Brusk Reshvan Supports ROJ TV from Canada

Your Excellency Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen,

I hope you are doing well. Before I start my mail I wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As you are well aware, Turkish authorities in recent weeks have resorted to an orchestrated campaign of accusation and smearing propaganda against the Kurdish satellite television, ROJ TV. The aim of this unjust and antidemocratic endeavour is to divert the attention of public opinion and EU countries from the realities of Turkey and military assaults against Kurdish people.

While Turkish state discriminates against Kurdish language inside Turkey, wants to export its archaic and unacceptable policies to European countries as well.Turkish latest effort is contrary to Turkey's accession to European Union.

Your Excellency;

I, as a Canadian citizen, urge you to defend the right of existence and free broadcasting of ROJ TV and protest against unjust campaign of Turkish authorities. Instead of trying to ban the voice of millions of Kurds, Turkish state must provide TV and radio broadcasts in Kurdish and form institutions to teach Kurdish language and culture to Kurdish people.
I hope this message finds you.

Yours respectfully,

Brusk Reshvan

Canada

A Group of Kurdish personalities from Iran declare their unequivocal Support to ROJ TV.

Prime minister of Denmark Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen

In the era of communication and the era of universal relations, the roll of television in enhancing cultural development in society is tremendous. To deny this opportunity of a nation, is not even thinkable in the present civilized world, and it does not deserve the legitimate and basic rights of the nations either.

Turkish government in its national oppression against Kurdish people does not stop with intimidations and cultural containment of Kurdish culture and arts inside its borders, but also pressurises those European countries in which Kurdish communities have succeeded to establish their means of cultural expression. It wants to extinguish and silence ROJ TV which is the bearer of the voice of Kurdish people.

In a modern and civilised world ROJ TV, has become part of cultural assets of the Kurdish people. Its closure is denying a nation its basic human rights. The pressures on ROJ TV, and its eventual closure, will be a sign of bowing the will of Turkish power. This is falling for the Turkish authorities' repressive measures and outright denial against Kurdish people's cultural rights.

We a group of Iranian Kurds ask the Danish government by taking a fair position in accordance with the principles of freedom of expression, and free access to information, reject the unacceptable pressures of Turkish government. Denmark will play important role in providing the Kurds an aim to enjoy cultural development and retain their contactswith the rest of world.

At the conclusion of the negotiations between the EU and Turkey, the outcome concerning, the endorsement or the rejection of the Turkish request about its membreship in the European Union must be linked to the unavoidable condition of democratization of the political, cultural and judicial institutions. This should include the full recognition of Kurdish rights in Turkey. ROJ TV's broadcasting is based on respecting democratic principles. This remark has to be taken into consideration by EU's member countries especially Denmark.

1 – Aziz Mameli 2 – Hashem karimi 3 – yusef Ardalan 4 - Omar Asri 5 – Ahmad Eskandari 6 – fayizah Nikdin 7 – Anwar Soltani 8 – Mostafa Shalmashi 9 – Karim Daneshyar 10 – Abdullah Hejab 11 - Soheila Kadiri12 - Mansour Boluri 13 – parwanah khoraishi 14 – Hamid Rashdiyan 15 – Abubaker Qadiri ( baker lagez ) 16 – Aziz Ahmadzadah 17 – Ali D. Abasi 18 – Sadigh Babayi 19 – Khalil Havarinasab 20 – Sirus Maawayi 21 - Eghbal Shahbazi 22 – Tuba Kamangar 23 – Abdullah Mostafasoltani 24 – Shahriyar Boluri 25 – Jafar Mofti 26 – Isa Sorany 27 – Rahmat naseri28 – Maryam Abdukarimi 29 - Ali Abdukarimi 30 – Kajal Boluri 31 – Sayid Djamal Hosseini 32 – Kahlil Dashti 33 – Esmail Mameli 34 – Shahla Khadiryan 35 - Aminah Boluri 36 – Arman Moshtaqy 37 – Shaik Aref Brcanjiyan 38 – Nazanin Rashidian 39 – Shahnaz Rashdian 40 – Sagross Rashidian 41 – Shahin D. Talebani 42 - Shahla D. Talebani 43 – Saywan Dehbokri Abbasi 44 – Rijin Dehbokri Abbasi 45 - Sarisa Adzb pur 46 – Soran Adib pur 47 - Soheila Weriani 48 – Masud Faracallahi 49 – Behrooz Derakhshan 50 – Simin Bahari 51 – Mahrokh derakhshan 52 – Nader Manouchehri 53 – Ahmad Hosseini 54 – Parastoo Moradyan 55 – Frozandeh Barzanjih 56 – Wida Hajebi 57 – Fariba hajebi 58 – Shahin Moratab 59 – Aghdas Kiefi Shamsadin Arshadi 60 – Sirous Derakhshan 61 – Khoshnaw Rancbari 62 – Anwar Azimi 63 – Jahangir Adibpur 64 – Aminah Boluri 65 – Layla Mohamadi 66 – Sarbast Mirani 67 – bakhtyar Bolouri68 - Siyamend Muaini 69 – Farzad Mohamadi 70 – Ramyar Ahmadyan 71 – Azad Salwati72 – Naser Karimi73 – Hosein Shabaq 74 - Mrjam Karimi 75 - Ali Karimi 76 - Aria Karimi 77 - Khalid Karimi 78 - Shahla Karimi 79 - Ferhad Karimi 80 - Beyan Ahmedi 81 - Arman Qorani 82 - Shawbo Qorani 83- Ayub Ayubzadeh 84 – Nader Fathi 85 – Ebrahim Farshy 86 – Kamran Amin Awa 87 – Afsun Sadri 88- Mala Aziz Ahmadi 89 – Aminah Shafeiy 90 – Hemn Ahmadi 91 – Mala Mohamad Mohamadzadah 92 – Qasem Eliyasi 93 – Taha Amin Haladni 94 – Ahmad Hndren 95 – Xalid Ahmadzadah 96 – Avat Mahmudiyan 97 – Mohsin Ghelelji 98 – Kamran Aminave 99 – Salah Haji Rashdi 100 – Maruf Kabi 101 – Mohamad Khademiyani 102 – Nasser Pirani 103 – Ezzat Pirani 104 – Khaled Hosseinizadeh 105 – Yakub Panahi 106 – Alan fatahi 107 – Abdolrahman khademyani 108 – Aran mohamad 109 - Diler Mohamad Amin 110 - abdolrahaman khademyani 111 - Fateh Aresh 112 - Mediya Rashidzadah113 -Resul Qaderi 114 - SHAMZIN JIHANI 115 - seid ahmwd hosseini 116 - Simko Berwari 117 - salah moradi118- samrand moradi 119 - sina moradi 120 - servah moradi 121-Omar Mamrostami 122- Djamileh Karimi 123-Tanja Mamrostami 124-Rizgar Mostafa125- Evin Hoorami 126- FARAIDUNHAMARESHID ABDHLLAH 127-Nazhade Haje Braim128-Shivan Oremar 129- selahedin bayezidi 130- Ayar Baki 131- Bahar Ali Amin 132- Said Baqi Mhemed 133- Khadijah Saed134- Jian BaqiBayan Baki135- Layla Ail Amin 136- Ail Mohamad Amin 137- Salma Hame,shahla Amin 138 - Ari Newshirwan 139 - taban Amin 140- Bamo Baki 141- farzanah Mansurpur 142- Nigah Ali 143 - Dara Kirmashahi 144 –Karim Afsardalir 145-Ahmad Khani 146-Fanus Karimi 147-Sheelan Khani 148-Aziz Falahe 149- Shaza Falahe 150-Mieyem Abobakri 151- Mohamad Qaderzade 152-Soran Khani 153- Abobaker Wetmanzahe 154- amin kzeri 155- karem hasani 156- jaohar Qaderi 157- kemal hawrami 158 –Mansour Ebneabbasi 159-Sarkawt Jalal Dabagh 160-Salar Saed Dabagh 161-Sawen Sarkawt Dabagh 162-SanMám Sarkawt Dabagh 163-Lutfullah Sarawaran 164-Shamsi Sangab 165-Ahmad Sarawaran 166-Runak Abduulla 167-Khosrow Adibpour 168-Mani Adibpour 169-Pedram Adibpour 170- Bayan Baki 171-Shahla Amin 172–Jiyar Boluri 173 –Farasat Hariry 174-Ibrahim Melazade 175-asso byari 176-Abdulrahman kader 177-Said Sarhangi 178- Mohammad Mohammadzadeh 179- Nasser S. Ahmadi 180-Behrooz Hamzehi 181-Ahmed Abbasi 182- KhalilAshkani 183-GawharAshkani 184-Kani Karimi 185- Aso Goran 186-Arshad Iranzadeh 187-Diyar Gerib Muhemed 188- Nahid Bahmani 189- Mardin Mstafapuor 190- Mohammad Ahmadpour 191- Mahnaz Alyasi192- Selaheddin Majidpour 193-Baban Seqizî 194- Feisal Irandost 195- Mohammad Ahmadpour 196-Mardin Mstafapuor 197- Esmail Bahramirza 198- Naser Barmaki 199- S. Shamsiburhan 200 - Shayan Qadir mostafa 201 – Burhan Abdulkarim 202- Aso Abdulkarim 203 – Raza Barmaki

