Kaplan: Turkish government spending more for war
24 September 2012
July and August saw more spending for war than the first six months of the year
The Turkish government has allocated a remarkable size of its budget for July and August of 2012 to 'security', spending at a higher rate in the mentioned two months than the first six months of the year. In the face of the outstanding budget deficit, which is caused by the considerable increase in operations and clashes in the Kurdish territory since late June, the AKP government has invoiced this deficit to the people by means of new raises and taxes.
In an interview to ANF about the ‘security spending’ which is the major cause for the budget deficit in Turkey, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Şırnak deputy Hasip Kaplan said that a major part of the budget deficit in 2012 has been caused by the spending by the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Turkish Armed forces (TSK) as well as police and gendarmerie forces.
In respect to the budget deficit, Kaplan pointed to both AKP government’s war policy against Kurds and the recent developments in Syria; “In 2012, the government didn’t only keep operations going both inside and outside the country but also created unforeseen spending for the conflict in Syria.”
Remarking that Turkey’s rate of growth has remarkably decreased in recent years, Kaplan noted that the government is therefore trying to cover up this deficit by means of taxes and ideological raises, like the price increases on fuel oil, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Kaplan noted that the current law on the court of accounts doesn’t allow the Parliament to supervise the military spending which was 732 million TL between January and June of 2012 but reached 846 million TL in the months of July and August.
According to BDP deputy Kaplan, the budget deficit problem in Turkey could be resolved by ending military operations and the conflict environment and starting negotiations.
D.F. - ANF / ANKARA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
2
Aydar: We are ready for new talks with Turkish government
24 September 2012
In an interview with BBC Turkish service, Zübeyir Aydar said AKP government responsible for deadlock in talks
Speaking to BBC Turkish service on talks held in Oslo between the MIT (National Intelligence Organization) and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council member Zübeyir Aydar indicated the AKP government is responsible for the deadlock in the talks.
Aydar, who took part in the meetings in Norway’s capital city Oslo, said that they wanted negotiations to continue and added that; “The Turkish government didn’t fulfill its promises in the period of negotiations which the Turkish officials ended without us knowing it.”
Aydar pointed to KCK arrests as the leading factor harming the Oslo talks which –he added- had made some progress in 2009. KCK Executive Council member said that “The government didn’t show a will for solution to the Kurdish problem and wanted to put its own project into practice by keeping our movement in a non-conflict environment.”
Aydar continued mentioning the arrest of the ‘PKK peace group’, who crossed the border in Habur to bring a message of peace in October of 2009, and noted that the government didn’t keep its promise not to arrest the members of the peace group.
Asked about the possibility of a new round of Oslo talks, Aydar said they would unconditionally come to the table in the event of receiving a request in this respect. Aydar added that; “Our people are ready for peace as we believe in the necessity of dialogue on the way to a solution to the Kurdish problem. The people who have died in the intense conflict environment in the last one year wouldn’t have lost their life if the negotiations had continued.”
Aydar ended reminding of Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s words ‘I need to be provided with a healthy, secure and free environment in order to play a role in the process of negotiations’ and added; “Without our leader who has been denied any contact for 424 days now, we may face difficulties in putting the decisions of our organization into practice.”
ANF NEWS AGENCY
3
At least 42 people arrested in new KCK operation
25 September 2012
Mersin centered KCK operation in Mersin, Adana, Diyarbakır,Dersim and Batman
At least 42 people have been taken into custody early Tuesday morning in simultaneous Mersin centered KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) operations in the provinces of Mersin, Adana, Diyarbakır, Dersim and Batman.
Among those arrested in Mersin are Dicle News Agency reporter Ferhat Arslan, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chairs Musa Kullu and Aynur Aşan, BDP PM members, Human Rights Association (IHD) Mersin Branch Chair Ali Tanrıverdi, İŞTAR Press Counsellor Roza Yaruk, Akdeniz Municipality workers, MKM (Mesopotamia Cultural Center) members as well as BDP executives and members.
