ANSWERS AND SORROWS IN US....

First of all, let's make it clear that;
"I love my country :
I have swung on its plane trees,
I have stayed in its prisons.
Nothing can overcome my spleen
as the songs and tobacco of my country... "

as Nazim wrote and begin to question what is going on...

(We Anatolians like to use idioms, proverbs, sayings in our conversations. Excuse me if I may not translate them very well but I have to use some here to explain myself. )

Neither the questions in my mind are as difficult as those which would be asked at the gates of heaven, nor I am loosing my reason but all I can repeat again and again is; "May God give intelligence to all of us!"

I am thorn between many feelings. Like the elders said; "if you spit down it can hit your beard, if spit up hit the mustache." There is no option of taking a side and rejecting other. This is "our" country and all is "our" people. This republic is founded altogether and so hard that we neither have the luxury nor any rights to say anything like "the ox is dead, the partnership is broken" or "herd these camels or leave this lands".

We all know the theory and practical explanations of fascism, anti fascism, nation, nationalism, ethnic nationalism, capitalism, communism, state, democracy, ethnicity, self determination, economics of ideologies- regimes, revolution, national liberation, their relations with religion, sex and gender or war, guerrilla war, armed struggle, strategies, tactics, urban, rural etc..etc...

I am putting the facts side by side, as much as I can under the light of above definitions and can't reach any ends. Put any other information aside and have a look to wikipedia (a source where anybody can edit); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKK Anybody who can read behind the lines and curious enough to fallow the foot notes, references and external links might easily find h/ h self confused, lost in making any analyses, reaching conclusions.

Every little development is surprising me one after another for months. Even in my dreams, I wouldn't believe I will really witness all these in my life time. PKK was already an ethnic nationalist organisation in many people's opinion but now, more and more are taking a step further and beginning to use the term "ethnic fascist".

Here is only one example to think on and try to get out if you can;

This is the death threat mailed by PKK to CHP, MHP, DYP and AKP to withdraw their Van and Hakkari candidates allowing a DTP dominance during the 2007 elections, a few months ago.

"With the exception of DTP all candidates in Van and Hakkari from CHP, MHP, DYP and AKP must withdraw themselves and offer their support to Kurdish people. Our people must demonstrate their Kurdishness in the elections. If any different approach develops, our approach will also be different. [...] Whoever continues the activities we mentioned here will be punished. Who ever damages our movement or our party [DTP] will not be forgiven in any way. They should know that they are facing death."

Forget any attacks to military or civilians, forget any murders and all, stop and think only above threat on "people" of the area; the Kurds, Turks, Arabs, Suryanis...

One may ask;
- "What is the state, military, government, political parties etc (like them or not) are doing?"
- "But we are criticizing the Article 301 of Turkish Penal code, seeing it as a 'threat to freedom of expression' and working for it's removal. How can the the treat for such a 'Kurdishness' can be explained?"
- "But we are wanting the government to think on a new amnesty for PKK, how come such 'punishment and death threats' and 'forgivenesnes' can be explained?"
- "Which is more democratic; PKK's death threats or Turkiye's calls to benefit from existing amnesty laws?"

It is so esy to differ the difference between the tactics of and armed struggle and terrorism. Questions can go on for pages. Answers are there, clear in front of us whether we want to see them or not. That is right; "whether we want to see them or not!"

Unfortunately; this state, military, many governments fallowing one another hurt us very much for decades. The deep psychology created in us, chronic trauma we faced for generations don't let us want to see, voice some of those answers.

It was this state, this military who made us live 3 military coups, put millions to prisons, tortures in intervals, automatically hate police, change our way not to pass police stations.

There is no doubt that every honest citizen regardless to their age, belief, ethnicity, ideology or age love this COUNTRY, MOTHERLAND. But we are treated so roughly, so cruelly for decades that we are not able to heal yet, to make peace with our "state" and "military" yet.

Love is there, buried in us. It was our love to this country what made us to survive and will survive. As always, we may give our lives, heads but not our country, our people. But about our state, military, what about facing our past altogerher and closing the old books. It is not enough for people to love, they need to be loved too.

Times have changed, things aren't what they used to be (or as in Turkish proverb; old raw glasses became drinking glasses). Can't it be the time to recognize real enemies and forget illusions? Can't it be the time for this state, this military to make peace with the people they wounded first? Don't the whole people (Turkish, Kurdish whatever) of these lands more important than any fake organisation we already know what it is? Can't we unite and overcome the whole world than?...

Answers are shining in darkness. Whether seen or not we, people are here, holding the whole answers but in sorrow... It passed so long but we are still in the same sorrow of Nazım's...We, people have their answers but will our "state", "military" ever answer us about past in any language?..

You are my enslavement and my freedom
You are my flesh burning like a raw summer night
You are my country
You are the green silks in hazel eyes
You are big, beautiful and triumphant
And you are my sorrow that isn't felt
the more I feel it.

PAIN UNDER RAIN

I forgot the boys in the hurry of daily life. They sent to rather safer areas for now but who knows where they may be sent after training period.

Life is going on as any metropolises. Buildings, roads illuminated for the new year. Bars and entertainment centers are full as usual. I am not sure how come a group of people living on this lands can be so strange to the problems of the country.

Turkish Air Forces bombed northern Iraq mountains last night. Turkiye and Iran reached an agreement about PKK. A priest stabbed in Izmir. Some still sleep and wake up with football.

I was moaning with pain at my left side when I woke up and entered the internet. When I saw the breaking news about the bombing, I threw myself outside.

Unbelievably, all I was able to think was the smell of earth under bombs. As I took the smell of the rain with every breath I was feeling as my pain was healing. But it didn't took long to realize the real pain was not physical. A strange smell took the place of rain that I didn't want to breath anymore. I sat there in the cold and darkness listening unheard voices.

I don't want to talk about war today, I am still in pain...
it is after midnight
I am sleepless, in pain
the news is breaking
"our jets took off for bombing"
now pain is at my heart burning
I can't sooth it even with rain...

waves dancing under moonlight
moon is on Bosporus, on Tigris
youngsters awake to fight
children sleeping to unknown dreams
all Anatolia is in blues
I am not alone in my pains...

darkness is not so tight
my eyes are looking for stars
they are hidden as the fireflies
sorrow is in invasion again
hope is racing with losses
mind is resisting horror to gain...

it is after midnight
time is pregnant, impatient
children waking up from deep dreams
not to watch the stars nor fireflies
not to thunders but explosions
I am helpless to stop them learning pain...

it is after midnight
I am sleepless, in pain
why pain, why always with rain
you invade the nights, leave in vain
how will I keep hopes not to fade
"our jets just turned from a successful raid"...

TO HIT THE ROAD ALONE

Sometimes we all need to hit the road alone if we believe it is time for us to put a dot or comma to time. Famous Turkish composer Fazıl Say was on the headlines yesterday. He said; "The Islamists have won. We are about 30 percent, while they are about 70 percent. I am thinking about moving elsewhere. Our dreams are somewhat dead in Turkiye. All ministers' wives wear headscarf."

He was chosen to be a "European ambassador for intercultural dialogue" in May this year as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, along with other figures considered to have left a mark on European art and culture.

Minister Günay responded the statement of the composer made in an interview with the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung as; "Fazil Say is a valuable musician. He has created great works. There is absolutely no reason to be concerned about Turkey's future. Turkiye is moving forward in every sphere. We are achieving some great things. We need to be more tolerant" and stated that he did not think it was right to engage in polemical conversations about politics with artists.

I wonder how Mr Minister decided "we are achieving some great things" and what are the issues "we need to be more tolerant". And I would like to ask, why it may not be right to "engage in polemical conversations with artists".

You can read Fazıl Say's bio and works from his official web; http://www.fazilsay.net/bio.php

Fazil Say wrote the work Black Hymns at the age of sixteen. My favorite work of him; his oratorio Nazim, based on poems by the famous Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet and commissioned by the Turkish Ministry of Culture, was premiered in Ankara in 2001. His other great oratorio "Requiem for Metin Altiok" was premiered in 2003 at the Istanbul Festival before an audience of 5000 and censored by the government.

Censorship is the reason behind Say's statements. Though he represents the European musical culture, he never give up the Anatolian folk culture. Beginning as; "I am against Turkiye slipping into the darkness of middle ages", he claimed during "Requiem for Metin Altıok" he faced the censorship of Culture Ministry; "I am waiting for the dialogue of the counter part for six years. There are some things that annoy me. Turkey's music lover characteristic is being destroyed." In his press release he changed the words about "leaving the country" to "we will not surrender".

I think he did good and just in time, with the sensitiveness of an artist. Just yesterday all country heard the words of the head of High Educational Committee, thanks to a mistake, a microphone left open. He was saying, both PM and President warned him not to talk so open and much about the headscarf or "They would hang us".

