Kurds Trying to Intimidate Turkmen in North Iraq

By Emre Caliskan
www.thenewanatolian.com

Ankara -- Recent bomb attempts on the lives of top Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) officials -- leader Sadettin Ergec and Secretary-General Yunus Bayraktar -- are meant to intimidate the Turkmens living in Kirkuk, charges Turkey representative Ahmet Muratli.

"In three years the Kurdish groups in northern Iraq have achieved what Saddam couldn't in 35," he claimed. He added that if the referendum in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk is held later this year as scheduled, it won't be legitimate. "Unless the ethnic cleansing campaign launched against the Turkmen in Iraq is stopped, we will boycott the referendum," he said.

In an exclusive interview with The New Anatolian, here's what Ahmet Muratli had to tell us:

TNA: In the last two weeks we've seen two separate bomb attempts on the lives of ITC leaders. What's behind these attacks?

Muratli: The problem is that there isn't any responsible authority in Iraq. Assassination attempts are becoming normal events in the region. The reason is that they are trying to wear down and intimidate Turkmens. Lots of attacks have occurred against Turkmens, including both leaders and people. They're trying to scare Turkmens in the leadup to the referendum set for late this year.

TNA: Tension in Kirkuk is rising. What's the real reason for this tension?

Muratli: We Turkmens have worked and died for this territory, and Turkmens are essential factors in Iraq and have been vital to the region's interest. However we were affected by the situation in Iraq, which lacks confidence and stability. Oil is a matter of life and death in Kirkuk. Oil is the most important reason for the existence for Kurdistan regional government. They manipulated Iraq's constitution during a time of anarchy. Moreover the legitimization of Iraq's government is a controversial subject. Kirkuk is a city of Iraq. The future of Kirkuk has to be determined by the Iraqi people. Changing the demographic makeup of Kirkuk in favor of the Kurds is unacceptable. They manipulated the demographics by bringing people from different cities into Kirkuk.

TNA: While a normalization process is going on in Kirkuk, they're planning on holding a referendum. Will it work?

Muratli: Thirty-four thousand people instituted action under the law for a normalization process. It is the process that aims to return the people who lived in Kirkuk and forced to move away by former Iraq President Saddam Hussein and get back their property. This process is planned to end next month. However, only 10 percent of the people's files have met with success. Normalization Process Commission head Ahmet al-Barrak states that the pending files need more than five years to solve the issues. As a result, the normalization process will not be finished.

According to Iraqi and United Nations reports, 11,800 people, including Kurds, Turks, and Arabs, were forced to move away from Kirkuk (under Saddam), but 600,000 Kurds have came into the city. Moreover, the Kurdish regional government gives support for the move. Most of the Turkmens' properties are under attack by immigrants to Kirkuk.

TNA: What do you think about the Turkmens' situation in Kirkuk?

Muratli: There is no return for the rights of the Turkmens. The pressure and assault directed against the Turkmen identity is greater than during Saddam's era. It's impossible to defend Saddam's reign, but the Kurdish groups in northern Iraq achieved in three years what Saddam couldn't in 35 years. The problem is that they are playing along with U.S. forces. Turkmen evicted from their lands should be allowed to resettle, after which a census should be held, and the ethnic cleansing should be stopped immediately.

TNA: Will you boycott the referendum?

Muratli: Unless the ethnic cleansing campaign launched against the Turkmen identity in Iraq is stopped, we will boycott the Kirkuk referendum scheduled for later this year. How can it be possible to count the people? Will they count Kirkuk's people by raiding houses? The legitimacy of the referendum is a controversial subject.

TNA: How do you see Ankara's attitude towards the Turkmens in Iraq?

Muratli: We're in contact with the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Turkish government. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul mentioned the very important issue on Iraq: In 1926, Turkey gave (under a treaty) Mosul to one Iraq. Now, we want to see one Iraq. I also want to underline that there are three separate topics which are being debated in the Turkish public. First there is a terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) problem for Turkey which threatens Turkey's domestic peace. There are some terrorists who live in Iraq. Second there is a problem in the northern administration for Turkey. They are trying to establish a new state. They characterized northern Iraq as a southern "Kurdistan." Third are the Turkmens, who is the ethnic cousins of Turkish people living in Iraq. These are three separate topics. Turkey's possible military operation in northern Iraq is not only for Turkmens, but also Turkish foreign policy.

By Emre Caliskan
www.thenewanatolian.com