Police teams of Mersin Anti-Terror Branch have carried out simultaneous raids at around 05:00 this morning in the province of Mersin. BDP Akdeniz Municipality’s İŞTAR Counseling Center for Women’s Solidarity, BDP Mersin Politics Academy, BDP Mersin office and more than 40 other addresses were raided with the support of special operation and mobile force police teams.
Apart from 35 detainees in Mersin, seven others who were arrested in four other cities, Adana, Diyarbakır, Batman and Dersim were also taken to Mersin after detentions.
Turkish police carried out a seperate operation in Şırnak's Silopi district where seven people, five of whom are minors, were taken into custody at midnight hours. The reaspn for detentions hasn't been disclosed yet.
Thousands of people have been arrested in the scope of so-called KCK operations which started in the April of 2009, one month after the local elections where Kurds achieved a historic success. Six deputies of the BDP, over 30 mayors, dozens of journalists, around 70 unionists, over 30 lawyers, a number of human rights defenders and intellectuals as well as hundreds of woman activists, students and children have been under arrest since the beginning of the operations.
In a series of police operations beginning on 14 April 2009 and referred to in the press as the "KCK operations", 151 people were detained on the basis of alleged links to illegal organizations. These people included lawyers, mayors, politicians, trade unionists, and human rights activists, and were recently brought to trial together in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
As the KCK is alleged to be the civil/political wing of the outlawed group and is, therefore, also an illegal organization. Members of the pro- Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) have been accused of being members of these illegal organizations. Only 15 days after the party's significant gain in the March 2009 local elections, where it won 50 municipalities, mass raids were carried out at the homes, businesses and offices of mayors, party activists, human rights advisors, lawyers and many others, pursuant to the KCK operations.
The subsequent trial relating to the KCK operations began on 18 October 2010 at the Special State Penal Court. By the time the trial began many of the defendants had been in custody for a period of 18 months. Much of the evidence had apparently been gathered from wiretapping and phone bugging, and there was a lack of clarity regarding the exact charges, and the basis for such charges, against each defendant.
ANF NEWS AGENCY
4
Lawyer Sarıca: It's the government which denies visit permission to see Öcalan
25 September 2012
Refuting minister of justice's claims lawyer Sarıca says Kurdish leader denied visits
Speaking to ANF about Turkish Minister of Justice recent claims that PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan doesn’t meet his family at his own request, Asrın Law Office member lawyer Rezan Sarıca denied the minister’s statements and remarked that the Kurdish leader has been denied any visit since his last meeting with his lawyers on 27 June 2011 and the one with his family on 10 October 2011.
On a recent TV program on NTV, Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin claimed that Kurdish leader Öcalan meets his family from time to time.
Lawyer Sarıca said the minister’s statements are at best contradictory and asked; “How can his family reach the prison if the boat supposed to take them is constantly out of order?” The lawyer underlined that it is often on this basis (the boat not working) that visit are denied.
Sarıca noted that for the last 14 months no news has been received from the other prisoners in İmralı and criticized the Committee for the Prevention of Torture for not visiting the İmralı prison during the inspection it made in Turkish prisons in recent months.
The lawyer noted that the legal process at the European Court of Human Right still continues regarding the isolation of Öcalan.
Sarıca said that lawyers are preparing to take Öcalan’s case to the Constitutional Court on the basis of the ECHR and international conventions.
ANF NEWS AGENCY
5
BDP Istanbul MP speaks to ANF
26 September 2012
Sebahat Tuncel spoke to ANF about the new Parliamentary session due to start on 1 October
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul deputy and People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) spokesperson Sebahat Tuncel spoke to ANF about the new legislative session to be opened on 1 October.
It seems the politics in Turkey will be more tensed as the first step of the new session of the Parliament will be to pass the “war memorandum”, said Tuncel and noted that the ruling AKP, and opposition CHP and MHP have same approach on this memorandum.
