Kurds in Turkey
Oct 11 2009 11:05
Turkey: Debates on the Kurdish Reform in the Wolf’s Lair
Debate on what was initially called the Kurdish Reform and then the Democratic Reform have been going on for quite a while in Turkey now. It is being claimed that the rulers of the state woke up from the dream of Turkism one night, and decided to stop oppressing the Kurds and turn the country into a democratic flower garden. The ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) and the faction of the Kurdish bourgeoisie existing within it on the one hand, and the liberals who drool whenever the state rings the bell of democracy on the other; bloodthirsty Turkish nationalists lurking around and the PKK-DTP (Kurdistan Workers' Party, armed Kurdish nationalist group, and Democratic Society Party, its legal wing) line with its hawk and dove wings pursuing its own agenda... What is really going on? How did the DTP, who used to say that the AKP was its greatest enemy, end up negotiating with them? Similarly, when did Prime Minister Erdoğan, who said that whoever is involved with terror will be shot even if he or she is a child, become so concerned with the tears of mothers who have lost their children? Why did the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party - Gray Wolves, Turkish fascists) who used to be the maverick supporter of the AKP respond with such rabid ultra-nationalist hysteria? How did the CHP (Republican People's Party, Kemalists) which was the toady of the Army end up criticizing the declarations of the National Security Council?
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http://en.internationalism.org/icconline/2009/10/turkey
Devrim
Oct 11 2009 12:27
#2
Yes, I read it in this morning newspaper. It has seemed to be a bit touch and go over the last few days, but it has come through in the end.
I think that we can see it as part of the 'normalisation' process that the state is attempting, not only with Armenia, but also with the Kurds, and over Cyprus, which obviously also involves Greece.
In one way the Turkish state has made huge amounts of 'progresss' over the last decade and a half going from a position where every neighbouring state was seen as an enemy to the point now where it has (relatively) friendly relations with all of them.
Devrim
Oct 11 2009 12:32
#3
Im reading about the normalisation process with the kurds as we speak from your link. I guess its better than their positions in the past and as you say progress. Can I ask is their many ICC comrades in Turkey? Also what about in the Kurdish areas? Im very interested in Kurdistan and Turkey as I may get a job working with kurdish refugees in this country.
Oct 11 2009 12:47
#4
Quote:
Can I ask is their many ICC comrades in Turkey?
The ICC is a tiny organisation. It has small sections in the biggest Turkish cities.
Quote:
Also what about in the Kurdish areas?
We have no members in the South East, though Istanbul is the biggest Kurdish city nowadays. As a percentage we have slightly more Kurdish members than their percentage of the general population.
Quote:
Im very interested in Kurdistan and Turkey
An article that may be of interest about the last war: http://en.internationalism.org/icconline/2008/05/turkey-iraq
Thread on the last war from Libcom:
http://libcom.org/forums/news/jingoism-war-strikes-turkey-22102007
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I may get a job working with kurdish refugees in this country.
What sort of job? Are you in London?
Devrim
Oct 11 2009 16:00
#5
A youth worker. Im living in Kent so near london. Thanks for links.
Hey Devrim,
Thanks for this. Really interesting. Did you see that Turkey and Armenia have normalised relations today. What do you think about that?