Monday, January 31, 2011
"The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people."
Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/ReutersThe Egyptian army has said it would not use force against citizens. In a statement on Monday it said "freedom of expression" was guaranteed to all citizens using peaceful means. "The presence of the army in the streets is for your sake and to ensure your safety and well being. The armed forces will not resort to use of force against our great people," the army statement said.
It urged people not to resort to acts of sabotage that violate security and destroy public and private property. It warned that it would not allow outlaws to loot, attack and "terrorise citizens".
Egypt to the Egyptians!
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111311965695371.html
It urged people not to resort to acts of sabotage that violate security and destroy public and private property. It warned that it would not allow outlaws to loot, attack and "terrorise citizens".
Egypt to the Egyptians!
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/20111311965695371.html
Human Rights Watch has appealed directly to the head of Egyptian military
Human Rights Watch has appealed directly to the head of Egyptian military to help ensure a smooth transition to democracy in Egypt.
Dear Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi,
At this critical moment in the history of Egypt and the Middle East, a heavy burden of responsibility falls on the leaders of the Egyptian Armed Forces to ensure a smooth transition from an era of political repression characterised by severe abuse to one in which fundamental human rights are respected.
In the midst of anxious days of popular protest and revolt against police brutality, torture and corruption, and with protesters calling for a new constitutional order in Egypt, the Egyptian Armed Forces now stand as the only security organs of the Egyptian state that retain the trust of the Egyptian people.
The legitimacy of the Egyptian police and other internal security organs have long been tarnished by a record of human rights abuses, including the systematic use of torture.
Furthermore the role of the internal security forces in the attempted suppression of protests in recent days, in which Human Rights Watch and the international media have witnessed countless examples of excessive use of force and other egregious abuses, has further undermined their credibility. Human Rights Watch is already calling for accountability for these abuses and the prosecution of those responsible.
In contrast, the Egyptian military, which was called onto the streets on Friday 28 January, has so far shown commendable restraint and has been welcomed by the majority of protesters. Human Rights Watch is therefore now calling on you and your fellow chiefs of the Egyptian military to maintain this commendable posture of trust and restraint and to remind you of the legal obligations, under international law, of the Egyptian Armed Forces, given their current involvement in policing activities.
First, the Egyptian Armed Forces must respect the rights of the Egyptian people to freedom of assembly and peaceful protest against a government that has ruled through repression and dictatorial whim for decades.
Second, to the extent that the Armed Forces are engaged in protecting public security, they are obliged to abide by the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. Under these principles, law enforcement officials may use reasonable and proportionate force to prevent crimes, but firearms should only be used in situations of grave and imminent threats of death or serious injury.
Third, Human Rights Watch draws your attention to the real possibility that failure to abide by these international standards would open individual soldiers, officers and their superiors to investigation and prosecution.
We urge you to reflect on the fact that the current crisis in Egypt and the rest of the region is in great part the result of years of corrupt and abusive government and unlawful torture and repression by its security forces, against which the people are now in open revolt.
The solution to this crisis is not further repression, but a swift and orderly transition to a new democratic order in which the basic rights and freedoms of the people of the region are respected. We urge you to shoulder your historic responsibility and to assist in bringing about this transition.
Kenneth Roth, Executive director Human Rights Watch
Central Cairo...and the #¤¤ interior minister is gone..to another #¤¤ interior minister ..
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
If the Israeli government is 'Anxious' it would REALLY be about time to sign a agreement with the leadership in Gaza, in which both parts will be held responsible for keeping the region stable, stop killing Palestinians, rein in their #¤¤ settlement movements, stop using the Palestinian leaders to take advantage of destabilization for demolitions and displacements, end the siege on Gaza and their and the US, Britain´s siege on the Kurds in ongoing genocides and exterminations all the way into Iran and this whole #¤"# region! Simple!
One do not declare "war" against a whole civilian nation like the Iranian regime, Turkey and Syria, supported by the US administrations, the Israeli state, Britain etc.., for decades and which actions is the utmost extremity of crime! And there is no way in 2011 that would go unnoticed by blocking media !
This is NOT the 80´s! WE REPEAT: THIS IS NOT THE 80´S! And this is NOT all about the Muslim Brotherhood, this is the whole Egyptian population from all walks of life! And Binyamin Netanyahu with his settler movement and crimes against humanitarian laws and every other #¤¤ law can go to hell as well!
If this can give some "rebirth" of Egypt as a nation, who, which ever the leaders are, there is NO WAY IN HELL SOME ISRAELI OR US GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING IN AND ABORT IT WITH SUPPORTING ACTIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND DRIVEN OVER ON THE STREETS! PERIOD!
If the Israeli government is 'Anxious' it would REALLY be about time to sign a agreement with the leadership in Gaza, in which both parts will be held responsible for keeping the region stable, stop killing Palestinians, rein in their #¤¤ settlement movements, stop using the Palestinian leaders to take advantage of destabilization for demolitions and displacements, end the siege on Gaza and their and the US, Britain´s siege on the Kurds in ongoing genocides and exterminations all the way into Iran and this whole #¤"# region! Simple!
One do not declare "war" against a whole civilian nation like the Iranian regime, Turkey and Syria, supported by the US administrations, the Israeli state, Britain etc.., for decades and which actions is the utmost extremity of crime! And there is no way in 2011 that would go unnoticed by blocking media !
This is NOT the 80´s! WE REPEAT: THIS IS NOT THE 80´S! And this is NOT all about the Muslim Brotherhood, this is the whole Egyptian population from all walks of life! And Binyamin Netanyahu with his settler movement and crimes against humanitarian laws and every other #¤¤ law can go to hell as well!
If this can give some "rebirth" of Egypt as a nation, who, which ever the leaders are, there is NO WAY IN HELL SOME ISRAELI OR US GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING IN AND ABORT IT WITH SUPPORTING ACTIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND DRIVEN OVER ON THE STREETS! PERIOD!
408 soldiers lost their lives "by committing suicide" in the last 5 years in Turkey.
31 January 2011, BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan’s written question about "suspicious soldier deaths” Answering the written question of BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan about "suspicious deaths of soldiers”, Defence Minister Vecdi Gönül gave astonishing information.
According to the statements of Gönül, 408 soldiers lost their lives "by committing suicide!" in the last 5 years in Turkey. It attracted attention that the number of the losses,as much as losses during clashes in a country, has decreased when compared to previous years.
BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan’s written question about "suspicious soldier deaths” has been answered by the Minister of National Defence, Vecdi Gönül. On the motion given on 12 November 2010, Kurtulan pointed out to the suspected deaths of Kurdish soldiers such as Hasan Çakır, İdris Çiftçi, Erdi Alkan, Şaban Koçak, Sait Kızılkaya, Mehmet Çavdar and asked which kind of workings were performed for the disclosure of these deaths and how many soldiers had lost their lives between 2002-2010.
The answer letter of the Ministry say that the investigations opened about the mentioned deaths are continuing, while the investigation opened by the Military Prosecution of Gendarme Command of Public Security about the death of Sait Kızılkaya concluded that there is no need for prosecution, while the decision is still in the notification process. The letter claimed that the reports of fatal accidents and suicide cases are prepared and examined "carefully".
The measures taken to reduce the accidents and suicide incidents were listed as follows; “Guidance and Counseling Centers give service in all the barracks of Turkish Armed Forces. Psychosocial questionnaires are conducted on the conscripts. The soldiers in risky situations are kept under constant control, those carrying the risk of suicide are not planned for sentry post with bullet and weapons, drugs, etc to be used in suicide are kept in control".
The letter of the Ministry argued that 408 soldiers “lost their lives by committing suicide" in the last 5 years in TAF; “The suicide cases in TSK has showed a decrease within years through the practice of the measures taken as security and accident prevention system. It was claimed that the families are called to the scene after suicide or accident cases and informed at first hand at the scene”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
Turkish army responsible for forest fires in Kurdistan
Torture is carried out massively and openly
Youngsters detained for throwing stones at Iranian embassy in Erbil
Kurdish political prisoner’s life in danger
Woman prisoner in Iran very ill
Your weapons are STILL killing Kurds America!
According to the statements of Gönül, 408 soldiers lost their lives "by committing suicide!" in the last 5 years in Turkey. It attracted attention that the number of the losses,as much as losses during clashes in a country, has decreased when compared to previous years.
BDP Van MP Fatma Kurtulan’s written question about "suspicious soldier deaths” has been answered by the Minister of National Defence, Vecdi Gönül. On the motion given on 12 November 2010, Kurtulan pointed out to the suspected deaths of Kurdish soldiers such as Hasan Çakır, İdris Çiftçi, Erdi Alkan, Şaban Koçak, Sait Kızılkaya, Mehmet Çavdar and asked which kind of workings were performed for the disclosure of these deaths and how many soldiers had lost their lives between 2002-2010.
The answer letter of the Ministry say that the investigations opened about the mentioned deaths are continuing, while the investigation opened by the Military Prosecution of Gendarme Command of Public Security about the death of Sait Kızılkaya concluded that there is no need for prosecution, while the decision is still in the notification process. The letter claimed that the reports of fatal accidents and suicide cases are prepared and examined "carefully".
The measures taken to reduce the accidents and suicide incidents were listed as follows; “Guidance and Counseling Centers give service in all the barracks of Turkish Armed Forces. Psychosocial questionnaires are conducted on the conscripts. The soldiers in risky situations are kept under constant control, those carrying the risk of suicide are not planned for sentry post with bullet and weapons, drugs, etc to be used in suicide are kept in control".
The letter of the Ministry argued that 408 soldiers “lost their lives by committing suicide" in the last 5 years in TAF; “The suicide cases in TSK has showed a decrease within years through the practice of the measures taken as security and accident prevention system. It was claimed that the families are called to the scene after suicide or accident cases and informed at first hand at the scene”.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
Turkish army responsible for forest fires in Kurdistan
Torture is carried out massively and openly
Youngsters detained for throwing stones at Iranian embassy in Erbil
Kurdish political prisoner’s life in danger
Woman prisoner in Iran very ill
Your weapons are STILL killing Kurds America!
Binyamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government would not dare to promote a "siege" on a genuine popular revolt, would they..
This is the whole Egyptian population from all walks of life in a genuine popular revolt. This protests is not about the Muslim Brotherhood. The emerging Egyptian Revolution of 2011, is neither spearheaded nor is it even supported by the radical Pan-Islamic movements, like the Muslim Brotherhood. Far from being the harbinger of an advance of radical Pan-Islamic Fascism, the Egyptians are more focused on human rights, democracy, ending corruption and increasing economic opportunity than implementing an Egyptian version of the Ayatollahs.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s movement may try to take advantage of the situation to get some influences but the fractured Muslim Brotherhood is simply not capable of taking over the nation.
If Binyamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government are anxious, it would be a good idea to come to a signed peace agreement with Hamas where every part are to be hold responsible for stability and keeping it and end the siege!
And stay the hell out from a genuine popular revolt, against a regime with it´s interior ministry sponsored crimes against humanity, torture, abuse and oppression! Simple!
Actually, the Israeli government and the US administrations are to end their siege on the Kurds and Iranians in a ongoing extermination all the way into Iraq and further into the gallows in Iran and this whole #¤¤¤ region as they have done for decades, through terrorist lists, the Turkish and Syrian states and the Iranian regime, as well!
PJAK condemned the execution of Ferhad Tarem
Kurdish political prisoner on death row taken to unknown place
Support Kurds.org
Who are terrorists? Who are genociders? Who are occupiers?
The Muslim Brotherhood’s movement may try to take advantage of the situation to get some influences but the fractured Muslim Brotherhood is simply not capable of taking over the nation.
If Binyamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government are anxious, it would be a good idea to come to a signed peace agreement with Hamas where every part are to be hold responsible for stability and keeping it and end the siege!
And stay the hell out from a genuine popular revolt, against a regime with it´s interior ministry sponsored crimes against humanity, torture, abuse and oppression! Simple!
Actually, the Israeli government and the US administrations are to end their siege on the Kurds and Iranians in a ongoing extermination all the way into Iraq and further into the gallows in Iran and this whole #¤¤¤ region as they have done for decades, through terrorist lists, the Turkish and Syrian states and the Iranian regime, as well!
PJAK condemned the execution of Ferhad Tarem
Kurdish political prisoner on death row taken to unknown place
Support Kurds.org
Who are terrorists? Who are genociders? Who are occupiers?
Egypt cannot go back to what it was. This is the whole Egyptian population from all walks of life in a genuine popular revolt
This protests is not about the Muslim Brotherhood, as many in the main stream media seems to reporting, even claiming that the protests only gathered force after the Muslim Brotherhood declared against the government.
Bill Collier on the Muslim Brotherhood’s role, or rejected role, in this revolution: Unlike the Iranian revolution of 1979, the emerging Egyptian Revolution of 2011, is neither spearheaded nor is it even supported by the radical Pan-Islamic movements, like the Muslim Brotherhood.
Far from being the harbinger of an advance of radical Pan-Islamic Fascism, the Egyptians are more focused on human rights, democracy, ending corruption and increasing economic opportunity than implementing an Egyptian version of the Ayatollahs.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s movement may try to take advantage of the situation to get some influences but the fractured Muslim Brotherhood is simply not capable of taking over the nation.
A quote from an on-the-street observer from 1-29-11
In Cairo, tens of thousands of people--from all walks of life--faced off against riot police armed with shields, batons, and seemingly endless supplies of tear gas. There is a great sense of pride that this is a leaderless movement organized by the people. A genuine popular revolt. It was not organized by opposition movements, though they have now joined the protesters in Tahrir. At one point the Muslim Brotherhood began chanting “Allah Akbar” only to be drowned out by much louder chants of “Muslim, Christian, we are all Egyptian.”