Underlining that deputies of the Labor, Peace and Democracy Block are the only dynamics of democracy in the Parliament, Tuncel said that; “It is high time for democracy powers to present themselves in the streets where we will be strengthening the democratic opposition in Turkey.”
Tuncel remarked that Turkey is at a crossroad and should decide to take side by either peace or war.
Referring to Turkey’s relations with Middle East countries, Tuncel said that the Turkish state’s policy on the Middle East has collapsed, which – she underlined - has created a problematic environment between Turkey and all its neighbouring countries.
Tuncel continued evaluating the position of the CHP; “The Republican People’s Party cannot fulfill its duty as the main opposition party.”
As to the CHP’s attitude on the Kurdish problem, Tuncel said that the party’s attitude will not help to bring the Kurdish issue to a solution. "The main opposition party - she said - shares the same opinion with the AKP about the necessity of PKK’s (Kurdistan Workers Party) laying down arms". However, she added, "the problem is not about PKK’s laying down arms, it is about its emergence and starting an armed opposition as a result of the presence of the Kurdish issue itself. It is not possible to achieve a success on behalf of democracy as long as CHP continues to present some dead ends about the Kurdish problem as an opposition against the AKP.”
Tuncel also mentioned recent allegations about the possibility to strip Block deputies of their immunity and commented this debate as an attempt to exclude them from the parliamentary process.
Reminding that People’s Democratic Congress will establish a party in October, Tuncel said that the congress will hold a general meeting in this month and start a new intense process of a stronger work and intervention in the current politics. “I am once again calling on all democracy powers in Turkey to gather at a ground of common struggle which could help us build our democratic future together and develop a common fight.”
ANF / ANKARA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
6
Mesopotamia Broadcast Company suspended for two months
26 September 2012
Danish Radio and Television Board ruled the suspension of broadcast for two months
Danish Radio and Television Board ruled the suspension of brodcast of Mesopotamia Broadcast Company for two months as of 24:00 on 3 October 2012.
The broadcast of the company’s four channels Roj TV, Nuçe TV, MMC and Mesopotamia TV will continue in the usual stream two months later.
The Board said the suspension wasn’t ruled on the grounds of “promotion of violence” on Nuçe TV news bulletins but on the grounds that the company "shirks the duty of recording and saving broadcast programs" and thus "constitutes an obstacle to the Board's supervision responsibility".
With an unlawful verdict on 19 January, French satellite company Eutelsat unilaterally suspended the presence of RojTV on its satellites in order to avoid incurring criminal liability as an accomplice to terrorist activities. The decision came after the Copenhagen City Court on 14 December 2011 charged the Kurdish channel with making propaganda for the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party). Although the Danish court did not rule for the closure of the RojTV, the Kurdish satellite channel was closed on 22 January.
Following Eutelsat decision, the Kurdish television therewith signed an agreement with Intelsat on 26 January. Roj TV broadcasts continued on Intelsat 1 W over Greece until the American state just one day later applied pressure on the Greek government and had the broadcasts suspended once again.
Danske Bank which has worked with Roj TV for long years decided on February 1st to withhold Roj TV accounts.
ANF / COPENHAGEN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
7
Kışanak: BDP ready for negotiations
28 September 2012
BDP co-chair on re-initiation of talks between Turkish government and the PKK
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Municipality Business Center and Ahmede Xani Park in Malazgirt district of province of Muş on Thursday, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Gültan Kışanak said BDP is ready for negotiations and called on the Turkish Parliament and all political parties to take a step in this direction.
Kışanak remarked that the government should approach to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan to ensure a true solution to the Kurdish issue.
Referring to recent discussions on the possibility of new talks between the Turkish government and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), Kışanak said that “The former talks between two sides were ended by the government as it didn’t accept the fair demands of the Kurdish people. As to the situation today, if the government has an intention to resolve the Kurdish problem through negotiations, it should be known that the Kurdish people, their leaders and political actors are ready to take a step for a permanent solution. However, it should also be known that the Kurdish people will not accept it if the government once again displays an insincere approach by on one hand conducting negotiations and on the other hand using all ways possible to suppress the freedom struggle of Kurds thousands of whom have been put in jail since then.”
