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October 21, 2007
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Media Release
Kurdish Human Rights Initiative calls upon the Australian Government to stand firm against Turkey’s aggression.
Kurdish Human Rights Initiative
Turkey has been bombarding Iraqi Kurdistan for months which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of Kurdish population in the area. Turkish parliament, encouraged by lack of any effective reaction from the international community, passed a resolution on 17 October 2007, authorizing the invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey has mobilised about 60,000 of its forces alongside the border threatening to invade at any moment. On previous occasions, Turkey invaded Iraqi Kurdistan to no avail. In fact, Turkey has tried to eliminate the Kurdistan Workers Party’s (PKK) guerrillas since 1984 but has had no success. This time would be no different.
The Kurdish issue in Turkey is political and needs a political solution. Since its foundation, in 1923, the Turkish state has denied the very existence of the Kurds and has been continuing its policy of denial to this date.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 to “protect” an estimated 200,000 Turkish Cypriots while denying the identity of about 40 million Kurds. It has prevented any peaceful and democratic manifestation of Kurdish identity and has harassed, detained, and killed those who have sought a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue.
Turkey has vehemently opposed the emergence of a federal Kurdish state in Iraq and is determined to deny the rights of the Kurds in other parts of Kurdistan. We believe that Turkey’s planned invasion is partly aimed to weaken the Kurdistan Regional Government and to influence the referendum in Kirkuk.
The United States is bound by international laws and regulations to defend Iraqi Kurdistan. As a partner in the “Coalition of the willing”, Australia is also obliged to defend Kurdistan against the Turkish aggression. But so far, Australia has remained silent over the issue.
It is not enough for both the United States and Australia to express their concern over Turkey’s threat. They must develop a concrete response to this aggression. If Turkey continues with its planned invasion it will lead to bloodshed and death of many civilians. Ultimately, the United States, Australia and their partners would be responsible for failing to protect the Kurds.
We again reiterate our belief that the Kurdish question can not be resolved by military aggression; it has to be resolved through peaceful means.
We call upon Turkey to exercise restrain and seek a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. We also urge the Australian Government to initiate a mediation strategy similar to Israeli/Palestinian peace process to resolve the Kurdish issue.
For further information please contact Dr. Hussein Tahiri at tahiri1@optusnet.com.au, or Rafet Kent at rifatkent@yahoo.com
Kurdish Human Rights Initiative
Melbourne, Australia
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