During the last month, the Turkish press has been
focused on the Syrian refugee crisis, and the resurgence
of clashes between the Turkish military and the PKK. The growing turmoil surrounding these two
issues stands as a major challenge to the Turkish government since it
has found itself void of any real answers on how to handle them.
Almost two weeks ago, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Ahmet
Davutoglu, campaigned the UN Security Council to set up a buffer zone in Syria in order to stem the flow of refugees to Turkey. Currently, there are approximately
80,000 refugees located in 11 camps situated along Turkey's southern borders, coming in close second after Jordan as the country which has the most Syrians (see UN report dated 07/00/2012). Davutoglu's proposal however fell on deaf ears
with only five Foreign Ministers of the 15 council members taking part and all
parties involved declaring the plan as unrealistic.
For Turkey, whose influence in the Middle East has been growing since the downfall
of dictatorships in the Arab world, this was a major disappointment and a
diplomatic fiasco.
A few days following the meeting in New York, Turkey started turning refugees
away with many stranded at the border. It is reported that approximately 10,000
people are waiting to enter Turkey, with Turkish authorities announcing that
they will only be able to cross the border after the needed facilities are available (see above UN report). In one case, a woman was allowed to give birth in a Turkish
hospital but after two days was forced to return to trepid conditions on the
Syrian side with her newly born twins.
In addition to these refugees, thousands of Syrians have entered Turkey
as tourists, possessing the necessary resources to live in hotels. In Istanbul
alone, there are many Syrians who are waiting for the day they are able to return home. For some, Turkey is only a base to move on to
Europe, with some opting to be smuggled out. However this also can end in
tragedy. Last week, a boat smuggling
refugees sank off the Turkish coast, killing over 60, including many women and
children.
Lastly, Turkish opposition members have accused the Turkish
government of allowing the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to train in the Apaydin camp,
which is housing Syrian soldiers and officers who have defected. While the government denies that this camp is
used as a base to launch attacks on Syrian army strongholds, members of the FSA
have suggested otherwise. Many reports in the Turkish press have focused on the
fighters’ radical Islamic elements, claiming that this camp is also home to
al-Qaeda and jihadist factions. They are right to be concerned if it is true
that the camp might also be home to radicals from such places as Chechnya andAfghanistan.
In fact, even if these groups are making leeway on the ground, we must not
forget the fact that Syrians from all sects and religions support the uprising
and the continued use of radical groups as fighters will only come back and hit
the region like a boomerang.
It is in the above context that many Turkish pundits are
worried about how the continued struggle in Syria will influence events in
Turkey. Less than a month ago, a bomb went off in
the southern city of Gaziantep, killing eight people, including children. While the PKK first denied their involvement
all evidence points towards to it as the culprit and no evidence of Syrian involvement was uncovered. In any case, it sent a clear message that violence like a brush fire could easily jump over the border. Further, this summer the PKK has also shown
Turkey that they are stronger than many might have previously assessed, carrying
out significant raids on Turkish military and police outposts. Lately, the
Turkish evening news and newspapers have been filled with pictures of young
soldiers who have fallen victim to this decades-old conflict.
Since coming to power in 2003, Prime Minister Erdogan has
taken serious measures at solving the Kurdish issue. However, since last year’s
elections, he has found himself at odds with the mostly Kurdish
parliamentarians representing the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and both
sides seem farther than ever at reaching a compromise. This was exactly the
message the BDP parliament members were sending Erdogan, when they were photographed embracing
PKK fighters in the hills of the southeast. Outraging the PM, he is now making
calls to renounce their political immunity in hopes they will be tried in a
court for supporting a terrorist organization. However, such a move will only
alienate a larger part of the Kurdish population. With Syria on the brink of
political fallout, which could lead to even more violence and chaos than we have seen until now, Turkey needs more than ever to diffuse the situation in its
southeastern regions.
Thanks for pointing out what everyone knows and refuses to talk about. Prime Minister ER-Dog-An is allowing the USA and its local cronies and sheep Saudi Arabia and the other loser state Qatar to setup and train foreign jihadist to wreak havoc on the poor Syrian people. This is a declaration of war and Assad (even though I don't like him) is well within his right to bomb every country supporting these thugs. They have been responsible for many of the massacres we see. They have been the initiates of violence. Assad tried to be responsible and talk in the beginning. But that doesn't fit into the hegemonic plans of Izrahell and the US of A. Izrahell is hell bent on destroying all supporters of palestine and hezbollah and any other party of state attempting to see a middle east free of Izrahell and US hegemony. They started with Iraq, succeeded in Libya and now are in Syria. But Izrahell will pay dearly for its crimes. And so will those Arab cowards who love to talk tough to Syria and Iran because they are powerless against Izrahell and USA so they need someone to be tough against to compensate. Those fat Arab dogs, walking around in their clean white sheets. They will pay, because The justice of Allah SWT will always be done. My statements do not absolve Assad for his crimes, he is also a piece of garbage and his greed has invited this aggression onto his country. He had twelve years to bring change and failed. Now his country has gone to hell and so should he. Erdogan and his pet dog who I used to like after reading strategic depth both need to be undone. Shame. Shame. Shame.
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