Support ROJ TV

It was 107 years ago, when the first Kurdish newspaper "Kurdistan", published by Bedir khan brothers in Cairo/Egypt, The Ottoman authorities launched an intensive campaign against it and asked the authorities in Egypt to close down the paper. Everyone in Kurdistan who used to read the paper were prosecuted and put into jails.

During the past hundred years the new Turkish state also have tried to damage Kurdish language, and restrain its development by all means. Kurdish media have not been allowed to operate, and hundreds of Kurdish journalists have been killed or imprisoned. Whilst the Kurds in exile have taken any step to preserve cultural heritage, the Turkish authorities have as usual pressurised the host countries to stop the Kurdish cultural activities. In 1984 when the Swedish government decided to open a Kurdish childcare centre, Turkey openly lodged a complaint to Sweden and tried to stop the plan.
Nevertheless, the resent diplomatic and psychological pressure exerted by Turkey aim to force Denmark to stop ROJ TV, which in a short time has tremendously contributed to Kurdish language and culture recognition. It has produced hundreds of cultural, political, sportive, religious (Islamic, Yazidi and Christian), children, youth and Health programs. ROJ TV is a Kurdish TV which constantly has taken up the actual topics related to women.

We ask Danish government not to silence this Kurdish voice and do not bow to the unacceptable pressures of Turkey. We want Denmark to let ROJ TV continue its works in serving Kurdish culture and language. The Kurdish heritage is directly under the pressure of Turkish government in 21 century.

Yes to free speech

1.Goran Ghafour (Writer) (Denmark)
2.Mehabad Kurdi (Writer) (Sweden)
3.Hawreh Bakhawan Historian (Holland)
4. mohamad sediq kabudvand Human Rights Organisation of Kurdistan (Iran)
5.Taman Shakir (Writer and women activist (Germany)
6. Bawer Coskun Editor ( www.beyan.net )
7.Shwan Karim physician (Sweden)
8. Zagroz Abdulla Student (Sweden)
9.Karwan Mahmud Engineer (Kurdistan)
10.Nuredin Waisi Journalist (Canada)
11.Hiwa M. Sharif Teacher (Kurdistan)
12.Kawe Amin writer,essayist (Sweden)

26.12,2005

Kurdish Institute in Amed Supports ROJ TV

Kurdish Institute in Amed convened its second annual congress. The meeting passed a resolution asking for regonition of mother tongue in Turkey's Educational system. Furthermore the meeting
protested all attempts for undermining ROJ TV . The congress declared its support to ROJ TV as the voice of oppressed people of Middle-East.

(Source: ROJ TV, News Centre)

Mothers for Peace in Amed (diyarbekir), Wan and Istanbul Protest attacks and slandering campaign against ROJ TV

Mothers for Peace in a declaration remind public opinion of violation of kurdish people's rights for education and broadcasting in her own language. In the same statement they condemn attacks and slandering campaign against ROJ TV.

(Source: ROJ TV, News Center)

Shwan Aware; from Sweden said

We will do anything to save the kurdish channel Roj Tv. We live in a democratic society and demand to be treated as human beings. The turkish government want to be a part of EU which means that they have to follow the rules of the human rights and be part of the democracy and so on. But how can they be a part of a system like EU when they don't even accept a whole nation with it's own language and background?The kurdish people, like everyone else, has it's own history, language, literature and culture.The turkish government have to accpet that we do exist and we have our rights to even have a channel. We don't support terrorism, only freedom and democracy.

Save Roj TV wish you Merry Xmas

Dear Callers, Save Roj TV team wish you Merry Xmas and Happy New year. We wish you all the best in the coming year.

Adaptation to Latin Alphabet Discussed in N. Iraq

12.25.2005 Sunday - ISTANBUL 20:12

By Ercan Gun
Published: Sunday, December 25, 2005 zaman.com


Kurds in Northern Iraq discuss replacing the Arabic alphabet with the Latin alphabet. If this becomes true, many people believe that an important step will be taken in the idea of integration with the West.

The supporters of Latin alphabet increase day by day in the alphabet debate, which has been led by the intellectuals over the past two years. In the new Iraqi constitution, the Kurdish language has obtained the status of an official language; however, the correspondence with the central government is carried on in Arabic letters. While the administration prefers to remain silent in response to the questions, no consensus has yet been achieved among the Kurdish groups. The politicians in the region use the adaptation of Latin alphabet as a propaganda tool of "an independent Kurdish state". Along with Arabs, some Kurds see demands for adaptation of Latin alphabet as "missionary supported" attempt and they warn, "Changing the alphabet will strike a blow on the Kurds' relation with the Islamic culture."

Intellectuals from Suleymaniye explain that Kurdish is closer to the Latin alphabet and the adaptation of Latin alphabet would be "a window opening to the West". Emphasizing that some of the sounds in Kurdish do not have a correspondence in Arabic, the intellectuals defend that changing the alphabet is inevitable. The Kurds who live in the safe area, which was formed after the first Gulf War in northern Iraq, use Kurdish as the language of education. Kurds in Northern Iraq use Arabic as the literary language who have been receiving education and making broadcasts in their mother tongue for almost 15 years.

Suleymaniye Library Manager Fuat Abdurrahman said there has been remarkable interest in the Latin alphabet over the last two years and many literary works written in Latin alphabet were donated to the libraries. Saying these works are brought from Istanbul and Diyarbakir, Abdurrahman explained," It is very hard to write Kurdish in Arabic. The Latin alphabet is appropriate for Kurdish; however, there are serious debates among the intellectuals. I believe that the Latin alphabet will be adapted in the long run." Sociologist Bahtya Ibrahim Fettah from the Suleymaniye University stressed that people need the Latin alphabet as he added," After the 35-year despotism, we want democracy to settle and we need the Latin alphabet because of this as this alphabet is a window opening to the West."

