Turks and Turkish Cypriots from many and varied political tendencies are taking initiatives to oppose the war fever that has gripped Turkish society. Military and political preparations for the invasion are well underway, including daily bombings of Kurdish villages inside Iraq by jet aircraft and shelling by heavy artillery of the Armed Forces of Turkey. There are reports that more than 100.000 troups have been amassed at the border, waiting for orders to move forward.

Inside Turkey and in northern Cyprus - which is occupied by the Armed Forces of Turkey - a nationalist war frenzy is being whipped up in order to create a climate favourable to war. Mobs of nationalist pro-war demonstrators have been attacking the offices of Leftist organizations and newspapers, vilifying them as "traitors" and "supporters of the enemy", who in this case is the Kurdish people's' Liberation movement and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Related links: Turkish Voices Speak Out Against Invasion of Iraq by Turkey | IMC-Cyprus (English language)
In the hellenic (greek) language: Τουρκικές Φωνές Μιλούν Ενάντια στην Εισβολή της Τουρκίας στο Ιράκ | Turko - Hellenic Bicommunal Dialogue group | gelecege dogru bakmak | Istanbul Indymedia

In Cyprus there were pro-war demonstrations by right-wingers and Grey Wolves (a State-sponsored Fascist organization) in Ammohostos / Famagusta (Magusa), Kyrenia (Girne) and Lefkosia (Nicosia). In Lefkosia the nationalists attacked the offices of pro-democracy opposition newspaper "Afrika" (formerly known as "Avrupa") where the mob attempted to enter in order to lynch the occupants - they were repelled by Police officers of the occupation regime. The attacks were so bad that the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Union and some Turkish Cypriot political parties were moved to condemned the attacks against "Afrika".

In this terrible climate, where every progressive voice for Peace is targeted as being that of a "traitor", it takes monumental courage and determination to speak out against the impending war. An official Statement against the war preparations initiated by progressive and prominent individuals from within Turkey and northern Cyprus titled "Stop Turkey Attacking Iraq!" is gaining support and being disseminated widely among Peace activists within Turkey itself and in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.

The Statement calls for political solutions and goes much deeper: it identifies the responsibility of Turkish authorities involved in "false flag" operations, incidents in which violence was provoked by covert agencies of the regime itself. We reproduce the Statement below.

We strongly endorse, welcome and embrace this Statement; we applaud the courage it takes to sign one's name under it within the present climate of State-sponsored terrorism and under threat of attacks by a mob of right-wing fanatics - we hope that our Turkish and Turkish Cypriot friends and colleagues in the Peace movement will remain safe and strong throughout this period.

May Peace prevail,
Cyprus IndyMedia Collective
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stop Turkey Attacking Iraq!

A motion has been passed by the Turkey's parliament to authorise the Turkish army to officially enter Iraq.

This threatens a major escalation of the conflict in the region. It creates the risk of a sharpened civil war in Northern Iraq. An attack - invasion will bring misery and death to hundred of thousands of people.

Using the excuse of a recent landmine attack in which 13 Turkish soldiers died, the Turkish army has already started massive military operations in South East Turkey and there are reports that civilian villages in Northern Iraq have been hit.

However, the past 18 months have seen a succession of provocations by Turkey's “deep state” to prepare the ground for such an attack. Many civilians, mostly Kurds, and many children have died in these incidents, which are blamed on the PKK. In one famous case, members of the security forces were caught red-handed planting bombs.

The recent election to the Turkish parliament of 20 independent Kurdish MPs offered hope of a peaceful political solution to the Kurdish problem in Turkey. An attack on Iraq will sink this hope and mean death and destruction for the Kurdish people of Turkey as well.

A Turkish incursion will be a further step down the road to chaos and destruction created by Bush and Blair's invasion of Iraq.

No to a Turkish invasion of Iraq! All troops out of Iraq!

Sign the Declaration; put it to your anti-war group
Signatures to:
declaration@stopincursion.net

web: www.stopincursion.net

General Inquires to Turkan Uzun -
turkanuzun@yahoo.com

Called by:

Personal Capacity: (alphabetically)

 Necati ABAY (Journalist)

 Inci AKDENIZ (Pensioners Association)

 Kadir AKIN (Socialist Democracy Party-SDP)

 Ahmet ARGUN (Education Trade Union-Egitim Sen)

 Mustafa C. ARSLAN (Archaeologue, Greens)

 Metin AYCICEK (Journalist, Writer)

 Ummuhan Kursun BAHAR (Professionals Association-TMMOB)

 Imam BAKIR

 Dr. Metin BAKKALCI

 Fikret BASKAYA (President of Turkey and Middle East Forum Foundation-Free University)

 Celal BASLANGIC (Journalist)

 Ayse BATUMLU (Lawyer, Peace Initiative, Socialist Democracy Party-SDP)

 Kubilay BECERIK (Electrical Engineer)

 Ayse BERKTAY (Peace Initiative)

 G?lay BULUT (Psychologist)

 Mukaddes Erdogdu CELIK (Journalist, Writer)

 Osman CEN (Scientist)

 Turan CENGIZ (Human Rights Association)

 Belgin CETINKAYA (Party of Labour-EMEP)

 Sertug CICEK (Researcher, Common Candidate Campaign)