As the sun set over Cairo, silence fell upon Tahrir square as thousands stopped to pray in the street while others stood atop tanks. After the sunset prayer, they held a ‘ganaza’–a prayer for those killed in the demonstrations. Darkness fell and the protesters, thousands of them, have vowed to stay in the square, sleeping out in the open, until Mubarak is ousted.
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/1/29/live_from_the_egyptian_revolution_by_sharif_abdel_kouddous
Bill Collier on the Muslim Brotherhood’s role, or rejected role, in this revolution: Unlike the Iranian revolution of 1979, the emerging Egyptian Revolution of 2011, is neither spearheaded nor is it even supported by the radical Pan-Islamic movements, like the Muslim Brotherhood.
Far from being the harbinger of an advance of radical Pan-Islamic Fascism, the Egyptians are more focused on human rights, democracy, ending corruption and increasing economic opportunity than implementing an Egyptian version of the Ayatollahs.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s movement may try to take advantage of the situation to get some influences but the fractured Muslim Brotherhood is simply not capable of taking over the nation.
A quote from an on-the-street observer from 1-29-11
In Cairo, tens of thousands of people--from all walks of life--faced off against riot police armed with shields, batons, and seemingly endless supplies of tear gas. There is a great sense of pride that this is a leaderless movement organized by the people. A genuine popular revolt. It was not organized by opposition movements, though they have now joined the protesters in Tahrir. At one point the Muslim Brotherhood began chanting “Allah Akbar” only to be drowned out by much louder chants of “Muslim, Christian, we are all Egyptian.”
As the sun set over Cairo, silence fell upon Tahrir square as thousands stopped to pray in the street while others stood atop tanks. After the sunset prayer, they held a ‘ganaza’–a prayer for those killed in the demonstrations. Darkness fell and the protesters, thousands of them, have vowed to stay in the square, sleeping out in the open, until Mubarak is ousted.
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/1/29/live_from_the_egyptian_revolution_by_sharif_abdel_kouddous
Egypt condemned for blocking media
International press institutes condemn Egyptian attempts to quell the freedom of the press as protests continue. International press institutes have come out strongly against Egyptian authorities’ suppression of the media, following the withdrawal of Al Jazeera’s license to broadcast from the North African country. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned on Sunday the information ministry’s move to shutdown Al Jazeera’s bureau in the country. The CPJ described the move as an attempt to “disrupt media coverage by Al Jazeera and calls on them to reverse the decision immediately”.
Reporters without borders added to the condemnation of Egyptian authorities attempt to quell the media. “By banning Al Jazeera, the government is trying to limit the circulation of TV footage of the six-day-old wave of protests,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said. “Thus totally archaic decision is in completely contradiction with President Hosni Mubarak’s promise of ‘democratic’ measures on 28 January. It is also the exact opposite of the increase in freedom sought by the Egyptian population.”
On Friday, Reporters without Borders condemned the arrest of four French journalists and around a dozen Egyptian journalists who had been arrested by authorities.
Egypt condemned for blocking media - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Reporters without borders added to the condemnation of Egyptian authorities attempt to quell the media. “By banning Al Jazeera, the government is trying to limit the circulation of TV footage of the six-day-old wave of protests,” Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Jean-François Julliard said. “Thus totally archaic decision is in completely contradiction with President Hosni Mubarak’s promise of ‘democratic’ measures on 28 January. It is also the exact opposite of the increase in freedom sought by the Egyptian population.”
On Friday, Reporters without Borders condemned the arrest of four French journalists and around a dozen Egyptian journalists who had been arrested by authorities.
Egypt condemned for blocking media - Middle East - Al Jazeera English
Your weapons are on Cairos streets America
WASHINGTON — The officer corps of Egypt’s powerful military has been educated at defense colleges in the United States for 30 years. The Egyptian armed forces have about 1,000 American M1A1 Abrams tanks, which the United States allows to be built on Egyptian soil.
Al-Jazeera showed M1A1 Abrams tanks carrying Egyptian soldiers through Cairo in what its correspondents called “a show of force.” Those iconic American tanks have been co-produced in Egypt since 1988; the Egyptians have about 1000 of them. As was endlessly re-tweeted, canisters containing tear gas that the police used on protesters — before the hated police melted away over the weekend — had “Made in America” stamped on them.
On Sunday, fighter jets flew low over a Cairo crowd, turning on their afterburners to deafen their audience. Most likely they were part of Egypt’s fleet of 220 F-16s.
As the New York Times notes, much of Egypt’s officer corps gets educated at American war colleges. Unlike the police, Egyptian troops haven’t opened fire, even as protesters in front of them defy a government curfew. Al Jazeera has broadcasted pictures of soldiers calmly talking with people on the streets — “it’s a very relaxed atmosphere between them,” according to one of the network’s Cairo correspondents. “The people and the army are one hand!” goes one chant.
There’s “still a question mark amongst the people and amongst the Army themselves,” reports an Al Jazeera correspondent in Tahrir Square, an epicenter of the protests. “No one’s quite sure what their role will be in shaping the country.” Whatever that role is, the U.S. has thirty years and as many billions of dollars invested in shaping the Army’s behavior.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/your-weapons-are-on-cairos-streets-america/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/world/middleeast/30military.html?_r=1
Al-Jazeera showed M1A1 Abrams tanks carrying Egyptian soldiers through Cairo in what its correspondents called “a show of force.” Those iconic American tanks have been co-produced in Egypt since 1988; the Egyptians have about 1000 of them. As was endlessly re-tweeted, canisters containing tear gas that the police used on protesters — before the hated police melted away over the weekend — had “Made in America” stamped on them.
On Sunday, fighter jets flew low over a Cairo crowd, turning on their afterburners to deafen their audience. Most likely they were part of Egypt’s fleet of 220 F-16s.
As the New York Times notes, much of Egypt’s officer corps gets educated at American war colleges. Unlike the police, Egyptian troops haven’t opened fire, even as protesters in front of them defy a government curfew. Al Jazeera has broadcasted pictures of soldiers calmly talking with people on the streets — “it’s a very relaxed atmosphere between them,” according to one of the network’s Cairo correspondents. “The people and the army are one hand!” goes one chant.
There’s “still a question mark amongst the people and amongst the Army themselves,” reports an Al Jazeera correspondent in Tahrir Square, an epicenter of the protests. “No one’s quite sure what their role will be in shaping the country.” Whatever that role is, the U.S. has thirty years and as many billions of dollars invested in shaping the Army’s behavior.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/your-weapons-are-on-cairos-streets-america/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/world/middleeast/30military.html?_r=1
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Actually!
If Hosni Mubarak and the Egyptian #¤¤ interior minister with forces are into declaring war against the unarmed Egyptian nation they are sooooo WAY out of line and as much Egyptians as the Iranian regime are Persians. And ready to be tried in court just as the Iranian regime, Syria, the Turkish and the Israeli states and the US leaders for aiding and supporting them and millions of death Iraqis in a deliberately destabilization!
It´s actually, technical impossible to be more clear!
It´s actually, technical impossible to be more clear!
Well..It would be time for Mr. Hosni Mubarak and his government to realize things will not stay the same in Egypt.
It´s maybe need for security but air force jets over the whole Egyptian population seems a bit to much. This is obvious not just a political party faction, or some movements protesting but the whole Egyptian people. It would be time for Mr. Hosni Mubarak and his government to realize things will not stay the same in Egypt and not try to force some kind of military and security forces-war-fare against the whole Egyptian people.
We will not have some #¤¤ interior minister with forces declaring war against the whole Egyptian nation! Serious!
We will not have some #¤¤ interior minister with forces declaring war against the whole Egyptian nation! Serious!
Egyptian interior minister´s forces and police
Are functioning like the Turkish forces, police, Jitems and fascists, Syrian, Iranian and Israeli are they not.. Engaged in the most gross crimes, violence, oppression and repression, fueling polarizations and actually as a provocative force maintaining confrontations.
The Egyptian interior police forces are out on the streets and acts like they have got justifications to shot and kill people on the streets, because people are revolting against their crimes! These forces have been maintained and committed the most gross crimes and oppression and now are out shooting people revolting against them.
We suggest the Egyptian army take a stand here and a protective role for lives as well as public buildings. So far there is a positive atmosphere toward the army and the Egyptian army should really be keeping it that way, by taking a protective role for lives and limbs and not let some #¤¤ interior minister forces run wild shooting people and fueling anger!
As we said: That interior minister better get the hell out of Egypt and some better do something about these interior - police forces that are wreaking havoc and fueling tensions and makes the whole situation worse and actually fills no functioning for security just the opposite, at ones. And which are actually one of the reason for this massive protests where the whole Egyptian population stand together to get through changes, which we very much doubt some #¤¤ interior police forces can stop them from!
The Egyptian interior police forces are out on the streets and acts like they have got justifications to shot and kill people on the streets, because people are revolting against their crimes! These forces have been maintained and committed the most gross crimes and oppression and now are out shooting people revolting against them.
We suggest the Egyptian army take a stand here and a protective role for lives as well as public buildings. So far there is a positive atmosphere toward the army and the Egyptian army should really be keeping it that way, by taking a protective role for lives and limbs and not let some #¤¤ interior minister forces run wild shooting people and fueling anger!
As we said: That interior minister better get the hell out of Egypt and some better do something about these interior - police forces that are wreaking havoc and fueling tensions and makes the whole situation worse and actually fills no functioning for security just the opposite, at ones. And which are actually one of the reason for this massive protests where the whole Egyptian population stand together to get through changes, which we very much doubt some #¤¤ interior police forces can stop them from!
These interior minister´s-police-forces are done, finished, finito, grande finale! They can now go home, because things will not be what they have been and they are not longer free to do what ever they want! So off they go!
Gazans fear unrest in Egypt will affect vital supply line. Skirmish in the Sinai Peninsula
29/01/2011, GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – The ongoing unrest in Egypt affected prices in the blockaded Gaza Strip, where most of the commodities have been flooding to the coastal enclave through smuggling tunnels.Locals say items like cigarettes and basic food went up by almost a third. Gas stations have closed because owners are worried they could fail to get enough fuel due to the deteriorating situation in Egypt, namely in the Sinai. Onlookers noticed that owners of grocery stores and supermarkets were trying their best to stock up on as many goods as they could fearing supply through smuggling tunnels might stop at any moment.
SINAI PENINSULA,(Ma'an)- Egyptian security: 12 killed in skirmish at Gaza. Palestinian sources say 12 people including Bedouins and Egyptian police officers were killed Saturday in clashes in the Sinai Peninsula, in what appeared to be an attempt by tribes in the region to take control of the swath of land south of the Egypt-Gaza border.
Gunshots were heard in the Egyptian city of Rafah as Bedouins attempted to occupy the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. Rocket-propelled Grenades were fired at Egyptian soldiers, witnesses said, causing the near-total destruction of one home near the border area, and damage to a sector of the Gaza-Egypt border fence.
Gaza government police were said to have fixed the breach immediately, while eyewitnesses said police forces deployed across the border area on the Gaza side, in an apparent attempt to prevent Gaza residents from entering Egypt.
Armed groups attacked Egyptian police in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zweid, set fire to one police station and were behind the slaying of one officer identified as 36-year-old Jum’a Hamid after he was abducted along with two others, security sources said.
Security officials also said Bedouins were behind an earlier attack on an Egyptian security checkpoint, where four officers were killed and four others injured. All were transported to hospital in Al-Arish. Four banks and several state buildings were also reportedly set ablaze and looted.
HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Saturday fired tear gas, sound grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at the funeral procession of a Palestinian teenager who was shot by settlers in Hebron, witnesses said. Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Yousef Ikhleil, 17, who died hours after he was shot in the head by settlers from a nearby illegal settlement north of Hebron on Friday.
Israeli troops fired tear gas at the funeral procession after young men threw stones at a military watch tower, Palestinian Solidarity Project spokesman Mohammad Awad said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said Palestinians threw a fire bomb at an army post, and that forces responded with riot dispersal means.
Awad said around 50 mourners were injured and transferred to Beit Ummar medical center and several hospitals in Hebron. He added that forces detained two locals, identified as Saddam Awad, 22, and 35-year-old Ibrahim Bahar. Soldiers also assaulted Saddam Awad and his mother Faten, 45, the PSP official said.
Hebron governor Kamil Hamid and the heads of security departments attended the funeral, and shops in Beit Ummar closed to mourn the teenager's death. Ikheil was the second teenager to be killed by settlers in the West Bank two days. On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while working on his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin. His cousin, who was with him at the time, said a group of four settlers on a nearby hilltop opened fire on them, hitting Qadous in the chest.
The Israeli military on Friday condemned both events and said settler suspects had been arrested. "So far, a number of Israeli settlers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the recent events," it said, and warned both sides to keep the peace. "Action will be taken against all forms of violence on either side."
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib denounced the killings, and called for the killers to be brought to justice. "‘This is the second killing this week of an unarmed Palestinian by settlers, and the sixth killing by settlers this month. The Israeli government cannot evade its responsibility for these cold-blooded crimes. The killers must be brought to justice and punished," he said in a statement. "Our people need greater protection from armed settlers."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355426
http://www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx
SINAI PENINSULA,(Ma'an)- Egyptian security: 12 killed in skirmish at Gaza. Palestinian sources say 12 people including Bedouins and Egyptian police officers were killed Saturday in clashes in the Sinai Peninsula, in what appeared to be an attempt by tribes in the region to take control of the swath of land south of the Egypt-Gaza border.
Gunshots were heard in the Egyptian city of Rafah as Bedouins attempted to occupy the border with Israel and the Gaza Strip. Rocket-propelled Grenades were fired at Egyptian soldiers, witnesses said, causing the near-total destruction of one home near the border area, and damage to a sector of the Gaza-Egypt border fence.