A True defender of freedom of Expression

In this spot I have previously spoken about Mr.Birand's approach to ROJ TV. Today I went through his latest writings in a comment to one of them (17.12.05)a caller reminds him of " Although I may not be satisfied with the contents of Roj TV's programs but I watch it and every one that I know in my surrounding do the same, I think the Turkish government instead of spending all her energy to close down ROJ TV, should understand the question and find a solution for that . I watch ROJ TV but I do not see some of my favourite singers performing . If ROJ tv is closed down millions of kurds get disappointed. First of all my 18 years old son who has no ideological preference" I think Mr. Birand's caller although anonymous is a true defender of freedom of expression and should be praised as such.

H.Goran
25.12.2005

Mayor of Cizîrê Supports ROJ TV

Aydin Budak the mayor of Kurdish town of Cizîrê in Northern Kurdistan in a statement said %90 of inhabitants of his town watch Roj TV. Budak pointed out :
" Roj tv shows culture, language and realities of kurds in the region, If ROJ TV is closed down the way for solution of Kurdish question in Turkey is curbed". Aydin Budak added people in Ciz îrê do not want ROJ TV to disappear, he demanded the official recognition and implementation of the rights of education and broadcasting in kurdish.

(Source: ROJ TV , News Centre )

A message from Germany

With my best regards to all staff of ROJ TV. I as other kurds protest against all conspiracies that are in making to close down one of the most effective kurdish media outlet. This is a sheer intimidation and threat against freedom of expression of a people who in tens of years has been denied her cultural rights.

Newzad Aziz

A Message on Christmas Eve I JACOBS PATRICK

I SUPPORT ROJTV AND I DONT AGREE WITH THE TURKISH AOUTHORITIES TO TRY TO CLOSE ROJTV , I SEE ROJTV A SOUND OF A KURDISH PEOPLE AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIER FREEDOM.

KIND REGARDS

JACOBS PATRICK

WHY AMERICANS SHOULD NOT OPPOSE ROJ TV ?

BY : Mizgîn

Americans should be concerned about what happens to Roj TV, and lend their support to it, for three reasons: Turkey is not a steady ally of the United States, it is not a secular democracy and it represses the right of free expression, within its borders and without.

Since September 11, 2001, America is no longer an isolated observer of events happening in the Middle East. That tragic day was the beginning of active American participation in changing a status quo that has for too long allowed repressive regimes to crush the populations under their control. The regimes of which I speak have no regard for the human, civil, political and cultural rights of the people they repress. The Kurdish people have suffered and continue to suffer brutal repression under four of these regimes: Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq.



At this point, the Kurds of Iraq have a chance at freedom, thanks to the years of Operation Northern Watch, in which the American people committed themselves to protecting the airspace over South Kurdistan so that a fledgling democracy could establish itself on the ground. Operation Iraqi Freedom brought the final blow to the Iraqi Ba'ath regime, and the result of that overthrow has given Kurds in Iraq the confidence to create for themselves the safest and most energetic part of Iraq. It has been a fitting outcome for the Kurds, especially since they were the second most numerous coalition partners, providing the US with 100,000 combat-experienced pêşmerge on a moment's notice, after America's longtime ally, Turkey, failed to permit the deployment of US troops from Turkish territory.


Right now, Kurds in Turkey, Iran and Syria are looking toward liberated South Kurdistan with hope that this Kurdish exercise in democracy will bring to an end the suffering they have endured since the end of World War I when they were unjustly divided among the regional powers with the blessings of the British and the French governments [i]. During a recent trip back to that part of Kurdistan which has suffered enormously under the Turkish regime, I witnessed this hope personally through those Kurds who were beginning to establish business ties with their kin to the south. I heard it in statements made to me, of how happy friends and strangers were with the new opportunities as a result of the liberation of part of Kurdistan. There were also expressions of hope that America would help them, Kurds in Turkey, to rise from the second-class, or worse, status that they have suffered for so long.

Americans will say to me, "Turkey is a secular democracy and it has been our ally since the Cold War," but the fact is that Turkey failed to deliver when America needed to deploy its troops into Iraq from the north. Another fact is that Turkey is not a secular democracy.


The present Turkish constitution controls religion which, by default, pushes religion to become a means of political expression [ii]. Religious education is controlled by the Turkish state. No members of religious minorities have ever been members of the Turkish parliament, the cabinet or in the officer ranks of the Turkish military. The AKP, which is the current ruling party and is Islamist, has recently begun crackdowns on the sale and consumption of alcohol [iii]. The government now promotes the products of Turkish companies that support Islamist causes and reports have suggested that Saudi money is flooding the economy [iv]. Anti-Americanism and antisemitism have been on the rise.

As for democracy, this is a fiction, not only for many Turks but particularly for Kurds. Kurds have been engaged in military or political resistance against the Ankara regime since 1925, when the repression began. It didn't matter if a village stayed out of fighting and remained loyal to Ankara; the Turkish government brought destruction to all of them, simply because they were Kurds [v]. With the military coup of 1980, a new round of armed resistance began. It was the response of a people with no other means of defending themselves against the brutality the Turkish military. This most recent fighting resulted in the ethnic cleansing of between 3 to 4 million Kurds, the destruction of some 4,000 Kurdish villages, disappearances, extrajudicial murders, and the enjoyment of impunity by the state security forces which uses torture against those detained [vi]. If not for these atrocities of the Turkish state against the Kurdish people, there would never have been a need for armed struggle. If not for these atrocities, there would have been no PKK.


This reign of terror resulted in the flight of many Kurds from Turkey to other parts of the world [vii]. It was in Europe that Kurds who had fled Turkey began to rediscover and preserve the culture that Turkey had sought to destroy, especially the Kurmancî language. It was there that the Kurds began to create their own media without fear of Turkish repression, without worrying that Kurdish journalists, or non-Kurdish journalists, who wrote about Kurdish issues in Turkey, would be disappeared, extrajudicially murdered or imprisoned. It was there that Kurdish-language media offices could function without fear of bombing.

Roj TV has been the best and brightest of these efforts, covering the news of the entire region, and the world, from the Kurdish perspective. Roj TV's programming is primarily in Kurdish, but includes programming in other languages as well, including Turkish. Almost 30 million Kurds in 77 different countries enjoy news, cultural and educational programming, music videos and movies, primarily in their mother tongue--Kurdish.

While Turkey has promised limited Kurdish-language broadcasting as part of its EU accession efforts, after several years, the promise has proven to be empty words [viii]. Roj TV is popular, even in the Kurdish areas of Turkey, because Roj TV has enjoyed the right of free expression from its European base, the Turkish state has been clamoring for its closure by making claims that Roj TV disseminates "terrorist" propaganda. But Roj TV does nothing of the sort, nor do the people who operate Roj TV have ties to terrorist groups of any kind, but they strive to maintain their programming within the boundaries of law as set by Danish broadcasting authorities. These authorities have investigated video footage supplied by the Turkish embassy in Denmark [ix]. No incitement to violence or terrorism of any kind was found by Danish authorities.

The Turkish state attempts to silence those outside of its own borders who speak out about such truths as the Armenian genocide and the violence in the Kurdish region, even going so far as to call for prosecution of members of the European Parliament [x]. Orhan Pamuk is not the only writer to find himself facing prosecution under the Turkish Penal Code's infamous Article 301, which can severely curb freedom of expression depending on the interpretation of individual judges. Fatih Tas, a journalism student at Istanbul University faces imprisonment for his translation of American John Tirman's book, The Spoils of War, which criticizes Turkey's violence against its Kurdish population [xi]. Orhan Pamuk and Fatih Tas are only two examples of the 50 to 60 journalists and writers who are currently facing prosecution from a government which does not recognize the right of free expression [xii]. The Turkish government would like very much that Roj TV become another victim of its intolerance of free expression.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

So reads the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This amendment is rightly placed at the head of those ten initial amendments, which are known to Americans as the Bill of Rights. It encompasses the right to free expression--in religion, in speech, in the press, in public assembly as well as in the process of approaching all branches of government for help in solving problems in the interests of the people--and free expression is the very essence of democracy. As the United States endeavors to encourage the spread of democratic values and practice in the Middle East, Turkey continues to threaten the same, especially in its totalitarian-style tactics aimed at silencing Roj TV.