Kışanak called attention to the importance of Öcalan’s key role in the process of a solution to the ongoing war and underlined that the Kurdish leader is the “architect of the solution policy for the together living of Turkish and Kurdish peoples”. Mr. Öcalan -she continued- should therefore be provided with a convenient environment so that he can play his role in solving the Kurdish problem and bringing peace and democracy to the country.
Kışanak ended underlining that the Kurdish people will however struggle till the end should they face policies of deception and elimination.
On the other hand, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his interview with journalists on NTV on Thursday that the government doesn’t have negotiations on the agenda but is to minimalize operations should the PKK lay its arms down.
Erdoğan however contradicted his own statements saying that the government doesn’t have an intention for negotiations in the political area. Referring to BDP-DTK delegation’s encounter with Kurdish guerrillas at a road control spot of guerrillas on the Şemdinli highway in mid-August, Erdoğan said that; “How could the government ever negotiate with the executives of a party (BDP) whose deputies hug terrorists?”.
PM also mentioned the situation in the Kurdish area and said that Turkish military and police is giving a determined struggle in the region despite all difficulties they encounter in the face of PKK’s recent operations aimed at area domination.
ANF / MUŞ
ANF NEWS AGENCY
8
New Kurdistan Map by Eurominority
28 September 2012
New map of Kurdistan aims knowledge of the nation of Mount Ararat
Stateless Nations and Minority Peoples in Europe (Eurominority) and Kurdish Institute of Paris (Institut kurde de Paris) just released a new map of Kurdistan which aims knowledge of the nation of Mount Ararat (Çiyayê Agiri).
The bilingual map, in Kurdish and English, shows the main cities, mountains, rivers and lakes that form historical Kurdistan. Two additional maps also give a good point of view of the Kurdish provinces distributed Among the Turkish, Syrian, Iranian and Iraqi States. The poster also presents a simplified map of dialects of the Kurdish language, thus making the work one of the most synthetic maps of historical Kurdistan.
The map involves the provinces of Maraş, Elbistan, Koçgiri, Erzincan, Erzurum, Kars, Iğdır, Ağrı, Maku, Urmiye, Mahabad, Bicar, Kirmaşan, İlam, Xaneqin, Kerkük, Musul, Qamişlo and Afrin.
Eurominority was founded by Mikael Bodlore-Penlaez for the promotion of the Stateless Nations and national minorities of Europe in 1999. The establishment aims to publish researches and information obtained through an expansive network of correspondents across Europe. The website provides online service in 30 languages.
ANF / STRASBOURG
ANF NEWS AGENCY
9
KCK: No talks in hand in the current situation
28 September 2012
KCK responds to PM statements on Öcalan and new talks
Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council Presidency has released a statement in response to Turkish authorities’ most recent statements on Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and new talks with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) movement.
KCK evaluated recent statements of government authorities as a “new tactical move” and underlined that “Our movement is currently not having any talks or conducting negotiations with the Turkish state”.
The purpose of the statements on the possibility of new talks is to lead to an expectation among the Kurdish people, not to find a solution to the problem, stated KCK and added that “The Turkish government should expect a response from Kurds after taking concrete and evident steps so that Mr. Öcalan can play his role in the process of dialogue and negotiation.
Denying Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan’s statements which claimed that Kurdish guerrillas have been pushed into their “caves” by means of military operations in the Kurdish region, KCK said that, “The PM’s statements about the ongoing conflict and war environment in Kurdistan don’t reflect the truth as the guerrilla domination in the region continues to expand every day in the midst of intense aerial attacks of the Turkish army. Our movement's new "area domination tactics” is being advanced in not only Şemdinli but also many other parts of the country.”
