EutccAdmin – EUTCC

Environmental Racism and Resistance in Kurdistan

|by Pınar Dinç, Lund University

|Executive Summary:

Delisting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization would be a bold, imaginative move by Turkey, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US), among others, that might contribute to Environmental degradation is identified as a key factor that threatens the future of life on Earth, but such generalised reading entails that conceal the uneven effects of environmental degradation. When environmental degradation takes place on the lands of the marginalised groups, it is often overlooked or further justified by hegemonic powers that view these areas as natural resources or hideouts for insurgent groups that need to be drained. The embedded prejudice and discrimination against the internal others are often inflamed through the media and followed by the dominant society. This commentary addresses this issue of differential significance attributed to environmental degradation in Kurdistan and discusses how the concept of ecological racism may help uncovering this variance. In doing so, this piece covers the existing literature about conflict and environment nexus in Kurdistan, and suggests ways forward to advance knowledge and work towards political and ecological justice.

https://journals.tplondon.com/com/article/view/2189

EU Turkey Civic Commission
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From Ukraine to the Middle East – Combating of Violation of International Law everywhere

Turkey launched another large-scale military offensive in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on the evening of 17 April. Attacks on northern Syria also continue.

Turkey claims that its attacks are directed against the PKK. The occupation of Syrian territory in particular reveals the true character of its expansive foreign policy which in reality is anti-Kurdish. By taking the attention away from the country’s economic decline the AKP-MHP coalition under President Erdoğan try to make up for the population’s growing dissatisfaction with their policy. Erdoğan is trying to distinguish and position himself against the backdrop of geostrategic interests both of his own country and of NATO, Ukraine and Russia.

In the context of the military offensive, reference should also be made to the US human rights report, which states that Turkey accepts the death of civilians in the fight against the PKK.
Criticism from the international community is not to be expected. In the past, too, silence prevailed in the context of the NATO partner’s violence of international law. The maximum reaction was the expression of concern.
The war in Ukraine is both a reminder and a call to outlaw and combat war crimes and violations of international law immediately and everywhere.

We strongly condemn Turkey’s cross-border military offensive. The international community is called upon to take a clear stand on the side of international law in this war as well and to impose appropriate sanctions immediately.

EU Turkey Civic Commission
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Dear Sir or Madam,
please find below our monthly newsletter.

Kind regards
Prof. Kariane Westrheim Chairperson

Commentaries #15: Delisting the PKK as a terrorist organization By Prof. Michael Gunter, Tennessee Technical University, USDelisting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization would be a bold, imaginative move by Turkey, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US), among others, that might contribute to the peace process and benefit all concerned parties. However, Turkey presently does not want to acknowledge collective rights for its ethnic Kurds, and is willing to grant merely limited and begrudgingly individual rights such as mother-tongue language in the schools and a Kurdish TV channel, among a few others. Thus, there remains a very long way still to go, but delisting the PKK is surely one important start along this necessary journey.

http://eutcc.net/?p=1044

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitution has passed the election bill Reduction of the election threshold from 10 to 7 percent; Exemption of the president from election silence; Changes in the calculation method for the distribution of deputies to the parties
https://m.bianet.org/5/94/259538-parliamentary-committee-on-constitution-passes-election-bill

Statement by HDP Foreign Affairs Co-spokespersons Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy on the police raids against women in DiyarbakırIt is no coincidence that these detentions took place after International Women’s Day and just before the Newroz celebrations. Citing these celebrations as a justification, the government criminalizes women who are fighting for women’s freedom and justice.
https://hdp.org.tr/en/police-operations-have-targeted-women-in-diyarbakir/16233/

Report on violations of children’s rights, released by Diyarbakır Bar Association – 22 children lost their lives, 27 children were injured in armored vehicle crashes (21 in Kurdish majority provinces)- 45 children lost their lives as a result of war remnants
http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com/en/ALL-NEWS/content/view/163727

EU Turkey Civic Commission
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Twitter: @EUTCC1
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Delisting the PKK as a terrorist organization

|by Prof. Michael Gunter

|Executive Summary:

Delisting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) as a terrorist organization would be a bold, imaginative move by Turkey, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US), among others, that might contribute to the peace process and benefit all concerned parties. However, Turkey presently does not want to acknowledge collective rights for its ethnic Kurds, and is willing to grant merely limited and begrudgingly individual rights such as mother-tongue language in the schools and a Kurdish TV channel, among a few others. Thus, there remains a very long way still to go, but delisting the PKK is surely one important start along this necessary journey.

https://journals.tplondon.com/com/article/view/2122

EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

Dear Sir or Madam,
Please find below our monthly newsletter.
Kind regards

Prof. Kariane Westrheim

Commentaries #14: Kurdish Allies and Kurdish Enemies: Turkey’s New War Against The PKK By Kamal Chomani and Dastan Jasim This paper focuses on the post-2015 Turkish warfare against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the long-running relationship between the Turkish state and the ruling Barzani family. The commentary presents an overview of the interests behind the Ankara-Erbil coalition and the wider stakes in the current conflict It is argued that the Turkish military operations not only have taken a great toll on the civilian population of the KRI and the ecology of the region, but destabilizes the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A full-blown civil war in the KRI between the PKK and KDP provoked by Turkey could be the final straw removing the last of the post-Islamic State stability in Iraq.
http://eutcc.net/?p=982

Statement by Peter Stano, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the Council of Europe decision launching infringement proceedings for non-execution of ECHR judgment It is regrettable that the Turkish authorities have refused to execute the respective ECHR’s ruling. Such attitude sets a worrying precedent and further increases the EU’s concerns regarding Turkish judiciary’s adherence to international and European standards.
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/110462/turkey-statement-spokesperson-council-europe-decision-launching-infringement-proceedings-non_en

Statement by HDP Foreign Affairs Co-speakers Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy on Turkey’s cross border operations against Kurdish majority areas of Syria and Iraq A return to peace negotiations in the context of the Kurdish issue is essential for Kurds, Turks, and other peoples of the Middle East and also beyond. It is also essential for the defeat of ISIS, which requires regional stability. Under these attacks, stability seems to be impossible.
https://hdp.org.tr/en/more-deaths-and-destruction-in-turkeys-cross-border-attacks-in-iraq-and-syria/16110/#.Yfu5ElwnfNU.twitter

Statement by HDP Foreign Affairs Co-speakers Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy on the decision of European Court of Human Rights regarding the immunity of HDP Deputies The Court ruled that the lifting of their immunities infringed their right of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, in contravention of article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
https://hdpeurope.eu/2022/02/european-court-rules-that-lifting-mp-immunities-contravenes-human-rights/

EU Turkey Civic Commission
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Twitter: @EUTCC1
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Author: EutccAdmin

Commentaries #16

Statement on Turkey’s cross-border military offensive

Commentaries #15