Haluk Gerger: Turkey reharsing for civil war
Haluk Gerger: Turkey reharsing for civil war
In an interview to ANF, researcher and writer Haluk Gerger evaluated the Kurdish issue, the current situation in Syria and the foreign policy of the ruling party AKP.
Gerger pointed out to a “rehearsal for a civil war” openly exposed during Newroz celebrations in Turkey and warned; “Civil wars aren’t a game to play. Those who play with fire and people made up of fire will burn themselves as well.”
Researcher and writer Gerger also remarked that Turkey aimed to take an active part in a possible intervention in Syria and said that; “There is no other choice except its multiple dependences on imperialism. What matters for Turkey is to take advantage of the situation.
* Why did the AKP government banned Newroz celebrations this year? Which messages Newroz events have given to the Kurdish freedom struggle and the AKP government?
- Internal suppression operations have already come to a head and became widespread, institutional and permanent for a long time. What happened in Newroz has showed us what could be done beyond those practices. The revealing of systematical provocation and developments has given new clues as to the intended process of a “civil conflict” which will directly involve the whole of “civilian area” of Kurds. The manner towards Newroz celebrations has given the clues of a new attack oriented towards a destruction which exceeds military and police dimensions and consists of all factors of the social dimension. There can be no other explication for such an extensive, cold-blooded, courageous and obvious provocation, raining bans on the celebrations of people, responding the people with violence and turning the environment to a “civil war rehearsal”. The last several days have witnessed the practice of a “ground preparation” and “groundbreaking” operation which is understood to have been planned earlier.
*Are we entering into a new process when internal and civil conflicts will be exposed by means of state’s power and support? Are Kurds subjected to a choose between an expansive submission and a mass slaughter as a kind of an civil war?
- It is understood that even the most innocent and simple manifestations of Kurds will be responded with blood and fire henceforward. It is intended to impose the darkness of the past once again on Kurds who demand an honorable and fair peace as well as a legal, social and administrative status. Kurds are being criminalized when they express themselves, live their culture and language and even when they celebrate their day. In this way, the practice of “othering” extends to the dimension of a disaster, “illegalization” and then seeing them as an enemy. The next step will be to wage a war against them, and the current process if progressing to that point. This process aims to create a trauma and poisoning as well as a conflict environment in the social connections and relationships between Turks and Kurds. The legally marginalized, criminalized and humiliated Kurd image will capture the mind and heart of the Turkish society where the Kurds in western cities, in metropolitans in particular, will be suppressed and left out of breath. As to the Kurdish cities, social dynamics will be referred to the state force and sacrificed to institutionalized low density war. In my opinion, the current process is that dangerous.
The government has been playing the already known “good and bad cop” game once again but it has muddled up with the game. While the “good cop” was conducting negotiations, the “bad cop” was attacking. However, the cops eventually fell out with each other since they had to face different methods of different answerers. They therefore didn’t obtain the expected final result.
This process will inevitably lead to darkness, disaster, bloodshed, tear and death unless the government in the soonest time abandons this manner and embarks on a quest of an irreversible agreement and compromise. Civil wars aren’t a game to play, as the recent history has many evidences confirming this in the events of Rwanda and Bosnia. United Nations experts dealing with these matters state that civil wars dehumanize the most unexpected and mild segments of the society.
* Has the Turkey policy on Syria collapsed?
-This question should be answered in the concept of ‘Arab-Region Policy’ from a more general perspective. In the 80’s, Turkey started to play the role of U.S.’s trojan horse by reconstructing operational bases in Turkey within the scope of the U.S. Gulf strategy. As it is directly included in the American military region at present, the imperialism has already achieved what it intended. They wanted Turkey to serve for the west from inside by repairing and strengthening relations by means of using its historical ties with the region, its common culture heritage and the experiences it inherited from the Empire. As an American writer also says, Turkey could enter into places, hold talks with segments and suggest the proposals that the west couldn’t. It therefore needed a new mask which required establishing dialogue with Palestinians, Hezbollah and Hamas, opposing to Israel in Gaza, and criticizing Israel in the matter of Golan Hills. However, Turkey’s real role starts to manifest itself now in consideration of the provocation of Syria. This new role for sure consists of a military factor too, as witnessed in the issues of Libya and missile defense shield.
