No To US War: Democracy to Iraq : Free Ocalan

Turkey to establish security belt
by Hipakistan.com

ANKARA: Turkey said on Monday it would set up a "security belt" in northern Iraq if the United States hits Baghdad, and renewed a threat of military action to prevent the establishment of a Kurdish state in the region.

Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said in an interview with NTV television that if a US operation against Iraq triggered a refugee exodus, Turkish troops would move into northern Iraq to stop the wave within Iraqi borders.

"This will be a force of a number sufficient for such a job. This will at the same time (ensure) our border security and constitute a security belt," Cakmakoglu said.

Turkey, which suspects Iraqi Kurds of wanting to set up an independent state, has acknowledged it is already keeping several hundred troops in northern Iraq.

Ankara fears that a Kurdish state in the region could incite its own Kurds to separatism at a time when a 15-year Kurdish rebellion for self-rule in adjoining south-eastern Turkey has abated.

"The Turkish armed forces are a deterrent force both with respect to its size and its weapons ... If this deterrent force impedes the situation we do not want in Iraq, it will have have completed its objective," Cakmakoglu said. "But if we do not get a result through this deterrent force, then we have to move one step forward. This could be a show of force if necessary, or an intervention," he added.

Cakmakoglu spoke about a number of military options available to Turkey, while stressing that parliamentary approval was required for operations outside the country.

"I do not see the possibility of a war at present, but we will have to bring the issue to parliament and take a decision, be it a dispatch of soldiers, a (military) exercise, or even a show of force to indicate that we are balancing the situation," he said.

www.ozgurluk.org

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Democracy to Iraq
by Ocalan
http://www.ocalan.net/

Attracting attention to the no-solution-situation in Iraq, PKK President Abdullah Ocalan said, “The world should force Iraq to adopt democracy.” Ocalan continued to said the following: “There democratic political institutions whose self-defence comply with Turkey, Kurds, Iraqi people and the Middle East should be established and secured.”

Stating that as far as the latest situation in Iraq is concerned both USA and Turkey have no solution, PKK President Abdullah Ocalan said the following: There democratic political institutions whose self-defence comply with Turkey, Kurds, Iraqi people and the Middle East should be established and secured.”

Ocalan made a statement through his lawyers the other day, calling attention to the problems in Iraq and warning especially the Kurdish and Turkish peoples and their representatives. Ocalan emphasized, “There you should live truly, think truly and struggle truly,” adding the following: “Foreign forces, USA, Britain will not leave this area alone, they will continue their plays. Britain have been playing since 1920s, in fact even 1800s, the plot of two centuries have been continuing. The players will go on play and the Kurdish and Turkish peoples will bear the brunt of it.”

Stressing that the world should force Iraq to adopt democracy, Ocalan said with words to the effect: “If USA and Turkey want a solution they should force Iraq to adopt democracy. There democracy should be demanded. There democratic political institutions whose self-defence comply with Turkey, Kurds, Iraqi people and the Middle East should be established and secured.”

Democratic civilization

Asking “Well, what is the solution offered by Kurds?”, Ocalan continued to say the following: “Kurds should form legitimate self-defence forces and seek a solution in the Middle East within the framework of democratic dialogue. The dialogue with Iraq and Iran should be within the framework of the principle of democracy.” Ocalan underscored that Kurds should be the power and leader of democratic civilization in the Middle East, saying the following: “I consider important that Kurds find their identities, personalities on the basis of democratic civilization. Kurds should claim their identity for the Democratic Republic using their legitimate self-defence right. A democratic political institution should be established. It is a regime for freedom, I consider it a political means which complies with the interests of the peoples. Democracy needs consciousness and will, it is the dedication to the unity of peoples, their cultures.”

So-called Kurdists

Ocalan pointed to the position of various groups and persons who are so-called Kurdists and make so-called nationalism. Ocalan described the nationalism as the disease of the age, adding the following: “So-called Kurdists could not progress by following the nationalism down. They ate, they drank, they made religionism, they are still making. They compromised with the state. They compromised with Britain, USA for their interests for their families. But Kurds have rights, laws and democracy. They neglected all of them. The Kurdism of the so-called Kurds brings only misfortune.”

Understanding the sufferings properly

Saying “I have not made cheap Kurdism. I do not insist on my life and my wishes,” stressing the following: “Some facts should be understood. I have attempted to open the door for a democratic unity for four years. One should understand the sufferings, blood, tears should be understood properly, one should defend the modern truths with courage. My problem is not death or a pardon, I struggle for the truths. Some do not want it, no problem. But I will defend what I consider true. I have made efforts for twenty years, people have made efforts. I respect the labor, and I respect my own labor. You also make effort, you should take your efforts, yourselves serious. You should come together in order to be powerful.”

Inter-cultural dialogue

The statement reminded that there will a inter-cultural dialogue conference in Istanbul, and continued as follows: Inter-cultural dialogue is appropriate as far as my philosophy is concerned. Dialogue between civilizations should be developed.” Attracting attention to the importance of the dialogue between Western and Eastern civilizations, Ocalan stressed that the Eastern civilization is not consisted of only Muslim religionism but it has roots of 5000 years. Ocalan underscored the following: “The western civilization should be studied critically. The synthesis arises from it. But the definition of the civilizations and identities should be made clearly. It will contribute to the synthesis of a new civilization and a new enlightenment. Anatolia is an appropriate place for the synthesis of the civilizations.”

“Ataturk’s essence should be understood properly”

Stressing on the strategic meaning of legal and democratic solution for the Kurdish and Turkish peoples, PKK President Abdullah Ocalan said “The plot which has been continuing since 1925 should be put an end. Kurds and Turks have missed the opportunity to democratise the republic because of the English plot. They have to overcome it.”

Noting that a true unity will develop both Kurds and Turks, the President added that it will also be helpful to the Middle Eastern peoples. Ocalan said, “the brotherhood of Turk and Kurds of which Ataturk has said should be secured on the basis of strategic partnership,” adding the following: “You should create the free fellow citizen by consciousness, organization and education. Everybody should work for the free citizenship and democratic unity. Democracy brings richness but there are people who do not want it. There are not only Turks but Kurds who feed with blood, they only gain from the war. They wasted efforts, I was bitter about it, and now I am trying to compensate the damages.”

Indicating that republicanism is the essence of Ataturk and if there is no free citizenship the republic will cease to exist, the Kurdish leader continued with words to the effect: “There are talkes which Ataturk gave in 1924. The Kurdish problem can be solved within this basis. The Liberation and the Republic are the common work of both Kurds and Turks but the brotherhood was broken after 1925. The Republic have not been democratic, ten thousands of people have died, the republic have been poisoned. If we are to defend republicanism, we should defend its essence, the truths of the beginning of the establishment should be defended. Ataturk’s yearnings was not this.”

Ocalan reminded that Ataturk is not known as he was, adding, “The essence of Ataturk should be understood properly, Ataturk was not dogmatic between the two world wars, he did not support the polarization, he had progressive opinions. Although he could not establish a proper democracy but then his country was backwarded. Ataturk has succeeded to establish and secure the Republic. His activities should be translated as anti-Kurdish.”