Peace delegation: The process was sabotaged by the Turkish state
Peace delegation: The process was sabotaged by the Turkish state
Peace groups from Qandil Mountain and Makhmur Refugee Camp in Iraq that came to Turkey in October 2009 upon a call from imprisoned Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan returned to Iraq.
The group held a press conference in Makhmur upon their arrival and stated that they went to Turkey in order to contribute peace talks, however due to prosecutions and pressure from the Turkish state the circumstances are no longer suitable for them to stay in Turkey.
Speaking in front of the UN office in Makhmur the spokesperson of the group Gülbahar Çiçek stated that “Our initiative for peace was not responded by the Turkish side.” She further stated that although some members of the group came from Qandil Mountain they are not going back to mountains to fight but stay in Makhmur where they will continue their endeavours for peace.
Speaking on the group came from Makhmur Camp Bülent Aka said that the circumstances of 1990’s which made them flee and take refuge in Iraq have not changed. Therefore, they had to return to the refugee camp.
The process was sabotaged by the Turkish state
Remanding that some members of the peace delegation are still in prisons Gülbahar Çiçek said: “Our movement declared for the sixth time a cease fire on 13 April 2009. AKP government however, started arresting members of the legal Kurdish democratic movement in Turkey on 14 April 2009. Similarly, Kurdish women were subjected to pressure, sometimes abused. Kurdish children were imprisoned and military operations against the guerrillas increased.”
Çiçek also reminded that initially there would be a third peace group coming from Europe but due to approach from the Turkish government this initiative was also suspended. She further stated that the Turkish PM Erdoðan has changed his attitude which was moderate at the beginning. But he later tried to manipulate their return to Turkey and launch it as surrender.
Çiçek also stated that although they sent letters to the President, Head of Parliament, Prime Minister and the Chief of General Staff in order to explain the reasons for their return to Turkey but they could not receive any responses. Çiçek further stated that one of their aim was to reach Turkish people and deliver their peace message but due to atmosphere created by the Turkish authorities their attempts have failed and remained limited within the Kurdish region.
Çiçek further stated that they will not go back to mountains to fight but stay in Makhmur and keep working for peace. The group members also applied UN representative for refugee status.
Who are the peace groups?
Eight PKK members from Qandil and twenty six refugees, including four children, from Makhmur Refugee Camp in Iraq arrived in Turkey 19 October 2010 upon the call from imprisoned Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan. While they were initially released by the authorities they were prosecuted and arrested 8 months after their return from exile.
While the aim of sending exiles back to Turkey was to perform sincerity of PKK in solving the Kurdish conflict in Turkey it was also a test for the Turkey state to show whether they really have a new approach to the problem as they promised.
Although the decision by the authorities not to prosecute the peace group, like it happened against other peace groups in 1999, was seen as a gesture of reconciliation by the Kurdish side the government’s approach soon became harder towards the PKK and Kurds.
Police used excessive and disproportionate violence against Kurdish demos in which hundreds of Kurdish children were arrested, sent to prison and charged with terrorist crimes merely because of throwing stones to the police.
The group members are also charged with disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation and if found guilty, they face up to 20 years in prison
The group held a press conference in Makhmur upon their arrival and stated that they went to Turkey in order to contribute peace talks, however due to prosecutions and pressure from the Turkish state the circumstances are no longer suitable for them to stay in Turkey.
Speaking in front of the UN office in Makhmur the spokesperson of the group Gülbahar Çiçek stated that “Our initiative for peace was not responded by the Turkish side.” She further stated that although some members of the group came from Qandil Mountain they are not going back to mountains to fight but stay in Makhmur where they will continue their endeavours for peace.
Speaking on the group came from Makhmur Camp Bülent Aka said that the circumstances of 1990’s which made them flee and take refuge in Iraq have not changed. Therefore, they had to return to the refugee camp.
The process was sabotaged by the Turkish state
Remanding that some members of the peace delegation are still in prisons Gülbahar Çiçek said: “Our movement declared for the sixth time a cease fire on 13 April 2009. AKP government however, started arresting members of the legal Kurdish democratic movement in Turkey on 14 April 2009. Similarly, Kurdish women were subjected to pressure, sometimes abused. Kurdish children were imprisoned and military operations against the guerrillas increased.”
Çiçek also reminded that initially there would be a third peace group coming from Europe but due to approach from the Turkish government this initiative was also suspended. She further stated that the Turkish PM Erdoðan has changed his attitude which was moderate at the beginning. But he later tried to manipulate their return to Turkey and launch it as surrender.
Çiçek also stated that although they sent letters to the President, Head of Parliament, Prime Minister and the Chief of General Staff in order to explain the reasons for their return to Turkey but they could not receive any responses. Çiçek further stated that one of their aim was to reach Turkish people and deliver their peace message but due to atmosphere created by the Turkish authorities their attempts have failed and remained limited within the Kurdish region.
Çiçek further stated that they will not go back to mountains to fight but stay in Makhmur and keep working for peace. The group members also applied UN representative for refugee status.
Who are the peace groups?
Eight PKK members from Qandil and twenty six refugees, including four children, from Makhmur Refugee Camp in Iraq arrived in Turkey 19 October 2010 upon the call from imprisoned Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan. While they were initially released by the authorities they were prosecuted and arrested 8 months after their return from exile.
While the aim of sending exiles back to Turkey was to perform sincerity of PKK in solving the Kurdish conflict in Turkey it was also a test for the Turkey state to show whether they really have a new approach to the problem as they promised.
Although the decision by the authorities not to prosecute the peace group, like it happened against other peace groups in 1999, was seen as a gesture of reconciliation by the Kurdish side the government’s approach soon became harder towards the PKK and Kurds.
Police used excessive and disproportionate violence against Kurdish demos in which hundreds of Kurdish children were arrested, sent to prison and charged with terrorist crimes merely because of throwing stones to the police.
The group members are also charged with disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organisation and if found guilty, they face up to 20 years in prison