Since the United States is supporting Turkey in its EU accession process, Americans have an interest in lending their support to those who remain on the frontline of the battle for democracy, both in Europe and in the Middle East. Americans ought to insist that Turkey engage in truly democratic practices, especially with regard to free expression, or risk facing a new Europe, one in which free expression is severely diminished and America's efforts at democratizing the Middle East become nothing more than expensive exercises in hypocrisy.


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[i] http://www.kurdistan.org/
[ii] http://www.bianet.org/2005/12/01_eng/news71790.htm
[iii] http://www.meforum.org/article/778
[iv] http://www.meforum.org/article/684
[v] http://www.let.uu.nl/~martin.vanbruinessen/personal/publications/Dersim.pdf
[vi] http://www.ethnopolitics.org/archive/volume_I/issue_1/jongerden.pdf
[vii] http://www.let.uu.nl/~martin.vanbruinessen/personal/publications/Kurds_in_movement.htm
[viii] http://www.unhchr.ch/minorities/statements10/CLA3a.doc
[ix] http://merlin.obs.coe.int/iris/2005/7/article17.en.html
[x] http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=31231
[xi] http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/turkish.html
[xii] http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=13967

To Some in Turkey, a Kurdish Beer Has the Flavor of Aversion

By Karl Vick
Washington Post Foreign Service

Friday, December 23, 2005


ISTANBUL -- Even before the bloody head of a sheep turned up on the brewery doorstep, the makers of Roj beer had reason to suspect their light, malty lager might not be to everyone's taste.

Roj proudly identifies itself as "Kurdish beer." Brewed in Vienna, its Turkish import application has been pending for 18 months, three times the norm. ( Rojbeer.com)

There was the hate mail, a virulent torrent of insults invoking mothers, sisters, dogs, blood and "dreamers like you."
There was the knock on the door of the brewer's Istanbul representative, who was taken from his house one evening in late September by Turkish security officers and interrogated till dawn.
And there was the remarkably long time Turkish officials were taking to consider the request to allow Roj into their country.
Brewed in Vienna, Roj is proudly identified on its cans as "Kurdish beer." And Turkey, which fought a bloody civil war against Kurdish separatists, is a country where such an expression of ethnic identity until recently might have resulted in arrest, and apparently still carries a certain risk.
"My life is in danger, I think," said the company's managing director, N. Keske, so spooked by threats he asked that his full name not be published. "This is your last warning," read the note under the sheep's head.
Bringing Roj to Turkey makes sound business sense. No one knows for certain how many Kurds live here -- the question is too sensitive to include on a census -- but with estimates running from 10 million to 15 million, it's easily more than any other country.
Yet what the import effort has tapped so far is the reservoir of mistrust accumulated over decades of conflict between the Turkish state and its largest minority. The mistrust erupted into civil war in the 1990s, when Kurdish guerrillas battled to separate the country's eastern reaches from a central government that denied Kurds the right to give babies Kurdish names, much less "a sip of freedom," the slogan on a bottle of Roj.
Today the fighting is sharply reduced, and Turkey's elected government has taken official steps to accommodate a Kurdish identity, largely because of pressure from the European Union, which Turkey is attempting to join. Last month Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that there was room for ethnic identity within the concept of Turkish citizenship, a bold declaration in a country that historically has enforced Turkishness as the only acceptable identity.
But that doesn't mean Roj will be sold in Turkey.
"I wouldn't advise it," said Filiz Telli, who was sharing a Turkish brew with a co-worker in an Istanbul bar. "And I think a lot of people think like me."
Telli testified to the view that the "Kurdish problem" had moved from the military sphere to the social. The fighting that leveled thousands of villages in Turkey's overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast set off a migration to the cities of the west and north, where Kurds are often viewed as outsiders.
"To say the least, if we were to dress up . . . and go to an environment where the Kurds are, we would feel uncomfortable," said Telli, curling a lip.
"And whatever sector, they just jump in, regardless of whether they know the job," said Senay Badem, her friend.
"It's not only in Istanbul," Telli added. "Go to any nice place and they're either running it or managing it or working there."
Such antipathy is widespread. In Trabzon, on the Black Sea, nationalist mobs assaulted Kurdish demonstrators this fall. In Fethiye, on the Mediterranean coast, Turkish ultranationalists have ominously compiled lists of Kurds by address.
"It's not only the Turkish state fighting guerrillas, the two societies are confronting one another more and more," said Murat Belge, a professor at Bilgi University in Istanbul. "This I find much more frightening than the government being oppressive. Freedom should have a better taste."
For the brewers of Roj, the problem is compounded by their beer's name. In Kurdish, Roj means sun, but the name is also used by a Kurdish-language satellite TV station that broadcasts from Denmark. Roj TV is accused of supporting the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, labeled a terrorist organization by the State Department. Last month Erdogan refused to attend a news conference in Copenhagen because a Roj TV reporter was present.
"The name is very important," said Muammer Aksoy, 28, standing amid his display of fake noses, collapsing knives and other gag gifts in a central Istanbul market. "It would be seen as separatist."
"As a businessperson, I wouldn't sell it. I see risk," said Ahmet Er, who runs the Vera bar in central Istanbul. "Because there's a situation behind it."
Keske insisted his beer -- a light lager that finishes clean -- has no political ingredients. He said that even in northern Iraq, where two Kurdish political parties control almost everything, he has resisted associations that would ease access to a natural market.
"Others are trying to politicize us," he said. "We just want to sell beer." And because anyone might buy it, he added, "it could be a unifying factor."
Yet Roj also reflects Kurdish aspirations. The "sip of freedom" slogan suggests the Kurdish autonomy in Iraq, which many Kurds see as a first step to gaining the nationhood they were briefly promised after World War I. A drawing on the brewer's Web site, rojbeer.com, shows a man chained by his wrists to a wall in one frame, and in the next enjoying a cold Roj, the chains broken.
"Well, actually, that was a present from a friend of ours who's a Serbian," said Keske, whose wife is a Serb. "He knew the sufferings of the Kurdish people."
Turkish trade officials declined to explain why Roj's import application is pending after 18 months, three times the normal processing time. But a November E.U. report singled out "the alcohol beverages sector" for limiting access to the Turkish market. One company, Efes, has 70 percent of Turkey's beer sales.
"It's not a unique problem with this beer," said Krisztina Nagy, an E.U. spokeswoman, referring to Roj.
There are, however, some people in Turkey quite open to a Kurdish beer.
"Especially if it's a little bit cheaper," said Cesur Polat, 20, sipping a tall Efes on a curb in Istanbul's Aksaray neighborhood. He gestured to the empties under a parked car and laughed. "If there was Kurdish beer we would drink even more!"
The neighborhood is a haven for Kurdish migrants, many of whom found work in the nightclubs lining the cramped side streets. There, the first question about Roj was not political.
"You call it a Kurdish beer," said Veysi Kara, as a disco ball threw lights across the bar he tended. "But how much alcohol does it have?"

Message From CHAK addressed to minister of culture in Denmark

As you are aware, Turkish authorities in recent weeks have resorted to an orchestrated campaign of accusation and smearing propaganda against the Kurdish satellite television, ROJ TV.
We in the Centre of Helebja against Anfalization and Genocide of the Kurds –CHAK- condemn the Turkish authorities' campaign against the basic right of freedom of expression, free thought and broadcasting and human rights in general. That is an indication that Turkey is far behind Europe in regard to democracy and European Union member states must be aware of and should not turn a blind eye to this issue.

