve domination of any ethnic groups over the other. We have stated that we don’t think its right for any religion sect to dominate other sects…” I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Pre Minister but he was talking about wrong country – Iraq, he should have said this for Turkey. In liberated Iraq every social, ethnic, cultural, religious, and political groups had chance to participate in free election despite terrorist threat. For example religious parties in Iraq did not have to pretend they are not religious like Mr. Pre Minister and his party, every ethnic groups in Iraq including Turkmen proudly displayed their ethnic heritage with out fear from the state and with out pretension to be something else. No Iraqi politician was jailed or prohibited for running for office because of his or her political, religious or ethnic background except those who committed crime during Saddams regime. Does any one could honorably claim this set of freedom exist in Turkey?

It is no wonder that Turkish government has been most critical government against Iraqi liberation and has been supporting and prorogating for the terrorist in central Iraq. In my knowledge Turkey is only Middle East country that have frequently organized protest demonstrations against Iraqi liberation and founded organizations openly collecting money for the terrorist in Iraq. The jingoist media is full of falls stories against American lead coalitions liberation forces and free Iraqi forces. Freedom is most powerful human desire and no government can stop that for too long. Free Iraq is already becoming a source of inspiration for people in the region and hopefully in near future people of Turkey will have the same freedom: The Alavi, Kurds, Yoruk, Turkmen, Arabs, Cherkez, Laz, Bahai, Jewish, Armenian and all other groups will be able freely express themselves, freely worship or not worship, and young Turkish women will be able proudly dress like their mothers or grand mothers if they choose so in Universities or work places. For the freedom loving people in Turkey and Kurdistan “freedom is forward marching” and it has reached to next door, listen you will hear it. Don’t let those oriental despots mislead you with their racism, and jingoism, we are going to be free, soon.

Amed Demirhan

e-mail: ameddemirhan@hotmail.com

Florida, USA