June 2009
Editorial
The pitfalls behind the Kurdish reform
Recently Turkey has witnessed critical developments regarding the Kurdish issue. Just after local elections on March 29, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has started to mention a Kurdish reform. In the meantime, President Abdullah Gül argued that the conditions are ripe for a solution and this statement has triggered a debate on the so-called solution. The spokesmen of the Kurdish movement, who weighed in with the debate from Mount Kandil, Northern Iraq, gave signals of conciliation through their “commission of wise men” proposal; hence new tensions and debates have accelerated over the issue.
The Politbureau of TKP released an issue of the Voice of TKP on Kurdish issue and the arguments of “solution”, and warned the public that “the so-called ‘solution’ would only incite conflict and hatred.”
TKP has called everyone to see the role of the US behind the curtain and reminded that the most important and “determinant” force in the “solution” to the Kurdish issue is the imperialist U.S. None of the ongoing debates could be evaluated without taking the U.S. into account. Currently, the U.S. has transformed the war and occupation in Iraq to “permanent residence” and resorts to founding a new post-occupation order for the sake of her own interests. For this reason, it is crucial for the U.S. to establish a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq, to render this region secure for herself. A Kurdish state relying on imperialism, however, means a second Israel for the peoples of the Middle East; hence, by no means it could bring freedom to the Kurdish people.
The re-arrangement operation launched by imperialism in the Middle East concerns Turkey closely. An imperialist transformation plan for Turkey is being implemented step by step. The imperialist thrust, which is also visible on issues such as the Armenian initiative or the pro-NATO mission in the Caucasus adopted by Turkey, is also stepping in with regard to the Kurdish problem.
Collaborator and reactionary AKP has fully submitted herself to these policies. AKP is endeavoring to cover its submission under the rubric of neo-Ottomanism and to create a sphere of legitimacy by this term. AKP is seeking to have a part in the play staged by imperialist policies.
A war has been going on for the last three decades due to the Kurdish problem. The sovereigns of Turkey, who chose violence in Kurdish issue for years, carried out a completely oppressive and destructive policy through evacuation of villages, extrajudicial executions and the bans over Kurdish identity and language. The decision to take the path of denial and destruction has come to mean a deadlock in the current situation, which, unfortunately, pushed the “solution” to the Kurdish issue to the arms of imperialism.
Putting it shortly, this procedure has come to mean the vitalization of the U.S. project through the blood bath created over years.
The U.S. project has been put into effect step by step. This plan has been adopted by all, ranging from liberals to reactionaries, and even by Democratic Society Party (DTP), which has articulated itself to the picture labeled as “peace initiative”. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), in turn, has started to give covert signals indicating that it will not thwart the process. As the United States endeavors to build a new puppet state in Northern Iraq for her interests, Turkey has settled for this “reality” and started to take the steps in the Kurdish issue according to the U.S. interests.
Their “solution” provokes conflict among people
However the expectations of “solution” based on the influence of an imperialist power would inevitably be upset, since this process will certainly create new tensions and conflicts. Since many agents have been included in the procedure with various expectations and under various conditions, the Kurdish issue has the potential to evolve into a full-fledged societal war in Turkey. As imperialism becomes the main determinant of such a vulnerable issue, all kinds of provocations and social conflicts shall be deemed highly possible. The transformation of the procedure, presented as a solution, into conflict is now a more possible alternative. And the conflict will not be one between the state and the PKK, but one between Turks and Kurds. TKP asserts that not only the “imperialist solution”, but also the possible “conflict” that this procedure might give rise to shall be highlighted.
The first thing to do under these circumstances is to prevent the “blood bath” to expand. The arms should be silenced. All parties should stop negotiations with imperialist countries. The U.S. and the EU should be abandoned from the procedure.