* How do you evaluate the developments in Syria where the process didn’t progress like that in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya? What was the difference in Syria? In which way is the Syrian regime evolving?
- First of all, it is certain that the Syrian regime has a supportive base inside it. Secondly, it is using the advantage of a savage and military pressure. Thirdly, Russia and Chine still continue to give support to Syria. Fourthly, the Iranian door could also be allowing it to breathe. However, the decline of the Baath regime is another truth.
The entire region is under an imperialist attack and siege. The project of re-designing the region was inherited by Obama who raised the project with new approaches. He is conducting it by fortifying with a “soft power” and a “collaborative support” like that of Turkey.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Syria is a significant target as not only a primary element of the Arab world but also as a strategic part of Iran’s “security hinterland”. Reputable concepts like “democracy” and “human rights” go through the floor under the foot of Gulf’s feudal despotisms and rhetoric of “advanced democrat” Turkey.
* Pro-AKP analysts say that the Syrian regime will fall down in case of a rebellion by Kurds. They even claim that the problem could be solved if the Syrian Kurds are convinced or designed by means of Barzani. How would you evaluate these assertions?
- In my opinion, we can talk about two separate scenarios in respect to Turkey’s attitude towards Syrian and the Kurdish question.
The first scenario could be this; Turkey takes part in occupying forces by taking part in the war by itself and it can therefore have the right to speak about the formation of the new Syria. It can use this opportunity to collapsing the social ground of PKK’s leg in Syria and take the control of the Kurdish area under the new regime. In strategic respect, its military and political presence in Syria will in this way ensure a new important position to besiege all parts of Kurdistan, which means a practice area extending to South Kurdistan in case of a possible intervention in Iran in the future.
The second scenario could be this; Turkey actually doesn’t want a dangerous war which will carry risks in respect to the Kurdish issue and it can therefore achieve its goals by only holding a “buffer zone” by taking advantage of an opportunity. It can use this area as a station against Kurds and a means of pressure against the decayed BAAS regime. It can in this way force Syria to sever all ties with the PKK and hold the Kurdish presence in Syria in pledge. In other words, the Syria crisis won’t turn into a war or occupation and Turkey can hunt Kurds in this indistinct environment.
It would be a spate discussion to guess which of these scenarios would be practiced under which circumstances but the current process in Syria has many dangers and opportunities for both Kurds and Turkey. A part of the plan may come to light during the “Friends of Syria” meeting which will be held in Turkey on April 2nd.
* The government has recently put forward an interesting issue; to include Cyprus into Turkey’s borders and to make it a Turkey province. How do you evaluate this issue?
- This state policy is actually nothing new as Turkey has always considered Northern Cyprus as one of its own provinces. This “annexation” plan, which has reached the level of “dominion” today, is the origin and base of Turkey’s strategy. This plan has never been revoked, it has been practiced in various forms. The AKP is now once again launching this state policy.
*One other interesting development was lives in Somalia to which Turkey gives economic support. It opens schools there and brings Somalian students to Turkey. The Religious Affairs Administration performed celebration ceremonies but the Somalia press accused Turkey of exploiting their country. They questioned the real purpose of the Turkey’s supports and schools. Is Turkey performing new exploitation practices?
- The expression of “new exploitation practices” seem very exaggerative but we already know that states, governments and politicians don’t always act rationally. Running towards disasters with failures, mistakes, national hostilities and pride is the fate of certain forms. The history is full of sorrowful examples in this respect but no lessons are taken from these experiences. The unbalanced passion you have mentioned has a proper ground for Turkey as well.
The “greatness complex” turns into an “inferiority complex” in the remains of great empires. Satisfying this complex at a national level usually progresses by embarking on such foolish adventures, ungrounded strategies, bottomless wells and courageous ignorance. Therefore, each trying naturally ends up in disappointment. It is seen that the “Ottoman dream” can also appear in this form of.
On the other hand, the problem lies in the identity crisis of the Turkey’s society. Losing your identity not only leads to various complexes and imitation of other identities but also causes self-unconsciousness and presumption. We have faced numerous nonsenses such as “all languages and races derived from Turks” but all these imaginations are not worth considering. What Turkey should do is to free itself from its semi-colonized position.
