BY GEORGES MEHRABIAN
ATHENS, Greece - In a blow aimed at the struggle of the
oppressed Kurdish nationality of Turkey, Iraq, and the rest of
the region, Turkish forces abducted Kurdish Workers Party
(PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan in Nairobi, Kenya, February 16.
Within hours, protests by Kurdish immigrants and other
supporters of the Kurdish struggle for self-determination
erupted at Greek, Kenyan, and Israeli diplomatic missions
throughout Europe.
Ocalan, whose party is one of the largest fighting for Kurdish independence in Turkey, was under the protection of the Greek embassy staff at the time of his arrest. Many suspect Israeli government involvement in his capture.
Europe is home to 1 million Kurdish immigrants. Thousands protested in London, Bonn, Paris, Milan, Moscow, and nearly two dozen other cities. Germany, where close to 400,000 Kurdish immigrants live, saw protests in nine cities across the country. In Berlin, Israeli consulate security staff shot three protesters dead and wounded 16 others when they tried to occupy the embassy grounds.
"Release Ocalan, freedom to Kurdistan!" and "Kurds betrayed by Europe" read the signs and banners at the London protest (see article elsewhere on this page).
Refuge denied throughout Europe
Ocalan was forced out of exile in Syria on October 19
after the Turkish government threatened the Damascus regime
with military action for harboring him there. Over the
following months Ocalan was denied refuge at Ankara's request
by a long list of governments, including those of Italy,
Switzerland, Netherlands, Russia, and Belarus. He reportedly
entered Greece February 2 and was then smuggled by Athens to
its embassy in Nairobi, supposedly to get asylum arranged for
some place else.
Despite official denials, Washington's role in this affair is becoming increasingly plain. The February 21 Athens News referred to "a strongly worded letter from President Bill Clinton warning Syrian President Hafez al Assad `that he is playing with fire in the Ocalan case and asking him to deport him.' " The same article quotes unnamed U.S. National Security Council sources saying, "U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbot `called the Italians and pressured them to boot Ocalan.' "
A White House official is quoted as saying, "As soon as we had indications that Ocalan would go to a certain city we immediately activated our intelligence services to avert his settling down there."
Ocalan was immediately flown to a high security island prison in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, Turkey. A video broadcast by the Turkish government the day after his arrest showed the PKK leader groggy, handcuffed, and blindfolded. Ocalan's trial "need not last too long because all the illegal actions, the crimes of the PKK leadership are well known," declared Turkish prime minister Bullent Ecevit February 17. Ankara claims Ocalan is responsible for the deaths of 29,000 people in the 14-year armed struggle by Kurdish independence fighters. On the same day Ocalan's Netherlands-based attorneys were denied entry into Turkey.
No fair trial, protests in Turkey
Turkish officials are also moving ahead with plans to ban
the Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), which has mass
support in the Kurdish areas of southeastern Turkey and
substantial backing throughout the country. Demonstrations
have broken out in several cities in Turkey against Ocalan's
arrest. "Demonstrations took place almost immediately in
Diyarbakir in Turkish Kurdistan, but also in Istanbul and
other large cities," said Abu Ali, president of the Political
Refugees from Kurdistan of Iraq in Greece, in an interview.
"Clashes with the police have also occurred."
Police in the city of Ceyhan shot at protesters February 18, wounding 15. Three cops were also reportedly injured. In Istanbul 400 protesters have been arrested, while through out the country 1,000 arrests were reported February 21-22, according to a Turkish TV broadcast. Large demonstrations have also been organized by HADEP.
"As part of their crackdown on the Kurdish struggle, the Turkish armed forces have sent 4,000 to 8,000 troops into Iraqi Kurdistan since Ocalan's abduction," Abu Ali continued. "They have supposedly entered to battle against PKK forces in Iraqi Kurdistan. This is yet another crime against the Kurdish people." Since the end of the Gulf war in 1991, a northern tier of Iraqi Kurdistan has been under the control of Kurdish organizations. Baghdad's forces have lost effective control of that area.
Ocalan's abduction has precipitated a deep governmental crisis in Athens. Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis fired the ministers of foreign affairs, the interior, and public order, as well as the head of the secret police National Information Agency. The newly reshuffled cabinet is attempting damage control by blaming "forces outside the government" for the PKK leader's capture.
Governmental crisis in Greece
The imperialist rulers in Athens present Turkey as the
main enemy of the Greek nation. They have sought to use
Kurdish independence fighters as a pawn in their rivalry for
control of the resources of the Aegean Sea, the island of
Cyprus, and markets in the Balkans. So to have Ocalan swept up
by Turkish security while under so-called Greek protection has
shaken confidence, including within the ruling class.
Jingoistic demagogy is coming from all the bourgeois parties. "This is the most humiliating moment in Greece's history," declared member of parliament Christos Kipouros, from the ruling social democratic PASOK. The main conservative opposition party New Democracy stated, "The government, by means of its irresponsible stance, has once again entangled our country in a most serious crisis."
More than 10,000 people took part in a February 18 demonstration in Athens lamenting the "shame and dishonor of Greece" and demanding the resignation of the PASOK government. The largest contingent was of the Communist Party youth group, the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). Large groups from New Democracy's youth, other right-wing groups, and very visible and vocal fascist groups also took part. Smaller left groupings and supporters of the PKK also took part.
Red flags waved side by side with the Greek flag and the double headed eagle on gold of the Byzantine Empire - a favorite of fascist organizations.
Many working people and youth were uncomfortable about this. "Marching side by side with the fascists is the real shame.... The only time I want to be in the streets with the fascists is when I am battling them with a big stick," said one worker who did not want to be identified.