We protest against Turkish government policy and its anti democratic campaign that aims to close down the independent Kurdish Satellite channel, ROJ TV and urge the Danish Government and European Union member states to resist Turkish pressure and protect the right of freedom of speech and expression.
With warm regards,
Selah Germiyan
For CHAK
23.12.2005

The message of veteran and popular Kurdish politician Dr.Mehmoud Osaman

I am aware as other kurds are of increasing pressure by Turkish authorities on Danish officials to stop ROJ TV and revoke its license.

This intention if materialized is a violation of human rights and freedom of speech, Stated in Article 19 of UN's charter.

I wish that Danish concerned authorities would not give in to those unfounded Turkish demands and allow ROJ TV to carry on broadcasting as a free and useful voice in Turkey, Kurdistan and world-wide.

Dr.M.OSMAN
22.12.2005

A message to SAVE ROJ TV INITIATIVE from Mr. Ahmad Eskanderi

Kurdish human rights campaigner and political analyst

In the name of freedom of expression, in the name of democracy and free mass media, it is very difficult to see how a country like Denmark allows pressure from Turkey to silence the Kurdish ROJ TV station. Giving up to this kind of exigencies from Turkish authorities is not that much far from conceding to ultimatums by kidnappers or pressure from subversive organisations and anti-democratic forces who defy all humanitarian and democratic rules. In the name of human rights of the Kurdish people Denmark should refuse to cede to Turkey.

In a country where the violation of human rights, womens rights, rights of minorities and individual liberties is frequent; in a country where authors, journalists and other human rights campaigners are under pressure and risk prison sentences only for what they think, write or say; in such a country, Turkey, there is a great deal to do at home in order to cope with universal declaration of Human Rights and other international and European conventions rather than putting pressure on Denmark to close the Kurdish ROJ TV station which has a very large public not only in Kurdistan, but also in the Middle East and throughout the world.

A country which is seeking full membership within the European Union and has a very poor record on human rights asks a member of EU to close a Kurdish TV station! This is outrageous and the democratic world should not accept it.

Ahmad Eskadnari

Human rights campaigner and political analyst

23.12.2005

Denmark parliamentarians launch pro-Roj TV campaign

Turkish press are not satisfied with the initaitive of defenders of Freedom of expression

The Danish paper said that master mind of the pro-ROJ TV campaign was former deputy Holger Nielsen who was banned from entering Turkey due to his support for the PKK.

Güncelleme: 10:56 TSİ 21 Aralık 2005 Çarşamba, NTV Turks site

COPENHAGEN - Four Danish opposition parliamentary deputies have started a signature campaign calling opposing the closure of television station Roj-TV, which Turkey says in operated by the terrorist group the PKK.
The campaign's declaration calls on the Danish government not to bow to pressure from the US and Ankara to shut down Roj-TV, which operates out of Denmark. The statement said that this would not only limit freedom of expression of Kurds but also interfere with freedom of expression in Denmark itself.
Commenting on the campaign, Henning Koch, a professor of law, said that the request to close Roj-TV was being studying by committee of lawyers. Koch said that having deputies attempt to interfere with the investigation would be very wrong.

Professor to politicians: Steer clear of ROJ TV

Politiken.Dk, Tuesday 20,December 2005(Translated from Danish )

Professor in Law is criticising the opposition which has started a petition into
defend the TV sation Roj TV "They're interfering in a case which should not be
politicised", he says.

By:Line Jakobsen
Members of parliament are not to interfere in a specific criminal case - theyshould stay away.Such a harsh the statement comes from Henning Koch, Professor in Law from University of Copenhagen.PetitionHe is criticising the four MPs Jeppe Kofod(S), Naser Khader (R), Holger K.Nielsen (SF) and Rune Lund from United List for breaking the principle ofdivision of power.
The four have initiated a petition in the Folketinget in defence of theKurdish tv station Roj TV's freedom of expression.
"The legislature power shall not interfere in whether or not it is right toraise a criminal charge. It is solely the responsibility and competence ofthe executive body. Furthermore, no political considerations should be allowed to enter the picture, when the security of the state is at stake, andsuspisions of terrorism are raised", says Koch.
Turkey rejects criticism.The Kurdish tv station has been reported to the police by the Turkishambassador for having connections to the Kurdish organisation PKK. which alsofeatures on the EU and US' lists of terror organisations.
After having investigated the case of ROJ tv, the police have now passed it over to the Lord Advocate.
According to the four politicians, the support should be given to the cause of"the Governement not giving in to the pressures launched by the Turkish and theUS governements to close ROJ tv, which broadcasts from Denmark".
Reported to the PoliceThe idea of the Turkish government putting pressure on denmark ishowever new tothe Turkish Ambassador to Denmark, Mehmet Akat. He says:
"All we've done is reporting Roj TV to the police. We think they have connections to the PKK, and it's now up to the police to decide what will happen. We have by no means any problem with the freedom of expression . Recently in Turkey, we've realised numerous reforms to further the freedom of expression".
Holger K Nielsen is not agreeing with Henning Koch, nor Mehmet Akat.
"We are not interfering as such. All we're doing is to politically recognise the pressure US and Turkey have launched in order for the Danish government to shut down ROJ TV".

Danish Parlementarians consider the closure of ROJ TV as an attack to the rights of millions of Kurds

Danish members of Folketinget (parliament) Jeppe Kofod (S), Naser Khader(R), Holger K. Nielsen and Rune Lund (United list) have circulated a petition to 179 fellow parlementarians asking them to join them in defending the right of ROJ TV to exist and for protection of freedom of expression in Denmark. The initiative of Danish members of parliament have been taken with appreciation by Kurds all over the glob.

The following is the text of petition in English translation.
H, Goran
22.12.2005

KEEP THE FREEDOM OF EXPRSSION IN DENMARK
I hereby express my support to the fact that the government is not going To give in to the pressures launched by the Turkish and American governments To close down ROJ TV, which possess a license to broadcast in Denmark. The Closure of ROJ TV not only will be an attack to the the rights of million Of kurds to receive the TV channel of their choice, but also it will be a breach Of constitutional freedom of expression.

As it is stated in paragraph 77 of Danish Constitution , under judiciary responsibility, Everyone has got the right to, in print, writing and speech publicise her/his Thoughts. Censorship and other preventive measures can never be introduced. The freedom of expression in Denmark must be defended also for citizens of Kurdish origin.

Signed

Date Name Signature
Please is send it to :Stottegruppen for Ytringsfrihed(support Group for Freedom of Expression)Villo SigurdssonRodkildebanken 94320 Lejre

Political rebound in strife regarding TV-station

Political rebound in strife regarding TV, English version of an article in Danish language paper "Berlingske Tidende" 20.december 2005

By Ole Damkjær, www.berlingske.dk , 20. december 2005

The demand by the Turkish government that the Kurdish TV-station Roj-TV be closed down is politically motivated, it is claimed by critics of Turkey. What are we saying then when Danish Politicians interfere with the police investigation relating to the TV-station ?

Now that the police has passed the case regarding the Kurdish TV-Station Roj-TV to the Public Prosecutor in order to have the investigation brought to an end reach a conclusion as to wether Roj-TV should be prosecuted for having links to the Kurdish organization PKK, this complex case is becoming a domestic political issue

The four opposition politicians Jeppe Kofod (Social Democrat), Naser Khader (Radical), Holger K. Nielsen (Popular Socialist), and Rune Lund (The Red-Green Alliance) in a letter to their 179 fellow parliamentarians call upon them to sign a declaration in support of the freedom of expression of the Roj-TV. And by doing so they interfere in an "untimely manner" with the work of the police and the authority of the law-courts in case the Public prosecutor concludes that there is a basis for further legal action and a charge against Roj-TV.