Gaza government police were said to have fixed the breach immediately, while eyewitnesses said police forces deployed across the border area on the Gaza side, in an apparent attempt to prevent Gaza residents from entering Egypt.
Armed groups attacked Egyptian police in the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zweid, set fire to one police station and were behind the slaying of one officer identified as 36-year-old Jum’a Hamid after he was abducted along with two others, security sources said.
Security officials also said Bedouins were behind an earlier attack on an Egyptian security checkpoint, where four officers were killed and four others injured. All were transported to hospital in Al-Arish. Four banks and several state buildings were also reportedly set ablaze and looted.
HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces on Saturday fired tear gas, sound grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at the funeral procession of a Palestinian teenager who was shot by settlers in Hebron, witnesses said. Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Yousef Ikhleil, 17, who died hours after he was shot in the head by settlers from a nearby illegal settlement north of Hebron on Friday.
Israeli troops fired tear gas at the funeral procession after young men threw stones at a military watch tower, Palestinian Solidarity Project spokesman Mohammad Awad said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said Palestinians threw a fire bomb at an army post, and that forces responded with riot dispersal means.
Awad said around 50 mourners were injured and transferred to Beit Ummar medical center and several hospitals in Hebron. He added that forces detained two locals, identified as Saddam Awad, 22, and 35-year-old Ibrahim Bahar. Soldiers also assaulted Saddam Awad and his mother Faten, 45, the PSP official said.
Hebron governor Kamil Hamid and the heads of security departments attended the funeral, and shops in Beit Ummar closed to mourn the teenager's death. Ikheil was the second teenager to be killed by settlers in the West Bank two days. On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while working on his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin. His cousin, who was with him at the time, said a group of four settlers on a nearby hilltop opened fire on them, hitting Qadous in the chest.
The Israeli military on Friday condemned both events and said settler suspects had been arrested. "So far, a number of Israeli settlers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the recent events," it said, and warned both sides to keep the peace. "Action will be taken against all forms of violence on either side."
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib denounced the killings, and called for the killers to be brought to justice. "‘This is the second killing this week of an unarmed Palestinian by settlers, and the sixth killing by settlers this month. The Israeli government cannot evade its responsibility for these cold-blooded crimes. The killers must be brought to justice and punished," he said in a statement. "Our people need greater protection from armed settlers."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355426
http://www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Can we get some fire services out here thank you..
Well...We see some some organization, now there is need for fire trucks..medical staff..Now the national press club house is on fire so get some #¤¤ fire trucks out there!
And then there is the Interior Ministry..actually that interior minister should leave Egypt, if not already have done that..And when we are already at it why don´t Turkey´s interior minister go to hell as well..and the Iranian and the Israeli..then we maybe can start to get some #¤¤ order here!
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
And then there is the Interior Ministry..actually that interior minister should leave Egypt, if not already have done that..And when we are already at it why don´t Turkey´s interior minister go to hell as well..and the Iranian and the Israeli..then we maybe can start to get some #¤¤ order here!
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
Clashes at Iranian prison. Or people are actually trying to stay alive..
29 January 2011, Prisoners at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj resisted against an attack by the regime’s guards on Thursday, according to obtained reports. The incident started when a prisoner identified as Majid Mirsadeqi, 26, requested to be transferred to the prison clinic due to illness and worsening physical condition, but the regime’s guards reacted by beating him and trying to transfer him to solitary confinement. One of the guards, Mirza Aqai, attacked him with an electric baton. The young prisoner defended himself against the attack despite his pains.
When other prisoners at Ward 1 decided to defend Mr. Mirsadeqi, intense and widespread clashes broke out, which lasted for some time, as the prisoners forced the guards to flee and shut the ward gate. The regime’s prison agents decide to negotiate with the prisoners and promised to fulfill the prisoners’ requests, including the transfer of Mirsadeqi to the clinic. But instead Mirsadeqi was beaten again violently in front of other prisoners. He was also transferred to Ward 1 solitary confinement - referred to as the “dog house” – where his screams under torture could be heard.
It has been reported that Mirsadeqi was tortured by the regime’s agents, Mirza Aqai, Moradi and Bayat. Mirza Aqai is a well-known torturer at Ward 1. He has been involved in the torture, rape and beating of dozens of prisoners, including Bahram Tasviri and Mohsen Bikdeli.
The Life of a Baha’i Prisoner at Serious Risk
Jailed Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki in Urgent Need of Surgery!
Human Rights Activist Abolfazl Abedini Banned from Face-to-Face Prison Visits
The Iranian regime's crackdown has gone faaar beyond silencing post-election demonstrators for a longer time. It´s more ongoing exterminations under the guise of having elections. Isn´t it!
Iranian hangings spark protest in Berlin. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/01/27/Iranian-hangings-spark-protest-in-Berlin/UPI-36321296143669/#ixzz1CR7wD92G
When other prisoners at Ward 1 decided to defend Mr. Mirsadeqi, intense and widespread clashes broke out, which lasted for some time, as the prisoners forced the guards to flee and shut the ward gate. The regime’s prison agents decide to negotiate with the prisoners and promised to fulfill the prisoners’ requests, including the transfer of Mirsadeqi to the clinic. But instead Mirsadeqi was beaten again violently in front of other prisoners. He was also transferred to Ward 1 solitary confinement - referred to as the “dog house” – where his screams under torture could be heard.
It has been reported that Mirsadeqi was tortured by the regime’s agents, Mirza Aqai, Moradi and Bayat. Mirza Aqai is a well-known torturer at Ward 1. He has been involved in the torture, rape and beating of dozens of prisoners, including Bahram Tasviri and Mohsen Bikdeli.
The Life of a Baha’i Prisoner at Serious Risk
Jailed Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki in Urgent Need of Surgery!
Human Rights Activist Abolfazl Abedini Banned from Face-to-Face Prison Visits
The Iranian regime's crackdown has gone faaar beyond silencing post-election demonstrators for a longer time. It´s more ongoing exterminations under the guise of having elections. Isn´t it!
Iranian hangings spark protest in Berlin. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/01/27/Iranian-hangings-spark-protest-in-Berlin/UPI-36321296143669/#ixzz1CR7wD92G
EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) calls upon "the Turkish government to implement the rights of the Kurdish people and thus of all Turkish citizens."
"This act is not compatible with democratic and international law norms."
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=1801
http://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=1801
Leading element of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq detained in Wassit
1/29/2011, Aswat al-Iraq: Two Katusha rockets, ready for launching, dismantled in Wassit. A leading member Khalaf al-Duleimy, of the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq" has been detained and a quantity of arms and ammunition were found in his house in Suewira township, by the Interior Ministry's Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) in southern Iraq's Wassit Province on Saturday, according to an RDF source in Wassit.
Member of northeast Iraq's Diala Province's Mayorship assassinated
http://en.aswataliraq.info/
Member of northeast Iraq's Diala Province's Mayorship assassinated
http://en.aswataliraq.info/
Murder..again and again..
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=355164
We should maybe do a count how many hundreds of thousands have been murdered, shot, attacked, bombed, killed and massacred in this region, in Iran and further these last 3 years ..
We should maybe do a count how many hundreds of thousands have been murdered, shot, attacked, bombed, killed and massacred in this region, in Iran and further these last 3 years ..
Cairo: Civilians directing traffic at some intersections
Well...Yeah...Keep the order now..
Omar Soliman as vice president...http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
Omar Soliman as vice president...http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen are evidence 1979 Islamic revolution is being replayed, juridiacy hangs mother of two
Jan 28, TEHRAN, Iran – A senior Iranian cleric says protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen are evidence that his country's 1979 Islamic revolution is being replayed. Addressing thousands of worshippers at Tehran University Friday, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said a new Middle East is emerging based on Islamic values, not U.S. desires.
Zahra Bahrami, the 45 year old Iranian-Dutch citizen and mother of two who was arrested during the 2009 Ashura protests (December 27, 2009), was hanged today. Zahra Bahrami was executed even though her second case file with political charges was still opened and unresolved.
On August 16, 2010, branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court charged her with Moharebeh (enmity against God). She was detained since December 27, 2009 and spent a long duration of time in solitary confinement. Her other charges included “Acting against national security”, “Propaganda against the regime”, and “Membership in a royalist group”.
Fars News Agency, the media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Security Military force, announced her charges as “Membership in an international drug smuggling gang/group” and “Working with a Dutch ally.”
Last year she travelled to Iran to visit one of her children. Upon her arrest during post-election protests, Zahra Bahrami was held for months in the IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison and ward 209 of Evin prison for interrogations.
Zahra Bahrami’s death sentence was issued to her lawyer Jenus Sharif-Razi on January 2, 2011 by Judge Salavati, the head of branch 15. But, the final verdict on the death sentence was not announced to Zahra Bahrami’s family or lawyer.
In an interview with Rooz, Sharif-Razi said that all case files related to drug offences do not get sent to the Appeals Court. Instead, the cases are sent to Iran’s General Prosecutor and only he may make a decision on the verdict. Sharif-Razi explained that she was unable to appeal the sentence and the only chance of launching an investigation into the case was by receiving amnesty from the Clemency and Pardons commission.
Banafsheh Nayebpour, Zahra Bahrami’s daughter has stated in past interviews that the charges against her mother related to drug smuggling are completely baseless and all the confessions were extracted under torture. According to Banafesheh Nayebpour, her mother was guaranteed release if she made the false confessions. She also explained that the charges against her mother are politically motivated.
In the past year, the Islamic Republic of Iran has forced political prisoners to falsely confess by use of torture and empty promises. The executions that are carried out affect the overall political environment in Iran.
In one month nine people of Kurdish citizens have been charged with supporting al-Qaida and Wahhabis and were arrested. Last Wednesday another two named Nemat and Naser was arrested in the city of Sardasht and were transferred to an unknown location.
http://persian2english.com/?p=19565
Zahra Bahrami was executed this morning- 1 hour ago
New insults and accusations against the Kurdistan people- 1 hour ago
Imam zaman were executed in Ahwaz city- 1 hour ago
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said a new Middle East is emerging based on Islamic values, not U.S. desires.
Well..Yeah...Like...hanging a mother of two...It´s just a matter of time before people like Judge Salavati and in the Iranian regime starts to hang their own mothers..those that still are alive..Isn´t it..
Zahra Bahrami, the 45 year old Iranian-Dutch citizen and mother of two who was arrested during the 2009 Ashura protests (December 27, 2009), was hanged today. Zahra Bahrami was executed even though her second case file with political charges was still opened and unresolved.
On August 16, 2010, branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court charged her with Moharebeh (enmity against God). She was detained since December 27, 2009 and spent a long duration of time in solitary confinement. Her other charges included “Acting against national security”, “Propaganda against the regime”, and “Membership in a royalist group”.
Fars News Agency, the media outlet affiliated with Iran’s Security Military force, announced her charges as “Membership in an international drug smuggling gang/group” and “Working with a Dutch ally.”
Last year she travelled to Iran to visit one of her children. Upon her arrest during post-election protests, Zahra Bahrami was held for months in the IRGC ward in Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ prison and ward 209 of Evin prison for interrogations.
Zahra Bahrami’s death sentence was issued to her lawyer Jenus Sharif-Razi on January 2, 2011 by Judge Salavati, the head of branch 15. But, the final verdict on the death sentence was not announced to Zahra Bahrami’s family or lawyer.
In an interview with Rooz, Sharif-Razi said that all case files related to drug offences do not get sent to the Appeals Court. Instead, the cases are sent to Iran’s General Prosecutor and only he may make a decision on the verdict. Sharif-Razi explained that she was unable to appeal the sentence and the only chance of launching an investigation into the case was by receiving amnesty from the Clemency and Pardons commission.
Banafsheh Nayebpour, Zahra Bahrami’s daughter has stated in past interviews that the charges against her mother related to drug smuggling are completely baseless and all the confessions were extracted under torture. According to Banafesheh Nayebpour, her mother was guaranteed release if she made the false confessions. She also explained that the charges against her mother are politically motivated.
In the past year, the Islamic Republic of Iran has forced political prisoners to falsely confess by use of torture and empty promises. The executions that are carried out affect the overall political environment in Iran.
In one month nine people of Kurdish citizens have been charged with supporting al-Qaida and Wahhabis and were arrested. Last Wednesday another two named Nemat and Naser was arrested in the city of Sardasht and were transferred to an unknown location.
http://persian2english.com/?p=19565
Zahra Bahrami was executed this morning- 1 hour ago
New insults and accusations against the Kurdistan people- 1 hour ago
Imam zaman were executed in Ahwaz city- 1 hour ago
Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said a new Middle East is emerging based on Islamic values, not U.S. desires.
Well..Yeah...Like...hanging a mother of two...It´s just a matter of time before people like Judge Salavati and in the Iranian regime starts to hang their own mothers..those that still are alive..Isn´t it..
Live Stream - Egypt, White House: Egyptians' grievances 'legitimate'.
US urges reform in Egypt. State department spokesman says US wants peaceful change and more freedoms in Egypt. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/anger-in-egypt/
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112974149942894.html
The White House says the "legitimate grievances" of the Egyptian people must be addressed immediately by their government and violence is not the right response. Press secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated calls for calm and said that the Pentagon has been in direct contact with the Egyptian military to caution restraint.
European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Egyptian authorities should listen to their people, deal with their problems and respect their right to demonstrate, urging the "Egyptian authorities to respect and to protect the right of Egyptian citizens to manifest their political aspirations".
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "very concerned" and called on all concerned to show restraint.
United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the authorities and protesters in Egypt to show restraint and avoid violence. He urged the Egyptian authorities to "listen to the concerns" of demonstrators.
Clinton calls for reform in Egypt. The US secretary of state said Egyptian government should allow protesters to demonstrate over poverty and repression. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper."
