Double threat to Kurds in Iraq

THE armies of Turkey and Iran are massing troops along the Iraqi-Kurdish borders, threatening to invade the only relatively peaceful area of Iraq.

Their stated reason for such operations is to attack the mountain strongholds of PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and PJAK (Kurdistan Free Life Party).

These pro-Kurdish guerrilla armies enjoy widespread popular support throughout the Kurdish regions of south-east Turkey, northern Iraq, north-east Syria and north-east Iran, the Kurdish heartlands, as well as throughout the Kurdish diaspora in Europe.

They are secular, pro-democracy forces and act defensively.

They do not aim to reconfigure the national boundaries that divide Kurdistan, instead seeing the solution to the conflict in the democratisation of the states where they live.

They are not separatists but rather the last line of defence for Kurds against the aggressions of the oppressive and undemocratic states of the region.

PKK and PJAK struggle for Kurdish cultural, linguistic and political rights within the states where they live, for parity of esteem with citizens of other ethnic origins which Kurds are systematically denied in Turkey, Iran and Syria.

Frequent incursions by Turkish and Iranian forces into Kurdish Iraqi territory have been reported over the past two years, and local Kurdish villagers have begun evacuating some areas along the border preparatory to an invasion.

Iran is bound by treaty with Turkey to attack PKK and has suffered heavy losses as a result of their anti-Kurdish operations. Since May more than 200 Iranian soldiers have died attempting to attack Mount Qandil, the PKK headquarters.

Harassment of Kurdish civilians is rising in Iran, with arbitrary arrests of journalists and human rights activists.

While these states undoubtedly desire the annihilation of PKK, a feat which has proved impossible over the past 27 years, perhaps one should question whether this is the final aim of the proposed invasion of Iraq.

The possibility of a successful Kurdish entity in northern Iraq does not appeal to the leaders of Turkey or Iran.

The Kurdistan regional government presides over one of the few positive outcomes from the war in Iraq.

The construction industry there is booming and a fledgling tourism industry is beginning.

While there is still a threat from religious fundamentalists, the security situation is under control. The international community must stand firm with the Kurds against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the anti-democratic tendency within the powerful Turkish military and protect the emerging hope for democracy, peace and progress in that troubled region.

Latif Serhildan

25 Sheraton Court

Hartland’s Ave

Cork