Kurdistan independence related articles & photos

[jjmuneer]

From the outside looking in, the conflict between the Turkish state and the Kurds seems stuck in a kind of gruesome holding pattern. Articles written months and years apart are virtually indistinguishable from one another: "Three Turkish Soldiers Reported Killed In PKK Clash In Southeast" reads a headline from May 17, 2012 -- but it could just as easily have been from two decades ago.
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But, beneath the headlines, the defining narrative of this long-running conflict -- which has claimed tens of thousands lives since the late 1980s -- may finally be changing for the better. The shift became apparent last July, when some 850 politicians, community activists, and civil society leaders gathered in the eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir for a meeting organized by a pro-Kurdish umbrella group called the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). At the end of the gathering, the DTK's leadership -- veterans of Turkey's Kurdish political parties -- boldly announced that the organization was declaring what it called "democratic autonomy" for Turkey's predominantly-Kurdish southeast region.

"We, as Kurdish people, are declaring our democratic sovereignty, holding to Turkey's national unity on the basis of an understanding of a common motherland, territorial unity and the perspective of a democratic nation," the congress's declaration read. "We invite everyone who lives in our lands to introduce themselves as a democratically autonomous Kurdistan citizen."

On the one hand, this critical moment was once again overshadowed by a spasm of violence: That same day, July 14, clashes only a few hours' drive away between Turkish security forces and rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) resulted in the deaths of 13 Turkish soldiers and seven PKK fighters. As the deadly clash that day -- and a seemingly endless string of flare-ups since then -- made clear, the PKK's use of violence, which has been the defining element of the Kurdish issue since the 1980s, is still very much in the picture.

Still, the July "autonomy" declaration helped make something else apparent: After decades of violence, there has been an important shift within Turkey's Kurdish nationalist movement toward emphasizing the civil aspect of their struggle and fighting the battle over the Kurdish issue in the political sphere. It's a new approach borne out not only by last July's declaration, but also by an increase in political and cultural activity by Kurdish civil society organizations and by municipalities run by Turkey's pro-Kurdish party over the last few years.

For decades, the dream of the Kurdish movement was the establishment of an independent state in territory now belonging to Turkey (as well as Iran, Iraq, and Syria). But the failure of armed struggle and the success of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in making inroads among Kurdish voters has forced the PKK and the wider Kurdish movement in Turkey to modify their nationalist aspirations. This shift has been bubbling under the surface for some time, but it has become more pronounced in recent years. Turkish Kurd politicians and activists in the southeast have begun speaking more openly about their vision for a politically and culturally autonomous -- rather than merely separate -- Kurdish region within Turkey, which runs on a highly centralized state structure dominated by Ankara.

Though the definition of this autonomy remains fuzzy, talk of it is now being accompanied by action. Some of the moves have been small: the opening of Kurdish language and cultural institutions, an increasing use of Kurdish in the delivery of municipal services, even the development of ideologically driven cooperative agricultural communities (Kurdish kibbutzim, if you will). Other steps -- such as the creation of a cadre of Kurdish imams who pointedly hold services and preach outside the state-sanctioned mosque system -- pose a more direct challenge to Ankara's rule. Put all these new initiatives together, though, and what you have is a picture of a Kurdish movement that -- partly by design, partly organically -- is laying the groundwork for the creation of a distinct political and cultural regional entity within Turkey, not a separate country.

"When you look at the discourse of the last year, they are increasingly pushing the envelope, talking about Kurdish education, talking about local administration," says Henri Barkey, professor of international relations at Lehigh University and an expert on Kurdish affairs. "They are creating all these organizations in order to ... be able to have a strong set of cards in their hands when they bargain with the state. They can say, ‘Look, you may not be ready to give us autonomy, but we already have it.'"

This shift is being fueled by a number of developments. The electoral success of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which now runs city halls in most of the southeast's major cities, has given Kurds a more powerful political voice and the ability to test the boundaries of their political power. At the same time, political reforms introduced by the Turkish government in the last decade -- mostly as a way to shore up its European Union membership bid -- have created an increasingly larger space for Kurdish civil society organizations to grow. A good example of this change is Diyarbakir, the political and cultural capital of the southeast, which today has a flourishing civil society scene that's far more vibrant than those in most other Turkish cities, save for Istanbul and Ankara.

[alan131210]

It seems that Baghdad is fighting too many wars at the same time and such action is very unwise and will surly have an adverse affect on Iraq. Not a day goes by without reading that Iraqi politicians/government in Baghdad are making noise about neighboring countries, except, of course, Iran! They have managed to upset, one form or another, many governments/countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kurdistan Regional Government KRG ....etc

I will only give a couple of examples of how incompetent the Iraqi government is and unqualified to govern a nation. In one well known and documented case, the Iraqi government signs a multibillion dollar electricity contract with a German company that does not exists!! And when I approached the Iraqi ambassador in Washington, D.C. regarding an electricity project for Iraq, he completely ignored our letters. I had sent two registered first class letters to him and had sent three e-mails and not a single response from his office. I finally called his office and made my honest opinion known to him!

And yet, the Iraqi government signs a deal worth billions of dollars with a company that they said they had "researched" on the Internet that does not even exists!! What a joke!

