Ankara - Turkish Daily News 
Jan 22, 2002
Esra Erduran 
Scores have been detained, and nine have been arrested after presenting petitions demanding education in Kurdish, causing a spark of a controversy during a period when foreign circles, especially the European Union, are keeping an eye on Turkey. 

Interior Ministry and Emergency Rule (OHAL) Governors' Office claimed that a mass petition for Kurdish education was a new activity urged by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that aimed at becoming a political organization after the cease-fire ordered by its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. 

The conflict between the PKK and military claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people in more than 10 years of armed conflict in Turkey's southeast region. 

Human rights advocates of Turkey fear the recent events evolving from Kurdish education may lead to more serious problems or may cause a delay in the social peace process. 

The Human Rights Association (IHD) General Secretary Suleyman Esmer told the Turkish Daily News in a telephone interview that submitting a petition is a Constitutional right that should not be treated as a criminal act, and underlined the fact that this move may create more serious problems in terms of social peace. 

On the other hand, one of the prominent human rights associations in Turkey, the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUM-DER), told the TDN that demanding to learn a language is a part of the human right. 

"Arresting or detaining people for submitting a petition and demanding a right without being involved in violent acts is not in harmony with law," MAZLUM-DER Chairman Yilmaz Ensaroglu said. 

Ensaroglu stated that those who present petitions for Kurdish Education are viewed within the context of the struggle against terror. The MAZLUM-DER chairman noted that there were a number of people who caused a delay in the development of the Southeast, giving terrorism as an excuse. 

"We have lost tens of thousands of people and millions of dollars over the years. The recent events may cause a delay in the social peace process," Ensaroglu added. 

Timing of the petitions causes controversy 
An increase in the number of petitions submitted to the Education Ministry and other state organs came during Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the United States, causing a rumor that it aimed to gain support of foreign circles. 

On the other hand, it is also argued that a number of people believe that the constitutional amendment package has opened a path for education in Kurdish. 

The government, last year, amended some articles of the Constitution as a part of its pledges to the European Union. But the education in Kurdish issue was not one of the amendments. 

According to the Article 42 of the Constitution, "No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institution of training and education. Foreign languages to be taught in institutions of training and education and the rules to be followed by schools conducting training and education in a foreign language shall be determined by law."