Gerger pointed out to a “rehearsal for a civil war” openly exposed during Newroz celebrations in Turkey and warned; “Civil wars aren’t a game to play. Those who play with fire and people made up of fire will burn themselves as well.”
Researcher and writer Gerger also remarked that Turkey aimed to take an active part in a possible intervention in Syria and said that; “There is no other choice except its multiple dependences on imperialism. What matters for Turkey is to take advantage of the situation.
* Why did the AKP government banned Newroz celebrations this year? Which messages Newroz events have given to the Kurdish freedom struggle and the AKP government?
- Internal suppression operations have already come to a head and became widespread, institutional and permanent for a long time. What happened in Newroz has showed us what could be done beyond those practices. The revealing of systematical provocation and developments has given new clues as to the intended process of a “civil conflict” which will directly involve the whole of “civilian area” of Kurds. The manner towards Newroz celebrations has given the clues of a new attack oriented towards a destruction which exceeds military and police dimensions and consists of all factors of the social dimension. There can be no other explication for such an extensive, cold-blooded, courageous and obvious provocation, raining bans on the celebrations of people, responding the people with violence and turning the environment to a “civil war rehearsal”. The last several days have witnessed the practice of a “ground preparation” and “groundbreaking” operation which is understood to have been planned earlier.
*Are we entering into a new process when internal and civil conflicts will be exposed by means of state’s power and support? Are Kurds subjected to a choose between an expansive submission and a mass slaughter as a kind of an civil war?
- It is understood that even the most innocent and simple manifestations of Kurds will be responded with blood and fire henceforward. It is intended to impose the darkness of the past once again on Kurds who demand an honorable and fair peace as well as a legal, social and administrative status. Kurds are being criminalized when they express themselves, live their culture and language and even when they celebrate their day. In this way, the practice of “othering” extends to the dimension of a disaster, “illegalization” and then seeing them as an enemy. The next step will be to wage a war against them, and the current process if progressing to that point. This process aims to create a trauma and poisoning as well as a conflict environment in the social connections and relationships between Turks and Kurds. The legally marginalized, criminalized and humiliated Kurd image will capture the mind and heart of the Turkish society where the Kurds in western cities, in metropolitans in particular, will be suppressed and left out of breath. As to the Kurdish cities, social dynamics will be referred to the state force and sacrificed to institutionalized low density war. In my opinion, the current process is that dangerous.
The government has been playing the already known “good and bad cop” game once again but it has muddled up with the game. While the “good cop” was conducting negotiations, the “bad cop” was attacking. However, the cops eventually fell out with each other since they had to face different methods of different answerers. They therefore didn’t obtain the expected final result.
This process will inevitably lead to darkness, disaster, bloodshed, tear and death unless the government in the soonest time abandons this manner and embarks on a quest of an irreversible agreement and compromise. Civil wars aren’t a game to play, as the recent history has many evidences confirming this in the events of Rwanda and Bosnia. United Nations experts dealing with these matters state that civil wars dehumanize the most unexpected and mild segments of the society.
* Has the Turkey policy on Syria collapsed?
-This question should be answered in the concept of ‘Arab-Region Policy’ from a more general perspective. In the 80’s, Turkey started to play the role of U.S.’s trojan horse by reconstructing operational bases in Turkey within the scope of the U.S. Gulf strategy. As it is directly included in the American military region at present, the imperialism has already achieved what it intended. They wanted Turkey to serve for the west from inside by repairing and strengthening relations by means of using its historical ties with the region, its common culture heritage and the experiences it inherited from the Empire. As an American writer also says, Turkey could enter into places, hold talks with segments and suggest the proposals that the west couldn’t. It therefore needed a new mask which required establishing dialogue with Palestinians, Hezbollah and Hamas, opposing to Israel in Gaza, and criticizing Israel in the matter of Golan Hills. However, Turkey’s real role starts to manifest itself now in consideration of the provocation of Syria. This new role for sure consists of a military factor too, as witnessed in the issues of Libya and missile defense shield.