TKP unreservedly and decisively advocates all democratic rights of the Kurds. It is our duty to cry out loud that, what will be presented as solution at this new stage will just be a scam as all other policies of AKP. On the other hand, Turkish laborers have to understand well that any people who tyrannize others or allows other peoples to be tyrannized cannot be free. It is even more important today to win Turkish and Kurdish laborers to common struggle waged side by side against imperialism and capitalism.
“Reformist AKP”, by Aydemir Güler (Member of the Politbureau of TKP)
“AKP is getting ready to open door for a reform on the Kurdish question. This is obvious.
Manifestations are pouring down from everywhere, from the Irbil initiative of the followers of Fethullah Gülen to TRT 6, from Gül to Tayyip, from Iraqi Kurds to those that deal out hopes.
Whatever is afoot, it is not for a solution to the Kurdish question, but is clearly related with the Middle East plans of USA and with the roles to which Turkey of AKP is mobilizing itself within that scope. No matter what, it can be stated that it involves a break away from the traditional policies of Turkey.
It is a kind of reform. All reforms do not move forward. Some of them move backwards; make living more difficult for peoples. Still, it is a reform.
Simultaneously, the reformist AKP government is showing stick to the parliamentarians of DTP. Those anticipating liberalization from the reform are naive, if not liars. The reform carrot is displayed simultaneously with the courtroom stick, and there is nothing astonishing here.
Solution? Do not even mention it. However, this is a reform that does not progress forward and overcome but complicates the knot. It is definitely a reform. AKP has proven its readiness to take some steps along this way.
Reformist AKP is keeping the hostility against Kurds in reserve when talking on Kurdish solution.
Turkey is getting nearer and nearer to war and fascism through reforms of AKP.”
Ahmet Davutoğlu: A portrait of a foreign minister as a pro-American Islamist
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the new minister of foreign affairs in AKP cabinet, is known as the architect of regional initiatives of the Islamist government. Before getting assigned to this post, he was the chief advisor of the prime minister on foreign affairs. He urged the prime minister to take a more active role in regional issues such as Arab-Israeli conflict, political unrest in East Africa and the integration of Syria to the imperialist-capitalist system.
Being a rigorous pro-American and Islamist, Davutoğlu has underpinned the government’s endeavors to build close relations with the US administration. His “active foreign policy” argument has provided a basis for Turkey’s services to the US, and for reinforcing close ties with Israel in political, economic and military areas.
His best-selling book “Strategic Depth” can be read as the guideline of his foreign policy vision. There he criticizes the roots of Turkish foreign policy:
“This new approach defined in Atatürk's words "Peace at home, peace in the world" was, besides advertising a peace oriented idealist international perspective, trying to avoid conflicts with the imperialist systemic powers and was realist in this sense.
Consistent with this perspective, the Republic rejected all Ottoman ideals and institutions, and created a new political culture. To preserve the political unity of the political elite, it undertook wide reforms abolishing institutions and political identities against the West.”
It can be easily understood from the above paragraphs that Davutoğlu’s bold statements on a new perspective are merely covert expressions of new-Ottomanist dreams of the AKP government. Definitions such as “active foreign policy” or “Turkey as a global actor” are the new envelopes used to blur AKP government’s will to be a prominent tool of imperialism in this region.
National soil for sale
The AKP government attempted to pass a law from Turkish parliament, which would enable the government to privatize a vast area lying along Turkey’s Syrian border in return for clearing mined soil. The government announced that their plan is to grant the land to an Israeli company for 44 years, which would clear the land from the landmines.
This new project has once again exposed AKP’s desire to sell national soil and AKP’s unfading friendship with Israel.
The general assembly of Turkish parliament decided to draw back the law for further discussions at the commission.
The totally illogical attempt of the government met with some strong criticisms from the society. The Turkish Armed Forces had also been the target of criticisms since the army covered this area with mines against smuggling and PKK forces. In reply to the criticisms, the representatives of the Turkish Armed Forces pointed to a special unit of NATO as the address instead of the Israeli company.
Lands of Southeastern Anatolia are fertile and could have been an important source of income for many families living in poverty at that area.