If I have to explain "they" in this sentence means us, seculars while "us" they feared to be hanged mean "them, islamists, one who use religion for politics etc".

Conservatism may be a local and global trend. I may not believe that Turkiye will ever become an Islamic country yet. Still it is a fact that the wives of the majority of the ministers are covering their heads. It is a fact that there are nearly 120,000 students at the Imam Hatip (theological) high schools. It is a fact that they are taking over the constitutional institutions one by one and giving in the hands of islamists.

Soon, girls wearing turbans may be allowed into universities and and state institutions. We may better prepare ourselves waiting our turn for headscarved physicians instead of a good male one or entrust our children to such teachers or even have to make our daughters close their heads from the early ages. Certainly these are their dreams and Turkish people would never let it happen. Problem is not the piece of cloth on their heads but what is IN their heads.

Let's see why Fazıl Say censored? Who was Metin Altıok he needed to compose a requiem for? Which event lies behind all?

Metin Altıok (b 1941- Izmir) was a philosophy teacher and poet. He was a member of Turkish Workers Party and columnist. He was one of the 37 intellectuals, writers, ashiks, poets, Alevis BURNED to death by radical islamist during the "Sivas Massacre".

On July 2 1993 during Sivas Pir Sultan Abdal Festival, after the celebration radical Islamists walked to Madimak hotel where the Alevis lodged after the festival, shouting for death of infidels. The Madimak hotel was pelted with stones for hours after the hotel was set on fire. The fire was erased after two hours.

Truths behind the incident have never been fully revealed. But the arrest and trial of dozens of Islamic terrorists did not dissuade more extremists from continuing to attack Turkish intellectuals fighting for the democracy, secular state and values. Aziz Nesin, one of Turkey's leading literary figures, was the main individual target of the fundamentalists. He was accused of intending to publish Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses." Aziz Nesin and many guests succeeded to escape from the murder. Poet Metin Altıok was between the 37 death.

Fazıl Say didn't compose the Requiem especially for "Sivas Massacre" but Metin Altıok, his life and poems. First ten parts of the requiem are all bout the poets life and poems. Only the last part was about the Sivas massacre and Madimak burning. The slide show was containing the photos from the fire, burned bodies and Metin Altiok at death bed while he was still in coma.

It is not hard to guess why this (or previous) government of ruling AKP put cencorships to any activities or art events mentioning any actions, murders of radical Islamists. What they don't think is; it is not possible to erase the history.

People still reading the poems of Metin Altiok, politic- humor stories of Aziz Nesin as they will listen Fazıl Say long after many goverments come and go. Children are laughing at the Aziz Nesin Foundation. He left nothing to his own children other than his memory but all to children of Turkiye by his foundation. He is listening their laughter from the unknown part of the garden he was buried.

Children are singing Nazim Hikmet poems with Fazıl Say. Not only Turkiye but the whole world is listening them. AKP government and their supporters can close their ears but children voices are telling all the stories.

Well, do some still think only danger is terror or terror is only from PKK? Come on, try to compare the religious terror criminals and PKK members who benefit from the past amnesty laws. "Irtica", religious fundamentalism had been the danger number one for this state from the beginning.

If you ask "why", have a look at the religious tendencies between Turkiye's various populations including Kurds too.

In one of his poems Metin Altıok says;

Long back
I had a voice;
Far off now
Might be it rings
Under a bridge somewhere.

I’ve taken losses
Alongside of my gains.

Long back
I had a heart;
Far off now
Might be it beats
In a child’s room somewhere.

I’ve taken losses
Alongside of my gains.

There’s just me now
Left to be close to me.
I always
Was the kind, though,
To hit the road alone.

RETIREMENT

Last few days are rather silent but news are still sad.
The day before (at the day of World Human Rights) a boat carrying around 70 illegal immigrants, who were trying to make their way to Greece, sank at the Aegean coast resulting with 51 dead, 6 rescued and unknown missing. Rescued Palestinians said there were around 70- 80 immigrants on the 15-meter long boat. It is another example of endless tragedies of illegal refugees we witness every year. Generally their journeys of hope to seek shelter from poverty or violence in their homelands cut short violently. UNHCR Turkey office said; about 60-90,000 refugees who enter the country illegally are detained in Turkey and when the ones that are not apprehended are considered, the number of refugees that pass via or seek shelter in Turkey reaches half a million.

Another news was about the new spying satellite adjudication. Turkiye refused to agree the condition of not spying on Israel, refusing to purchase the advanced Ofek satellite from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Turkiye decided not to accept the IAI offer due to a restriction the Israeli Defense Ministry inserted into the deal, according to which Turkiye would not be allowed to use the satellite over Israeli airspace, the daily said. Though the Israeli proposal is expected to come up in talks Defense Minister Ehud Barak will hold when he is scheduled to visit Ankara
in January, it seems Italy, Germany or UK will get the 250 million $ satellite contract. It is good to know Israel will not take part in such a sensitive project.

An interesting announcement came from Papadopoulos. Greek Cypriot President said in a statement that even though some EU countries are against Turkey's EU membership, they would not step forward to block the process. Explaining that blocking Turkiye's membership would eliminate Greek Cyprus' upper hand against Turkiye, Papadopolous said he did not view the use of veto as an appropriate policy.

Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani turned back from his mysterious 17 day trip and appeared before cameras. He assured that Iraqi Kurds did not seek independence by the words; "Some neighboring countries say Kurds will set up an independent state if Article 140 [of the Iraqi constitution that calls for the referendum]is implemented, but there is no such thing. I am an Iraqi. I am an Iraqi citizen of Kurdish origin."

Maps showing so-called "Kurdistan" including certain cities and areas of Turkiye removed from the Kurdish traffic police cars and other official vehicles in northern Iraq. Maps was made public when photographs appeared in newspapers last week. Regional Kurdish authority ordered the removal of the maps as a precaution against violent reactions during the "sensitive" period in the region.

At the same time regional Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, held talks in Baghdad on Kirkuk and disputes between the Kurdish region and the Iraqi central administration concerning oil contracts the regional government has signed with foreign companies. Kurdish authorities signed more than a dozen contracts with foreign companies despite the objections by Oil Ministry officials in Baghdad, who consider the deals illegal.

The dispute between the Kurdish territory and central management in Baghdad is obvious. Turkiye is insisting on relations over Baghdad, refusing taking the territorial management as equal. There were many rumors about the mysterious trip, disappearance of Barzani, including he might be in Turkiye. Though he refused them all and said he was in Austria for dental treatment, he should have some important official meetings to make such announcements and take actions immediately after his return.

Some other international and local news are; Iran's call to Turkiye to invest, Ahmedinejad's coming visit to Ankara, the new pipe agreement opportunity of Iran- Turkiye- Syria, the newly appointed head of Higher Education Board who is against headscarf ban, Chinese - Iran oil contract etc.

One columnist attract my attention more than all. Journalist Rusen Çakır had an important article in Vatan Newspaper at 09.12.2007. There is no English version so I have to summarize the article. His topic is; "Karayılan and Bayık's retirements is a must!"

He gives the fact that PKK is controlled by the same names for its nearly 30 years history; Öcalan, Bayık, Karayılan, Altun, Kalkan, Karasu... He is expressing Turkiye had many elections and a post- modern military intervention at the same time line, changed 6 presidents and many prime ministers, several ministers and army chiefs, generals. He shortly says;

"But when we look at the control of the PKK in the last 30 years, we see;
1) Fallowing 1984 when the organisation begun armed struggle, PKK’s leading staff other than Şemdin Sakık and Abdullah Öcalan (who packed and given to Turkiye by USA) didnt changed.
2) No known names from the leading group died during clashes with security forces or over-border operations. .
3) Only changes in the leader group of PKK happened according to inner conflicts or Ocalan’s personal obsessions. Many of them executed by their own friends because of various reasons.
4) There had been some high ranked leaders who could leave the organisation, saving their lives and trying to create new groups but they all failed..

A Kurdish nationalist web page in the internet says nobody remembers the PM Ciller and her aid Karayalçın today but world is still talking about Cemil Bayık, Murat Karayılan and Rıza Altun. At a first glance it may seem right. They may have some advantages of experience, continuity and aggregation. But a closer look may show; the side in continuous change (Turkish state) can have greater advantage on side resisting to change (PKK).

Let us take Bayık example: 56 years old Bayık founded PKK with Ocalan while he was 24. Always in the leadership, he spent 25 years is Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran. He spent his time in the cities of totalitarian regimes under the control and permission of their intelligence services or when at the mountains in endless alert. How realistic it can be for some one like him to realize the changes in Turkiye and the world, and produce polices according to these changes?