This is the opinion of the spokesman of the Liberal Party (Venstre), Troels Lund Poulsen who is backed up by the Turkish ambassador and Henning Koch who is a professor of Constitutional Law and an expert in matters related to the tripartition of power in the legislative, the executive, and the judicial authorities.

Henneing Koch also points to the fact that the four politicians with their support action interfere with the authority of the Minister of Justice since in matters like the one regarding Roj-TV in the end it is Lene Espersen (Minister of Justice) and the rest of the government who decide whether a case shall be brought before a court . According to Henning Koch the four politicians have embarked on a perilous course. "They are trying to create a climate in Parliament against a charge being made in a specific case. Has thought been given to a possible following case where the four politicians' adverisaries might try to advocate a charge being made in a specific case ?" asks Henning Koch who labels the initiative in support of Roj-TV as "political bantering at a high level".

It is being pretendet to convey the impression that the government might opt for yielding to Turkey and lining up with the USA. Maybe it is most of all an attempt at demasking yet another time the USA", says Henning Koch with a reference to the fact that the declaration of support in favour of Roj-TV is aimed at backing up the Danish government so that it "does not give in to pressures from the Turkish and American governments that Roj-TV be closed down".

The USA in a confidential note to the (Danish) government has keenly called upon Denmark to close the Roj-TV station in Denmark because the TV-station, according to the Americans, has links to the Kurdish organization PKK which has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU as well.

The Social Democratic Spokesman for international affairs, Jeppe Kofod declines this allegation. "I considered myself the dilemma that might occur if the declaration of support could be interpreted as if we mix up the legislative, the executive and the judicial powers. But we do not do that. We have found a wording that leaves no space open for that", says Jeppe Kofod.

But the declaration of support relates to the case regarding Roj-TV ?

"Yes, but what is preoccupying are the accelerating attacks against the Kurds' right to have access to getting information in their own language. What we fear is an ongoing pressure against the Kurds right now – and this pressure has been intensified over the latest few months. This declaration is based upon our wish to make sure that no campaign be unleashed against legally existing media aimed at undermining the freedom of expression. Actually this declaration is not so much in support of Roj-TV as in support of the (Danish) government's refusal of others' interference in this matter", says Jeppe Kofod.

Is this not a reflection of your distrust of the government's capability of resisting the pressure from Turkey but also from the USA ?"The government must know that it has a broad backing behind the course it has opted for in this matter", says Jeppe Kofod.

Index on Censorship will publish a report on Roj TV in its forthcoming issue

After an enquiry by ROJ TV, Rohan Jayasekera Associate Editor in a message announced: "We have had hundreds of messages from the campaign, thanks very much. There's a report on Denmark's defence of ROJ TV's rights in the forthcoming issue of the magazine."

Organisation of Human Rights of Kurdistan

Declaration number 31


The preussures of Turkish government is a clear attack on Freedom of Expression

To Danish Government

In recent months and weeks , Turkish government by initiating an anti-human rights

project and by exerting pressures on some governments and countries in which there exist a free kurdish media, has tried to curb the free dissemination of information in free world.

The Kurdish television ROJ TV which has millions of viewers and audience in all corners of the world , and even in Iranian Kurdistan inspite of an official ban on satellite dishes by Iranian government , has hundred of thousands viewers , now faces an increasing pressures by Turkish government aiming at to stop its activities.

The Organisation of Human Rights by expressing its anxities over the attempts of enemies of freedom of expression even in the free world , considers the exerted pressures of Turkish government as a clear attack on the freedom of expression and as a violation the basic human rights of millions of kurds all over the world. Our organisation in accordance to the Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights in relation to the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds , regardless of frontiers , asks the Danish government not to submit to the pressures and demands of Turkish government and by protecting the continuiation of ROJ TV's activities , remain as usual by the side of adherents of freedom of expression.

Organisation of Human Rights of Kurdistan

Tehran 19 December 2005

Excerpt of an interview with Mr. Anker Jorgensen

Excerpt of an interview with Mr. Anker Jorgensen ex-Prime Minister of Denmark and honorary president of Mesopotamia Broadcast.

The interview in its entirety was broadcast in Roj TV’s weekly program Nûpel on
Monday evening 19.12.2005

…. Question : For a while Turkey, Kurds and our channel ROJ TV were the focus of media and press here in Denmark , Why?

Anker Jorgensen: As you may know I am not politically active as before. I can say things that I want to say , Things that I do not want , I leave it unanswered.

Q : I understand that, but I want to ask you this question . According to you, why ROJ TV is treated as such ? How do you evaluate the attacks and accusations of Erdogan against ROJ TV ?

AJ: I do not understand why such event happened. I think it all was caused by that caricature that was published here. I really do not understand why this happened when prime minister was here. This is a position which is not acceptable. No matter how big is the issue, no prime minister has the right to say that the reporter of ROJ TV can not stay here, even if the question by reporter sounds unpleasant, in any event he has no right to say that she should not be present. I personally have been confronted with questions by reporters which were not pleasant to me, But I did not dare to say to any one to go out. This is an arbitrary position.

Q : How do you evaluate Rasmussen's reaction?

AJ: I think , he did what he had to do. His reaction proved that Denmark is a democratic country . It is possible that we disagree with some one ,but we do not ask people to leave the place. I can not say to some one whose questions are unpleasant to me to go out. In this present world we must be more open. I believe we have to accept each other here in Europe , at the same time we have to be aware of our differences. Sometimes we may have big differences but to be in the same room . It is not acceptable to ask a side to leave the place.

Q : Do you have a message for Kurdish people?

AJ : Try to deepen your democracy as far as you can. I do not mean that in present world there is a country with full fledged democracy, but it is imperative that we possess such an thought and approach, We should feel responsible towards democratic principles. We have seen how solving problems through animosity and wars have come to an dead end.
That is why it is necessary that Turkey recognizes the existence of diverse people there and accepts their rights.. I can give you a little example, here in Denmark we found a solution for similar problems. We accepted the rights of Green Land and Farrow islands,
The people there use their rights to a high degree, specially in the sphere of culture.
We listened to their complaints and demands in order to see how we can live together.

Q:Thank you for your time Mr. Jorgensen

Sillaw berrêzan,
Min wa pishtgîrî xom radegeyênim ke be hemû shêweyêk dijî ew hewle nabecayey willatî turkiyem. Besh be hallî xom e-mailim bo hemû ew shiwênaney ke le agadariyeketan da nûsîbûtan nard. Hîway serkewtin

Beyan Reshmal
www.reshmal.blogspot.com

(The Message in English translation)
Hi people !
I declare my support to ROJ TV in every way and protest the futile attempts of Turkish government. I have sent e-mail containing my worries to all concerned bodies. Hoping for victory.

