Press Release

May 15, 1997

Tel: 202.483.6444

Turkey Deserves Reprimand for Assault Across Border

Approximately 50,000 Turkish troops have crossed a so-called "international" border allegedly to defend themselves. The border they have crossed sits on the land of the Kurds and the defending they have done is, in reality, an assault on the Kurdish nation and its forces who seek self-rule.

The crossing took place in the early hours of Wednesday, May 14. Apparently, the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iraq, the KDP, invited the Turkish army to invade "their" Kurdistan. Washington was quick to express "understanding" for the move. Thus far, only France, through its spokesperson, Jacques Rummelhardt, has expressed alarm.

The members of the People's Liberation Army of Kurdistan, the ARGK, the armed wing of the PKK, have responded with a total mobilization. Small, mobile, lightly armed but hardened Kurdish guerrillas have vowed to turn Kurdistan into a graveyard for the invading Turkish forces and their treacherous Kurdish Quislings.

Daren Butler of Reuters News Agency, reporting from the war front, notes that the forces of Kurdistan Democratic Party have confiscated all cellular telephones, cameras and video footage belonging to journalists in the area. Their masters, the Turkish forces, have said, "You will not get in [to the war zone]."

This assault, christened by the Turkish Defense Minister as "humanitarian" in nature, is nothing less than organized crime unleashed on the peoples of occupied Kurdistan. This Orwellian double talk the Turkish minister utters is nonsense, seconded as it is by the US Department of State.

This same war was unleashed on the peoples of Kurdistan in March 1995 by approximately 30,000 Turkish troops, and nothing was accomplished then. In October 1992, there was another attempt to undo Kurdish resistance, again with assistance from treacherous Kurdish elements, and, again, the outcome was a great disappointment to the Turkish military.

Each of these incursions have only resulted in increased bloodshed and the destruction of Kurdish property. These invasions have occurred while the so-called Operation Provide Comfort, a US-led Allied force, has inhabited the region to "protect" the Kurds. This force -- it is now becoming increasingly apparent -- has given the green light to the Turkish army to pursue its costly mirage. While the war mongers are benefiting from this carnage, the victims are the Turkish soldiers and the peoples of Kurdistan.

The nations of the world would do well to condemn this unbridled oppression by the Turkish government against the Kurdish nation. Condemning a people to slavery with double talk while supporting its treacherous elements who despicably coddle Baghdad and Ankara is deplorable.

This war will only come to an end when the political will of the Kurds is respected and accepted. Expressing support for Turkey in not the counsel Ankara needs.