36 years old female confessor S.S. described the group controlling PKK for years as; "an old and oligarchic group" and went on: "This group dont have any chance to live without / out of PKK. No political opening, solution which would be created in Turkiye is not interested this group. Moreover; sabotaging any democratic progress in Turkiye is one of this group's goals. Even if the main political goals of the organisation are accepted, they wouldn't want the organisation to became legal. They can only be satisfied by Turkiye Republic to found a state named Kurdistan and they become the leaders.”

Some PKK managers really established a privileged life for themselves in 30 years and they don't ever want to give up. It is also not very possible for them to get used to another life. But solve the PKK problem of Turkiye their "retirement" is a must. So, it will not be only in "appearance" if they catch and handed over. It may not end PKK but open its way. At least it would serve, PKK to be controlled by new people who are more aware of the world realities."

It is not possible not to agree. Some old revolutionaries knows only one life style and cant open themselves to changes. We may not know what is going in PKK or about certain names but we know such examples in this country. An example is the members or leaders of ex Marxist - Leninist, socialist groups who are supporting PKK more than Kurdish people today.

After the dissolvement of Turkish left fallowing 1980 military coup and fall of Berlin wall, years longs prison or refugee lives they found themselves in an impossible emptiness. While some struggled and catch the progress in life, some stayed where they stopped. While some lucky (?) ones could manage their groups to survive even if they are small, some found their heaven in supporting PKK refusing the interpretation of ethnic nationalism it ended. They are more Kurdish than any Kurds and forgotten the internationalism.

So far, citizens of this country who supports human rights shouted/ voiced with all their hearts as; "We are all Armenians, we are Hrant!" after the assasination of valuable journalist Hrant Dink and along the trial of his murderers, or as "We are all Kurdish, we are all from DTP!" when the high court opened investigation to close the party. Personally I can shout and act even for Martians if there would be a martian- rights issue but I wonder why it is not thought to shout (just an ex) and act as; "We are all Turkish, we are all X, Y, Z..." even once, against any human rights violances or assasinations of intellectuals or injustices or imprisonments... or... or... or... of dozens, hundreds, thousands citizens of this republic...

Some should realy retire and give space to breath to the younger ones for our common future - whether they are dinasorius politicians, academicians, analiysts or terrorists...

PKK may be divided along ethnic lines

Below article sent to me by a friend. Though it's origin is a newspaper I dont fallow, dont like the views, it seemed good to share to get a clearer view.

PKK may be divided along ethnic lines

As ironic as it might sound, the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) organization that has been waging a war of ethnic separatism against Turkey for the past 30 years may be risking division along ethnic lines within itself, recent intelligence reports suggest.

Recent operations Turkey has been carrying out against PKK bases in the Kandil Mountains of northern Iraq have revealed leadership struggles within the organization. Currently members of the group from Turkey are being eliminated, intensifying the fight for leadership between Syrian-born Fehman Hüseyin and Turkish-born Murat Karayılan. Karayılan, who acceded to the top of the PKK hierarchy after the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in 1999, had strengthened his hand when Öcalan's brother Osman Öcalan was also eliminated from the group.

His only rival was Cemal Bayık, but the rivalry was resolved when the two men chose to cooperate, mostly because Hüseyin, leader of the PKK’s Syrian Kurds, declared himself leader of the group. Hüseyin issued a declaration saying he had taken over and promised to return the PKK’s old fighter spirit. As such, Syrian Kurds and Turkish Kurds in the PKK are now competing for influence over the group. Meanwhile Iranian Kurds in the PKK, although neutral in general, seem to be standing closer to Kurds from Turkey.

Karayılan and Bayık had shown their discomfort at Abdullah Öcalan’s inclusion of Kurds of Syrian decent into the senior leadership of the PKK’s armed wing, the People’s Defense Units (HPG). Syrian Kurd Hüseyin, who commands Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), seems for now to have the upper hand in the struggle for leadership that intensified after Turkey took steps to pressure the international arena to respect its right to self-defense and a military operation against terrorist bases in Iraq.

Names known to be close to Hüseyin have either been killed or sacked from the significant positions they held inside the PKK. Intelligence reports suggest that 20 PKK members known to have sworn allegiance to Hüseyin were recently executed. Intelligence sources also say that some of the recent cease-fires unilaterally declared by the PKK were actually breaks the group took to sort out the ever-intensifying conflict within itself. Some even suggest that the killing of seven village guards -- paramilitary forces comprising armed locals -- in Beşağaç in the southeastern city of Şırnak and the killing of 12 Turkish troops in Dağlıca were caused by the PKK’s internal leadership struggle.

Hüseyin has criticized Bayık and Karayılan for being too passive, while the two PKK leaders from Turkey accuse Hüseyin of being the pawn of international powers dominant in the region.

Karayılan and Bayık suspect that the US is thinking of using Hüseyin against Syria for its own purposes, further saying that Syrian Kurds were not this influential even in those times when the PKK was based in Syria, suggesting US plans in the region are the reason Hüseyin can act so fearlessly.

Intelligence reports from the Turkish military and police have long suggested that since the PKK left the Bekaa Valley in Syria, where its bases were hidden before Turkey warned Syria to stop harboring terrorists, and moved to northern Iraq, it became an instrument of international forces influential in the region.

Increasingly, more Syrian and Iranian Kurds and even Armenian militants have joined the group. The group is currently one of the most important cards all powers can play to realize their Middle East plans.

Although this card was played extensively against Turkey until very recently, the recent situation indicates that Syria will have to deal with it after this point. This is why many believe that although the US recently announced that the PKK is a “common enemy” of the US and Turkey, thanks to diplomatic efforts of the later, it will not be working to end all PKK activity in the region. The PKK’s elimination from the region in this case is likely to be limited to the terrorists from Turkey; an argument that strengthens the possibility of recent news suggesting that Bayık and Karayılan would be handed over to Turkey being true. Sources say if this duo is handed over to Turkey, this would help in the purging militants from Turkey from the organization.

According to Turkish intelligence units, the PKK is currently fractured into different groups. There is the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), which operates mainly in Iran although it is essentially the same group as the PKK. PJAK militants are trained in northern Iraqi camps along with PKK militants. Intelligence reports show that 40 percent of the approximately 5,000 militants hiding in northern Iraq are from Syria. When the PKK was under Abdullah Öcalan’s control, the percentage of Syrian Kurds inside the group was about 10 percent.

The group is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit new militants in Turkey due to the recent military operations Turkey has been carrying out in northern Iraq. Syrian Kurds in the PKK blame Karayılan and Bayık for dragging Turkish troops into northern Iraq. Militants from Syria, reports suggest, are hiding in Syria to wait til military operations in northern Iraq end. PKK militants from Turkey, who are nested in a few villages in the Kandil Mountains, are trying to escape into Iran or Turkey with the help of PJAK. Some are even trying to get to Armenia to spend the winter there; which shows that Turkey’s obtaining a satisfactory result in its operation in northern Iraq is unlikely. Optimists emphasize that even driving PKK militants out of the Kandil Mountains area is a great achievement, likely to be enough to dissolve the PKK or at least greatly help that in happening.

Meanwhile, both Iran and Syria -- both certain that PJAK and the PKK will be played against them -- are stepping up measures against the terrorists. Iran is putting up a fierce fight against PJAK; Turkey has the full support of its neighbors in its fight against the PKK and all of its offshoots. Syria has increased pressure against the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the PKK extension in its territory. Sources also highlight that Syria has been working in full cooperation with Turkey recently and that it has put its military units at the Iraqi border on full alert against the PKK.

07.12.2007
ERCAN YAVUZ ANKARA
Zaman Newspaper

WALK OVER BRIDGES

Last night TVs showed strange military vehicles as portable bridges on their way to border area. Everyday, more military commandos are joining the operations along the Turkish-Iraqi border.

Reporters says; fully equipped soldiers, in groups of 10- 20, searching caves, mountains, and anywhere authorities believe that PKK members might be hiding, while helicopters and fighter planes from the Turkish military are supporting the operation from the air. Turkiye is locating missiles to the border, Northern Iraq Kurdish authority is pulling the Peshmerge forces to south. A Kurdish authority offical said; only PKK and bears left on those lands a few days ago.

Yesterday, one interesting and funny news was from Peyamner News Agency. It didn't take part in Turkish news channels that PKK set terms for renouncing violence. The brief news article dated back to last week (3-Dec-07) was; " The separatist Turkey's Kurdistan's Workers Party (PKK) announced on Sunday conditions for renouncing violence and becoming part of the political process in Turkey. As a main condition, the PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds' identity in its constitution and of their language as a native language along with Turkish in the country's Kurdish areas...The party also demanded an end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and constitution against Kurds, granting them full political freedoms and the release of all PKK members in Turkish custody. Other conditions were the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Kurdish areas in southern Turkey and setting a time frame for PKK fighters to give up arms and be part of the democratic process."