ANF / BEHDINAN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
10
Heavy clashes in Aleppo, one Kurdish security officer dead
29 September 2012
Clashes between Syrian soldiers and armed opposition activists in Aleppo
A member of the Public Security forces in the Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maksoud (Şêx Meqsûd) lost his life as a result of clashes between Assad’s soldiers and Free Syrian Army in predominantly Kurdish city of Aleppo.
Syrian soldiers and armed opposition activists have been involved in intense clashes near the neighborhood which opposition militants attempted to enter during the conflict early Friday morning. Syrian soldiers also made a move to enter the area from which local defense forces therewith repulsed both sides to not to allow any civilians to come to harm.
39 year-old Resid Habib, a member of Kurdish defense forces, lost his life while three others were injured in the conflict near the neighborhood whose control was soon later taken by YPG forces.
Around 600 thousand Kurds live in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maksoud and Eşrefiye in Syria’s second largest city Aleppo. Security in both neighborhoods is ensured by People’s Defense Units forces
ANF / ALEPPO
ANF NEWS AGENCY
11
PYD: We are concerned about what will come after Assad
30 September 2012
PYD president underlined Kurds want Assad regime to fall but are worried about what will come after
The president of PYD (Democratic Union Party) Salih Muslim said in an interview with Rudaw that "the sooner the Assad regime falls the better. We are concerned - he added - about the replacement of this regime in the future."
Muslim underlined that when the PYD was founded in 2003, it established a relationship with the regime by the mediation of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) leader. However, said Muslim "the relationship with the regime ended, especially after they found out about the establishment of the Adana coalition by Syrian and Turkish Kurds. Two hundred PKK members were captured and handed over to Turkey where they were sentenced to life in prison".
Since its establishment, said Muslim "the PYD has been struggling for the Kurdish cause. We have sacrificed many lives. Ironically, we are now being accused of having a secret relationship with the government that we have fought in the past".
Asked about the relationship between the Syrian government and the Kurdish areas, Salih Muslim replied that "Each opposition group in Syria has its own way. The same is true for the government. The Muslim Brotherhood and the extremists receive logistical help from Turkey to fight the Assad regime. I believe the regime can hold onto its position".
Quoting Winston Churchill as saying “If you want to learn politics, go to Syria”, Muslim added that “We want the regime to fall, but we also think about the future of Kurds in Syria.”
Asked how many cities are under PYD control, Muslim replied that Efrin and Kobane are completely clear of Syrian security forces, while the situation in Qamishli is very sensitive.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
12
War is first item on Parliament agenda
01 October 2012
Parliament to discuss motion about cross-border operations in first meeting of new legislative year
Parliament resumed today after the summer recession beginning its new legislative year with a government motion to extend cross-border operations against Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq.
So, parliament once again is opening talking about war.
The government motion for a one-year extension of the Turkish military’s authorization to stage cross-border operations was already submitted to Parliament in late September. Parliament’s General Assembly will discuss the motion on October 4.
There are talks about another motion proposing to lift the immunity of nine BDP deputies. AKP and the opposition right party MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) have already said they will vote to lift the immunity should a summary of proceedings being introduced in Parliament.
President Abdullah Gül will address members of Parliament today after the General Assembly is convened under the direction of Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek.
The Parliamentary Constitution Commission will also meet on 4 October to discuss a constitutional amendment proposal to hold early local elections. The proposal was drafted by the AKP and has received the backing of the MHP.
ANF / ANKARA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
13
Önder MP: We will continue to work for peace
01 October 2012
Istanbul MP said despite government refusal to work for peace, BDP will continue to search for a solution to Kurdish issue
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder spoke to ANF about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s speech at the AKP congress on Sunday.
Önder criticized those who voice hopes about AKP government will to solve the Kurdish issue and said that Erdoğan gave a clear message to all hopes for a solution. “We should not expect him to solve this problem because the AKP government has never really worked to solve the Kurdish issue”, Önder underlined and noted that the congress yesterday clearly implied that the structure Erdoğan represents doesn’t want a solution to this problem.