Beyan Reshmal

Actions in Support of ROJ TV

A delegation led by sheikh Murshid Xeznewi the son of late Syrian Kurdish personality Sheikh Mashuq Xeznewi, on Saturday 18 December delivered a letter to Danish Embassy in Riyad , the Saudi Arabia's capital. The letter was signed by hundreds of Arab and Kurdish personalities, political parties and organisations, in which the signatories had declared their support to ROJ TV.
In the letter stated, that ROJ TV is a platform for expression for Kurdish people, the holder of diverse views get the opportunity to express their ideas in its programming, that is why we consider the smearing campaign against RO TV as an act of aggression against Kurdish people.
We urge Danish government not to listen to the baseless rhetoric of Turkish government which practises the policy of denial and annihilation against Kurdish word and Kurdish people.
On the other hand, a group of Kurdish, Arab and Dutch intellectuals and writers handed over a support letter for ROJ TV to Danish Embassy in Hague- Holland.
The signatories included:

Munteha Al-Yousef , a Jordanian journalist
Muhamad Shewykat, a Tunesian politician
Kawe Reshi , a kurdish politician
Fuad Salame , a Palastinian journalist
Denis Fawbach , a Dutch politician
Nabil Al-Majid , An Iraqi politician
Yashar Hashemi , An Iraqi journalist
Seyf Aldin Ahmed , A syrian political activist
Rene Sbits , A Dutch politician

(Source: Arabic Service, ROJ TV )

The Freedom of Speech Another way to breathe!

The GLOB; Weekly Paper printed in Irbil/Kurdistan

Issue NO. 35 December 6, 2005

By Rebar Jaff
Rebarjaff@hotmail.com

In a coffee shop near the CN Tower downtown Toronto, my friend and I decided to go and kill the little time we spared after a long day we'd had at work, and just to have a relaxing evening. Immediately after we arrived at the coffee shop, two gentlemen, who must have been from the Middle East or somewhere near that part of the world, walked in. They sat down at the table right next to us, having their coffee and cracking jokes between themselves. They were speaking English with a slight accent, but not enough to really tell their original background. I thought maybe they were Persian, but I wasn't too sure. I usually do not eavesdrop on people's conversations.

But at one point, the two men became so audible that their words were no longer unheard. I noticed they were soon talking politics. They started discussing the current events taking place in the Middle East in general, and debate got a little heated. I decided to join in by asking them where they were from. One of them spoke up and answered, "The Dead Sea." I figured they were either Jordanian or Israeli since these were the only two countries whose borders touched that sea. Well, the West Bank does too, but that is besides the point. I questioned which one of the three they came from. The same guy answered and said "Neither." I thought they were either pulling my leg, or were just simply far above the ground… high! But they didn't look it. I asked, "…but isn't that where the Dead Sea is?"

When they noticed I was finding their response a bit absurd, the other man expanded on his buddy's reply and said that they came from a Middle Eastern country where they couldn't, nor would they still be able to say what they wanted. "Like that narrows it down for me to guess!" I said to myself.

The two came from Tehran, where they both had attended post-secondary institutions and successfully completed their graduate studies. They went on by saying that they couldn't express their views and opinions, and that they were beaten for comments they had made during their university years. In fact, one of them had even spent a number of years behind bars, tortured for having published articles in which he had slightly criticized his country's government actions, and so forth. Ultimately, one of them uttered, "That is why we said we came from 'The Dead Sea,' because we did not feel alive there." "We were constantly beaten. We couldn't even breathe, man!" he said, almost indignantly.

The three of us continued talking. We discussed a number of states globally and jumped from one country to another, in relation to their issues concerning freedom of speech and expression, and other sacred things as such. We took an international tour in less than the two hours that we spoke for.

This time, we made a stop in Denmark! It is gloomy and unfortunate, but Denmark also made it to the list of the freedom abusers within our gossip session. It didn't take long, and it was the center of attention for the remainder of that occasion. We conversed how the Danish government is inclining to follow the Turkish government's orders by pushing for the shutdown of a certain Kurdish media organ based in their country due to the fact that Ms. Ankara believes the establishment is promoting the separatist ideas of certain Kurdish terrorists' and their so-called frightening agenda towards Turkey's "strong" national unity!

Is Denmark going to violate one of the fundamental principles that the European Union prides today, the freedom of press and media? Couldn't Denmark do any better? In order to maintain its good reputation worldwide and sustain its civilized qu ality of country status among the international community, it is critical that Denmark strikes down the Turkish demands of preventing the augmentation and growth of the freedom of speech. Denmark should be lecturing Turkey that there exists a magical word called "freedom," instead of Turkey brainwashing Denmark and telling it otherwise. After all, it is Turkey that is beseeching for membership to join the European Union, not Denmark into the Middle Eastern "Dividedness."

Before we forget, we must add that the United States should also intervene more actively and be a bit more responsive to such matters. The US should be strongly condemning such actions of the Turkish government's or any other system's, especially in a region that desperately needs democracy and freedom, things that the United States cannot wait to witness in the area!

Message of Andrew Duff MEP

Liberal Democrat (East of England)
Spokesman on constitutional affairs for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)

Dear Roj TV,
I absolutely defend your right to exist and broadcast without intimidation or political restriction.

Best wishes,Andrew Duff
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
B-1047 Brussels

Message from Kawa Amin Kurdish writer and essayist

Support ROJ TV

It was 107 years ago, when the first Kurdish newspaper "Kurdistan", published by Bedir khan brothers in Cairo/Egypt, The Ottoman authorities launched an intensive campaign against it and asked the authorities in Egypt to close down the paper. Everyone in Kurdistan who used to read the paper were prosecuted and put in jails.

During the past hundred years the new Turkish state also have tried to damage Kurdish language, and restrain its development by all means. Kurdish media have not been allowed to operate, and hundreds of Kurdish journalists have been killed or imprisoned. Whilst the Kurds in exile have taken any step to preserve cultural heritage, the Turkish authorities have as usual pressurised the host countries to stop the Kurdish cultural activities. In 1984 when the Swedish government decided to open a Kurdish childcare centre, Turkey openly lodged a complaint to Sweden and tried to stop the plan.

Nevertheless, the resent diplomatic and psychological pressure exerted by Turkey, aim to force Denmark to stop ROJ TV, which in a short time has tremendously contributed to Kurdish language and culture recognition. It has produced hundreds of cultural, political, sportive, religious (Islamic, Yazidi and Christian), children, youth and Health programs. ROJ TV is a Kurdish TV which constantly has taken up the actual topics related to women.

I ask Danish government not to silence this Kurdish voice and do not bow to the unacceptable pressures of Turkey. We want Denmark to let ROJ TV continue its works in serving Kurdish culture and language. The Kurdish heritage is directly under the pressure of Turkish government in 21 century.

Yes to free speech!

Kawa Amin
Kawe3@hotmail.com
Sweden 19 Dec. 2005

A reflection from New Zealand

Roj TV is the real image of the Kurds. Kurds have no freedom, no human rights, no democracy, but they have ROJ TV. So, don not be cruel to the Kurds.

Aw. Khandarash
Hamilton, New Zealand
19.12.2005

Retrial for Kurdish Greeting: My Dear Sisters

The Supreme Court of Appeals asked for a retrial for Caglayan based on the new TCK. She had been sentenced to seven months in prison and fined her 513 YTL for saying "My Dear Sisters" in Kurdish in her speech during the 2004 local election campaigns.

BIA News Center
14/12/2005 Ayse DURUKAN

BİA (Istanbul) - Handan Caglayan, who was sentenced to seven months in prison and fined 513 new Turkish liras (380 USD) for saying "My Dear Sisters" in Kurdish in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa during the March 23, 2004 local elections, will be retried.

The Supreme Court of Appeals asked for the retrial on grounds of the amended Turkish Penal Code (TCK). A local court had tried Caglayan based on the Political Parties law.

"I was sentenced for using that expression at the demonstration organized by HADEP in March 2004," Caglayan, who attended the demonstration as DEHAP deputy head, told bianet. "I used that expression because most of the demonstrators were women who did not speak Turkish."

Caglayan said she delivered the rest of her speech in Turkish, in accordance with article 58 of the Political Parties law, which bans the use of any language other than Turkish in election campaigns. "I just greeted the women in their own language before beginning my speech," Caglayan added.