US Ambassador Margaret Scobey later commented: "we call on the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful public demonstrations."
CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt's embattled President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday addressed the nation for the first time since deadly protests erupted against his regime, vowing reform. US President Barack Obama called on the Egyptian authorities not to use violence against the political protests, driving home his message in a 30-minute phone call with Mubarak.
Four days after angry protesters first took to the street and with at least 27 people killed in subsequent street battles, a stoney-faced Mubarak said he had sacked the government and would pursue economic and political reforms.
The United States, Britain and Germany on Friday expressed concern about the violence, with Britain saying the protesters had "legitimate grievances."
Obama urged Mubarak to take "concrete" steps towards political reforms, saying he must turn "a moment of volatility" into "a moment of promise." "I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protesters," Obama said, after aides said the White House was readying for any possible political scenarios in Egypt.
Demonstrators torched the Cairo headquarters of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party, with television showing footage of the building overlooking the Nile still burning on Saturday morning. In Suez, protesters overran a police station, seized weapons and set fire to security force vehicles. The demonstrations, inspired by events in Tunisia, are the largest in Egypt in the three decades of Mubarak's rule, sending shock waves across the region. In addition to the 27 people reported killed, hundreds more have been injured and some 1,000 arrested since the protests erupted on Tuesday.
Well..Yeah..It sure wont get any calmer by police shooting people..like a interior minister and his forces against a whole people..
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/01/201112974149942894.html
The White House says the "legitimate grievances" of the Egyptian people must be addressed immediately by their government and violence is not the right response. Press secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated calls for calm and said that the Pentagon has been in direct contact with the Egyptian military to caution restraint.
European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Egyptian authorities should listen to their people, deal with their problems and respect their right to demonstrate, urging the "Egyptian authorities to respect and to protect the right of Egyptian citizens to manifest their political aspirations".
Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he was "very concerned" and called on all concerned to show restraint.
United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the authorities and protesters in Egypt to show restraint and avoid violence. He urged the Egyptian authorities to "listen to the concerns" of demonstrators.
Clinton calls for reform in Egypt. The US secretary of state said Egyptian government should allow protesters to demonstrate over poverty and repression. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said "The Egyptian government has an important opportunity to be responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people, and pursue political, economic and social reforms that can improve their lives and help Egypt prosper."
US Ambassador Margaret Scobey later commented: "we call on the Egyptian authorities to allow peaceful public demonstrations."
CAIRO (AFP) – Egypt's embattled President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday addressed the nation for the first time since deadly protests erupted against his regime, vowing reform. US President Barack Obama called on the Egyptian authorities not to use violence against the political protests, driving home his message in a 30-minute phone call with Mubarak.
Four days after angry protesters first took to the street and with at least 27 people killed in subsequent street battles, a stoney-faced Mubarak said he had sacked the government and would pursue economic and political reforms.
The United States, Britain and Germany on Friday expressed concern about the violence, with Britain saying the protesters had "legitimate grievances."
Obama urged Mubarak to take "concrete" steps towards political reforms, saying he must turn "a moment of volatility" into "a moment of promise." "I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protesters," Obama said, after aides said the White House was readying for any possible political scenarios in Egypt.
Demonstrators torched the Cairo headquarters of Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party, with television showing footage of the building overlooking the Nile still burning on Saturday morning. In Suez, protesters overran a police station, seized weapons and set fire to security force vehicles. The demonstrations, inspired by events in Tunisia, are the largest in Egypt in the three decades of Mubarak's rule, sending shock waves across the region. In addition to the 27 people reported killed, hundreds more have been injured and some 1,000 arrested since the protests erupted on Tuesday.
Well..Yeah..It sure wont get any calmer by police shooting people..like a interior minister and his forces against a whole people..
The Democratic Society Congress(DTK)
January 24 2011, Brief History; It is well known that the Kurds, one of the oldest peoples in Mesopotamia, where the Neolithic farming revolution took place at the dawn of human history, are facing the danger of genocide as a result of policies of denial and destruction.
Those with a nation-state point of view see Kurdistan as a region to expand their own nationalist projects which led to the most brutal methods of repression, exploitation and assimilation. If the Kurds did not resist this inhuman plan, its culture which goes back to the origin of humanity, would face extinction.
When the first state-based civilisations and empires emerged from Lower Mesopotamia, the first place they laid their eyes on was Kurdistan. Kurds, thus, are among the first people who have struggled for freedom since the dawn of history. When states and empires formed a constant pressure in Kurdistan, Kurds formed tribal confederations to create a defence line and, also empowered themselves through this structure they developed a culture of living together and understanding and coexisting with the neighbouring nations.
Even within the state structures, they have somehow succeeded to continue their existence by maintaining certain levels of autonomy. When the capitalist modernity’s nation state mentality and its ideology, nationalism, had arrived in the Middle East, all the communities especially the Kurds faced heavy national, political, social, economic and cultural problems. Similar to other parts of the world, those people who have been infected with pathological nationalism became the enemy of other people. Nation states began to pursue systematic attacks of denial, destruction and assimilation to destroy the other people’s cultures. As result the Kurds are about to lose the autonomy that existed in the pre-capitalist period.
By the beginning of the 20th century Turkish, Arab and Persian ruling elites with nation-statist mentality, who had also been poisoned with nationalism, were using the communities under their influence to start cultural and physical genocide policies against the Kurds. As result of this the Kurds suffered unusually heavy pressures under Turkish, Arabic and Persian nation-states and since the last quarter century, they have faced the loss of national existence altogether. Kurds in North Kurdistan were brought to the brink of non existence at the beginning of the 1970s, as a result of Turkey’s denial policies.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, these have been built on the basis of the Committee of Union and Progress's policy to destroy other peoples and form a nation state based on Turkish nationalisation on the land left after the Ottoman Empire. In regards to Kurdish and Turkish relations, such policies left peoples to go through great suffering and also laid ideological and political ground for the period of destruction for the Kurds.
With the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire after World War I and the threat to Turkish national existence, Mustafa Kemal saw that it was important to form an alliance with the Kurds based on historical tradition. Turkey won the War of Independence and the Republic of Turkey was established on the basis of this relationship. Thus, once again the Turkish people had understood the important value of the alliance with the Kurds.
Mustafa Kemal’s idea to grant autonomy to Kurdistan and the first assembly’s decision of February 1922 to this effect were the result of understanding the importance of Kurdish-Turkish relations. Although the Kurds seriously suffered from the Ottoman Empire’s policies in the last period of the empire, unlike the Arabs and other peoples, the Kurds have not opted for separation and decided to stay with the Turks with whom they share the same religion while maintaining a certain level autonomy.
Obligations of Current Situation and General Principles of Democratic Autonomy Today, despite all the adversities and obstacles that exist, the international and regional political situation has become more conducive to solving the Kurdish cause. Solution to the Kurdish question is an emerging trend in Turkish society and this opens the necessary pre-conditions and opportunities for a solution. The Turkish state has arrived at a point where it cannot continue with the old policies and the Kurdish people refuse to live under the old conditions.
Those with a nation-state point of view see Kurdistan as a region to expand their own nationalist projects which led to the most brutal methods of repression, exploitation and assimilation. If the Kurds did not resist this inhuman plan, its culture which goes back to the origin of humanity, would face extinction.
When the first state-based civilisations and empires emerged from Lower Mesopotamia, the first place they laid their eyes on was Kurdistan. Kurds, thus, are among the first people who have struggled for freedom since the dawn of history. When states and empires formed a constant pressure in Kurdistan, Kurds formed tribal confederations to create a defence line and, also empowered themselves through this structure they developed a culture of living together and understanding and coexisting with the neighbouring nations.
Even within the state structures, they have somehow succeeded to continue their existence by maintaining certain levels of autonomy. When the capitalist modernity’s nation state mentality and its ideology, nationalism, had arrived in the Middle East, all the communities especially the Kurds faced heavy national, political, social, economic and cultural problems. Similar to other parts of the world, those people who have been infected with pathological nationalism became the enemy of other people. Nation states began to pursue systematic attacks of denial, destruction and assimilation to destroy the other people’s cultures. As result the Kurds are about to lose the autonomy that existed in the pre-capitalist period.
By the beginning of the 20th century Turkish, Arab and Persian ruling elites with nation-statist mentality, who had also been poisoned with nationalism, were using the communities under their influence to start cultural and physical genocide policies against the Kurds. As result of this the Kurds suffered unusually heavy pressures under Turkish, Arabic and Persian nation-states and since the last quarter century, they have faced the loss of national existence altogether. Kurds in North Kurdistan were brought to the brink of non existence at the beginning of the 1970s, as a result of Turkey’s denial policies.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, these have been built on the basis of the Committee of Union and Progress's policy to destroy other peoples and form a nation state based on Turkish nationalisation on the land left after the Ottoman Empire. In regards to Kurdish and Turkish relations, such policies left peoples to go through great suffering and also laid ideological and political ground for the period of destruction for the Kurds.
With the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire after World War I and the threat to Turkish national existence, Mustafa Kemal saw that it was important to form an alliance with the Kurds based on historical tradition. Turkey won the War of Independence and the Republic of Turkey was established on the basis of this relationship. Thus, once again the Turkish people had understood the important value of the alliance with the Kurds.
Mustafa Kemal’s idea to grant autonomy to Kurdistan and the first assembly’s decision of February 1922 to this effect were the result of understanding the importance of Kurdish-Turkish relations. Although the Kurds seriously suffered from the Ottoman Empire’s policies in the last period of the empire, unlike the Arabs and other peoples, the Kurds have not opted for separation and decided to stay with the Turks with whom they share the same religion while maintaining a certain level autonomy.
Obligations of Current Situation and General Principles of Democratic Autonomy Today, despite all the adversities and obstacles that exist, the international and regional political situation has become more conducive to solving the Kurdish cause. Solution to the Kurdish question is an emerging trend in Turkish society and this opens the necessary pre-conditions and opportunities for a solution. The Turkish state has arrived at a point where it cannot continue with the old policies and the Kurdish people refuse to live under the old conditions.
Democratic Society Congress (DTK): Democratic Autonomy, By Prof. Dr. Norman Paech
The Democratic Society Congress has proposed a project to organize the coexistence of Turkish and Kurdish people in Turkey on a democratic basis and, consequently designed to be peaceful. The concept of "democratic autonomy" is understood as a proposal to democratise the whole of Turkey. Its core element is to be a new constitution that gives the Kurdish people the same rights of life, the same political status and the same economic, social and cultural opportunities as those available to the Turkish people.
It has taken a very long time for the 15 million Kurds in Turkey to be recognized as a people. It thus not only has guaranteed the limited rights of minorities, but it further has the broader right to self-determination, as provided by the Article 1 of both International Covenants on Human Rights 1966 its codification is: "All peoples have the right to self-determination. In virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
This right was confirmed by the UN General Assembly in 1970 again in its "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations" (so-called declaration of principles) in the words: "Due to the principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations ¬ of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, all peoples have the right to decide freely and without interference from the outside of their political ¬ between status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and each state is obliged to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter ....".
Since that time, the right to self-determination is not only being seen as a political principle or binding programme without obligation in international relations, but as a binding rule of customary international law in the range of mandatory law (ius cogens) are considered.
This the UN General Assembly has reaffirmed in numerous resolutions over and again. The International Law Commission recognized the right to self-determination even before 1970 as a ius cogens and later cited its violation as an example of an international crime.
The International Court of Justice has confirmed its binding application as customary law in its expertise to Namibia and Western Sahara and in its dispute between Nicaragua and the United States. And so, Article 20 of the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples' Rights of 27 June 1981 defines: "All peoples have a right to exist. You have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development after the release of their chosen policy. "
At that time self-determination meant that the colonial oppressed peoples could separate themselves from their colonial powers. It was of equal meaning as the right to establish a sovereign and independent state. But with the end of the decolonisation process, the right of secession has been increasingly restricted by the obligation to respect the existing borders.
Today, the right of secession is generally rejected and only accepted in those cases where a people is restricted in their basic human rights or its existence is threatened by the continued disposition in the state association.
The draft of the Democratic Society Congress explicitly recognizes the existing borders of Turkey and contains its autonomy model within the territory of the Turkish State. It lists eight different dimensions, covering all aspects of the legitimate right to self-determination. A basic requirement of all these dimensions of self-determination concerns the respect of ethnic identity of a people and its cultural specificity.
This is about the preservation of a people’s historically developed characteristics, which includes not only the language and religion, but also the customs, traditions and rituals, provided they do not restrict or endanger the autonomy of other cultures.
As the territorial dimension of the right of self-determination can only be fulfilled by the acceptance of a collective right of settlement in the native country of the people, the right of cultural self-determination is in broader sense a collective right, too. This means that such a right is not only met just by granting the use of their language and customs to the members of the people. It is not the individual claims to offer individual exercise of cultural characteristics that corresponds to the right of self-determination, but only the recognition of the collective identity of a people as a historical subject with its own self-development that leads to the realization of this right.
This means concretely for example that the right to self-determination is not contained by the defence claims against attempted interference in their own cultural initiatives and activities by the government and administration; it is formulated in the benefit claims to the state. It is not enough to allow the families of a people to set up their own private schools for native-language instruction to preserve its own cultural tradition. The entitlement also means the right to establish such facilities in state schools and education.
The dimension of self-defence and diplomacy only seemingly go beyond the territorial boundaries of Turkey. Every nation has a right to protect its safety, identity, the organization of the political community and the implementation of its right to democracy. This not only means military defence, but also civil, political and legal defence of the democratic organization of the people. In addition, the Kurdish people in particular had to defend themselves often in the history of violent intrusions and attacks. Against these dangers the Kurds have to prepare themselves in the future too.
