Kurdistan’s double disaster

The tragic earthquake in Van (a Turkish-controlled part of Kurdistan) has gripped headlines around the world this week, unsurprisingly considering that as of Monday night the death-toll stands at almost three hundred and the city has been brought to its knees in structural terms.

Yet whilst the international community is quite rightly according significant attention to the natural disaster and offering to support Turkish government’s genuinely admirable relief effort, little talk or action has been forthcoming with regards to the other (man-made) disaster in Kurdistan, currently being created by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration.

Through steadily ratcheting up the arbitrary detention of activists, shelling of towns and marginalisation of Kurds from the political arena, the Turkish Prime Minister had already brutally crushed hopes of a Kurdish Spring, further supressing those under his control, whilst pushing Kurdish communities across the Iraqi border towards humanitarian crisis.  Then, last Wednesday, things took a further turn for the worse, following the abhorrent killing of twenty-six Turkish soldiers by Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) rebels – the worst such attack in several years.

In true retaliatory style, some ten thousand more Turkish troops, along with copious air support, were sent across the Iraqi border, killing forty-nine “suspected rebels” in their bases and further driving a further rift between ordinary Turks and Kurds.

The subsequent killing of another three Turkish soldiers is likely to continue this cyclical violence, fuelled further by large nationalistic rallies and provocative rhetoric by the authorities about forcing the PKK to “extinction”.  Perhaps the most worrying development however, has been a new pact with the Iranian government to “totally eliminate” what they perceive to be a “common threat”.  By politically aligning himself with a regime that is continuing to execute Kurds on trumped-up charges and confessions obtained through torture, Erdoğan has laid the clearest marker yet of his approach to the Kurdish people.

Of course, his authorities have every right to retaliate against the PKK violence, which though perhaps understandable to some is clearly unacceptable.  However, Erdoğan and the powers-that-be in Ankara, are consistently discarding any sense of reason, choosing to shun inclusivity, dialogue and genuine overtures to the Kurds, in favour of isolation, extensive military force and alliances with a truly vile, abusive and anti-Kurdish neighbouring government.  This simply increases resentment against the Turkish state, prolongs blood-shed and risks undermining the kind of credibility and conciliation that could have resulted from the excellent work of Turkish emergency services, military personnel and government departments in tackling the Van disaster.

Right now Kurds across the region are taking extraordinary and brave actions - such as joining the revolution against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and supporting Iraq’s beleaguered Christian community.  Yet governments such as Iran’s, Turkey’s and Iraq’s continue to push them down- sustaining a racial injustice that has lasted for far too long.

Now is the time for Turkey to lead the way by changing course, breaking from the futile search for a military solution and tackling the route causes of Kurdish grievances.  It won’t be an easy process, but it is the only way to stop the bloodshed once and for all.

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Exploiting the Crescent

Wikileaks is still undoubtedly the word of the week in international politics- with the the vast array of US correspondence published causing diplomatic headaches from Italy to North Korea. Whilst debate ranges over whether the site’s director Julian Assage should be commended or hunted down - most politicians, commentators and members of the public are all broadly agreeing on one thing: some serious issues have been thrown up by the documents.

Of course, many are trivial or even amusing (think Colonel Gaddafi’s blonde Ukrainian nurse) but others could have serious ramifications. Not least amongst these – though surprisingly under reported- are suggestions that the Iranian Government made use of the formally neutral Iranian Red Crescent Society, during conflicts in various states including Lebanon, Iraq and Bahrain as well as the Balkans. Perhaps the most damning allegation is that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard used Red Crescent convoys to enter Lebanon –in possession of weapons and ammunition supplies – during the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. That conflict cost the lives of almost 2000 Lebanese Civilians, over 40 Israeli civilians and over 50 others including foreigners and UN personal; it also left Lebanon in ruins, military losses on both sides and –perhaps most significantly – a bitter political aftermath that has resulted in tensions on the Lebanese boarder and threats of further clashes ever since. As well as potentially indicating a grave violation of the Geneva Contentions, the memos therefore have the additional effect of piling further grievances and antagonism onto an immensely damaging legacy.

Furthermore, the situation looks set to significantly hinder the actual humanitarian activities that Red Crescent societies carry out. Israeli authorities have long presented deliberate hindrances to these – particular those of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society whose ambulances have been delayed, denied access and even fired upon. Whether such actions stem from a genuine paranoia that the Red Crescent provides cover for militants, a malicious programme of oppression using this as an excuse, or a combination of both – is the subject of intense debate. What is clear however, is that regardless of the motive – supposed evidence that Iran used a Red Crescent Society to aid attacks on Israel –will only increase the official Israeli disruption of genuine Red Crescent humanitarian and relief work.

For this reason a prompt, thorough and transparent enquiry by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies –possibly in association with the UN or OIC- would greatly assist the various national societies, in addition to reigning-in some of the growing political tensions. Conclusive proof that the Iranian Red Crescent Society was not used for military action – or a comprehensive response including international prosecutions of those responsible if it transpires that it was – would primarily protect the integrity of Red Crescent Societies and resultantly leave the Israeli authorities with no veneer justification for impairing their work (potentially leaving anyone who does so liable for prosecution themselves).

In a region where humanitarian crises are regularly exacerbated by political manoeuvres – it would be a disaster for prominent, neutral and effective humanitarian organisations to be dragged into the fray (either in practice or in accusations) and further prevented from their vital duties. Immediate action is essential.

Change the world from your living room

This is going to be a slightly different blog post. There are always loads of really important campaigns going on; but a few particularly stand out today as ways we can all make a significant impact from the comfort of our own living rooms.

So here we go….

Tell Canada to stand up for human rights in Burma

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 8/8/88 massacre, when thousands of Burmese pro-democracy demonstrators were brutally slaughtered on streets and campuses across the country. Since then things have only got worse for the people of Burma, with genocide, oppression and starvation all parts of daily life. The Burma Campaign UK are running an excellent campaign to bring the military dictatorship to trial for crimes against humanity. This has been backed by numerous states including the UK, Czech Republic and Australia – yet bizarrely Canada, a state with a long and rich history of contributing to peace keeping and humanitarian missions, has remained silent. By clicking here you can send an e-mail calling on the Canadian government to step up to the plate and back the campaign.

Help stop stoning forever

The international outcry surrounding the proposed stoning of Iranian citizen Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for her alleged adultery, led to its temporary postponement. However, she remains incarcerated and may still be hanged, or even stoned, within days. Avaaz is running an urgent campaign to pressure the leaders of Brazil and Turkey (two of Iran’s key allies) to do all they can to secure her release and stop stoning forever. By taking out high-profile newspaper advertisements in both countries they hope to make a real impact – and you can support it by donating here. If you can’t afford to spare the cash you can send an e-mail to the Iranian government through Amnesty International’s site.

Donate to the DEC Pakistan Appeal

The Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of thirteen of the UK’s largest aid agencies, has been one of the most effective providers of urgent humanitarian aid following disasters from Burma, to Haiti, to the Congo. Their latest appeal is raising funds for relief in Pakistan, where over two million people have been affected by this week's devastating floods and now face challenges from food shortages to cholera. You can donate instantly by clicking here.

It only takes five minutes to change the world.