 Nurettin DEMIRTAS (Vice to Co-Chairs of Democratic Society Party-DTP)

 Hasan DERMAN (Human Rights Association)

 Aysegul DEVECIOGLU (Writer, PEN)

 Hatip DICLE (Former MP of the banned Peoples Democracy Party-HADEP)

 Ali DINSEVER (Lawyer, Human Rights Association)

 Ergin DOGRU (Democratic Alleviate Initiative)

 Ibrahim ERDOGAN (Education Union Rep. - Egitim-Sen )

 Naile EROGLUER (Federation of Alleviate Associations)

 Dr. Cumhur ERSOY (Medical Association)

 Velat ERTUGRUL (Office Employees Trade Union Rep. -BES)

 Ozgur Sevgi GORGAL (The Other Cultural Centre)

 Selami GUREL (Writer)

 Aysen HADIMOGLU (Professionals Association-TMMOB)

 Selma IRMAK (Vice to Co-Chairs of Democratic Society Party-DTP)

 Tayfun ISCI (Writer)

 ©onso/JAFE® (Blogger)

 Murat KANATLI (New Cyprus Party)

 Hasan Basri KARABEY (Publisher)

 Sinan KARA (Journalist)

 Hidir KALAY (Social Pedagogue)

 Taylan KOC (Lecturer)

 Filiz KOCALI (Socialist Democracy Party President-SDP)

 Evide KOCER (Writer)

 Delil KARAKOCAN (Journalist, Writer)

 Filiz KARAKUS (Feminist, Human Rights Activist)

 Eren KESKIN (Lawyer, Human Rights Activist)

 Dr. Nevin KUCUKCALLI

 Ertugrul KURKCU (Journalist, Socialist Labour Movement-SEH)

 Mustada MAYDA (Glass and Ceramic Trade Union National Executive Member)

 Ali Kerim MUTLU (Professionals Association-TMMOB)

 Banu OZTURK (Lecturer)

 Hakan OZTURK (Labour Movement Party)

 Gulseren PUSATLIOGLU (Socialist Democracy Party-SDP)

 Nevay SAMER (Peace Group)

 Mustafa SARIKAYA (Aid to Co-Chairs of Democratic Society Party-DTP)

 Sungur SAVRAN (Writer, Initiative for the Revolutionary Workers' Party-DIP)

 Salih Mahir SAYIN (Socialist Democracy Party-SDP)

 Ali SAYSEL (Lecturer)

 Macide SIMSEK (Freedom and Solidarity Party-ODP)

 Asmin SINGEZ (Playwright)

 Erdal SOYLEMEZ (Former Vice President of the banned Peoples Democracy Party-HADEP)

 Hakan TAHMAZ (Freedom and Solidarity Party-ODP)

 Mehmet TARHAN (Conscientious Objector)

 Ozan TELLI (Poet)

 Salim TURGUT (Journalist)

 Attila TUYGAN (Editor, Belge Publishing House)

 Turkan UZUN (Publisher, Antikapitalist)

 Erdal YILDIRIM, (Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association)

 Tuncay YILMAZ (Social Freedoms Platform-TOP)

 Leman YURTSEVER (Human Rights Activist)

 Murat ?AKIR (Columnist)
 

Please see the Statement at
http://stopincursion.net/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Related:
From various news agencies summarizing the Turkish Cypriot Press:

"Demonstration against the PKK in occupied Nicosia was turned into a demonstration against Afrika newspaper

Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (25.10.07) reports in its first page that a large protest gathering to condemn the PKK attacks against Turkish soldiers was held yesterday in occupied Lefkosia.

Turkish Cypriot daily Volkan (25.10.07) reports about yesterdays protest and writes that after Famagusta, Lefkosia stood up and with one heart shouted "Down with PKK, Down with the USA."

Under the title "Lynching Insanity" Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (25.10.07) reports in its first page that the nationalists in north Cyprus, whose blood is boiling with the developments regarding the PKK, took aim at AFRIKA during the protest organised yesterday to condemn PKKs actions. The protesters carried provocative banners opposite the paper with slogans like the following: "PKKs spokesman Afrika", "Afrikas place is not here, it is at Kandil Mountains",
"AFRIKA, are you PKKs voice here?"
The paper also writes that the protesters wanted to enter the papers building but they were prevented by the self-styled police.
http://www.hellenic.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/2007/07-10-25.tcpr.html#05

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"Protests in occupied Cyprus to condemn the PKK attacks against Turkish soldiers The Turkish Cypriot press reports today (24.10.07) about the protests in occupied Cyprus to condemn the PKK attacks against Turkish soldiers.

Vatan reports in its first page that thousands of students and TRNC citizens participated in the protest which took place yesterday in occupied Famagusta...."
http://www.hellenic.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/2007/07-10-24.tcpr.html#07

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"The Turkish Cypriot Journalists Union and Turkish Cypriot political parties condemned the attacks against AFRIKA

Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika (26.10.07) reports in its first page that the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Union, along with various Turkish Cypriot political parties, condemned with statements the attacks against Afrika during the demonstrations held last Wednesday in occupied Lefkosia to condemn the PKK attacks against Turkish soldiers.
http://www.hellenic.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/2007/07-10-26.tcpr.html#04
 

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