The fact that the Kurds live dispersed across four states determines the direction of the diplomatic dimension. It doesn´t break or violate the sovereignty of the Turkish state, but it allows for facilitating relations with neighbouring countries, as before the Azeris in the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan facilitated the relations of their country with Iran, where the other part of their people resided.
Autonomy and self-administration are essential elements of the right of self-determination. This right is absolutely imperative and makes it a duty of every state to grant the people’s living within its borders the dimension of autonomy where they can act as an equal partner in a democratic society. In this respect, the proposal for a democratic autonomous Kurdistan is a remarkable proposal.
Prof. Dr. Norman Paech, Expert on International Law and former Member of Parliament
It has taken a very long time for the 15 million Kurds in Turkey to be recognized as a people. It thus not only has guaranteed the limited rights of minorities, but it further has the broader right to self-determination, as provided by the Article 1 of both International Covenants on Human Rights 1966 its codification is: "All peoples have the right to self-determination. In virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
This right was confirmed by the UN General Assembly in 1970 again in its "Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning friendly relations and cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations" (so-called declaration of principles) in the words: "Due to the principle enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations ¬ of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, all peoples have the right to decide freely and without interference from the outside of their political ¬ between status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development, and each state is obliged to respect this right in accordance with the provisions of the Charter ....".
Since that time, the right to self-determination is not only being seen as a political principle or binding programme without obligation in international relations, but as a binding rule of customary international law in the range of mandatory law (ius cogens) are considered.
This the UN General Assembly has reaffirmed in numerous resolutions over and again. The International Law Commission recognized the right to self-determination even before 1970 as a ius cogens and later cited its violation as an example of an international crime.
The International Court of Justice has confirmed its binding application as customary law in its expertise to Namibia and Western Sahara and in its dispute between Nicaragua and the United States. And so, Article 20 of the African Charter on Human Rights and Peoples' Rights of 27 June 1981 defines: "All peoples have a right to exist. You have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development after the release of their chosen policy. "
At that time self-determination meant that the colonial oppressed peoples could separate themselves from their colonial powers. It was of equal meaning as the right to establish a sovereign and independent state. But with the end of the decolonisation process, the right of secession has been increasingly restricted by the obligation to respect the existing borders.
Today, the right of secession is generally rejected and only accepted in those cases where a people is restricted in their basic human rights or its existence is threatened by the continued disposition in the state association.
The draft of the Democratic Society Congress explicitly recognizes the existing borders of Turkey and contains its autonomy model within the territory of the Turkish State. It lists eight different dimensions, covering all aspects of the legitimate right to self-determination. A basic requirement of all these dimensions of self-determination concerns the respect of ethnic identity of a people and its cultural specificity.
This is about the preservation of a people’s historically developed characteristics, which includes not only the language and religion, but also the customs, traditions and rituals, provided they do not restrict or endanger the autonomy of other cultures.
As the territorial dimension of the right of self-determination can only be fulfilled by the acceptance of a collective right of settlement in the native country of the people, the right of cultural self-determination is in broader sense a collective right, too. This means that such a right is not only met just by granting the use of their language and customs to the members of the people. It is not the individual claims to offer individual exercise of cultural characteristics that corresponds to the right of self-determination, but only the recognition of the collective identity of a people as a historical subject with its own self-development that leads to the realization of this right.
This means concretely for example that the right to self-determination is not contained by the defence claims against attempted interference in their own cultural initiatives and activities by the government and administration; it is formulated in the benefit claims to the state. It is not enough to allow the families of a people to set up their own private schools for native-language instruction to preserve its own cultural tradition. The entitlement also means the right to establish such facilities in state schools and education.
The dimension of self-defence and diplomacy only seemingly go beyond the territorial boundaries of Turkey. Every nation has a right to protect its safety, identity, the organization of the political community and the implementation of its right to democracy. This not only means military defence, but also civil, political and legal defence of the democratic organization of the people. In addition, the Kurdish people in particular had to defend themselves often in the history of violent intrusions and attacks. Against these dangers the Kurds have to prepare themselves in the future too.
The fact that the Kurds live dispersed across four states determines the direction of the diplomatic dimension. It doesn´t break or violate the sovereignty of the Turkish state, but it allows for facilitating relations with neighbouring countries, as before the Azeris in the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan facilitated the relations of their country with Iran, where the other part of their people resided.
Autonomy and self-administration are essential elements of the right of self-determination. This right is absolutely imperative and makes it a duty of every state to grant the people’s living within its borders the dimension of autonomy where they can act as an equal partner in a democratic society. In this respect, the proposal for a democratic autonomous Kurdistan is a remarkable proposal.
Prof. Dr. Norman Paech, Expert on International Law and former Member of Parliament
For a Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan
DRAFT SUBMISSION, January 24 2011, The Democratic Society Congress(DTK)
The Turkish state has arrived at a point where it cannot continue with the old policies and the Kurdish people refuse to live under the old conditions.
Democratic autonomy is the embodied expression of our previously suggested solution projects for the democratisation of Turkey in order to make it become a democratic republic of Turkey. On one hand we would like to take democratic autonomy as dialogue with the state and on the one hand we would like to institutionalise it on the basis of our people’s democratic organisation and its struggle based on that.
This model is a concrete realistic proposal for the solution of national problems in response to the nation state’s mentality which divides different ethnicities and thus creates constant conflicts and instability. Indeed, today, nation states inhabited by different ethnic groups are undergoing transformation to become relatively democratic political systems where different ethnic and religious societies live together, as the acceptance of differences on the basis of originality and autonomy as well as becoming a pluralistic society is the basic democratic tendency this century.
Democratic autonomy will not only solve the relations between Turkey and the Kurds and the Kurdish cause, it will also establish a deep-rooted democratic political structure to address Turkey’s social problems. It aims to resolve all issues including economic issues as it is based on organised democratic society that we refer to as a moral and political community that is based on libertarian-communal values.
Many circles, both in Turkey and internationally are of the opinion that Turkey must resolve the Kurdish question. But the oligarchy of political parties in our country produces policies for its own interest rather than for Turkey. It refuses to find a solution to solve the Kurdish question. Instead it continues to implement policies which deepen the decay and create more suffering for the Kurdish people.
Therefore there is no option left for the Kurds other than to establish their own democratic and free life in a legitimate way. Democratic autonomy means that the Kurdish people will no longer be forced to live as a non-status people under an administration that threatens their existence.
There is no other nation in this world that similar to the Kurds with a population of over 40 million, deprived of its national rights and its national existence facing total destruction.
Democratic autonomy is the way to express that the Kurds refuse the political status based on the Turkish state’s denial and destruction policies and are willing to reach a new status that allows them to live in freedom and democracy.
Democratic autonomy aims to organise Kurdistan society in eight dimensions -- Political, Legal, Self-Defence, Social, Economic, Cultural, Ecology, and Diplomacy -- to generate political willpower that aims at the creation of a Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan.
Without democratic autonomy, the Kurds will not develop the political will to establish a democratic society. Therefore, they will be unable to build a strong society in which the economic, social and cultural needs can be met. Our people greeted with great enthusiasm and excitement the democratic autonomy model when it was submitted as a democratic solution of Kurdish question by the DTK and BDP.
Democratic autonomy aims to change the hardened mentality of the nation state that is meeting none of the needs of the peoples of Turkey and is becoming a burden on Turkish society, and remove this obstacle which prevents the peoples' political, social, economic and cultural development and thus to democratise the republic. Therefore, the democratic autonomy should be seen as an extension of the democratic republic in Kurdistan.
Kurdish society today has become a force for democratisation not only in Turkey but in all countries of the region. The Kurdistan Freedom Struggle with its implementation of democratic, social and cultural revolution within the Kurdish society and in particular in terms of the democratization of Turkey, has become a major force for democratisation in the Middle East. Therefore, the process of building democratic autonomy will bring democratization to the region.
This process is setting before the Turkish state the need for democratization of society and a desire to solve the Kurdish cause, the process of democratisation, and obligations forced by the regional and international situation.
So far, constitutions and laws and all their applications in Kurdistan, have given no judicial rights and justice to the Kurdish people. Therefore, all the policies and all the political, administrative and legal aspects in Kurdistan are anti-democratic for the Kurds and hence they must be replaced.
Democratic autonomy will not change the borders. It will reinforce the brotherhood of peoples and their unity within the borders, which will end conflicts; the Kurdish people and Turkey will reach a new contract and launch a new era in Turkish-Kurdish relations. Our model is a democratisation model that can be applied to all other parts of Turkey.
The states of the world are already abandoning centralised systems and increasingly decentralizing their political systems. Because it easier to solve problems in decentralised systems, these systems have became political models where development is even more accelerated. Based on this aspect democratic autonomy is about the state devolving authority to local bodies, solving the problems and heading towards democratisation.
Turkish-Kurdish relations during the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Turkey's Founding Assembly and its founder Mustafa Kemal's approach of that time can be the historical grounds for a new approach. Our model is the most analytical model establishing a new contemporary Kurdish-Turkish relation when we take into account that in our age, relations between peoples are based on acceptance of different national communities and allowing them to govern themselves. Democratic autonomy is not an institutionalization of state and therefore it will not be involved in battles for power and the state. In this respect, it has the character and capacity to develop healthy relations with all peoples and political units based on the mutual interests.
Democratic autonomy, while showing the ability of all the masses to complete each other in the society and empower them in the form of a democratic confederal union, will also create free and democratic relationships with the political systems in the other parts of Kurdistan and other peoples in the region.
The democratic autonomy administration is the expression of the will of the people of Northern Kurdistan, and will create empowering relationships with other democratic confederal organisations in other parts, without changing the borders of the countries they live in. As they will not have a nation state and statist mentality they will not see themselves superior to others in these relations. In this respect, a democratic mentality and structure will play an important and constructive role in creating a healthy relationship between the Kurds. On this basis democratic confederalism between all parts of Kurdistan will become more functional.
Democratic autonomy is neither a state-building nor a state-destroying project, therefore it will help and lead the way to regional states to solving the Kurdish cause. With this character in hand, on the basis of principled compromise with the formula of state + democracy, joint life with nation states will emerge.
This is a model to solve the national problem on the basis of principled compromises with all political powers that have no fascist character. This character of democratic autonomy will establish a healthy relationship with the countries in the region and will provide recognition of democratic autonomy. As there will be no conflict based on power and statehood it will be possible to create all sort of political, social, economic relationships with all non-fascist political forces.
Democratic autonomy, starting from Turkey will mark the beginning of a new relationship between the Kurds and states of Iran, Syria and Iraq. When this biggest problem in the region is resolved through the establishment of democratic autonomy then all the other regional problems will also be resolved. As the Kurdish question in the region remains a cause of tension and conflict it also remains an important factor for maintenance of political, economic and social instability in the region. A solution to this problem is central for ensuring stability in the region.
The Democratic Autonomy Project provides not only the solution of the Kurdish problem but for all the regional problems and which could become solution model of universal importance.
Dimensions of Democratic Autonomy ModelStatus of the Autonomous Democratic Kurdistan will be organised under eight dimensions.
POLITICAL DIMENSION
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan’s political command will get its power from the organized democratic society and the community will get its power from the use of individual rights by free citizens together with the use of collective-group rights. For the benefit of society it will use this power via democratic politics. Therefore as opposed to the nation-state's strict centralist, bureaucratic organizational understanding, it will be based on democratic organisation. Through democratic politics, all segments of society will participate in the political process and become functional. Thus, open, transparent and politicized communities will be the power for change and democratisation.
Political Administration in Democratic Autonomy: starting from the grassroots, village communes, town, district, neighbourhood councils and city councils, will organise themselves in the form of confederal organization and will have its democratic representation at the Congress of Society. The Democratic Congress of Autonomous Kurdistan Community will send its representatives to the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Turkey and take part in the politics of the common homeland.
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan will have its own original flags and symbols that representing them. In addition, different communities in the democratic autonomy region will use its own symbols. In this sense, democratic autonomy is the expression of the will of Kurdish people to live in a democratic Turkey. And it represents the Kurdish people’s political status.
Democratic autonomy is not based on geography, ethnic and religious community, instead it is based on democracy and co-existence. It is based on criteria of democracy and it means ethnic, religious, social and cultural rights. This model is not only applicable for Kurdistan but also the other regions of Turkey.
The decision-making authority in democratic autonomy primarily belongs to the delegates of village, neighbourhood, district and city councils. Through the people’s assemblies each community will express, discuss and make decisions. It is based on participant, pluralistic and direct popular democracy.
Democratic autonomy will not only limit the authority and power of the state but by playing this role with the understanding of state + democracy in mind, it will also establish democratic life of the community and will allow participation, pluralism and direct democracy to exist alongside the state.
All the cultural, ethnic, gender, faith communities should be able to be organised autonomously and authentically. These peoples (the Assyrian-Chaldean, Arabs, Armenians, Azeris) and faith groups like Ezidi-Alevi, should be given priority to represent themselves within the Democratic Autonomy. This is a requirement of moral and political societies.
The individualism that separates itself from society and is opposing society is as unacceptable as is the traditional denial of the individual and their rights. We consider the relations between the individual and society as interdependent elements of society as a whole. We see the level of women’s freedom as the basic criterion of a democratic society.
Authentic creation of organisations in political, social, economic, cultural, art, sports, education, law, public transport, commercial, financial and industrial areas are communal needs in the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan. The political parties which are the indispensable tools in the democracy should be reorganised without countering moral and political society and without aiming any ideological hegemony and political sovereignty.
Communes of the villages and councils in the cities are the main democratic institutions of a democratic autonomous system. The democratic functioning of the democratic system and the moral requirement of political society is that all sectors, including women and young people in particular should participate the politics through the assemblies on the ground. Village heads and wise men delegations from the villages should become democratic vehicles rather than vehicles of the state.
