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Ehmed Pelda
“Forest fires and hatred against the Kurds related to them became the main item in the agenda of Turkey last week. Whilst wildfires and ecological disasters were discussed all over the world in terms of urgent measures to be taken as well as theoretical and international cooperation, there was a completely different logic operating in Turkey,” writes Ehmed Pelda for Yeni Yaşam.
Nationalism was nourished and attacks against civilian Kurds were promoted making use of the natural disasters. This process was consciously organised, because Turkey knows very well where and what kind of information and actions to take to hide their real plans.
For instance, it has been revealed that there are no necessary measures taken to extinguish the forest fires. (…) Of course, there were also wildfires which had been deliberately ignited; those who profit from the fires were a part of this. They were looking for opportunities to build hotels, estates, luxury residences in touristic locations, and it became clear that they were not afraid, because they were supported.
Apart from the wildfires, there were attempts to link the other forest fires to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). This gave an opportunity for the those who plunder the forests.
The discourse that accuses PKK members of igniting the forests is a discourse that is supported by many. So, it soon became a spontaneous propaganda tool. Justice and Development Party (AKP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Republican People’s Party (CHP) supporters were of the same mind regarding this issue.
They fabricated many stories and myths. Without a conscientious, moral and humanitarian questioning of what they were doing, without considering the possible political outcomes of their discourse, they made a special effort to provoke each other to be hostile towards the Kurds; to postpone, ignore and hide the real problems.
People are escaping from the truth in this country. They want to distort the truth with lies, deception and manipulation, because it is not only the state, which delicately refrains from facing the truth, but also a large segment of society that thinks and acts in the same way.
For instance, there are more than just a few armoured vehicles – especially the TOMAs [water cannons] throughout the Kurdish regions – that all aim to interfere with civilians. Billions of dollars were invested in military investments, airplanes, arms, helicopters, artillery, tanks, soldiers and specialised personnel which all have been carefully formed under the name of the ‘war against the separatists.’ (…)
Although the country is suffering from hunger, misery, corruption and economic dependency, the Kurds are attacked and terrorised instead of discussing, organising and seeking alternatives.
We are living in a divided society under a collapsed economy, a deserted country, a damaged consciousness. We live in a society that is not psychologically and physically free. This is a great danger. Such decadence, which keeps people all isolated, silent and calm, is a danger for the future.