Önder pointed out that Erdoğan didn’t mention any policy for a solution to the Kurdish problem and added that; “In my opinion his baffled and surprised mood could easily be observed at the congress as he was speaking.”
Referring to Erdoğan’s statement about negotiations with the BDP, Önder said that the PM wouldn’t like to share the importance of taking a step for a solution with BDP, CHP(Republican People’s Party) and the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party). “He will only share the risk and responsibility with other parties as he himself would like to own the political gain of this step”, said BDP MP.
Önder underlined that the Kurds will strengthen their struggle and move united without ever leaving the political scene to the AKP and added; “BDP will have two main attitudes; to expose and counteract AKP’s war policies and to stand together against those intending to separate the BDP and the Kurds. We will continue to open new ways for peace and solution”, he noted.
BDP MP Önder mentioned the lifting of BDP deputies’ immunity and noted that an attack on any of the deputies will be considered as an attack against all of them.
ANF / ANKARA
ANF NEWS AGENCY
14
KCK trial goes on without lawyers and defendants
02 October 2012
No defendants after court denied access to lawyers and public in the hearing room
KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) main trial in Istanbul continues without defendants and lawyers in the hearing room.
Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court ordered to resume the KCK main trial without defendants who protested because audience and lawyers were prevented from entering the hearing room.
The third sitting of the trial in the afternoon started with chief judge Ali Alçık’s warning to start legal process and dismiss those attempting to break the discipline of the trial.
Arrested defendant Erdal Avcı therewith asked to leave the hearing room, saying that their right to fair trial, self-defense and consulting with their lawyers has been violated.
Avcı asked for the adjournment of the trial to Thursday, which the chief judge rejected before ordering the reading of the accusation.
Kurdish politicians therewith stood up and protested against the chief judge who thereby ordered defendants’ leaving the hearing room except for one defendant.
The hearing continues with the reading of the accusation and without defendants and lawyers.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
15
Kalkan: Political oligarchy prevent solution of Kurdish issue
03 October 2012
KCK Executive Council member Duran Kalkan on recent developments in Turkey and Kurdistan
Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council member Duran Kalkan spoke to ANF about the recent developments in Kurdistan and Turkey.
Referring to the recent statement by Prime Minister Erdogan who said at his party's congress that he "cannot solve the serious Kurdish issue on my own”, Kalkan said that the government should concentrate on dealing with Turkey’s basic problems: democratization and the Kurdish problem.
“Turkey will not exit the war, conflict, bloodshed and poverty context and it will never ensure peace, unity and a free and democratic life without finding a solution to these two basic problems”, underlined Kalkan and remarked that this truth has now imposed itself on the country's agenda. Kalkan in this respect mentioned the agreement among Turkish authorities on the necessity to eliminate the PKK to put an end to the Kurdish issue and adde: “The PKK resistance in 2012 has shown that the organization is now stronger and closely involved with the Kurdish people, their leader, democratic politics and all patriotic powers of Kurdistan. The AKP government talks about plans for the year 2023 but it will not be possible for it to take any steps without ensuring a solution to the Kurdish issue which is the biggest issue in the country in the current situation.”
Kalkan stated that the AKP government has neither power nor policy for a solution and that it therefore accuses the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), BDP (Peace and Democracy Party), CHP (Republican People’s Party) and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) for not making a contribution on the way to a solution.
Kalkan remarked that the current environment in Turkey is the most convenient and favorable so far to bring the Kurdish issue to a solution and noted that Kurds already have the political, military, organizational and ideological sufficiency and unity needed for a solution. On the other hand, added Kalkan, “The Turkish society also asks for a solution and peace now and the return of Kurds’ democratic rights as they have recognized the Kurdish reality with the ongoing war which has greatly harmed them so far and now makes them ask for a brotherly living with the Kurdish people in a free and democratic environment.”
Kalkan pointed out that it is the Turkish political authority that constitutes an obstacle to democratization and a solution to the Kurdish problem and noted that it is however the same political authority that is supposed to ensure these two basic needs. “It is the political and bureaucratic oligarchy that restrains a solution to these vital problems and is leaded by the AKP government itself. Nobody will prevent the AKP in the event of its agreeing on the return of national democratic rights of Kurds”, added Kalkan.
