Representative Pallone Sends Solidarity Message to Kurdistan Music Festival

The Statement of Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. to
 
the participants of the International Kurdistan Festival

August 28, 1999

Westfalen Stadium

Dortmund, Germany




Dear Friends,


My name is Frank Pallone, Jr. and I am the 
Representative for the 6th district in the state of 
New Jersey in the United States Congress.  I speak 
to you as a friend, a supporter of your struggle for 
political rights and the freedom of the Kurdish 
people.


I have always said the Kurds must be respected as a 
people, the world must listen to your collective will 
and you should enjoy the same right of choosing 
your representatives as other peoples do all over 
the world.


Denied a choice, oppressed throughout the Middle 
East, viewed through the lenses of your adversaries 
in much of the world, you have done what other 
nations have done throughout history and that is 
to assert yourself, to prevail against great odds and 
to ensure that the place of your ancestors remains 
in the custody of your offspring.
 

The Turkish government does not accept the 
validity of your struggle.  They have jailed your 
leaders, such as Abdullah Ocalan, Leyla Zana, Hatip 
Dicle, Orhan Dogan, Selim Sadak.  They think that 
by denying you these sons and daughters of 
Kurdistan, you will postpone your dream of liberty 
and freedom for good.  They are wrong.  Freedom 
and liberty can not be imprisoned behind bars.


I appeal to Turkey to show decency and justice in 
commuting Mr. Ocalan's sentence.  The Turkish 
authorities must understand one basic truth: 
executing Mr. Ocalan will not resolve the Kurdish 
issue.  Indeed, if the Turkish regime thinks that 
killing Ocalan means killing the dreams of the 
Kurdish people, they are sadly mistaken.  Putting to 
death Abdullah Ocalan will only serve to inflame 
the passions of the people of Kurdistan fighting for 
their self-determination.

Rather than trying to get rid of Mr. Ocalan in a 
misguided effort to get rid of the Kurdish question, 
the leaders of Turkey must come to a fundamental 
realization that the Kurds are a distinct people, and 
an acceptance of the fact that good faith negotiations 
are the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace.


The trial of Mr. Ocalan was nothing more than a 
show trial, a disgraceful spectacle for a country that 
aspires to part of the family of democratic nations.  
Mr. Ocalan was denied access to his lawyers.  His 
legal team has faced a pattern of harassment and 
threats.  The Turkish government and media have 
stirred up nationalistic passions against Mr. Ocalan.


But, while facing trial for his life, Mr. Ocalan made 
a brave plea for a negotiated, democratic solution to 
the Kurdish question.  It was a moderate statement, 
clearly intended to be respectful of the Turkish 
people and the Turkish state.  Mr. Ocalan's 
organization, the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) 
announced its support for Mr. Ocalan's peace offer.


One might have hoped that, with the media 
attention from Mr. Ocalan's trial putting the 
Kurdish issue in the spotlight to an almost 
unprecedented degree, Turkey could vastly 
improve its international standing by simply 
agreeing to begin negotiations with Kurdish 
leaders.  But sadly, so far the Turkish government 
has rejected the path to peace, insisting that it will 
not negotiate with Mr. Ocalan or any leaders of the 
Kurdish movement. In fact, Mr. Ocalan made 
several previous cease-fire offers prior to his arrest -
- all of which were summarily rejected by the 
Turkish government and military officials.


We can only hope that those countries with the 
most influence over Turkey - foremost among 
them the United States - will try to exercise that 
influence in a positive way.  Mr. Ocalan and his 
organization have extended the olive branch to the 
Turkish Government.  The authorities in Ankara 
must be urged, implored, cajoled and pressured to 
respond.  Around the world, seemingly intractable 
civil wars and ethnic conflicts are being addressed at 
the negotiating table.  Turkey will find itself 
increasingly isolated if it continues to swim against 
the tide of history by refusing to negotiate, by 
maintaining its state of war against millions of its 
own citizens.


Let me finish by saying that with my colleague, 
Congressman Bob Filner of California, I have 
initiated an effort in the United States Congress for 
the peaceful resolution of the Turkish/Kurdish 
conflict and justice for Abdullah Ocalan.  Thus far, 
close to 20 of my colleagues have joined us in our 
effort.  When the Congress resumes its work next 
week, I anticipate other voices joining us for the 
call of peace and reconciliation.


Again, I believe in your struggle for political rights.  
The war must stop. The rights of the Kurds must be 
recognized.  Kurdish leaders such as Ocalan, Zana, 
Dicle, Dogan and Sadak must be free.   Thank you.