It is really funny if they still think they may make demands. Certainly the funny part is not some of those democratic rights which should be given anyway but believing they can make any kind of demands. They don't understand even the government don't have any choices any more but act according to the people's general tendency.

And people is fed up, don't want terror any more. One other interesting news article of today is about Armenian Turkish master student of Bosporus University, Loran Özhakyan; he left his studies and decide to serve his military term in Turkish Army, protesting the terror. His father Nazaret Ozhakyan said; "My son will serve his military obligation as all the sons of this motherland and be a Mehmetcik. If needed we can fight and fall martyr at the fronts for this motherland."

When I said; "I am worrying alot, if things change for worse and we find ourselves in the middle of war" to a friend a few days ago, she laughed and replied; "I think we are already in war, don't we?"

World may not be aware yet, we may not want to voice it even to ourselves yet but we are really in war. Just not able to define this war.

Days are passing as seconds. This military term's places will be announced tomorrow at Turkish General Staff's web page. S, E and O are waiting nervously. They all ask if there is a way to learn before the announcement at internet. No way and no need. What would it differ if they learn a few hours before or later? Nothing...

I don't want to remember the day I learned F was sent to border, I don't want to think about the time I will learn where others will be send. I only know; where ever they send I will find a way to go as any other mother, as I did before...

I can walk over any bridges if needed, portable or not. May be it is all we need; not to burn but to walk over bridges...

WHAT ABOUT CHANGE

Yesterday F asked "..I would like to hear your feelings about what is happening now in northern Iraq".

I replied her; "If you are asking about the Kurdish autonomy of northern Iraq; I feel very good things are happening. They are in a great efford on building their territory, education sytem, health sector and all.

If you are asking about the Turkish relations; I feel they begin to understand that their fear on a "Turkish invasion" is false. There is no likely threat. Turkey is not even thinking about economic sanctions for now and going on providing all their needs including electricity, food tranportation etc. They also begin to understand that PKK is not only harmful for Turkey but also for them. In fact in the past, in various past operations during Saddam they fought against PKK beside Turkish armed forces.

They were evacuating border villages for weeks. Last week Turkish helicopters also throw leaflets calling the PKK members to surrender, they will be welcomed and free immidiately if they didnt participate any murders and if they did they will be granted with "home coming" law. Though the Kurdish autority denied the operation yesterday, today they gave detailed (more detailed than Turkish officials) information about the operation. They say the operation is not in their territory, and taking their forces some 20 or more kilometres inside to give more area to Turkish forces for operations. They are calling the area between as "no man's land" saying they have no control at the part and want PKK leave Iraq borders.

Turkiye is also acting more clever this time. Opening new economic packets for the area, prepearing laws to accept Kurdish as second language in education etc. But PKK and related groups are getting more agressive as they loose hope and support. Today Leyla Zana made a provocative talk in Brusselles, at Kurdish Conferance again and said "There is no hope for peace without the involvement of 'Mr. Ocalan' (imprisoned leader of PKK)". They are also differences between them. 2 of their deputies gave interviews condemning the agressiveness. PKK is threating the propeace Kurds too.

One most dangerous thing in my opinion is; they cannot take shelter in northern Iraq any more as a result of these Turkish operations and Kurdish Iraq's altitude. They also loose ground in Syria and Iran is attacking continiously. Latest news is; as a result of all these loosing shelter and support they are heading to Armenia. Armenia is a very poor country and there are many illegal Armenian refugees in Turkey. Turkey and Armenia is begining to have better relations whatever the diaspora says. But if Armenia have to open doors by the efforts of Armenian diaspora to these terrorists there may be unwanted new developments at the area (Armenia has a problem of invaded "Karabag" with Azerbeijan and Azeris are Turkic origin with good relations). This is a puzzle with so many unknown.

But Northern Iraq is doing good inside its own territory, they are aware that Turkiye had no intention of invading them or have any problem with them, Turkiye's only problem is PKK based at the mountains in the middle and they begin to say "it is no man's land" , they dont have any power over, meaning Turkey can go on operations."

On the other hand, is it possible not to agree with some ideas in the speeces during EU Conferance? Certainly not. We founded this republic hand in had. For example DTP deputy Ahmet Türk began his speech as;

"I believe that Turkey’s attempt of accession into the EU is the fourth most important strategic decision in the history of the republic. The first decision is the strategic cooperation of the Turks and Kurds in building a country which materialises itself in the creation of the republic. This joint decision of the people is certainly historic one.

What is achieved here is the joint determination in creating a country which upholds the equality and freedom of each citizen. The post-republic strategic cooperation between the Kurds and Turks is the second strategically significant decision. This is the period of 1921-1924 and at this present time this period is looked at as the “golden age”.

The first parliament was deemed to be a joint parliament of Kurds and Turks. Representation was according to identity and region. In fact Mustafa Kemal himself believed that the Kurds should be allowed a special status and even made the statement “a type of village headmanship”.

This is a most notable period we can refer to, to tackle current problems and debates. The third significant strategic decision is: within the atmosphere stated above instead of furthering the republic democratically, the strategic cooperation with the Kurds was cut short and the period of conflict began."

Though he began mentioning total realities, can we say the "third strategic desicion" (with his words) was specially about Kurdish popilation or was there other, more important international tendencies, politics fallowing the rise of USSR and communism around the world. If we don't take the historical facts into considiration we can end at wrong venues.

Other example is Leyla Zana's speech. She mentions "methods including beatings, detentions, torture, executions, forced migrations, sending to forced exile, extra judicial killings, village evacuations, village guards, release based on confessions" etc and asks; "What about methods that not known or disclosed?"

Who can deny all those methods, nobody! But can we say those methods performed only to Kurds? Again we should remember the history, may be this time a closer history. These are all methods of Cold War era created by USA begining with Vietnam and exported all around the world. This country lost a generation, generations of intellectuals, socialists to those bloody methods.

Those methods didnt differ ethnicity in Turkey but only question the ideology of people till 90s. Just think the dungeons, torture rooms of 1980, do you think they were counting us as Turks, Kurds etc.. One difference was; while nearly all other democratic, socialist etc (armed or not) movements defeated or dissolved under the brutality of US backed September 12, 1980 military coup; those times' Apoists managed to survive and founded PKK (using their own brutality on civilian people).

Even if the youngsters of today can't know or remember; at least they can try to find news archives and read about the village raids, burned schools, murdered teachers or nurses, doctors by PKK.

It is right that one's terrorist can be other's freedom fighter. It is right that Kurdish people suffered much more than any other ethnicity in this country. Deserve more rights than they have now. But there is a point we shouldn't forget to see; change...

The defination of "terrorist" changed, defination of "freedom fighter" changed, concept of "fighting for democracy" changed, "world politics" changed, understanding of "human rights" changed, Northern Iraq is changing, Turkiye is changing...It is the soul of dialectic metarialism...

Unfortunatelly some couldnt change according to the nature of material. Some still seach solutions with armed conflicts or ethnic nationalism. May be Zana's question is just what "today's terrorists" should ask themselves too; "What about methods that not known or disclosed?"

TURKIYE ENTERED IRAQ

Turkish Armed Forces is in northern Iraq.

Yesterday PM Erdoğan announced that the government has given full authority to the Turkish Armed Forces to conduct a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, fallowing the two days meeting of Supreme Military Council (YAŞ). It was meaning that the Turkish Armed Forces has the legal right to organise a cross-border military operation without further consultation with the government.

The Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) decisions released by Turkish Armed Forces web page was giving the signal of the operation as; "Turkish Armed Forces' Preparation Conditions for War has been discussed".

Operation begun with shelling from land and air strikes. News says 100 Special Forces (Purple Berets) soldiers carried the operation with success and turned back.

Though neither USA, nor Turkey accepted any shared intelligence logic knows who have the satellites to carry point operations.

It is cold and snowy in the area.

DTP's demonstrations at main cities of the area are all ending with less support compared to past and clashes with the police.

An important point is; Turkey's human rights organisations, NGO and unions, intellectuals released a common declaration against PKK, condemning the death threaths to Kurdish- Turkish civilians, intellectuals for the first time.

It is interesting that the Army is now fighting with guerrilla war tactics and "terrorists" who were called as "guerrillas" until now are staying naked in front of the eyes .

It is important that the Muslim and Christian villagers welcomed their kidnapped Priest dancing and singing with drums together.


This is an interesting land. Storms never end. People used to sit silent for long and suddenly shake up at the most unexpected time.