* How do you evaluate the developments in Syria where the process didn’t progress like that in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya? What was the difference in Syria? In which way is the Syrian regime evolving?
- First of all, it is certain that the Syrian regime has a supportive base inside it. Secondly, it is using the advantage of a savage and military pressure. Thirdly, Russia and Chine still continue to give support to Syria. Fourthly, the Iranian door could also be allowing it to breathe. However, the decline of the Baath regime is another truth.
The entire region is under an imperialist attack and siege. The project of re-designing the region was inherited by Obama who raised the project with new approaches. He is conducting it by fortifying with a “soft power” and a “collaborative support” like that of Turkey.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Syria is a significant target as not only a primary element of the Arab world but also as a strategic part of Iran’s “security hinterland”. Reputable concepts like “democracy” and “human rights” go through the floor under the foot of Gulf’s feudal despotisms and rhetoric of “advanced democrat” Turkey.
* Pro-AKP analysts say that the Syrian regime will fall down in case of a rebellion by Kurds. They even claim that the problem could be solved if the Syrian Kurds are convinced or designed by means of Barzani. How would you evaluate these assertions?
- In my opinion, we can talk about two separate scenarios in respect to Turkey’s attitude towards Syrian and the Kurdish question.
The first scenario could be this; Turkey takes part in occupying forces by taking part in the war by itself and it can therefore have the right to speak about the formation of the new Syria. It can use this opportunity to collapsing the social ground of PKK’s leg in Syria and take the control of the Kurdish area under the new regime. In strategic respect, its military and political presence in Syria will in this way ensure a new important position to besiege all parts of Kurdistan, which means a practice area extending to South Kurdistan in case of a possible intervention in Iran in the future.
The second scenario could be this; Turkey actually doesn’t want a dangerous war which will carry risks in respect to the Kurdish issue and it can therefore achieve its goals by only holding a “buffer zone” by taking advantage of an opportunity. It can use this area as a station against Kurds and a means of pressure against the decayed BAAS regime. It can in this way force Syria to sever all ties with the PKK and hold the Kurdish presence in Syria in pledge. In other words, the Syria crisis won’t turn into a war or occupation and Turkey can hunt Kurds in this indistinct environment.
It would be a spate discussion to guess which of these scenarios would be practiced under which circumstances but the current process in Syria has many dangers and opportunities for both Kurds and Turkey. A part of the plan may come to light during the “Friends of Syria” meeting which will be held in Turkey on April 2nd.
* The government has recently put forward an interesting issue; to include Cyprus into Turkey’s borders and to make it a Turkey province. How do you evaluate this issue?
- This state policy is actually nothing new as Turkey has always considered Northern Cyprus as one of its own provinces. This “annexation” plan, which has reached the level of “dominion” today, is the origin and base of Turkey’s strategy. This plan has never been revoked, it has been practiced in various forms. The AKP is now once again launching this state policy.
*One other interesting development was lives in Somalia to which Turkey gives economic support. It opens schools there and brings Somalian students to Turkey. The Religious Affairs Administration performed celebration ceremonies but the Somalia press accused Turkey of exploiting their country. They questioned the real purpose of the Turkey’s supports and schools. Is Turkey performing new exploitation practices?
- The expression of “new exploitation practices” seem very exaggerative but we already know that states, governments and politicians don’t always act rationally. Running towards disasters with failures, mistakes, national hostilities and pride is the fate of certain forms. The history is full of sorrowful examples in this respect but no lessons are taken from these experiences. The unbalanced passion you have mentioned has a proper ground for Turkey as well.
The “greatness complex” turns into an “inferiority complex” in the remains of great empires. Satisfying this complex at a national level usually progresses by embarking on such foolish adventures, ungrounded strategies, bottomless wells and courageous ignorance. Therefore, each trying naturally ends up in disappointment. It is seen that the “Ottoman dream” can also appear in this form of.
On the other hand, the problem lies in the identity crisis of the Turkey’s society. Losing your identity not only leads to various complexes and imitation of other identities but also causes self-unconsciousness and presumption. We have faced numerous nonsenses such as “all languages and races derived from Turks” but all these imaginations are not worth considering. What Turkey should do is to free itself from its semi-colonized position.
