Kurds victims of ‘secret war propaganda’

WHILE speaking a lot about democracy in Ireland a few weeks ago US President George W Bush mentioned a few times that he was on his way to “democratic Turkey”.

He held Turkey up as a beacon of hope in the region. The Turkish Government hasn’t taken any practical steps to grant the Kurds their rights, yet being an important ally of the US apparently confers automatic democratic credentials in the eyes of the president, who declared: “Turkey has found its place in the community of democracies by living out its own principles.”

The fact is that Turkey is not a functioning democracy, and will not be until the Kurdish question is resolved with the engagement of all parties.

The Turkish Government hasn’t taken any practical steps yet to grant the Kurds their cultural rights. Yet despite that, when Mr Bush arrived the first request of Turkish Premier Erdogan was for US help to eradicate Kurdish insurgents. The president should have told his chum that in a democracy political engagement is to be favoured over military intervention in seeking to overcome difficulties.

Those who deny the Kurds are allowed to claim they are democratic. Those who ask for their culture and identity to be recognised are shown to be against democracy and peace. This is a kind of ‘secret war propaganda’. The Irish people and the EU in general should see the true face of Turkey and listen to the just demands of the Kurds.

Latif Serhildan

Glasheen Road

Cork