Turkey began the operation in Iraq at 3 pm today, only 4 hours before. And it is only the beginning of the storm.

Wish the mothers stay strong, children may have dreams and storm will never turn to a war.

Boys who will serve the new term at military left only 11 days at home. Mothers can't look in their sons' eyes, sons can't look in anyone's eyes other than themselves...

PLANE CRASH AND ANGELS & DEMONS

We all had a feeling as something bad will happen last night. There were at least 3-4crashed cars on the way home. Even N who never has such feelings or dreams etc turn around the house restless and woke up with interesting things to tell.

The daily agenda is full of news. At first I was thinking to write about the Suryani priest kidnapped at Midyat yesterday and released at Batman today.

Germany's handling two PKK terrorists to Turkey is an interesting example for the beginning of the change in European countries behavior against PKK. Price Charles and his Camilla are here since Sunday. Their visit to disabled soldiers at Turkish General Staff's Rehabilitation Center is also an unexpected event.

Or I could write on the Supreme Military Council's meeting, decisions and if President Abdullah Gül will approve the council's decisions, without putting any reservations, to remove certain officers who have engaged in fundamentalist acts or not.

I was even thinking to write on the Annapolis talks or USA Ambassador Ross Wilson's call for breakfast to Kurdish deputies from all parties except DPT (which is said to be in connection with PKK) with Christopher Shays from US House of Representatives.

There are many more important news to think on in daily agenda. Especially the last minutes announcement by PM as the Turkish Armed Forces is authorized for over border operations by the Government. But the airplane crash changed all focus. The cause of the crash, which left no survivors, is not yet known.

According to authorities every evidence till now are surprising and like pieces of a mysterious quiz. Reports are as;

- a transcript of the conversation between the Isparta control tower and the pilot revealed no indication of trouble

- pilot is said to have told the tower: "Isparta tower, we are inbound" at 1:36 a.m., according to the transcript. The tower then replied: "Understood, Atlasjet. Continue to approach."

- conditions at the time of the crash were good. There was no rain or wind, the weather could not have been better."

- the flight's pilots had just returned from training and were extremely experienced.

- the debris of the plane found at a totally opposite place. The rote of the plane is opposite to the crash area.

- according to the condition of the debris, the speed of the plane was less than 250 km per hour, meaning landing speed.

- airport is at 2835 feet, but the debris found at 4500-5000 feet.

- even Isparta Governor, said that the site of the crash did not seem to be on the plane's usual route, "It is impossible to understand how the plane landed there."

And here comes the other interesting part; Engin Arik, a renowned nuclear physics professor at Bosporus University, Istanbul, was among those killed. She was part of a delegation of academics who were scheduled to attend a conference at Isparta university.

She and some of the other 6 dead academicians were working at CERN and ATLAS experiment.

CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the world's largest particle physics centre. It sits astride the French-Swiss border near Geneva. CERN is a laboratory where scientists unite to study the building blocks of matter and the forces that hold them together. CERN exists primarily to provide them with the necessary tools. These are accelerators, which accelerate particles to almost the speed of light and detectors to make the particles visible. Founded in 1954, the laboratory was one of Europe's first joint ventures and includes now 20 Member States.

ATLAS is a particle physics experiment that will explore the fundamental nature of matter and the basic forces that shape our universe. Starting in mid-2008, the ATLAS detector will search for new discoveries in the head-on collisions of protons of extraordinarily high energy. ATLAS is one of the largest collaborative efforts ever attempted in the physical sciences. There are 1900 physicists (Including 400 students) participating from more than 166 universities and laboratories in 37 countries.

http://atlas.web.cern.ch/Atlas/index.html

http://atlasexperiment.org/

Do you remember CERN from somewhere else, may be from Dan Brown's famous novel Angels & Demons...

The novel about a famous scientist of the CERN (from where Internet is supposed to be born) is murdered and the product of his research work is taken away. It is called the antimatter and it can destroy an entire city, but was created with an intention to prove the existence of god scientifically, i.e with good intentions.

Did you also remember the 3 young Turkish scientists found dead (suicide) one after another in a few months, I mentioned earlier? The investigation is still going on for the suicides of the scientists working for the governmental arm researches on high tech equipments...

Wish the 56 plane crash victims rest in peace...still question the whereabouts of the angels & demons...

Iraqi Oil Revenues for Iraqi Refugees

Please publish, spread, develop and coordinate with us


Iraqi Oil Revenues for Iraqi Refugees

More than 4.5 million Iraqis -- a fifth of the population -- have been displaced inside and outside their country due to the sectarian policies of the occupation and the governments it has installed since the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The international community, the occupation powers, and the government in Iraq are legally required to support and protect Iraqi refugees.

Iraqi refugees are Iraqi citizens who have a full right to live in dignity, a right to benefit equally from national resources, and a right to return to their homes.

The UN Security Council, as the highest body of the UN, has the power and legal duty to ensure that the needs of Iraqi refugees are met by passing a resolution to require that the Iraqi state allocate proportionate revenue to responsible agencies and hosting countries.

Call for action

Displaced and refugee Iraqis cannot wait until they can return home for their essential needs to be met. The international community has the moral obligation to act now. UNSC Resolution 986 of 1995 established that Iraqi oil revenue is for all Iraqis. As Iraqi citizens, Iraqi refugees have equal rights to share in the wealth of Iraq.

We call upon all governments, UN agencies and organizations, law, human rights and humanitarian associations, and all people of conscience to work together towards ensuring that the UNSC adopt and implement this proposal of obliging the Iraqi state to allocate oil revenues for Iraqi refugees.

We demand that states -- particularly those involved in the illegal invasion and destruction of Iraq -- fulfill their obligations and responsibilities and provide necessary funding for the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) mission of protecting displaced Iraqis.

We call upon all to raise funds and take all measures to provide direct aid to Iraqi refugees and the organizations helping them.

Humanity is in distress in Iraq. Our moral responsibility is to save it. Join us.


attached is the platform of the Iraqi International Initiative

http://3iii.org/proposal

To endorse, contact:
hanaalbayaty@3iii.org
To sign the petition:
http://3iii.org/petition/iraqi-oil-revenues-for-iraqi-refugees-petition
To stay informed on the campaign:
www.3iii.org

Iraqi International Initiative on refugees

First Signatories:

Hans von Sponeck, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (1998-2000), Germany.
Denis Halliday, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (1997-1998), Ireland.
Ms. Niloufer Bhagwat, Advocate, Vice President of the Indian Association of Lawyers.
Mathias Chang, 37 years in the antiwar movement, Malaysia.
Sabah Al-Mukhtar, President Arab Lawyers Association, UK.
Issam Al-Chalabi, Former Iraqi Oil Minister, Iraq-Jordan.
Saeed .H. Hassan, Former Iraqi Permanent Representative to the UN, Iraq -Egypt.
Dr Curtis F J Doebbler, Professor of law, at Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Dirk Adriaensens, Member Executive Committee BRussells Tribunal, Belgium.
Dahr Jamail, Independent Journalist, Author of "Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches from an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq", USA.
Paola Manduca, Geneticist and Antiwar Activist, New Weapons, Italy.
Bert De Belder, M.D., Coordinator, Medical Aid for the Third World, Belgium.
Mohammed Aref, Science Writer, Advisor for 'Arab Science & Technology Foundation', UAE.
Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Writer, Iraqi Political Analyst, Iraq-France.
Dr Ian Douglas, Writer, Egypt.