ANF / BEHDINAN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
16
Turkish army bombs Syrian village of Ayn Arus
04 October 2012
Turkey responses to mortar bomb from Syrian territory
Turkish army has targeted the Syrian village of Ayn Arus following a mortar attack which hit the town of Akçakale of southeastern province of Urfa on Wednesday afternoon. The mortar bomb which is reported to have been fired from Syrian territory hit a central neighborhood in the town, killing one woman and her four children and wounding around ten other people.
Relatives of casualties marched to the governor’s office after the incident to voice their concern that they have no safety of life for weeks. Police attacked the mass with tear gas to prevent the march, leading to clashes as people responded with stones.
A statement by Prime Minister’s office said that the Turkish military immediately responded to the mortar attack, hitting the located targets in line with the rules of engagement. The PM’s office statement didn’t outline any details about the location of the Turkish strike which –according to reports ANF received- has targeted the village of Ayn Arus which was recently taken over by Turkey-supported Free Syria Army. The statement added that; "Turkey will never leave unanswered such kinds of provocation by the Syrian regime against our national security."
The incident caused tension in Ankara where Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held an urgent meeting with the Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel.
The ruling AKP called for general assembly of the Parliament which is expected to take place at around 10:00 on Thursday morning.
In a statement about the incident, Syria's Information Minister Omran Zoabi said that Syria was investigating the source of the mortar bomb. Zoabi conveyed his condolences to the Turkish people, saying his country respected the sovereignty of neighboring countries. The Minister also called on other countries to respect Syria's sovereignty and to control their borders to stop gunmen from entering Syria.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
17
Karayılan: Government needs to recognize Kurdish interlocutors
04 October 2012
Karayılan spoke to ANF about recent developments
In an interview to ANF, Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council President Murat Karayılan assessed recent speculation about the possibility of the Turkish state talking with the Kurdish side. Karayılan also assessed PM Erdoğan refusal to talk with the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) and the ongoing war in Kurdistan.
Pointing out the long-standing isolation on PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan, Karayılan underlined that talks with the Kurdish leader could only take place on condition of him being granted a free and safe environment and added this was the only way to find a permanent solution to the Kurdish problem. The KCK president noted that “the Kurdish movement was ready to decide to lay down arms forever but this changed when the Oslo talks were suddenly ended by the AKP government.”
Referring to PM Erdoğan saying he would not talk with the BDP, Karayılan remarked that the Kurdish problem cannot be resolved without its interlocutors: the PKK, Öcalan and the BDP.
Commenting on Öcalan recent meeting with his brother in Imralı, Karayılan said that the government allowed a one-off meeting in the face of recent demands and pressures about the situation of prisoners in Imralı. He however underlined that this meeting didn’t mean the ending of the isolation regime Öcalan is subjected to.
“The AKP government wants to create the impression of a new negotiation process despite having no substructure ready to come up with a solution to the Kurdish issue”, said Karayılan and evaluated this attempt as the typical AKP tactics of rising hope without substantiate it. The KCK president pointed out that the Turkish state should present a project to show that it is genuinely determined to solve the Kurdish issue.
Referring to the possibility of BDP deputies being tried because of their talks with Kurdish guerrillas they met at a road control in the Şemdinli highway in mid-August, Karayılan warned that the arrest of BDP deputies would deepen the war and noted that; “It is a great contradiction for the Turkish state to mention negotiations with the PKK while refusing to sit at the table with the legal representative of the Kurdish political life.”
ANF / BEHDINAN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
18
Protests against Turkey’s authorizing military operations in Syria
05 October 2012
Turkish parliament has authorized military to use ground troops for cross-border military operations into Syria
Thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the one-year mandate the ruling AKP government received from the Parliament for military operations in foreign countries. The Parliament passed the mandate with a 320-129 vote, with Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) voting against it and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voting in favor of it, defending that the party acts by taking national interests into consideration.
