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Turk Covert Agents Caught in Terror Act ¶ Semdili District in South Turkey

by Oui Fri Dec 16th, 2005 at 02:30:43 PM EST

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CNNi broadcast TV images of this act of violence in Southern Turkey where a Kurdish majority lives. There had been reports this year that violence had returned to Turkey from the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq.

It was difficult to find the story, following link is nearly verbatim to CNNi report.

KNK: Semdinli district by the Turkish Government Forces
Two civilians dead and dozens wounded

For a long period there have been bomb attacks in Kurdistan by the government's contra -guerrilla forces. Our attention has been brought to the fact that these attacks have mainly been in Hakkari's Semdinli district.

The latest bombings occurred on the 9th November, which was the day the EU published its annual report for the ended September 2005 on Turkey's progress towards accession. It was also the day on which an agreement was signed in which Germany would be selling two hundred tanks to Turkey. The report made no mention of the Kurdish question.

Strife across Turkey border flares up »»


From the information which we have received, we know that two sergeants dressed as civilians and one expert sergeant, came to the Umut bookstore and threw inside a cluster bomb. Once the explosions had occurred, the sergeants and expert sergeant attempted to get away from the scene with their vehicle, however they are caught by local people.  

The police began to fire at the crowd, who wanted to lynch the sergeants, but took them to the police station. A large and diverse quantity of guns and bombs were found in the sergeants' vehicle. We have found out that Zahir Korkmaz was killed in the bookstore in which the bomb exploded and Metin Korkmaz was heavily wounded.

Read on ...

This act is very similar to SAS operation in Basra a few months ago. What if anything can we believe our governments are telling us and what information is kept secret.

Turkey: Police Killings Follow Attack on Bookstore

NEW YORK Nov. 18, 2005 — The shooting deaths this week of at least four demonstrators by Turkish police signals an alarming deterioration in the human rights situation in southeastern Turkey. Growing police violence against demonstrators jeopardizes the significant human rights progress that Turkey has achieved in recent years. "Turkish police appear to have used excessive force in the shooting deaths of four unarmed demonstrators," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director of Human Rights Watch. "If security forces are allowed to revert to their old ways with impunity, not only will more lives be lost, but the achievements of the past few years will also be squandered."

According to eyewitness reports, police shot and killed İsmail Bartin, Ersin Mengeç, Abdülhaluk Geylani and Gıyasettin Avcı during violent disturbances following a press conference in the town of Yüksekova on November 15. Eyewitnesses reported that police abruptly used force to disperse people who had assembled to listen to the reading of a press release issued by the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) about events in the nearby town of Şemdinli.

Source: Human Rights Watch

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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Isn't it time there was an independent Kurdistan? It seems to me that this would be in everyones interest.

Do not feel safe. The poet remembers.
Czeslaw Milosz
by Chris Kulczycki on Sat Dec 17th, 2005 at 10:36:03 AM EST
Real smart.  If the Turkish government really wants civil war that badly, then just use those shiny new German tanks and shoot something.  These covert operations discredit the government and reduce their influence in any possible negotiations to stop the violence.

Now, I'm not sure the possibility of civil war is of any great concern.  But you shouldn't be launching operations against a people who comprise about 20%? of the population anyway.  As it is Iraq is falling apart; don't make it's neighbor go the same route.

by DH from MD on Sat Dec 17th, 2005 at 11:46:01 AM EST
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United Nations has a problem of self-interest of six major nations sitting with veto power on the Security Council. The injustice of wars since 1945 has not diminished, although a world conflict has been avoided. We have witnessed injustice in Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Middle East, African and South American strife. Most conflicts were influenced by the Cold War stand-off between the U.S., China and the Soviet Union.

The regional organizations of a continent: Asia, Africa, Middle East and Arab Nations have not been able to root out war or prevent genocide inside a sovereign country. I personally hope these regional organizations draw more power so they can make a difference on their continent. This, from recent conflicts, doesn't look promising for the near future.

Posted in a diary by DuctapeFatwa ::
Kurds begin 'operations' in Iran

What no one wanted but feared from the beginning of the US invasion of Iraq, unrest in the border region of Kurdish North Iraq and Turkey.

BBC News - April 15, 2005 - Turkish security forces have killed 21 members of the Kurdish paramilitary group, the PKK, in southeast Turkey, officials in the area say.

It is reported to be the biggest clash in the area since the PKK declared a unilateral truce in 1999. Turkey's war with the separatist PKK guerrillas in the 1980s and 1990s, left more than 30,000 people dead.

Turkey & EU reach out to Syria

The  EU has recently signed an economic partnership with Syria, despite pressure from big brother the US.

    Syrian President Hails Turkish President's Visit

    Turkish Weekly ANKARA Assad said he would discuss with Sezer the role of the United States and European countries, in the region which he said resembled "the colonial era." "We can reduce the dangers to the minimum only if we act together. The dangers are threatening all of us... They started with Iraq and have now targeted Syria ... They are trying to intervene in Turkey's internal affairs. I believe all countries in the region are under threat. All we can do is to act together...," the Syrian president added.

    [...]
    On the issue of Iraq, Assad said he still feared the breakup of the country under the pressure of its feuding ethnic and religious groups. "This could pose a direct threat to Syria and Turkey...If Iraq breaks up, we will pay a very heavy bill. It is difficult even to guess what dangers we may encounter."

Undoubtedly, an important issue on their agenda will be the Kurds in their respective countries. Syria had great difficulties last year with Kurd uprising.

Global Security - KURDISTAN MAPS

The Civil War in Iraq ◊ by BooMan
Mon Sep 26th, 2005 at 10:56:09 AM PST

When the first intifada broke out in Israel, in 1987, the Arabs used rocks, molotov cocktails, hand grenades, and rifles. In that same year the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka began a fifteen-year campaign, which employed suicide bombers.
When the second (al-Asqa) Intifada began, the Palestinians adopted the tactics of the Tamil Tigers. During the most deadly year of the Second Intifada, 2002, there were forty-two separate suicide bombings that killed 228 people.

Added my comment ::
PKK Renegade Faction of Kurds

You made a fine analysis, but I find too many news items of border incursions. Found a source with excellent summary of Kurdistan history, written for the OSCE ::
1997 - Kurdistan: Conflicts in the OSCE Area

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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'Sapere aude'

by Oui (Oui) on Sat Dec 17th, 2005 at 12:58:52 PM EST


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