ERNK Press Release Re: U.S. Missile

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: akin at kurdish.org (American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN))
Subject: ERNK Press Release Re: U.S. Missile Sale To Turkey

Kurds Respond To U.S. Missile Sale To Turkey

We received the following statement from the ERNK office in Brussels,
Belgium. It follows for your perusal verbatim:

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National Liberation Front of Kurdistan (ERNK)
Press Release - November 26, 1995

        The Clinton Administration has agreed to sell 120 army tactical
surface-to-surface missiles (ATACMS) to Turkey. As if the Kurdish people
have not suffered enough atrocities at the hands of the Turkish
military--artillery barrages fired on their homes, tanks patrolling their
streets, American-made helicopters destroying their villages--now they will
be the victims of ballistic missiles capable of carrying their payload of
more than 950 small bombs over distances of close to 200 km.
        As the Peace Process between the Israelis and the Palestinians
advances, as the bloodshed in Bosnia nears its end, and as President
Clinton prepares to travel to Northern Ireland to validate the cease-fire
there, why must the Kurdish people be subjected to ever more destruction?
        Just last week, on November 21, Human Rights Watch/Helsinki
published a report entitled Weapons Transfers and Violations of the Laws of
War in Turkey. This report offered documented proof of serious human rights
atrocities committed by the Turkish armed forces. Human Rights Watch put
the figures for the war thus far at 19,000 dead, 2,000 Kurdish civilians
murdered by Turkish death squads, more than two million internally
displaced persons, and over 2,000 villages destroyed. Although we feel the
real figures are tragically higher, no one can deny that a profound human
tragedy is taking place in Kurdistan. The Human Rights Watch study found
that "weapons supplied by Turkey's NATO partners, especially the United
States, play a central role in abuses committed by Turkish security
forces". It then recommends that the U.S. government "End all military
sales and security aid to Turkey until such time as Turkey no longer
engages in a pattern of gross human rights violations, as required by
section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act". We agree wholeheartedly with
this recommendation.
        The Kurdish people continue to ask for peace, so why is it that our
calls are continually ignored? On October 13, 1995, the leader of the PKK,
Abdullah Ocalan, sent a letter addressed specifically to President Clinton,
stating once again that the Kurdish forces were willing to agree to an
immediate unilateral cease-fire if Turkey would call off its own attacks.
As the PKK leader stated, continuing to insist on a military solution to
the Kurdish question would only "cause more bloodshed in Kurdistan and harm
the interests of the people of Turkey". President Clinton never responded
to this letter.
        The National Liberation Front of Kurdistan is of the opinion that
it would be a moral and political mistake for the U.S. government to go
ahead with its sale of ATACMS missiles to Turkey. America should cease
being a party to the genocide being carried out against our people. The
sale of these weapons would only serve to destabilize the region even
further. Representative John E. Porter, Co-chairman of the Congressional
Human Rights Caucus, outlined such concerns in a November 15th letter to
Secretary of State Warren Christopher. In reference to past American arms
sales to Turkey, Porter siad, "Our military aid and equipment is being used
to prolong a brutal war which is overwhelmingly opposed by the Turkish
people."
        To quote Representative Porter again, "The Kurdish side has
repeatedly shown a willingness to find a political solution, only to be
flatly refused by the government." We remain committed to finding peaceful
and democratic solution to the Kurdish question. But it would make it
harder for us to continue our repeated overtures for peace if the West's
only response is to arm the Turkish forces with even deadlier weapons.
        Rather than promoting war and destruction, the U.S. government
should use its influence in the Middle East to promote human rights and
democratic forces. It is not in America's long-term interest to continue
supporting the war-mongers in Ankara. The time is right for a peaceful
solution to the Kurdish question. America should not spoil this potential
by selling ATACMS missiles to Turkey.

ERNK European Representation
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American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN)
2309 Calvert Street NW, Suite #3
Washington, DC 20008-2603

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476

E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
http://burn.ucsd.edu/~akin
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