IMMORTALITY/ ÖLÜMSÜZLÜK

Immortality

“Men are mortal gods, and gods are immortal men” said Hermes
and his secret, no man was able to reach
the ones to dare were thrown to the land of Isis
before the door, under her statue with a covered face
“no mortals could raise the apron on my face” words
the first test, was to resist all blasphemies without talking
and hundreds of hard tests, under the ground, in the darkness, in the galleries
with snakes and scorpions, cold, lamentations and blood
at times a priest would appear and ask: do you want to return or not
exams of fire, water and lust would await the ones who survived the gaps with sanity
to the one to succeed to be buried alive
on a chilly night, while staring seven stars of the seven skies
the secret of Hermes would be told by a priest...

for us who were born under the moon, with the light within: opinions were reckoned crimes
the royalty of Mercury we took from the milk of our mothers, tried to be stolen
when we looked at the mirror of Venus love had already entered our blood
we were marching to the Sun carrying all our beauty within
we had already added justice to our blood before the sword of Mars cut
science to which we’d been registered as customers was destroyed, books were put into fire
was that all Hermes, to keep the secret?
if this is the way to immortality Hermes
we did not need temples nor priests
let them destroy statues of Isis, erase the words beneath
Saturn is shining in the cells of all of us, we keep the secret
we the mortal immortals, have already raised the apron on the face of Isis…

May 1986


ÖLÜMSÜZLÜK

"İnsanlar, ölümlü tanrılardır, tanrılar da ölümsüz insanlar" demiş Hermes
ve onun sırrına ulaşmak insanoğluna pek nasip olamamış
cesaret edip demek isteyenler İsis tapınaklarına götürülürmüş
kapısında yüzü örtülü heykeli, altında
"Yüzümdeki örtüyü hiç bir ölümlü kaldıramadı" sözleri
ilk sınav, konuşmadan tüm aşağılanmalara direnebilmekmiş
ve yüzlerce zor sınav, yeraltında, karanlıklarda, dehlizlerde
yılan ve akreplerle, soğuk, çığlıklar ve kanlar içinde
arada bir bir rahip çıkar sorarmış; geri dönmek isteyip istemediğini
aklını yitirmeden uçurumdan kurtulabileni ateş, su ve şehvet sınavları beklermiş
son sınav olan diri diri gömülmeyi başarabilene
serin bir gecede, yedi kat göğün yedi yıldızını seyrederken
anlatılırmış Hermes'in sırrı bir rahip tarafından...

biz içlerinde ışıkla, Ay'ın altında doğanlara düşünceleri suç sayıldı
analarımızın sütünden aldığımız Utarit'in soyluluğu çalınmak istendi
Zühre'nin aynasına baktığımızda, aşk kanımıza çoktan girmişti
biz akınlardaydık Güneş'e yüreklerimizde taşıyarak bütün güzelliğimizi
Merih'in kılıcı kesmeden kanımıza katmıştık adaleti
Müşteri yazıldığımız bilim yıkıldı, kitaplarımız yakıldı...
bütün mesele bu muydu Hermes, saklamak mı sırrı?
ölümsüzlüğe ulaşmak buysa Hermes
ne tapınaklara, ne rahiplerine ihtiyacımız olmadı
yıksınlar İsis'in heykellerini, silsinler altında kazılı sözleri
Zuhal yıldızı bizim hücrelerimizde ışıldıyor, saklıyoruz sırrını
biz ölümlü ölümsüzler, İsis'in yüzündeki örtüyü çoktan kaldırdı...

Mayıs 1986

RAPED IN BRAZIL

Yesterday it was Saudi Arabia, today Brazil and any corner of the world.

"Authorities in Brazil are investigating reports that a young woman was left in a police cell with some 20 men for a month and repeatedly sexually abused. The governor of the state of Para, where the reported case took place, has promised a full inquiry. Governor Ana Julia Carepa said the age of the woman, put variously at 15 and 20, was irrelevant as she should not have been jailed with male prisoners. Women's rights groups in Brazil say it is not an isolated case.

......Media reports suggested that the girl was placed in a police cell in the town of Abaetetuba on suspicion of theft. But human-rights groups say there is uncertainty about what offence the girl was accused of and she was not formally charged. They say that she was raped relentlessly and forced to have sex in order to obtain food. The girl's father has now alleged that he has been threatened by police who tried to force him to provide a birth certificate showing that the girl was 20 years of age - a document which he said did not exist."

Two rape cases from two sides of the world. Or two examples of absurdity, idiocy, cleverness? Which kind of of a logic would think people may be deceived by a reason like "mistake". Women organisations say there were at least 3 such "mistakes" in Brazil lately.

They think us stupid? Unfortunately we are not. The women, especially the women of countries like us are very clever and sensitive to what is happening to their kind around the world. (Plus a 15 year is a child yet)...

ABSENCE

she was there for a long time
as she thinks nothing remains that she would not stand
they would find a new method….
they threw the body they took from electricity to a corner
she for a while stood unconscious at the place she had been thrown to
dirty hands striped the ragged cloths on her
pulling her arms and legs, dragged her toward the wall
and they pulled her upwards as a sheep to be slaughtered
her head felt down, her fingers trembled
and she stood motionless…
coming and going they checked her
held water on her to regain her consciousness
she thought her arms had pulled out of her shoulders
she could not feel a thing
between black outs
especially on her waist and kidneys they hit the club
the last one stitched to the hair on her genitals
her numb body woke up with an unbearable pain
she herself even astonished with how high his voice can get
while begging “please, sir, do not sir”
she understood she came to the end
she dissolved into the absence…

RAPED IN SAUDI ARABIA

You should read about the young girl they decide to punish because she had been raped in Saudi Arabia.

BBC gave the news as; "According to the Arab News newspaper, the 19-year-old woman was gang-raped 14 times in an attack in Qatif in the eastern province a year-and-a-half ago. Seven men were found guilty of the rape and sentenced to prison terms ranging from just under a year to five years. The victim and attackers are from Saudi Arabia's Shia minority."

Your eyes are not decieving you, news is going on as; "The justice ministry said in a statement that the sentence was justified because the woman was in a car with an unrelated man. ...

The 19-year-old, who has not been named, was travelling in a car with a male friend last year, when the car was attacked by a gang of seven men who raped both of them."

Please give attention; the MALE friend also raped.

"She has become known as the "Qatif girl", a reference to the largely Shia town which she comes from. Four of the men were convicted of kidnapping - but the court also sentenced the woman and her friend to receive 90 lashes each for the crime of "illegal mingling"."

Understand? The girl is nameless and the crime is only "illegal mingling".

It goes on; "Last week the court increased the woman's sentence to 200 lashes and six months in prison. It also banned her lawyer from the courtroom and took away his licence. The Saudi justice ministry has defended the verdict and warned against "agitation through the media" - a sign of how sensitive the authorities are to the fact that the woman and her lawyer have sought to use the media to highlight the case..."

This country of shame holds all the power in the hands of Suud family. Their King Abdullah visited Turkey last week. All the newspapers made fun of him, printing his photo in front of his own photo and making its analyses. They gave his photo together with the most known, egoistic, manic comedy character of Turkish TVs -his painting as Mona Lisa behind him-.It is sure a psychologic problem which needs attention for poor man but it dont interest us.

What we are interested here is the young girl who is about to be punished because she is raped. If it is the matter of "being raped" why do you think they dont punish the young man with her, who also raped. Can it be because they used to, like to rape males, especially young ones? My goal is not insulting any country or people. It is a well known but prefered not to be spoken social fact in Gulf countries, especially Saudies.

Never ever pass any little news story only thinking "how disgusting" etc. There is always at least one big story behind all little stories.

I am not in the mood to talk on what/ how many what lies behind this rape story now but I will write more, wont forget;

- How Saudi Arabia is exploiting religion for a dynasty's benefits
- How they exploiting women and children
- How they keep their people ignorant and poor while sharing all that richness from oil between the princes
- How they serve US and Israel

So many hows but for now lets just think about this young girl and male friend..

Daughter, young woman, Qatif girl;

I have written about "rape" so many times. I wrote articles, poems. I participated conferances, talked many times. I knew women raped during wars are punished by their families, societies because of honor and many unlogical reasons but I never thought on such events as yours.

I want to, need to apologize from you because I wrote poems begining like;

"have you ever been raped?
not like every relation woman said “no”
is considered to be rape.
in the torture dungeons all around the world
like women are used as guns
while in the midst of wars...
....."

But at least I ended knowing the strength in all women;

"..........
have you ever been raped?
you can feel within your brain
in the kind that would never be scratched from your soul
those women in torture dungeons are smart
they do know the goals of loathsome
are aware that he who wastes her body cannot reach her soul
rather than giving what he wants, rather than beeing unfastened
rather than letting bugs reach their goals
she shuts her soul and throws her body in the middle
woman’s body is strong beyond her soul
woman’s soul is strong beyond her consciousness
woman can be broken, divided into a thousand pieces, she would not shatter
woman gets bend, smashed, she would not collapse
such an amber a woman carries within in depth
though made worse than dead meaning would not be known…

........................"

Excuse me baby, excuse me!...

AM I TURKISH?

Thanks for asking...

Genealogy and DNA research's says we all originated from Africa and begun our great journey some 50.000 or more years ago to invade the planet. So, first of all, this makes me one of the invaders from the very beginning.

National Geographic writes; "The human genetic code, or genome, is 99.9 percent identical throughout the world. What's left is the DNA responsible for our individual differences—in eye color or disease risk, for example—as well as some that serves no apparent function at all. Once in an evolutionary blue moon, a random, harmless mutation can occur in one of these functionless stretches, which is then passed down to all of that person's descendants. Generations later, finding that same mutation, or marker, in two people's DNA indicates that they share the same ancestor. By comparing markers in many different populations, scientists can trace their ancestral connections."

