The AKP’s ‘New Kurdish Strategy’ Is Nothing of the Sort

An Interview with Selahattin Demirtas by Jake Hess | published May 2, 2012

Selahattin Demirtas is co-president of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party of Turkey (BDP), the fourth largest political party in the country. The BDP is not formally tied to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been in armed conflict with the Turkish state since 1984, but it shares the PKK’s core political demands and the two groups likely have many supporters in common. As such, the BDP is a pivotal player in the search for peace. Hopes for a political solution to the decades-old confrontation between the Kurds and the government of Turkey were raised in 2009, when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) launched an initiative known as the “Kurdish” or “democratic opening,” only for the effort to collapse that winter. Talk of democratic reforms and a new approach to the Kurdish issue has resurfaced since the AKP won a third term in the 2011 parliamentary elections, but prospects remain grim as PKK-army clashes and political repression of the Kurdish movement continue. A lawyer by trade, Demirtas represents the Hakkari province in the Turkish parliament and is a past vice president of the Human Rights Association of Turkey. Jake Hess interviewed him in Washington during a BDP parliamentary delegation visit in April and translated the conversation from Turkish. Read more

Hunger Strike in Strasbourg ends after 52 days

The 15 Kurdish activists in Strasbourg have ended their hunger strike action today on the 52nd day. At a press conference they declared, that the action has broken a wall of silence. The hunger strikers are also convinced that their demands have been taken seriously by the relevant institutions, and that practical measures will be taken. 
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BDP Executive board member for Istanbul/Arnavutkoy has been killed by the Turkish Police.

20/03/2012: The Newroz Celebrations which were to be held on March 18th had been banned in Istanbul and Diyarbakir by the Turkish internal affairs ministry. The cause of the ban on the Celebration was the wish to celebrate Newroz on 18th March instead of 21st March which is actually Newroz day. But in previous years, Newroz has been celebrated on different dates and no problems have occurred. The ban includes a political meaning and the Government is aiming to ban the celebration itself.   Read more

Turkish police fight Kurdish protesters, one dead

One million people ask for peace: Despite the violence and the intimidation by the police, one million people managed to reach the area where Newroz celebrations are taking place in Diyarbakir.

Since early this morning people started to pour into the streets, walking and by buses and cars. Police tried to block the way by attacking the crowd gathering with tear gas and baton charging. Read more

EU concerned about use of chemical weapons by Turkish military | News | AKNEWS.com

DOZENS ARRESTED AND NEWROZ CELEBRATIONS CANCELLED IN TURKEY

Newroz celebrations in Istanbul and Diyarbakir have been cancelled for March 18 after the provincial governorships banned its celebration prior to 21, March. The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirta? has said in a brief statement that the current ruling party in Turkey (AKP) is responsible for this and “No army, no police, no force shall prevent the Kurdish people’s march to freedom.” Nearly one hundred Kurdish activists were arrested earlier this week, and no information has been revealed about them. The National alleges that these activists were ‘militants’ with ‘explosive material’ ahead of Newroz Read more

Newroz 2012 a Festival of Freedom

The festival of Newroz on 21 March, which the Kurds will soon be celebrating in their millions, is a key date in the Kurdish cultural calendar and, over recent decades, it has taken on extra political significance as a rare occasion when Kurds can freely come together to express their identity as a people and demonstrate their strength of feeling and unity of purpose for the basic demands of peace, freedom and their democratic rights.

This year it has been announced that the main celebrations in North Kurdistan will take place in Diyarbakir on Sunday 18 March. A mass turnout is expected for what will be a major public display of resistance by Kurds against the repressive measures of the Erdogan government. Celebrations marking Newroz are to be held also in 127 different locations this year under the slogan, ‘Enough is enough, either freedom or freedom.’  Read more

TURKEY’S JAILED JOURNALISTS

Quick: What country jails the most journalists?

If you guessed China, you were close, but no cigar. Twenty-seven reporters are in prison there, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York. If you guessed Iran, you’re getting warmer—forty-two in prison there—but you’re still off.

How many of you guessed Turkey? Read more

TURKISH GENERAL STAFF KNEW ULUDERE VICTIMS WERE NOT PKK REBELS

A military source has told Today’s Zaman the purpose behind the deadly airstrike in Uludere district of Sirnak was done purposely to put the Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozel in a “difficult position”. The airstrike which resulted in the killing of 34 civilian food-smugglers was done with knowledge that they were not rebels or even associated with them. Read more

Turkey: Save heritage site Hasankeyf

Press Release by the Turkish Nature Association Doga Dernegi:

Villagers’ protest at Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace draws attention to impending loss of World Heritage in their home town. 

Planned Ilisu dam will inundate 12,000-year history including the ancient town of Hasankeyf.

26th January 2012, Istanbul, Turkey – Tourists today experienced the deprivation of enjoying one of Istanbul’s most iconic cultural and historical monuments as villagers from the historical town of Hasankeyf in the southeast of Turkey blocked the entrance of Topkapi Palace (1) to draw attention to the impending loss of their ancient town threatened by a major dam. Read more

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