LEGAL DIMENSION
Despite the denial of its existence and its rights by the international community and regional states, the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people today will be decisive for the status of the democratic autonomy. The status of democratic autonomy should be anticipated in order to end unlawful, inhuman attitudes, the policy of denial and the war of destruction against the Kurds and to secure a peaceful, free, democratic union within the borders of Turkish republic by constitutional change and legal means. We see Turkey and Kurdistan as a common homeland.
The democratic autonomy law should be recognised as part of the new Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and the EU Law and secured through mutual agreements.
With the status of the democratic autonomy, the Kurdish people can secure their fundamental rights and freedoms within the borders of the Republic of Turkey. This status is the expression of the will based on the free consent of the Kurdish people for equal & voluntary unification and this must be ensured in the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Turkey.
The democratic autonomy implemented in Kurdistan, the homeland of the Kurds, is also an applicable model in Turkey as a whole as it is an essential prerequisite for the implementation of direct democracy.
Democratic autonomy represents freedom for the Kurds within the existing borders and states. The Kurds living in Kurdistan and other parts of Turkey will regulate their relations with the Republic of Turkey on the basis of the status of democratic autonomy.
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan and the whole of Turkey is based on human rights, the freedom of all since their birth regardless of their class, nation, religion, sex, ethnic group and, without discriminations any of race; their first generation rights concerning freedom of expression, thought and belief, freedom of association, assembly, demonstration, and education in mother tongue; their second generation rights concerning economic and social rights; third generation rights concerning for freedom of the people to develop their cultural assets, survival and self administration. These rights should be ensured under the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and the law of the Kurdistan Democratic Autonomy.
The fundamental basis will be the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan’s gender free-libertarian-democratic-ecological paradigm, the traditions of autonomy in human history, today’s autonomous solutions in Ireland, Scotland, Basque, Catalan county, Turkish Constitution of 1921, the Kurdish Autonomy Act ratified on 10th of February 1922 by the Grand National Assembly, M. Kemal’s speeches made in Izmir in 1924 and relevant UN covenants.
The legal system of Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan does not believe that the management of the society is correct and possible solely by law, and communality should be protected by using both ethics and politics together without falling into the dilemma of “either ethics or law”.
Believing that a society which has lost its conscience is a lost society, it sees ethics as the conscience and the heart of society. A just social system can be build based on the gender-libertarian-democratic-ecological community paradigm.
SELF-DEFENCE DIMENSION
There is no creature in nature that does not defend itself. All creatures instinctively try to preserve their existence, and also take decisive measures towards it. Among the creatures the human being is the one that has consciously developed methods of self-defence. One aspect of the human history is also the history of development of self-defence.
Throughout history, from the clans to tribes, from tribes to nations and religious communities, from villages to the cities, every society needed to exercise self-defence. Self-defence is a necessity like air and water in order to protect themselves both against the attacks of its existence from outside and from inside against the danger to the ethical and political values of the community.
Self-defence is a security policy for the moral and political society. The self-defence dimension does not only mean the military defence of society. In fact it means the protection of identity, politicisation and democratisation. Self-defence is based on the organized community. Organized community is the best engaged community to implement self-defence. Self-defence is the sine qua non of all societies to protect their existence.
Throughout history, the people of Kurdistan have struggled for self-protection against the consistent attacks from outside. Since the first attack of the invading and occupying forces to the present, the Kurds have been in self-defence situations to protect themselves against the attacks on their existence. More recently, despite all the obstacles and difficulties, the Kurdish uprisings in 19th and 20th centuries were self-defence.
With the acceptance of democratic autonomy, under the supervision of the democratic organs, the self-defence can be established not as military monopoly but for the external and internal needs of the society. All peoples living in cities, towns, districts and villages will be conscious and responsive towards the fascist and genocidal attacks on the basis of self-defence which refers to the social resistance against these trends. Self-defence is a right enshrined in international conventions and the UN.
CULTURAL DIMENSION
The nation-state has pursued a policy of genocide against all the languages and cultures within its borders. The Kurdish culture and language is one of the first targets of such stringent policies. Speaking Kurdish in daily life has been banned, learning Kurdish in state educational institutions as a mother-tongue is prohibited by the constitution and laws. It has aimed to create a society alienated from its native language, and culture, its mind and spirit has been assimilated. It has come to a point where a process of auto-assimilation has begun in Kurdistan.
However, UN conventions and the European Union's democratic norms see prohibiting a people’s culture, their native language and not allowing it to use it freely as a crime against humanity and defining as "cultural genocide". However, this crime against humanity continues to be carried out consistently before the eyes of the world.
The Kurdish people, have not been able to exercise its right to freely live and develop in an democratic environment; therefore the damaging effect on Kurdish society created by the nationalist, prohibitive, singular, and assimilationist policies is still prevalent. In a sense, the individuals and society have experienced almost a kind of brain death. That is the reason why there has not been development of healthy individuals and society. Due to lack of education in mother tongue there is not enough Kurdish intellectuals. In order for Kurdish society to be free in spirit and mentality to produce healthy individuals, there is a need for radical studies in language and culture areas.
Art defends society and individuals against the spread of all kinds of cultural imperialism, colonialism, and makes them engage with their history, territory, culture and language. It is essential to develop a grassroots culture and art movement that involves even smaller settlements. Necessary measures should be taken to not to reduce culture and art to be a simple commodity for trading.
It is said that 'One of the biggest disaster for the people is if their history has been written by the others' is a stunning truth for the Kurds. The history of Kurdistan has mostly been written by others for the purpose of serving their own interests and Kurdish historical consciousness has not properly developed. This is a serious danger for the development of our people's identity, existence and their future.
All the barriers for the use of Kurdish language in public should be removed and Kurdish language should become language of education from kindergarten to university. All the necessary legal and constitutional arrangements should be made in order to prevent cultural meltdown and provide opportunity in mother tongue education for the Kurds living in major cities of Turkey and abroad.
Constitution and laws should provide legal protection to the all languages and their dialects spoken in our geography (Assyrians-Syriac, Arabic, Armenian et al.), used in education, and developed alongside the Kurdish and Turkish languages, which are the official languages of Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan. Language for the services should be Kurdish and the original names of the settlements are to be returned.
SOCIAL DIMENSION
The aim of assimilation was to alienate the Kurdish society from its social values, history and their culture, with forced migration the plan was evacuation of the Kurdistan and deformation of its social texture, changing the demographic structure and by the application of the physical and cultural genocide their existence was targeted.
In addition, as part of the special war policy, the women and youth sectors of the society were estranged from the social struggle by the sport, art, social events under the name of social activities, and by spreading prostitution and drugs moral collapse of the society is aimed. Separate policies for each social sector followed to make Kurdish people flabby, unorganized, in a position with no struggle.
Kurdish women are still exposed to state terror and to a mentality based on sexism mentality. In this sexist society the family formed as a small state run by men and played an effective role in keeping women in deep slavery. According to our social policy, the family is not a social institution that can be overcome in this existing social reality, but can be converted. Therefore the laws and the concept of property on children and women which is based on hierarchy must be replaced. In this respect the aspect of women's awareness, the level of her being organised will play a key role in converting family and society, into free and democratic units. Democratic society based on free will and the mentality of free women will be a society that finds life in a democratic autonomous Kurdistan.
Since the first hierarchical structure, dependent policies on youth are continuing and deepening. Ideological propaganda, memorization, overwhelming them with dogmas, binding them through sexual guidance, making them reactionary are all aimed to divert their energies from targeting the system and maintaining order. In order to tackle this issue, the fundamental role in the establishment of democratic society is organising the youth based on the principles of freedom. It is difficult to keep a youth walking towards freedom.
Because the youth poses problems for the existing ruling systems, it can also play a leading role in building and defending a new society. In classless societies, private or collective property owners would have free labourers. Therefore it is of great importance to organise workers, peasants, civil servants, tradesmen and provide conditions for their active participation in social life. The basic duty of the democratic society is to create and implement projects for social and cultural development of these people.
Resistance, and cultural revival of the religion can bear democratic content against the capitalist and nation-statism. It also represents strong moral vessels that cannot be ignored. In a democratic-nation it is important promote the progressive content of the religious culture as equal, free and democratic element and give it a place in the solution.
Despite the all efforts of the destruction, facing erosion and suffering decay, the axis of historical society and the main basis of the society are formed by the oppressed, the exploited of all nations, peoples, ethnicities, women, youth, village-farming communities, the unemployed, nomads, many religious communities, sects, small groups, and labour communities. Therefore the social dimension that represents all these social groups has the character to secure free and democratic life.
Democratic society is the contemporary modern form of moral and political society and it is the society that in a real sense allows differences to live within it. The communal group should not be forced into single type of culture and citizenship and has to be able to live with its differences, it own culture and identity.
Therefore the re-establishment of the society in the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan will be actualised with the free organisation of labour, education, health, solidarity and similar units under the leadership of women and youth in particular.
The social dimension of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan has the potential to discuss, take decisions, re structure and to put a plan into operation, and for that reason to be the base of other dimensions to be implemented. The leading forces of the democratic confederal organisation in Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan are women and youth. Therefore the role of the women is essential in communal life and in all areas or organisation. The relations between the individuals and society should be established on the basis of equal-free-democratic life principles and through the struggle against the sexism in the society.
The youth will play an important part in the re-establishment and defence of the society with its energy, dynamism, and play a leading role in social change. Conditions should be established in which priority is given to the psychological and physical education of the children and the promotion of their development. Exploitation of the child labour and sexual harassment should be regarded as crime and treated according to international laws conventions on children’s rights.
ECONOMIC DIMENSION
Kurdistan, where the first communal life and Neolithic farming revolution started, has now become the land of a people who are dispersed all around the world as a result of poverty and hunger. Kurdistan, which has been defined in the sacred texts as the land which the cradle of civilisation, and as a paradise land with enormous wealth, has ended up in these current conditions as a result of the military occupations, political and economic colonisations of the external powers.
Those who established political hegemony over the Kurds have destroyed the economic life of the Kurds beyond the economic colonisation to reach the level of genocide. As a result, the community which was left hungry and destitute was easily made loyal to these hegemonic powers by conceding very little to them. It has been easy to control these people whose will power has been broken. People who are left dependant on others cannot be fighters and founders of a free and democratic life.
The creation of an economic basis for a society is a key dimension for becoming a moral and political society. Therefore the first aspect to develop in the building of democratic autonomy will be the creation of an economically viable society which achieves the elimination of unemployment and poverty.
No communal, political and social system can exist without establishing its own economic system. Democratic autonomy should establish its own economic model in order to permanently institutionalise the system of free and democratic life for the Kurdish people. If the democratic autonomy will be the bedrock of the democratic nation then it has first to create an economic system.
Economic problems arise when society ceases to be functioning society. It is an undeniable reality that the deepest crisis facing society is caused by capitalism. To express this reality the leader of the Kurdish people stated that “capitalism is not an economy but against the economy”. The current state of capitalism is based on the breakdown of society and its organisations; profiting from financial dealings without engaging in actual production is the clearest indication of this reality.
In history, economic problems started when devious men established their control over women. As a result of the class system, urbanisation and state power, society has been alienated from the social economic issues and faced deep structural problems.
Economy requires socialisation and democracy. An economy that meets the need of society is only possible through the democratic organisation of society. On this basis democratic society is also an economic society. As seen, the economy is not a mere technical issue. As a fundamental structure of society it is actually an activity that goes to the root of the life of a society. Detaching the human being from the economy is the foundation of the all alienation.
Despite the fact that it had the opportunity to become one of the most developed economies and civilisations, the society in Kurdistan has faced economic collapse and economic genocide. Therefore this fact itself shows that it is very important for this society to become an economically viable society by establishing its free and democratic life on the basis of democratic autonomy.
Through the economy of cooperation a new society can be built and the wealth of the Kurdistan can become an economic value not for the Kurds alone but all the people in the region and production will flourish. There is a need to establish an economic system where everybody has her/his own business and is working for their own benefit, one that gives priority to the employment of women, one that is based on function value rather than profit, and that is anti-monopolistic and interdependent.
ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION
The reasons behind the ecological crisis which deepen with the social crisis can be traced back to the beginning of civilisation. The state powers and ruling hierarchies are denying the fact that there is any communal connection which created society. They have also replaced this with another perspective which fails to remember the connection between nature and life. Every development from the foundation of civilisation results in ever increasing alienation from nature, damaging the environment and the trends towards the creation of a world that it is impossible to live in.
The social and economic crises are joined in today’s world. With the aim of making as much profit as possible, no attention is paid to how much the planet can manage to sustain in terms of cities, population, factories, transport vehicles, synthetic materials, pollution and water. The cities spreading like cancer, polluted air, damage to the ozone layer, the significant decrease in animal and plant varieties, demolition of the forests, contamination of the waterways, mountains of rubbish everywhere, shortages of clean water, abnormal increase in the population, will all cause disasters that we may not be able to reverse.
Any system of society that is not integrated with nature cannot be defended as a moral and democratic system. There is a dialectical relationship between environmental disaster and chaos faced by the capitalist system. The outcome of profit seeking and capital system which is based on maximising profit and industrial expansion that against the ecology is not only destroying society in many ways (leading to immorality, unemployment, inflation, prostitution etc), it also puts the ecology and all living things in danger. These examples show more clearly that monopoly is against society. On the other hand ecological society requires moral transformation.
The amoral side of capitalism can be overcome with an ecological approach. This will be only valuable if there is good ecological understanding. This problem cannot be solved with the environmentalist approach alone.
The practical difficulties of ecological life are very topical both around the world and in the geography we live in. Especially in Kurdistan, the ecological destruction conducted for militaristic, political and economic reasons has done serious damage to the geography of Kurdistan and its social structure.