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 15 says; "(1) Everyone has the right to a nationality. (2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality." and,

European Convention on Nationality; "Article 2 – "nationality" means the legal bond between a person and a State and does not indicate the person's ethnic origin; article 3 – "Each State shall determine under its own law who are its nationals."

We all know "an ethnic group" or "ethnicity" defines the group of humans who identify with each other on the basis of a common genealogy or ancestry, with common culture, language etc. And "ethnic nationalism" is defining the "nation" in terms of ethnicity.

Having said these; I am not sure how should I answer the question; "Are you Turkish?"

According to national and international laws, and what I feel; I think my answer should be, "Yes, I am Turkish". But if we have to talk on politics or science; can I be any kind of nationalist or belong to a nation or ethnicity? Again if we have to talk about culture, traditions, language etc my answer can be the same; "I am Turkish!". But can it be totally right? Science don't says so...

We all have our own thoughts, beliefs about "nationalism", "ethnicity", "ethnic nationalism", "self determination", "oppressed / oppressor nations" etc. 21st century (or Globalisation, or end of Cold War, or whatever we are in) and the scientific revolution we are living is reshaping many of our concepts.

Sociologist Max Weber said; "The whole conception of ethnic groups is so complex and so vague that it might be good to abandon it altogether." in his time, wonder what would he say if he witnessed the scientific developments of our time.

Assume making a little poll in family and received the answers;
- "Turk, we are certainly Turkish, but grandpa was Cherkez"
- "Don't forget the father side came from Cyprus, there should be Greeks too."
- "What about the grand grandpa who was a Kurdish Nakshi Sheik?"
- "Don't say that, we don't have such sects in our background?"
- "You think so, what if the ones from Selaniki were Sabetaist Jews?"
- "Don't question that much, we are Laz and Lazs are Turkish?"
- "Ha..ha.. you want to forget about Russian grand grandma!"..
We can add a dozen more ethnic groups. And didn't mention the religious identities yet.

So... Yes, I am Turkish. Love my country, history, culture, language and all. But this is Anatolia, even historians are not sure how many civilization born, passed and ended, or how many nations, ethnicity left their marks. I am happy with all the ethnic drops in my blood; Turk, Kurd, Laz, Rum, Gypsy, Hittite, Roman, Lykian, Arcadian and all (being hybrid in nature always adds gifts:).

Isn't it interesting that 20 million European men are grand grandsons' of Genghis Han? Or isn't it incredible that leaving Africa; native Americans, south Americans and Turks share some genes?

Psst, don't tell anybody... I am only homo sapiens! Don't have my blood tested for more yet!

BEFORE TOO LATE

It is not only the scenes from the border area, in border operations worsening but also the political arena is in a deepening mess too. Clouds on us are getting darker and darker.

Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) is faced with possible closure. The Supreme Court's Chief Prosecutor asked the court to shut down the party for its alleged links to PKK.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) repeatedly accused the DTP of being the PKK's extension in Parliament is very pleased. They also want to strip the DTP's deputies of their immunity.

PM Erdoğan says it may mean to tell them "go to mountains" but some insists there cannot be semi-application of the supremacy of law or equality in a country that claims to be democratic.

While the DTP is complaining of a “lynching campaign” against itself, it is indeed really hard to reconcile what's expected from a member of Turkish Parliament with the images of the DTP deputies in northern Iraq when the eight soldiers were released by PKK or calls for “democratic autonomy”.

What the high court will say, we cannot have an idea for the time being but they said that they have a “plan B” ready. They mean; before a closure decision by the high court DTP may dissolve itself and its members will forge a new party.

Prime Minister Erdoğan earlier said that rather than forcing the DTP to go to the “mountains” and joining PKK, the Kurdish deputies must remain in Parliament and engage in political activity. Last night he announced; "At this point, our security forces are carrying on an operation with full sensitivity inside our own country's borders. We are not dealing right now with an over the border operation. Our central stance in all these operations is first and foremost aimed at having them leave off their weapons."

"Aiming at having them leave off their weapons" is a very important statement in the mean time. We can guess what the operation will bring; "The operation that took place in 1995 (named “Steel”) lasted 45 days. Some 555 PKK militants and 185 soldiers lost their lives. The 1997 operation (called “Hammer”) lasted 65 days, and 2,730 PKK militants and 114 soldiers died."

We don't know how many already died or dying any minute in-border operations. It seems like both PKK and the DTP deputies in the Parliament are tying for the closure to raise the sympathy they lost. They act like the provocation tool of PKK. It is clear that the orders are coming from Imralı and mountains. It is a shared suspicion whether they want the over border operation and pull Turkey inside Middle- East problem (and make it evidence of Turkish brutality and expansionist intentions).

If they are pro-democracy don't they see they are needed in the Parliament and the political arena (or dont want to see?). We are not at 90s, not at the the unidentified deaths period of PM Çiller or their predecessor DEP giving oath in Kurdish at the Parliament. Even PM Erdogan (though we dont like and criticize him many ways) says; “It is better to let them talk than forcing them to join the militants in the mountains.”

DTP s not DEP but Leyla Zana is still talking in meetings calling Apo as "people's leader". They suddenly elected somebody who spent 9 of his 35 years in prison as a member of PKK as the chairman of the party in place of years old Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk.

Papers writes 82 percent of the population backs an over border operation according to polls. Any estimation about deaths in a cross-border operation? No word. This mass madness is hopeless. Where is long lost wisdom we had, lets find it back all together.

RAIN OF LIGHT

I was in the middle of writing on the late developments but friends called. Better to go and learn latest rumors. Before leaving the computer; I remembered there will be Leonid meteor shower tonight and it remind me an old poem...

Rain Of Light

there is meteor rain tonight
appetizers are being prepared, everyone is in excitement
we sent Ahmet to buy fishes
we did not, of course, forget mussels and shrimps
tables will be laid in the garden in a while
charcoal is ready, Ercan will light the barbecue
with long and thin glasses we will clink our Tekirdağ rakis
we will dissolve it into scents of jasmines, into the nihavent music
light will rain onto us, as if stars are falling…

I do not feel well today
it was the song of mom and dad,
we would every night go for a moonlight stroll
“I do not like it anymore” mom says now
she says moonlight is of no value now once humankind stepped onto the moon
we would make wishes under the falling stars
as for now, not only I do not like it, it makes me creep
since humankind sends death with illumination, like mom’s calculations
while there are children who cannot tell falling stars from falling bombs

I am not the only crazy person in this family
my cousin brought star shaped ice molds
we will add stars to our raki tonight
children will cry in distant cities
women will be raped, bombs will fall onto them
I will hear their voices with the wind blowing within my head
“fill another glass” I will say to my cousin
I am about to lose my mind, what if the stars were going to fall….

(Raki is a traditional Turkish drink. Nihavent is a form of classical Turkish music.)

OUR MARTYRS

An Associated Press writer wrote at Nov 15th; "When Turkey reports the death of Kurdish rebels, it calls them "terrorists" and says they were "rendered ineffective," a euphemism designed to distance Turkish troops from the brutality of killing. But the military glorifies its own dead as "martyrs." ...

Turkey describes its war dead as martyrs, or "sehit" in Turkish. The Arabic-based term, also used by the PKK, is associated with those who die in the belief that they are fighting for Islam, but Turkey's secular military prefers a nationalist meaning. Fighters who died during the wars that led to the 1923 creation of the Turkish republic were also given that title...."

He should learn Turkey's cultural and traditional mosaic better beside the poltics.

Although “şehit” comes from “shaded” in Arabic origin and in religious context, it mainly means dying for fighting, defending one’s “country” in our minds. According to dictionaries “şehit” means “martyr” in English. Encyclopedia Britannica gives the definition of “martyr” as; “Person who voluntarily suffers death rather than deny his or her religion.””

Wikipedia gives a broader definition; “A martyr (Greek "witness") is a person who is put to death or endures suffering because of a belief, principle or cause. The death of a martyr or the value attributed to it is called martyrdom. Though often religious in nature, martyrdom can be applied to a secular context as well. The term is sometimes applied to those who use violence, such as those who die for a nation's glory during wartime (usually known under other names such as "fallen warriors"). It may also apply to nonviolent individuals who are killed or hurt in the struggle for independence, civil rights etc.”

This definition gives the meaning of “şehit”/ “martyr” for us more clearly. Turkish Islam has some specifics which ancient Turkish culture has great effects. As an example; even during the Turkish Liberation War after the 1st WW, although there was religious inspiration and in a way religion used as an important motivator, the war was primarily carried out to save the “nation”. The war was not a “holly” but an “earthly” one. Turk, Kurd, Laz, and all kind of ethnicities as well as Anatolian Christians and Jews fought altogether in the war to save the country from imperialism.

