|
 |
Arzu Celalifer Ekinci
USAK Center for Energy Studies |
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 20 July 2006
One of the hottest issues in Turkish agenda is the recent PKK attacks against Turkish security forces that have been increased during the last two weeks. Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that was established by Abdullah Ocalan in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist separatist organization (upon their further operations the organization was included in the list of terrorist groups in most of the world countries) has the main goal to establish an independent Kurdish state in southeast Turkey, Northern Iraq, and parts of Iran and Syria. Following this aim PKK began its campaign of armed terrorist violence in 1984, which has resulted in some 30,000 casualties. After the detention of Abdullah Ocalan by Turkish authorities in early 1999 the Turkish State Security Court subsequently sentenced him to capital penalty. Upon his detention in August 1999, Ocalan announced a peace initiative, ordering the members to refrain from violence and requesting dialogue with Ankara on Kurdish issues. In late 2003, the group sought to create another political face-lift, renaming itself as Kongra-Gel (KGK) and promoting its intentions while continuing to conduct attacks in its so called self-defense context and to refuse disarmament. Later on the group’s hard-line militant wing, the People’s Defense Force (HPG), renounced its self-imposed cease-fire on June 2004 but has continued its attacks in some degree. Following the cease-fire announcement, the group had divided into two factions: reformists and hardliners who advocated a return to violence. Finally the hardliners took control of the group and until now the terror related problems of Turkish Government have kept its seriousness. During this period Turkish Government has waited for a comprehensive cooperation and fundamental solution from U.S as strategic partner but ironically there have been no attempt from the U.S so far. After the latest Iraq war and invasion of the country by U.S it would be easier to eliminate the approximately 5,000 armed militants of the PKK whom currently are located in Northern Iraq but unfortunately again there were no such attempts.
This weakest link of U.S.-Turkish relations was also reminded by Iran along with her diplomacy tours regarding the nuclear crisis. Head of High National Security Forces and top negotiator Ali Larijani pointed out that U.S. negotiates with the terrorist PKK in Iraq but do nothing to prevent their terrorist activities and eliminating their camps located in Northern Iraq during his visit to Turkey in May 2006. Throughout those days there was also news about the Iranian Forces’ cross-border operations and missile attacks against the PKK camps. The message tried to be given by Iran was the cooperative rapprochement of Iran and the indifference or double standard rapprochement of the U.S regarding the issue. The initiative came from Iran was interpreted as a strategy game to strengthen her position in the vicious circle of nuclear crisis. Frankly speaking the efforts came from Iran could be interpreted as a strategy game in favor of her country, but it is just one side of the coin. On the hand it shall be reminded that Iran is struggling with Pejak that is associated with PKK and pursuing its terrorist activities against Iranian military forces on Iranian territory. So that Turkish-Iranian cooperation shall not be surprising, on the contrary it shall be understood that this cooperation is vital to remove the terrorist activities’ roots in the region. On the other side there is a naked truth: “Why the U.S. does not help Turkey in the fight against PKK and terrorism” and “Why all the cooperation words are hanging in the air without any concrete attempt”?
Finally the death of 14 Turkish soldiers by PKK militants in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia forced Turkey to take firm steps. A consensus reached by the Security Summit and the Council of Ministers meeting on July 17 called for a cross-border operation.
Turkey, warned Iraq and the U.S that she is losing patience over the presence of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Kandil Mountain. U.S administration that is not preferred a unilateral cross-border operation into northern Iraq by Turkey and defend that such an operation will not be logic was told that “the U.S should fulfill its responsibilities as an ally of Turkey and stop pursuing double-standard policies.” But regarding the demand of complete removal of the PKK, the US says it does not want Turkey to enter Northern Iraq. In response, Turkey said that she neither wishes to occupy Iraq nor to destroy it. Obviously, the aim is to use the right of legitimate defense in order to end terrorism that should have been stopped by the Iraqi government. Since the Middle East is shaking with the Israel-Palestine-Lebanon conflict nowadays and Israel is accused of using unbalanced power within the concept of self-defense and the U.S supports the right of self-defense of Israel and her unbalanced retaliation for two soldiers, it is inevitable for Turkey to interrogate her right of self-defense in consideration with the 30.000 casualties left behind the terrorist attacks. In the fight against terrorism, there are different methods practiced by different countries. But when we compare the conflict arose upon the hijacking of Israeli soldiers with murdered innocent people by terrorist attacks of PKK, and when we compare the approaches of two countries to fight against terrorism, we can see the obvious imbalance. In spite of the approach of Turkey that aims minimum civilian casualties and acting within the international law rules and the approach of Israel that does not care the civil society and indifference to international law, U.S as a super power who is responsible to establish the balance of power in the international system is acting unfair. This injustice view is the breaking point of the issue.
While the discussion is sparked between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson concerning a unilateral operation of Turkey in Northern Iraq, there was a striking news on Iranian Baztab News Agency today. According to this report, in parallel with the increase in PKK terrorist group’s attacks, the military forces of Iran have also increased the operations against this terrorist group. And after calculating the results of the latest two operations it was revealed that the death toll in PKK side was 54 and this has shown the increase of casualties of PKK in recent operations. Among the death militants there was also “Ismail Shojai” who was the father in law of Osman Ocalan.
On the other hand, The Iranian Ambassador to Ankara, Firouz Dowlatabadi in his interview with Cihan News Agency, has said that Iran will support Turkey in case of a possible military operation against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq and estimated that Turkey’s entrance into northern Iraq to eradicate terrorist hideouts will not affect Iran. He also underlined the double standard policy of U.S. in the region.
As a conclusion, it is clear that Turkey cannot afford the PKK terrorist attacks anymore and on the other hand the stability in the Middle East is more fragile than ever to afford another war front. Especially during these days that the new maps of Middle East is wandering around, both Iran and Turkey that have the common problem of PKK terrorism. Iran is fighting against the attacks on her side and Turkey is preparing for a cross-border military operation. So the U.S that has the control in Iraq shall take concrete steps concerning the cooperation against fighting the PKK terrorism and help to solve the problem without another disaster scenario in the region. By this approach, U.S will make an effort to repair its image concerning the double standard policies and anti-U.S opinions in region.
Arzu Celalifer is a researcher at International Strategic Research Organization-Centre of Middle Eastern Studies.
celalifer@yahoo.com