Many villages and forests have been burned, residential areas demolished as a result of dam projects and other development plans jeopardise historic cultural monuments, and pastures were flooded with the water. Many pastures have been left with no water and have turned into desert. Thousands of square meters of farmland have been planted with mines, making farming impossible. With similar practices, animal husbandry has almost killed by the banning of people from using highlands. Poisonous wastes are stored in Kurdistan. All these practises have changed the climate and flora of Kurdistan and resulted in instability.
All these attacks against the geography of Kurdistan can only be resolved with an ecological revolution. All these ecological disasters are not only limited to our geography but have an impact on whole world. The burned, barren, poisoned Kurdistan is in fact a burned, deserted and poisoned world.
Ecological awareness, love of homeland and love for the world are all interrelated. Therefore in order to have healthy environment and social life, there is need for community to be conscious, for ecological measures to be developed and active struggle to be conducted. It is necessary to oppose urbanisation that is damaging the ecological balance, dam buildings that change flora and the flooding of historical sites with water to wipe out the Kurdish people’s history.
DIPLOMATIC DIMENSION
In general diplomacy is an activity developed by the people, societies, different groups and states for their own interests. Diplomacy based on modernity and the nation-state mentality is only based on securing power. The diplomacy of nation-states is conducted in order to pursue the activities of nation-states around the world in coordination with other nation states. If there is no recognition by other nation-states there is no chance of survival for a single nation-state even for 24 hours. The reason for that is hidden in the very rationale of the world capitalist system. Without the consent of the people none of the nation states can last long.
According to the democratic modernity paradigm, the diplomacy dimension of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan is based on mutual solidarity and interest between peoples, different groups and societies.
Considering the historical and societal characteristic of the issue in Kurdistan, especially considering that it has been divided into four parts, its diplomacy will have important impact on the neighbouring countries, societies and other parts of Kurdistan.
The diplomacy of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan should play a role for the development of peace and brotherhood for our region, it should encourage economic development and increase the level of wealth. Diplomacy to be carried out with stateless nations, peoples, groups and societies struggling for democracy and freedom will be implemented in mutual solidarity and trust. Diplomacy will protect the national interests of Kurdish people and our people living in the Diaspora and cities.
- Translated from Turkish original –http://www.kurdish-info.eu/media/files/Democratik%20AutonomyEN.pdf
The Turkish state has arrived at a point where it cannot continue with the old policies and the Kurdish people refuse to live under the old conditions.
Democratic autonomy is the embodied expression of our previously suggested solution projects for the democratisation of Turkey in order to make it become a democratic republic of Turkey. On one hand we would like to take democratic autonomy as dialogue with the state and on the one hand we would like to institutionalise it on the basis of our people’s democratic organisation and its struggle based on that.
This model is a concrete realistic proposal for the solution of national problems in response to the nation state’s mentality which divides different ethnicities and thus creates constant conflicts and instability. Indeed, today, nation states inhabited by different ethnic groups are undergoing transformation to become relatively democratic political systems where different ethnic and religious societies live together, as the acceptance of differences on the basis of originality and autonomy as well as becoming a pluralistic society is the basic democratic tendency this century.
Democratic autonomy will not only solve the relations between Turkey and the Kurds and the Kurdish cause, it will also establish a deep-rooted democratic political structure to address Turkey’s social problems. It aims to resolve all issues including economic issues as it is based on organised democratic society that we refer to as a moral and political community that is based on libertarian-communal values.
Many circles, both in Turkey and internationally are of the opinion that Turkey must resolve the Kurdish question. But the oligarchy of political parties in our country produces policies for its own interest rather than for Turkey. It refuses to find a solution to solve the Kurdish question. Instead it continues to implement policies which deepen the decay and create more suffering for the Kurdish people.
Therefore there is no option left for the Kurds other than to establish their own democratic and free life in a legitimate way. Democratic autonomy means that the Kurdish people will no longer be forced to live as a non-status people under an administration that threatens their existence.
There is no other nation in this world that similar to the Kurds with a population of over 40 million, deprived of its national rights and its national existence facing total destruction.
Democratic autonomy is the way to express that the Kurds refuse the political status based on the Turkish state’s denial and destruction policies and are willing to reach a new status that allows them to live in freedom and democracy.
Democratic autonomy aims to organise Kurdistan society in eight dimensions -- Political, Legal, Self-Defence, Social, Economic, Cultural, Ecology, and Diplomacy -- to generate political willpower that aims at the creation of a Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan.
Without democratic autonomy, the Kurds will not develop the political will to establish a democratic society. Therefore, they will be unable to build a strong society in which the economic, social and cultural needs can be met. Our people greeted with great enthusiasm and excitement the democratic autonomy model when it was submitted as a democratic solution of Kurdish question by the DTK and BDP.
Democratic autonomy aims to change the hardened mentality of the nation state that is meeting none of the needs of the peoples of Turkey and is becoming a burden on Turkish society, and remove this obstacle which prevents the peoples' political, social, economic and cultural development and thus to democratise the republic. Therefore, the democratic autonomy should be seen as an extension of the democratic republic in Kurdistan.
Kurdish society today has become a force for democratisation not only in Turkey but in all countries of the region. The Kurdistan Freedom Struggle with its implementation of democratic, social and cultural revolution within the Kurdish society and in particular in terms of the democratization of Turkey, has become a major force for democratisation in the Middle East. Therefore, the process of building democratic autonomy will bring democratization to the region.
This process is setting before the Turkish state the need for democratization of society and a desire to solve the Kurdish cause, the process of democratisation, and obligations forced by the regional and international situation.
So far, constitutions and laws and all their applications in Kurdistan, have given no judicial rights and justice to the Kurdish people. Therefore, all the policies and all the political, administrative and legal aspects in Kurdistan are anti-democratic for the Kurds and hence they must be replaced.
Democratic autonomy will not change the borders. It will reinforce the brotherhood of peoples and their unity within the borders, which will end conflicts; the Kurdish people and Turkey will reach a new contract and launch a new era in Turkish-Kurdish relations. Our model is a democratisation model that can be applied to all other parts of Turkey.
The states of the world are already abandoning centralised systems and increasingly decentralizing their political systems. Because it easier to solve problems in decentralised systems, these systems have became political models where development is even more accelerated. Based on this aspect democratic autonomy is about the state devolving authority to local bodies, solving the problems and heading towards democratisation.
Turkish-Kurdish relations during the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Turkey's Founding Assembly and its founder Mustafa Kemal's approach of that time can be the historical grounds for a new approach. Our model is the most analytical model establishing a new contemporary Kurdish-Turkish relation when we take into account that in our age, relations between peoples are based on acceptance of different national communities and allowing them to govern themselves. Democratic autonomy is not an institutionalization of state and therefore it will not be involved in battles for power and the state. In this respect, it has the character and capacity to develop healthy relations with all peoples and political units based on the mutual interests.
Democratic autonomy, while showing the ability of all the masses to complete each other in the society and empower them in the form of a democratic confederal union, will also create free and democratic relationships with the political systems in the other parts of Kurdistan and other peoples in the region.
The democratic autonomy administration is the expression of the will of the people of Northern Kurdistan, and will create empowering relationships with other democratic confederal organisations in other parts, without changing the borders of the countries they live in. As they will not have a nation state and statist mentality they will not see themselves superior to others in these relations. In this respect, a democratic mentality and structure will play an important and constructive role in creating a healthy relationship between the Kurds. On this basis democratic confederalism between all parts of Kurdistan will become more functional.
Democratic autonomy is neither a state-building nor a state-destroying project, therefore it will help and lead the way to regional states to solving the Kurdish cause. With this character in hand, on the basis of principled compromise with the formula of state + democracy, joint life with nation states will emerge.
This is a model to solve the national problem on the basis of principled compromises with all political powers that have no fascist character. This character of democratic autonomy will establish a healthy relationship with the countries in the region and will provide recognition of democratic autonomy. As there will be no conflict based on power and statehood it will be possible to create all sort of political, social, economic relationships with all non-fascist political forces.
Democratic autonomy, starting from Turkey will mark the beginning of a new relationship between the Kurds and states of Iran, Syria and Iraq. When this biggest problem in the region is resolved through the establishment of democratic autonomy then all the other regional problems will also be resolved. As the Kurdish question in the region remains a cause of tension and conflict it also remains an important factor for maintenance of political, economic and social instability in the region. A solution to this problem is central for ensuring stability in the region.
The Democratic Autonomy Project provides not only the solution of the Kurdish problem but for all the regional problems and which could become solution model of universal importance.
Dimensions of Democratic Autonomy ModelStatus of the Autonomous Democratic Kurdistan will be organised under eight dimensions.
POLITICAL DIMENSION
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan’s political command will get its power from the organized democratic society and the community will get its power from the use of individual rights by free citizens together with the use of collective-group rights. For the benefit of society it will use this power via democratic politics. Therefore as opposed to the nation-state's strict centralist, bureaucratic organizational understanding, it will be based on democratic organisation. Through democratic politics, all segments of society will participate in the political process and become functional. Thus, open, transparent and politicized communities will be the power for change and democratisation.
Political Administration in Democratic Autonomy: starting from the grassroots, village communes, town, district, neighbourhood councils and city councils, will organise themselves in the form of confederal organization and will have its democratic representation at the Congress of Society. The Democratic Congress of Autonomous Kurdistan Community will send its representatives to the parliament of the Democratic Republic of Turkey and take part in the politics of the common homeland.
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan will have its own original flags and symbols that representing them. In addition, different communities in the democratic autonomy region will use its own symbols. In this sense, democratic autonomy is the expression of the will of Kurdish people to live in a democratic Turkey. And it represents the Kurdish people’s political status.
Democratic autonomy is not based on geography, ethnic and religious community, instead it is based on democracy and co-existence. It is based on criteria of democracy and it means ethnic, religious, social and cultural rights. This model is not only applicable for Kurdistan but also the other regions of Turkey.
The decision-making authority in democratic autonomy primarily belongs to the delegates of village, neighbourhood, district and city councils. Through the people’s assemblies each community will express, discuss and make decisions. It is based on participant, pluralistic and direct popular democracy.
Democratic autonomy will not only limit the authority and power of the state but by playing this role with the understanding of state + democracy in mind, it will also establish democratic life of the community and will allow participation, pluralism and direct democracy to exist alongside the state.
All the cultural, ethnic, gender, faith communities should be able to be organised autonomously and authentically. These peoples (the Assyrian-Chaldean, Arabs, Armenians, Azeris) and faith groups like Ezidi-Alevi, should be given priority to represent themselves within the Democratic Autonomy. This is a requirement of moral and political societies.
The individualism that separates itself from society and is opposing society is as unacceptable as is the traditional denial of the individual and their rights. We consider the relations between the individual and society as interdependent elements of society as a whole. We see the level of women’s freedom as the basic criterion of a democratic society.
Authentic creation of organisations in political, social, economic, cultural, art, sports, education, law, public transport, commercial, financial and industrial areas are communal needs in the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan. The political parties which are the indispensable tools in the democracy should be reorganised without countering moral and political society and without aiming any ideological hegemony and political sovereignty.
Communes of the villages and councils in the cities are the main democratic institutions of a democratic autonomous system. The democratic functioning of the democratic system and the moral requirement of political society is that all sectors, including women and young people in particular should participate the politics through the assemblies on the ground. Village heads and wise men delegations from the villages should become democratic vehicles rather than vehicles of the state.
LEGAL DIMENSION
Despite the denial of its existence and its rights by the international community and regional states, the freedom struggle of the Kurdish people today will be decisive for the status of the democratic autonomy. The status of democratic autonomy should be anticipated in order to end unlawful, inhuman attitudes, the policy of denial and the war of destruction against the Kurds and to secure a peaceful, free, democratic union within the borders of Turkish republic by constitutional change and legal means. We see Turkey and Kurdistan as a common homeland.
The democratic autonomy law should be recognised as part of the new Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and the EU Law and secured through mutual agreements.
With the status of the democratic autonomy, the Kurdish people can secure their fundamental rights and freedoms within the borders of the Republic of Turkey. This status is the expression of the will based on the free consent of the Kurdish people for equal & voluntary unification and this must be ensured in the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Turkey.
The democratic autonomy implemented in Kurdistan, the homeland of the Kurds, is also an applicable model in Turkey as a whole as it is an essential prerequisite for the implementation of direct democracy.
Democratic autonomy represents freedom for the Kurds within the existing borders and states. The Kurds living in Kurdistan and other parts of Turkey will regulate their relations with the Republic of Turkey on the basis of the status of democratic autonomy.
The Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan and the whole of Turkey is based on human rights, the freedom of all since their birth regardless of their class, nation, religion, sex, ethnic group and, without discriminations any of race; their first generation rights concerning freedom of expression, thought and belief, freedom of association, assembly, demonstration, and education in mother tongue; their second generation rights concerning economic and social rights; third generation rights concerning for freedom of the people to develop their cultural assets, survival and self administration. These rights should be ensured under the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey and the law of the Kurdistan Democratic Autonomy.
The fundamental basis will be the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan’s gender free-libertarian-democratic-ecological paradigm, the traditions of autonomy in human history, today’s autonomous solutions in Ireland, Scotland, Basque, Catalan county, Turkish Constitution of 1921, the Kurdish Autonomy Act ratified on 10th of February 1922 by the Grand National Assembly, M. Kemal’s speeches made in Izmir in 1924 and relevant UN covenants.
The legal system of Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan does not believe that the management of the society is correct and possible solely by law, and communality should be protected by using both ethics and politics together without falling into the dilemma of “either ethics or law”.
Believing that a society which has lost its conscience is a lost society, it sees ethics as the conscience and the heart of society. A just social system can be build based on the gender-libertarian-democratic-ecological community paradigm.
