International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 7 November 2003
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
The Turkish Dilemma Or One Swallow Doesn't
Make A Summer
The European Commission's regular report on Turkey's progress towards
accession has been published. In fact, the report notices some progress
in view of achieving compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria.
Again, however, it is observed that this progress can not yet be
seen in Turkish everyday life. The Commission, therefore, invites
Turkey to follow up its legal reforms with actions. This is the
point where the real Turkish dilemma becomes obvious. Although an
impressive number of laws was changed within a short span of time
- including improved cultural liberties for the Kurdish community
- as soon as the practical implementation was on the agenda the
reforming zeal soon came to a standstill.
Both the powerful military and the traditionally Kemalist bureaucracy
still eye these reforms sceptically. Hence, the reforms only exist
on paper so far. The human rights situation is still disastrous,
and the most simple democratic demands of oppositional parties only
meet with repression. There is still no substantial change of views.
The EU, however, confines itself to the role of an observer. There
is the belief that the mere task of complying with the Copenhagen
Criteria might kick off evolutionary dynamics that will eventually
solve the Turkish problems. This is not a realistic approach. In
particular the Kurdish question is not simply one problem among
many. It is Turkey's main problem. The conflict that cost about
40.000 lives and has made millions suffer is still smouldering,
waiting for a solution. Therefore, the problem needs to be recognised
and called by its name - by the conflict parties as well as by the
enlargement strategists of the Union. The Commission has again shied
away from this, thus not playing a very constructive part. It is
not the job of the candidate countries only to provide security
and stability at the present EU-borders, particularly when the Turkish-Kurdish
conflict is again heading for an escalation.
The situation of the Kurdish leader Ocalan is still a source of
tensions in the Kurdish community in Turkey. In many cases protests
ended in clashes with Turkish security forces. It was only last
weekend that 15.000 Kurds gathered in the Eastern Turkish city of
Van to protest against Abdullah Ocalan's solitary confinement. After
his illegal abduction from Kenya on 15 February 2003 Ocalan is imprisoned
on the Turkish island of Imrali as the only prisoner under severe
conditions. The solitary confinement has already deteriorated his
health markedly.
The increasing number of clashes between Kurdish rebels and the
Turkish military make it clear that the ceasefire is more than fragile.
Furthermore, the unilaterally declared ceasefire might be all over
and done with on December 1, if the Turkish government does not
take some real steps towards a solution of the Kurdish question
by then. This would probably mean war once again. It is highly questionable
if this can be averted by the simple trust in the miraculous workings
of the Copenhagen criteria alone.
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