While many pointed out the dangers and threats of settling Israel on Syrian border, it is known that acres of agricultural land had already been sold to Israel in Southeastern Anatolia.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan roared at those criticizing the government on this issue and said: “Is it so easy to say ‘Alas, we are losing our country!’ just because global capital of certain religion came to invest on the country’s land.”
He continued: “Money does not have religion, nation and race. Learn this well. Unfortunately, there are people who think money has religion, nation and race. Let it be George, who come and invest. When he builds a factory here, will he leave taking his factory with him? He will work here; whom will he employ? Ahmet, Mehmet, Fatma, Ayşe…”
Although the debate is frozen for the time being, it shall be expected that AKP government will retry to sell the borderland.
Get Ready for 2010!
TKP has halted its periodical party cell meetings for a short term and impelled all areas, party members and organizations to hold open meetings with non-members. This new initiative has not been designed to recruit new members to the party only, but to create new channels of discussion, opinion exchange with different sections of the society at different localities. This is the result of a vital necessity to resist the threats posed against the people by liberalism, Americanism and reactionism. Through these meetings it is expected that certain focuses of resistance in the society will flourish or the existing ones will be entrenched by these endeavors.
In this regard TKP summoned the people to think on Turkey’s problems and seek for solutions together with the party. This initiative has been carried out under the slogan “Get Ready for 2010!”
The following text was released as a first call:
“The country needs more people like you, more people thinking like you. You need to take part in discussions, be productive, act in solidarity, learn together, take decisions, and speak out. You need to claim your rights, do something about your country, and create a Turkey where you don’t feel shame before your children.
You cannot recede anymore; you cannot wait anymore. Let the money lords recede, let the collaborators quail, and let the religion fanatics shut their mouth!
At home, in your workplace, in your district, in your village, in your town, at the bus, in the hospital, at school; you cannot be a mere spectator while Turkey and her future are ruined.
Reactionism has not retreated in 2009. The imperialists are pressing; the class of bosses is lying heavy on the laborers on the excuse of the crisis. You cannot postpone your responsibilities; you cannot lose even a day. But you must be, we must be more coordinated, more clearheaded, more organized, more powerful.
For this reason, we say, “Don’t let 2009 go, get ready for 2010!"
What we have lived through in the years we have left behind were the forerunner of 2009. If we do not take precautions in 2010, we will miss 2009 bitterly. Yet, there’s no receding for us. We must drive them back; it’s them who must recede.
You must get ready for 2010; we must get ready for 2010!
Because in 2010, the waters in the politics of Turkey will get warm; new pursuits will come up, tensions will climb.
Because in 2010, Turkey will go into an atmosphere of elections.
Because in 2010, heavy consequences of the economic crisis will precipitate on our people.
Because in 2010, the plans of the USA on Kurdish issue will be implemented.
Because in 2010, discussions on the constitution will intensify.
Because in 2010, the attitude of the political power against the working people will become tougher.
Let’s unite our powers.
Let’s discuss. Let’s talk about what can be done against the right wing’s growing strength in our locality. Let’s think about how we can take measures against the bosses’ tyranny and arbitrariness in the sector, in the workplace where we work.
Let’s beat our brains over how we can resist to Americanism and the influence of the European Union at our school. Let’s find out the ways of stopping the religious sectarianism and the religious communities. Let’s not allow ignorance, rottenness, injustices, drugs, violence against women, destruction of the nature and our cultural values.
Let’s proliferate. Let’s find people thinking like us.
Let’s share our thoughts with more people.
Let’s deliver our products, our publications to more people.
Let’s not get inured to any negativity. Let’s build up focuses of resistance in each and every location of Turkey.
For this purpose, every week the Communist Party of Turkey comes together with enlightened people who love their country; discusses the problems of the homeland, seeks for solutions and most importantly, sows the seeds of “liberation” on all corners of the country.
We are proliferating fast; we are getting ready for 2010.”