Reactions and Analysis
I finally ran into a friend of mine I have been meaning to ask about the protests and rioting. Ozan is an international relations student in Ankara and happily shared his thoughts on the tension with the Kurds in Turkey.
First he reminded me that this was not a new thing, the Kurdish Workers Party (PARTİYA KARKERA KURDİSTAN or PKK) has been active sine 1984 and more than 30,000 people have died as a result of this conflict.
Turkey's constitution has special rights for minority ethnic groups that the Kurds wish to have applied to them along with a federal state of Kurdistan in Southeast Turkey. Turkey refuses the first because it does not count Kurds as a minority, they are the majority in Southeast Turkey. Those opposed to applying the special rights claim the Kurds are seeking to pick and chose through the constitution to abuse the laws.
The second is refused because the Republic of Turkey wishes to remain unified rather than divide by ethnic groupings. They feel dividing populations ethnically and erecting walls runs contrary to democracy, though many see the prolonged struggle as a sign that democracy is failing in Turkey. There is also the strong possibility that if attacks like the ones seen from separatist groups continue Turkey will respond militarily, the normal police would not be able to investigate and make arrests in an autonomous Kurdish state.
The renewed conflict and recent rioting has caused more pressure on Turkey over joining the European Union and it seems the Prime Minister may be up for granting extra rights to allow Turkey to enter the Union as a whole entity.
BBC Story Here
First he reminded me that this was not a new thing, the Kurdish Workers Party (PARTİYA KARKERA KURDİSTAN or PKK) has been active sine 1984 and more than 30,000 people have died as a result of this conflict.
Turkey's constitution has special rights for minority ethnic groups that the Kurds wish to have applied to them along with a federal state of Kurdistan in Southeast Turkey. Turkey refuses the first because it does not count Kurds as a minority, they are the majority in Southeast Turkey. Those opposed to applying the special rights claim the Kurds are seeking to pick and chose through the constitution to abuse the laws.
The second is refused because the Republic of Turkey wishes to remain unified rather than divide by ethnic groupings. They feel dividing populations ethnically and erecting walls runs contrary to democracy, though many see the prolonged struggle as a sign that democracy is failing in Turkey. There is also the strong possibility that if attacks like the ones seen from separatist groups continue Turkey will respond militarily, the normal police would not be able to investigate and make arrests in an autonomous Kurdish state.
The renewed conflict and recent rioting has caused more pressure on Turkey over joining the European Union and it seems the Prime Minister may be up for granting extra rights to allow Turkey to enter the Union as a whole entity.
BBC Story Here
posted by Alex Gray at 09:36
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