Another example, leaving names out, was during my meetings with high level officials in Baghdad (Green Zone) few years ago regarding certain contracts with the Ministry of Defense and all they cared about was how they could "somehow" personally benefit, in the short-term of course, from my dealing with them. Of course I had no idea what they were talking about but it was made clear to me what they had in mind but I refused to entertain such idea.

Also, I was asked to "help" with a visa issue to come to the US and I did for this particular individual, but when the time came for the interview at the US embassy in Turkey, he did not show. I was left with his complete application that I still posses today and utter disappointment and unprofessional behavior of this high-level government official.

Is it possible that the Iraqi government in Baghdad is making loud noises and creating such conflict with the Kurdish government in order to shift the attention from their lack of progress, corruption and mismanagement? It is amazing to me that after hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenue and nine years of governing,www.ekurd.net the Iraqis still do not have the very essential life necessity; electricity! How is the possible? The only possible answer is that the Iraqi politicians really could careless about their own nation and all they are worried/concerned about is their own pockets and survival.

I think it is now obvious that the Kurdish government can not work with Baghdad and the KRG needs/should consider go on their own and try develop Kurdistan without dealing with Baghdad anymore. Kurdistan is very rich and the oil revenue alone will surly suffice the needs of the whole population without having the to look for Baghdad for any financial assistance.

Furthermore, I have been reading in the news that PM Nechirvan Barzani and President Massoud Barzani are both making sincere efforts to work with Baghdad, but Baghdad is not willing to honor and implement its commitments and agreements to the Kurds and their own people. The time has come to give Baghdad an ultimatum and if no agreement is reached, then the KRG should consider complete separation from Iraq.

Rizgar Xoshnaw, a regular contributing writer and columnist for Ekurd.net

Copyright © 2012 ekurd.net

[alan131210]

Thanks brender for sending it



May 29, 2012

BRUSSELS,— For the first time in the history, Kurdistan flag was officially raised abroad. Approximately 40 million Kurds and Kurdistani people with different ethnical and religious mosaics have been deprived from the right even to raise their own flag, while in other parts of the world small nations or even clans have right to live in their own states and raise their national flags...

The Kurdish flag was officially raised in the EU capital Brussels, in Belgium. The news has been confirmed to Ararat News Publishing (ANP) by Carlos Kurdi (Salim Gravi), Head of Mission of KRG to the EU.

The Kurdistani flag was raised in front of the Mission of Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Brussels on Thursday, 31 May. Representatives of Kurdish political parties and organisations from all part of Kurdistan attended the ceremony.

“To raise the flag of Kurdistan in Brussels is an important step in the history of our people and one of our targets. We hope that this positive development will bring Kurds towards more freedom and independence”, said Carlos Kurdi.

The Head of KRG Mission to the EU added that “If Iraq’s current regime will develop towards dictatorship, our only solution will be to go to independence, but we hope that all these processes can take place in peace and mutual understanding without any violence and war. One thing is sure, the people of Kurdistan will never accept any new dictatorship.”

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Kurdistan Region established diplomatic relations and open representations in many countries in Europe and in the USA. The KRG Mission to the EU in Brussels is particularly important,www.ekurd.net because of the strategic headquarters of several international institutions – the European Union, NATO and many hundred of foreign NGOs and think-tanks.

Araratnews.net

[Sinjar]

What do you mean?

[alan131210]

so will only iraqi kurdistan be able to become independent?

of course for now , other parts must be freed separately and in different non violent ways . EU leader few days ago asked turkey to give northern kurdistan "autonomy" similar to KRG and said its the only chance for turkey to join EU.

[Rando]

insallah we will see a independent,united kurdistan in our life time.

[alan131210]

[Sinjar]

Nice! Where is it?

[alan131210]

Nice! Where is it?

Capital of EU , Brussels its where the EU parliament is , EU just asked Turkey to give NK same right as KRG which is a huge step and support for NK brothers .

[brendar]

More Brussels




http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/310146/

[alan131210]

man i love our flag so colorful and peaceful looking compared with surrounding countries .

[alan131210]

kurdistan flag placed over 400 cars in Duhok so far and it will spread till all cars are done says kurdistan flag group.

it is placed where it says "iraq" on the plate numbers.

[brendar]

kurdistan flag placed over 400 cars in Duhok so far and it will spread till all cars are done says kurdistan flag group.

it is placed where it says "iraq" on the plate numbers.

What is the situation and why do they do that? I know it should be kurdish name and flag but i doubt it since we have central government plate numbers. I wish we could have those kind of European plate numbers same as the picture below:

[brendar]

kurdistan flag placed over 400 cars in Duhok so far and it will spread till all cars are done says kurdistan flag group.

it is placed where it says "iraq" on the plate numbers.

What is the situation and why do they do that? I know it should be kurdish name and flag but i doubt it since we have central government plate numbers. I wish we could have those kind of European plate numbers same as the picture below:

[alan131210]

kurdistan flag placed over 400 cars in Duhok so far and it will spread till all cars are done says kurdistan flag group.

it is placed where it says "iraq" on the plate numbers.

What is the situation and why do they do that? I know it should be kurdish name and flag but i doubt it since we have central government plate numbers. I wish we could have those kind of European plate numbers same as the picture below:

well it could be to do with Barzanis promise to hold referendum on Sept , and who is going to stop us ? baghdad !? let them try .