The Need For A New Policy On Terrorism
Source: Turkish press
Published: 6/28/2010
BY BERIL DEDEOGLU
TODAY'S ZAMAN- The latest terror attacks have deprived many parents of their children. People are filled by pain and anger. They want this fight to come to an end and wonder why all this is happening now, at a time when everyone is talking about early elections.
Some commentator believe that great powers are behind these bloody events because they want to weaken Turkey; some claim that this is Israel's revenge; some think that all this is about manipulating the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and hastening its fall; others accuse the government of not being able to finish what it started through its 'Kurdish initiative.'
Maybe all of these explanations are partially correct. In any case, fighting terrorism must not be limited to launching hot-pursuit operations beyond one's borders or sending military planes to bomb northern Iraqi territory. The PKK is in the foreground; however, this must not prevent us from noticing people, countries and diverging elements that are behind this organization. So chasing the terrorists can't bring all the answers to this complex situation. There are at least three planks upon which a long-term resolution must be formulated.
First, even though the population's grief is enormous, political decision-makers must avoid making hasty declarations which exacerbate nationalistic reactions and antagonism. It is perhaps difficult to manage this in the months leading up to elections; however, this is of prime importance in order not to fall into the PKK's trap. Additionally, the 'Kurdish initiative' must be put back in the spotlight, perhaps this time by civil society.
The second plank is on the regional level. These PKK attacks can be part of a wider project aiming to damage Turkey's bilateral relations and to create additional tension in Ankara's relations with its neighbors. Maybe it would be good idea to reinforce ties with northern Iraqi authorities and the Baghdad government, to avoid new crises with Israel, to put some distance between Turkey and Iran, and to develop new initiatives of regional cooperation. If terrorism aims at distorting Turkey's new foreign policy, the finest remedy would be to enrich and diversify it.
The last plank must be to prevent the PKK from painting Turkey as a country in a state of war. Turkey must include the European Union in discussions about the multidimensional parameters of the fight against terrorism. If Turkey wants to look for solutions in cooperation with the EU, it must benefit from how this week 15 ambassadors from EU countries attended the funerals of fallen soldiers. We must not forget that every time someone defends the idea of using only military methods to tackle terrorism, they also implicitly argue that Turkey must become an authoritarian country where human rights are systematically ignored. If that happens, this would also provide the EU's anti-Turkish actors a strong argument against Turkey's membership.
In one way or another, the terrorist group's aim is to damage the ruling party. Maybe those who want to get rid of the AK Party no matter what will be pleased about that. Nevertheless, this problem is not exclusively the government's; it is about every one of us. Kurds, Turks, Alevis, etc. suffer equally from the current situation, which necessitates a strong peace and stability project.
Published: 6/28/2010
BY BERIL DEDEOGLU
TODAY'S ZAMAN- The latest terror attacks have deprived many parents of their children. People are filled by pain and anger. They want this fight to come to an end and wonder why all this is happening now, at a time when everyone is talking about early elections.
Some commentator believe that great powers are behind these bloody events because they want to weaken Turkey; some claim that this is Israel's revenge; some think that all this is about manipulating the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and hastening its fall; others accuse the government of not being able to finish what it started through its 'Kurdish initiative.'
Maybe all of these explanations are partially correct. In any case, fighting terrorism must not be limited to launching hot-pursuit operations beyond one's borders or sending military planes to bomb northern Iraqi territory. The PKK is in the foreground; however, this must not prevent us from noticing people, countries and diverging elements that are behind this organization. So chasing the terrorists can't bring all the answers to this complex situation. There are at least three planks upon which a long-term resolution must be formulated.
First, even though the population's grief is enormous, political decision-makers must avoid making hasty declarations which exacerbate nationalistic reactions and antagonism. It is perhaps difficult to manage this in the months leading up to elections; however, this is of prime importance in order not to fall into the PKK's trap. Additionally, the 'Kurdish initiative' must be put back in the spotlight, perhaps this time by civil society.
The second plank is on the regional level. These PKK attacks can be part of a wider project aiming to damage Turkey's bilateral relations and to create additional tension in Ankara's relations with its neighbors. Maybe it would be good idea to reinforce ties with northern Iraqi authorities and the Baghdad government, to avoid new crises with Israel, to put some distance between Turkey and Iran, and to develop new initiatives of regional cooperation. If terrorism aims at distorting Turkey's new foreign policy, the finest remedy would be to enrich and diversify it.
The last plank must be to prevent the PKK from painting Turkey as a country in a state of war. Turkey must include the European Union in discussions about the multidimensional parameters of the fight against terrorism. If Turkey wants to look for solutions in cooperation with the EU, it must benefit from how this week 15 ambassadors from EU countries attended the funerals of fallen soldiers. We must not forget that every time someone defends the idea of using only military methods to tackle terrorism, they also implicitly argue that Turkey must become an authoritarian country where human rights are systematically ignored. If that happens, this would also provide the EU's anti-Turkish actors a strong argument against Turkey's membership.
In one way or another, the terrorist group's aim is to damage the ruling party. Maybe those who want to get rid of the AK Party no matter what will be pleased about that. Nevertheless, this problem is not exclusively the government's; it is about every one of us. Kurds, Turks, Alevis, etc. suffer equally from the current situation, which necessitates a strong peace and stability project.
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