Today Turkey’s 98 percent Muslim population is from Sunni and Alevi majority. Though some percentage of these can be called only as “Cultural Muslim”, Islam is in every part of life. There are also Suryani Christian, Greek Orthadox, Armenian Catholic, Turkish Protestant churches and others as Yezidis. So the society lives a very integrated mosaic of culture.

Regardless to their religion or ethnicity all male Turkish citizens have to serve in military for a certain period. Not only the culture but also Turkish constitution defines “martyrs” in high regard. According to law “martyr” is the one; “Who die under direct fire or wounded and die because of this wounds during war. Or the one who are at the back front but died because of enemy fire or wounded and died during treatment. Who die immediately or wounded and died because of the wound during National Security duty, fighting against terror or anarchy. Protecting the borders etc...”

As seen; “defending the nation / country” is essential. Religion and beliefs of these soldiers may have a great importance in their determination and heroism individually but what they go to die for is “motherland”. Martyrdom is highly regarded not only for our own but for all regardless to their nation or religion. A good example of this cultural acceptance is the martyrdoms build at Gallipoli area for many nations (more than 30 cemeteries and memorials).

Turkish army doesn’t let any religious activities or propaganda. On the other side, the terrorist organization PKK is not a “religious” terrorist organization. It founded as a socialist liberation organization of Turkey’s Kurds but turned to an “ethnic nationalist” terror group.

Two of the last martyred soldiers by PKK were also Kurds. Kurds are not a minority but essential group founding this republic. These young boys born, raised, lived at the same lands, share unseperable traditions.

PKK is not the representative of all Kurds. But ofcourse it will call the fallen members as martyrs too in it's own concept. And do you think there are no Turkish terrorists? Or do you think terrorists and martyrs should have certain ethinicities?

We also have "democracy" or "revolutionary" etc martys. "Martyrdom" is neither religious nor belongs to a special ethnicity traditionally etc. One should differ the defination of martyr according to "laws" (because of the legal rights of the descendants) and defination in the "culture and traditions".

This country and it's people shares much more than politics. They have common emotions, passions, devotions and all deep in their hearts. Mothers cry with the same laments either in Turkish or Kurdish. Children grow up listening same folk songs, stories regardless to language. Though the politics and imperialism brought us to this point concept of martyr in hearts may hardly change.

Take your hands of from us, our martyrs Mr X... Y... Z... Our beliefs are hard to understand for imperialist pens. Neither the martyrs in our minds and hearts can be despised or forgotten, nor the martyrs in our future, present or past.

HENNA IN THE PALMS

12 martyred and 16 wounded soldiers by PKK 3 weeks ago have almost been forgotten (others are falling everyday as 4 more buried today). We don't exactly know how they lost their lives.

News about the 8 kidnapped and arrested upon their return banned. Papers says investigation is focused on whether their surrender put the lives of the rest in danger or led to an increase in the number of casualties. According to military rules this is one of the most serious crimes that a soldier can commit.

From the first hours of the event, we know that there were nearly 70 soldiers in the clash. News about the 8 is not possible but one wonders what about the rest or at least the wounded. It is not possible for any real journalist not to search for their experiences, testimonies. The ban on the media should be wider than we know.

There is also a wide spread misinformation. Commander of the Turkish Air Force, today said that reports targets near the northern Iraqi city of Zaho had been struck yesterday were groundless. No Turkish planes entered Iraq airspace or took part in any operations yet.

It is better not to believe any news as long as they are approved by officials or proved by photos, witnesses etc. First official announcement came from Foreign Minister late afternoon. He said, the immediate intelligence flow promised by US begin today. Massing troops to border line and Turkish bases in Iraq is going on.

There was an interesting and important photo in the news from the area today. Traditionally we use henna in 3 events; put henna to lamb meaning to sacrifice God, put henna before marriage meaning bring prosperity and sacrifice to family and henna the son sending military to sacrifice for motherland. They send to their units with ceremonies, drums and pipes, folk dances and songs, national marches. In a way, all these show the inner acceptance of the possibility they may not come back alive.

Hope these boys waving hands with henna on their palms will turn back alive and not being compelled to kill anyone.

MIND ECLIPSE...

Yesterday, when I learned about the bombing into Iraq, I immediately informed some friends.

F replied as; "I am discovering that I have the same response to the idea of your country bombing Iraq as I had to the idea of my country bombing Iraq, even though I know there is more provocation in the case of the PKK. I wonder what is to be gained by the bombing: A show of strength? I do hope that the villages are empty, but I still wonder about the trees, the flowers, the animals, and the souls of all of us if we keep this up."

She was certainly right, voicing some of my own worries. But I have so many worries that I couldn't keep myself asking;

"I don't think any country would accept what Turkey is facing; what would you do;

- if there are continuous attacks from a neighbor (for ex Mexico)

- if they are murdering and kidnapping your soldiers and civilians

- if they have the democratic right of being elected to Parliament and it come out that one of your representatives or congresswoman was in fact trained in Al Quayda camps (for example)

- if her husband is still with terrorists and shamelessly receiving funds from your government as a farmer

- if there is a political party and the leader of the party come out forging document not to serve in military and already been in jail for nine years because of terrorist activities.

- if they are directing drug and arm traffic, laundering drug money

- if your allies don't hear your calls

- and if those terror bases are just a few kilometres beside your border."

Her reply was; "Well, my problem is that I have always been pretty much totally a pacifist. A radical even among antiwar folks. So, I'm not a good person to ask questions like what would I do if Mexico or Canada aimed their guns at the US. I tend to believe that if generals want war, they should fight them themselves, that all military weapons that can destroy life at a distance of greater than arms length should be destroyed...things like that. And most of my adult life I have argued for such measures, since ultimately if we are to avoid destroying the planet, I think we're going to need to use them."

What can I say, she is right. We share the same values but not the same geography. Lately I am finding myself in deep dilemmas. I don't know how many times I wrote my peace activist friends that I never felt my self so stupid to make any analyses, in lack of making decisions on my observations.

It is as if we are living on daily basis and under the bombardment of events pulling us in a "mind eclipse" (I am beginning to develop terms).

We never had so many flags around. We hear nationalist attacks from both sides of the society. Every side, even from prisons. This is a years long conflict but suddenly it changed strategy as if some hidden (but not hard to identify) forces wants the people of this country became enemies.

Though, there is no need to be pessimist. Sometimes when we reach to the peak of a conflict of any kind, it may surprise us how it may change for good spontaneously.

After the confessions of ex generals and other army members, another step came from the opposition leader. Baykal announced; "Barzani should be accepted as a part of the Iraqi administrative system..." He said we should befriend the people of Iraq including the Kurds. "We should establish very warm ties offering university grants, more water and other incentives to the Iraqi people. Then in the warm atmosphere we can expect them to combat the PKK more effectively."

He said Turkey can provide up to 2,000 grants to Iraqi university students every year at the best universities here and thus help to train a new generation of administrators in Iraq including in the Kurdish region. We should finish the UIisuyu Dam on the Tigris River and thus provide secure and more water resources to Iraq.

He voiced majority of the opinions as there should never be a conflict between Turks and Kurds. "Our struggle should be against the PKK not the Kurdish people." Said a new project is needed to enhance the living conditions of Kurds in Turkey and Kurds in Turkey should be able to have their own language courses, their own schools and their own publications.

I never liked him but I must admit that he surprised me. His suggestions may open new and long-term consequences. Creating higher education opportunity for Iraqi youth from any ethnic group in Turkey may help closer relations and understanding. His other suggestion, spreading Turkey based television broadcasts in the region may be used as a productive tactic. When journalists asked the students at the universities in Erbil, many already replied as they they would like to study in Turkey. Talabani and Barzani also sent warm messages.

No logical mind should oppose the social and cultural rights of any group and majority of the society supports it other than little minded ethnic nationalists. Can this become a state policy, it is the point we cant be sure. But at least we can be "a little" optimistic, now that it is beginning to voice by certain centers and ones who are responsible from ex wrong policies are confessing one by one.

The questions I asked my friend are still in my mind. Neither her reply, nor similar or opposite opinions can satisfy me. Not even my own, years long beliefs seems enough. May be we are insufficient to embrace the new necessities our time is forcing on us.

If "war" changed concept and weapons, why can't "peace" change too? We can stop asking only "what ... would you/ we do" and add "where", "when", "why", "who", "how" to our questionings all together.

As my friend points out; it takes hundreds, even thousand years for firs, oaks to grow and human can destroy them with few bombs in a second. We see the same human can create terrorism at any area in few decades don't want to find a way to stop what he created other than endless reasons for new pains.

Wish we can get out from this mind eclipse. Of course the other problem is; if I can be a pacifist activist... "What" if pacifism would cause eclipse on activism... Don't laugh, these are strange lands to live...