SELF-DEFENCE DIMENSION
There is no creature in nature that does not defend itself. All creatures instinctively try to preserve their existence, and also take decisive measures towards it. Among the creatures the human being is the one that has consciously developed methods of self-defence. One aspect of the human history is also the history of development of self-defence.
Throughout history, from the clans to tribes, from tribes to nations and religious communities, from villages to the cities, every society needed to exercise self-defence. Self-defence is a necessity like air and water in order to protect themselves both against the attacks of its existence from outside and from inside against the danger to the ethical and political values of the community.
Self-defence is a security policy for the moral and political society. The self-defence dimension does not only mean the military defence of society. In fact it means the protection of identity, politicisation and democratisation. Self-defence is based on the organized community. Organized community is the best engaged community to implement self-defence. Self-defence is the sine qua non of all societies to protect their existence.
Throughout history, the people of Kurdistan have struggled for self-protection against the consistent attacks from outside. Since the first attack of the invading and occupying forces to the present, the Kurds have been in self-defence situations to protect themselves against the attacks on their existence. More recently, despite all the obstacles and difficulties, the Kurdish uprisings in 19th and 20th centuries were self-defence.
With the acceptance of democratic autonomy, under the supervision of the democratic organs, the self-defence can be established not as military monopoly but for the external and internal needs of the society. All peoples living in cities, towns, districts and villages will be conscious and responsive towards the fascist and genocidal attacks on the basis of self-defence which refers to the social resistance against these trends. Self-defence is a right enshrined in international conventions and the UN.
CULTURAL DIMENSION
The nation-state has pursued a policy of genocide against all the languages and cultures within its borders. The Kurdish culture and language is one of the first targets of such stringent policies. Speaking Kurdish in daily life has been banned, learning Kurdish in state educational institutions as a mother-tongue is prohibited by the constitution and laws. It has aimed to create a society alienated from its native language, and culture, its mind and spirit has been assimilated. It has come to a point where a process of auto-assimilation has begun in Kurdistan.
However, UN conventions and the European Union's democratic norms see prohibiting a people’s culture, their native language and not allowing it to use it freely as a crime against humanity and defining as "cultural genocide". However, this crime against humanity continues to be carried out consistently before the eyes of the world.
The Kurdish people, have not been able to exercise its right to freely live and develop in an democratic environment; therefore the damaging effect on Kurdish society created by the nationalist, prohibitive, singular, and assimilationist policies is still prevalent. In a sense, the individuals and society have experienced almost a kind of brain death. That is the reason why there has not been development of healthy individuals and society. Due to lack of education in mother tongue there is not enough Kurdish intellectuals. In order for Kurdish society to be free in spirit and mentality to produce healthy individuals, there is a need for radical studies in language and culture areas.
Art defends society and individuals against the spread of all kinds of cultural imperialism, colonialism, and makes them engage with their history, territory, culture and language. It is essential to develop a grassroots culture and art movement that involves even smaller settlements. Necessary measures should be taken to not to reduce culture and art to be a simple commodity for trading.
It is said that 'One of the biggest disaster for the people is if their history has been written by the others' is a stunning truth for the Kurds. The history of Kurdistan has mostly been written by others for the purpose of serving their own interests and Kurdish historical consciousness has not properly developed. This is a serious danger for the development of our people's identity, existence and their future.
All the barriers for the use of Kurdish language in public should be removed and Kurdish language should become language of education from kindergarten to university. All the necessary legal and constitutional arrangements should be made in order to prevent cultural meltdown and provide opportunity in mother tongue education for the Kurds living in major cities of Turkey and abroad.
Constitution and laws should provide legal protection to the all languages and their dialects spoken in our geography (Assyrians-Syriac, Arabic, Armenian et al.), used in education, and developed alongside the Kurdish and Turkish languages, which are the official languages of Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan. Language for the services should be Kurdish and the original names of the settlements are to be returned.
SOCIAL DIMENSION
The aim of assimilation was to alienate the Kurdish society from its social values, history and their culture, with forced migration the plan was evacuation of the Kurdistan and deformation of its social texture, changing the demographic structure and by the application of the physical and cultural genocide their existence was targeted.
In addition, as part of the special war policy, the women and youth sectors of the society were estranged from the social struggle by the sport, art, social events under the name of social activities, and by spreading prostitution and drugs moral collapse of the society is aimed. Separate policies for each social sector followed to make Kurdish people flabby, unorganized, in a position with no struggle.
Kurdish women are still exposed to state terror and to a mentality based on sexism mentality. In this sexist society the family formed as a small state run by men and played an effective role in keeping women in deep slavery. According to our social policy, the family is not a social institution that can be overcome in this existing social reality, but can be converted. Therefore the laws and the concept of property on children and women which is based on hierarchy must be replaced. In this respect the aspect of women's awareness, the level of her being organised will play a key role in converting family and society, into free and democratic units. Democratic society based on free will and the mentality of free women will be a society that finds life in a democratic autonomous Kurdistan.
Since the first hierarchical structure, dependent policies on youth are continuing and deepening. Ideological propaganda, memorization, overwhelming them with dogmas, binding them through sexual guidance, making them reactionary are all aimed to divert their energies from targeting the system and maintaining order. In order to tackle this issue, the fundamental role in the establishment of democratic society is organising the youth based on the principles of freedom. It is difficult to keep a youth walking towards freedom.
Because the youth poses problems for the existing ruling systems, it can also play a leading role in building and defending a new society. In classless societies, private or collective property owners would have free labourers. Therefore it is of great importance to organise workers, peasants, civil servants, tradesmen and provide conditions for their active participation in social life. The basic duty of the democratic society is to create and implement projects for social and cultural development of these people.
Resistance, and cultural revival of the religion can bear democratic content against the capitalist and nation-statism. It also represents strong moral vessels that cannot be ignored. In a democratic-nation it is important promote the progressive content of the religious culture as equal, free and democratic element and give it a place in the solution.
Despite the all efforts of the destruction, facing erosion and suffering decay, the axis of historical society and the main basis of the society are formed by the oppressed, the exploited of all nations, peoples, ethnicities, women, youth, village-farming communities, the unemployed, nomads, many religious communities, sects, small groups, and labour communities. Therefore the social dimension that represents all these social groups has the character to secure free and democratic life.
Democratic society is the contemporary modern form of moral and political society and it is the society that in a real sense allows differences to live within it. The communal group should not be forced into single type of culture and citizenship and has to be able to live with its differences, it own culture and identity.
Therefore the re-establishment of the society in the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan will be actualised with the free organisation of labour, education, health, solidarity and similar units under the leadership of women and youth in particular.
The social dimension of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan has the potential to discuss, take decisions, re structure and to put a plan into operation, and for that reason to be the base of other dimensions to be implemented. The leading forces of the democratic confederal organisation in Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan are women and youth. Therefore the role of the women is essential in communal life and in all areas or organisation. The relations between the individuals and society should be established on the basis of equal-free-democratic life principles and through the struggle against the sexism in the society.
The youth will play an important part in the re-establishment and defence of the society with its energy, dynamism, and play a leading role in social change. Conditions should be established in which priority is given to the psychological and physical education of the children and the promotion of their development. Exploitation of the child labour and sexual harassment should be regarded as crime and treated according to international laws conventions on children’s rights.
ECONOMIC DIMENSION
Kurdistan, where the first communal life and Neolithic farming revolution started, has now become the land of a people who are dispersed all around the world as a result of poverty and hunger. Kurdistan, which has been defined in the sacred texts as the land which the cradle of civilisation, and as a paradise land with enormous wealth, has ended up in these current conditions as a result of the military occupations, political and economic colonisations of the external powers.
Those who established political hegemony over the Kurds have destroyed the economic life of the Kurds beyond the economic colonisation to reach the level of genocide. As a result, the community which was left hungry and destitute was easily made loyal to these hegemonic powers by conceding very little to them. It has been easy to control these people whose will power has been broken. People who are left dependant on others cannot be fighters and founders of a free and democratic life.
The creation of an economic basis for a society is a key dimension for becoming a moral and political society. Therefore the first aspect to develop in the building of democratic autonomy will be the creation of an economically viable society which achieves the elimination of unemployment and poverty.
No communal, political and social system can exist without establishing its own economic system. Democratic autonomy should establish its own economic model in order to permanently institutionalise the system of free and democratic life for the Kurdish people. If the democratic autonomy will be the bedrock of the democratic nation then it has first to create an economic system.
Economic problems arise when society ceases to be functioning society. It is an undeniable reality that the deepest crisis facing society is caused by capitalism. To express this reality the leader of the Kurdish people stated that “capitalism is not an economy but against the economy”. The current state of capitalism is based on the breakdown of society and its organisations; profiting from financial dealings without engaging in actual production is the clearest indication of this reality.
In history, economic problems started when devious men established their control over women. As a result of the class system, urbanisation and state power, society has been alienated from the social economic issues and faced deep structural problems.
Economy requires socialisation and democracy. An economy that meets the need of society is only possible through the democratic organisation of society. On this basis democratic society is also an economic society. As seen, the economy is not a mere technical issue. As a fundamental structure of society it is actually an activity that goes to the root of the life of a society. Detaching the human being from the economy is the foundation of the all alienation.
Despite the fact that it had the opportunity to become one of the most developed economies and civilisations, the society in Kurdistan has faced economic collapse and economic genocide. Therefore this fact itself shows that it is very important for this society to become an economically viable society by establishing its free and democratic life on the basis of democratic autonomy.
Through the economy of cooperation a new society can be built and the wealth of the Kurdistan can become an economic value not for the Kurds alone but all the people in the region and production will flourish. There is a need to establish an economic system where everybody has her/his own business and is working for their own benefit, one that gives priority to the employment of women, one that is based on function value rather than profit, and that is anti-monopolistic and interdependent.
ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION
The reasons behind the ecological crisis which deepen with the social crisis can be traced back to the beginning of civilisation. The state powers and ruling hierarchies are denying the fact that there is any communal connection which created society. They have also replaced this with another perspective which fails to remember the connection between nature and life. Every development from the foundation of civilisation results in ever increasing alienation from nature, damaging the environment and the trends towards the creation of a world that it is impossible to live in.
The social and economic crises are joined in today’s world. With the aim of making as much profit as possible, no attention is paid to how much the planet can manage to sustain in terms of cities, population, factories, transport vehicles, synthetic materials, pollution and water. The cities spreading like cancer, polluted air, damage to the ozone layer, the significant decrease in animal and plant varieties, demolition of the forests, contamination of the waterways, mountains of rubbish everywhere, shortages of clean water, abnormal increase in the population, will all cause disasters that we may not be able to reverse.
Any system of society that is not integrated with nature cannot be defended as a moral and democratic system. There is a dialectical relationship between environmental disaster and chaos faced by the capitalist system. The outcome of profit seeking and capital system which is based on maximising profit and industrial expansion that against the ecology is not only destroying society in many ways (leading to immorality, unemployment, inflation, prostitution etc), it also puts the ecology and all living things in danger. These examples show more clearly that monopoly is against society. On the other hand ecological society requires moral transformation.
The amoral side of capitalism can be overcome with an ecological approach. This will be only valuable if there is good ecological understanding. This problem cannot be solved with the environmentalist approach alone.
The practical difficulties of ecological life are very topical both around the world and in the geography we live in. Especially in Kurdistan, the ecological destruction conducted for militaristic, political and economic reasons has done serious damage to the geography of Kurdistan and its social structure.
Many villages and forests have been burned, residential areas demolished as a result of dam projects and other development plans jeopardise historic cultural monuments, and pastures were flooded with the water. Many pastures have been left with no water and have turned into desert. Thousands of square meters of farmland have been planted with mines, making farming impossible. With similar practices, animal husbandry has almost killed by the banning of people from using highlands. Poisonous wastes are stored in Kurdistan. All these practises have changed the climate and flora of Kurdistan and resulted in instability.
All these attacks against the geography of Kurdistan can only be resolved with an ecological revolution. All these ecological disasters are not only limited to our geography but have an impact on whole world. The burned, barren, poisoned Kurdistan is in fact a burned, deserted and poisoned world.
Ecological awareness, love of homeland and love for the world are all interrelated. Therefore in order to have healthy environment and social life, there is need for community to be conscious, for ecological measures to be developed and active struggle to be conducted. It is necessary to oppose urbanisation that is damaging the ecological balance, dam buildings that change flora and the flooding of historical sites with water to wipe out the Kurdish people’s history.
DIPLOMATIC DIMENSION
In general diplomacy is an activity developed by the people, societies, different groups and states for their own interests. Diplomacy based on modernity and the nation-state mentality is only based on securing power. The diplomacy of nation-states is conducted in order to pursue the activities of nation-states around the world in coordination with other nation states. If there is no recognition by other nation-states there is no chance of survival for a single nation-state even for 24 hours. The reason for that is hidden in the very rationale of the world capitalist system. Without the consent of the people none of the nation states can last long.
According to the democratic modernity paradigm, the diplomacy dimension of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan is based on mutual solidarity and interest between peoples, different groups and societies.
Considering the historical and societal characteristic of the issue in Kurdistan, especially considering that it has been divided into four parts, its diplomacy will have important impact on the neighbouring countries, societies and other parts of Kurdistan.
The diplomacy of the Democratic Autonomous Kurdistan should play a role for the development of peace and brotherhood for our region, it should encourage economic development and increase the level of wealth. Diplomacy to be carried out with stateless nations, peoples, groups and societies struggling for democracy and freedom will be implemented in mutual solidarity and trust. Diplomacy will protect the national interests of Kurdish people and our people living in the Diaspora and cities.
- Translated from Turkish original –http://www.kurdish-info.eu/media/files/Democratik%20AutonomyEN.pdf
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