The “No War” demonstration in Kızılay area of Ankara was severely attacked by police as protestors wanted to march to the PM’s office in the same area. Clashes broke out during the demo as police used tear gas and pressure water to disperse the mass.
One other anti-war demo was staged at Taksim Square of Istanbul where thousands loudly said that the people in Turkey don’t want their country to turn into a battle field.
In a statement to ANF, BDP Mersin MP Ertuğrul Kürkçü said that any method of military intervention should be refused so that the war environment in the region could end and a solution could be found through steps in the international area.
Kürkçü also criticized some government officials for defending the mandate as a measure for deterrence to be used by Turkey to protect its borders and retaliate when necessary.
Diyarbakır Bar Association President Mehmet Emin Aktar also criticized the mandate which he evaluated as preparation for war that should absolutely be objected to.
The parliamentary mandate authorizes the government for military operations beyond Turkey's borders and opens the way for military measures in addition to the retaliatory strikes. The mandate was urgently passed following a mortar attack which hit the town of Akçakale of southeastern province of Urfa on Wednesday afternoon. The mortar bomb which is reported to have been fired from Syrian territory hit a central neighborhood in the town, killing five people and wounding around ten others.
The Turkish military immediately responded to the mortar attack, hitting the located targets in line with the rules of engagement, said Prime Minister’s office on Wednesday but didn’t outline any details about the location of the Turkish strike.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
19
More prisoners join hunger strike in Turkey
05 October 2012
The indefinite and non-alternate strike of Kurdish prisoners expanding across the country
Six prisoners from Bayburt M Type Prison and ten others from Batman M Type Closed Prison have joined the hunger strike that has been staged by PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) and PAJK (Kurdistan Women’s Liberation Party) since 12 September in protest against the isolation on PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and denial of self-defense at courts in mother language.
In a letter about the strike action, sixteen prisoners announced their joining the indefinite and non-alternate strike as of 5 October. Prisoners said that they will not hesitate to pay any price for the ending of the severe isolation imposed on Kurdish people’s leader.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
20
Saturday Mothers: Take to the streets, say no to war
06 October 2012
Mothers gathered for the 393rd time to ask for justice
Saturday Mothers gathered for the 393rd time at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul, calling on the Turkish society to take to the streets and to say no to war in the face of the most recently approved war motion for Syria.
“We will all lose our children in this war”, said mothers and pointed out that Turkey is being dragged into a new war environment.
Mothers asked Erdoğan if he will also send his son into this war and underlined that the people in Turkey will be suffering from a new war and pain in addition to the war going on for 30 years now.
ANF / ISTANBUL
ANF NEWS AGENCY
21
Kurds in Europe protest 9 October conspiracy against Öcalan
07 October 2012
Demonstrations in European countries for the Kurdish leader
Kurds and their friends in Europe have once again taken to the streets this year to protest against the 9 October 1998 international conspiracy against PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The international conspiracy which ended up with Kurdish leader’s being expelled from Syria was protested in the German city of Kassel, Swedish city of Stockholm, Swiss capital city Bern as well as French cities of Marseille and Paris.
With the marches and protest demonstrations at the 14th anniversary of the conspiracy, Kurdish people voiced their demand for Öcalan’s freedom and called on international establishments to take action against the severe isolation imposed on the Kurdish leader for the last fourteen months.
On the other hand, the international signature campaign for Kurdish leader’s freedom is also expanding across the Europe with the most recent stands opened in Finland’s capital city Helsinki, Norway’s capital city Oslo, Swiss city of Zurich, Austrian city of Dornbirn and French city of Toulouse.
One other protest for Öcalan’s freedom has been carried out in the German city of Lohne where a group of Kurdish people started a hunger strike in support to that of political prisoners in Turkish prisons. The three-day strike will end with a public meeting on the 8th of October.
ANF / NEWS DESK
ANF NEWS AGENCY
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