She said the local court charged and convicted her for violating article 58 of the Political Parties Law. "Leave aside my political identity, as a women's rights activist, and as a human being, I thought such a greeting was necessary," said Caglayan. The party's Sanliurfa branch head was also sentenced to six months in prison and was fined 414 new Turkish liras (310 USD) for the speech he delivered at the same demonstration.

Caglayan argued that the retrial decision was an obstacle in front of the freedom of thought and expression, the right of women to elect and to be elected and in front of democratization in general. (AD/EA/YE).

Exerpt of UNESCO's CONVENTION ON THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE DIVERSITY OF CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS

Paris, 20 October 2005

I. Objectives and guiding principles

Article 1 – Objectives

The objectives of this Convention are:
(a) to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions;
(b) to create the conditions for cultures to flourish and to freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner;
(c) to encourage dialogue among cultures with a view to ensuring wider and balanced cultural exchanges in the world in favour of intercultural respect and a culture of peace;
(d) to foster interculturality in order to develop cultural interaction in the spirit of building bridges among peoples;
(e) to promote respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and raise awareness of its value at the local, national and international levels;
(f) to reaffirm the importance of the link between culture and development for all countries, particularly for developing countries, and to support actions undertaken nationally and internationally to secure recognition of the true value of this link;
(g) to give recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and meaning;
(h) to reaffirm the sovereign rights of States to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory;
(i) to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in a spirit of partnership with a view, in particular, to enhancing the capacities of developing countries in order to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

Article 2 – Guiding principles

1. Principle of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms Cultural diversity can be protected and promoted only if human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, information and communication, as well as the ability of individuals to choose cultural expressions, are guaranteed. No one may invoke the provisions of this Convention in order to infringe human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or guaranteed by international law, or to limit the scope thereof.

2. Principle of sovereignty

States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to adopt measures and policies to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions within their territory.

3. Principle of equal dignity of and respect for all cultures

The protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions presuppose the recognition of equal dignity of and respect for all cultures, including the cultures of persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples.

4. Principle of international solidarity and cooperation
International cooperation and solidarity should be aimed at enabling countries, especially developing countries, to create and strengthen their means of cultural expression, including their cultural industries, whether nascent or established, at the local, national and international levels.

5. Principle of the complementarity of economic and cultural aspects of development
Since culture is one of the mainsprings of development, the cultural aspects of development are as important as its economic aspects, which individuals and peoples have the fundamental right to participate in and enjoy.

6. Principle of sustainable development

Cultural diversity is a rich asset for individuals and societies. The protection, promotion and maintenance of cultural diversity are an essential requirement for sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.

7. Principle of equitable access

Equitable access to a rich and diversified range of cultural expressions from all over the world and access of cultures to the means of expressions and dissemination constitute important elements for enhancing cultural diversity and encouraging mutual understanding.

8. Principle of openness and balance

When States adopt measures to support the diversity of cultural expressions, they should seek to promote, in an appropriate manner, openness to other cultures of the world and to ensure that these measures are geared to the objectives pursued under the present Convention.

Don L. Hutchison, metaphysical writervcrkaf

http://thehighwatch9.blogspot.com
From Florida, U.S.A.

God's unconditional love and divine plan includes everyone, how can we aim for anything less?

The process against Kurdish TV seems to be a foul shot

By Ole Damkjær, Berlingske Tidende December 15, 2005


The Copenhagen police now asks the State Posecutor to evaluate the Turkish complaint against the Kurdish TV-station Roj-TV, which has been suspected of working in favourr of terrorism. This step seems to indicate that the case is falling apart, an espert of penal legislation estimates. The Copenhagen police now sends the politically sensitive matter Regarding the Kurdish TV-station Roj-TV upwards in the legal systemt the State Prosecutor. This will bring the case originating in the accusation of the Turkish government that the TV-station be working in support of terror, a step closer towards a conclusion.

"We pass on the case to the State Prosecutor becauase of its principal character and the public interest" Police Director Hanne Bech Hansen yesterday commented to Ritzau. The Police Director would not disclose the nature of her recommendation to the State Prosecutor Karsten Hjorth and Roj.TV categorically denies that it supports or recieves money from the Kurdish organisation PKK.

The expert of penal legislation Jørn Vestergaard from the University of Copenhagen estimates, that the case is disintegrating; that the police does not think that it can be proven that the TV-station has links to the PKK terror.

The most plausible conclusion is that the Copenhagen police estimates that further prosecution is no likely to lead to anybody being convicted. In other words that there are insufficient arguments for presuming that the proofs necessary for passing a sentence, can be presented. In that case further legal steps can be abandoned, but the State Prosecutor is the deciding authority", Jørn Vestergaard says to the Berlingske Tidende.

He bases his evaluation on the fact that the Police Director has made it known that she has forwarded the case to the State Prosecutor "due to its special character. If the Copenhagen police has recommended to the State Prosecutor that accusation be raised according to § 114B of the Penal Code for supporting the activity of a terror group for example by way of being the TV-station the paid mouthpiece of the terror group, it does not make much sense that the Police Director refers to the special character of the case because in that situation under all circumstances it should be passed further upward in the system, since in the end it is the competence of the Attorney General to take such legal action", Jørn Vestergaard explains.

Roj-TV has a headquarter in Copenhagen and transmits its programs to millions of Kurds in Europe and the Middle East. The Radio & TV-Commission has absolved the station from the accusation of making propaganda in favour of the PKK. This following a showing of two video tapes with Roj-TV program submitted to the Commission by the Turkish Embassy in Denmark which also gave in the accusation against Roj-TV to the police.

The matter has worsened relations between the governments of Denmark and Turkey. During a short and hasty visit to Copenhagen last month the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan abandonned a joint press conference with the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen because there was a journalist from Roj-TV present among the representatives of the press.

A couple of days later the Berlingsker Tidende could publish that the American government in a confidential contact to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked Denmark to outlaw Roj-TV which, according to the USA is a prolonged arm of the Kurdish organization PKK that has been blacklisted by both the USA and the EU as well.

Roj TV File in Denmark at Attorney General's Office

By Hasan Cucuk
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2005
zaman.com

Denmark has taken the first legal step against Roj TV; the network Turkey requested be closed down.

Copenhagen Police launching an investigation on the terrorist organization the Kurdish Workers' Party's (PKK) broadcasting channel upon Ankara's insistence took action and sent the file to the Office of the Attorney General.

The Attorney General will have the final word on the issue. Authorities assessed sending the file to the attorney generalship as "This is not an issue the police can deal with. Sending the file to the office of the attorney generals shows the issue is being dealt with seriously."

A few days ago, a society called Al-Aqsa in Denmark was claimed to have transfer money to the terrorist organization. Following this, police sent the file it had prepared to the attorney general's office. A case was opened against the group; the same process is expected to take place in the Roj TV case as well.

Copenhagen Police Chief Hane Bech Hansen announced Wednesday the Roj TV dossier "was sent to the office of the attorney general due to immense public interest in the issue."

Hansen declined further statement about the content of the police investigation.

Copenhagen Royal Public Prosecutor Karsten Hjorth, who the file on the separatist channel was sent, also refused to comment on the contents of the file he expects to receive in a few days.

The US administration had also stepped in requesting the closure of the channel supporting the PKK that had caused a crisis to develop between Turkey and Denmark.

A "secret letter" sent by the US about the channel is also attached in the dossier. When asked if there is a link between the PKK and Roj TV during his visit to Berlin last week, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said:

"The Danish police are investigating this issue. There is some evidence, we are assessing of some its practices, but I cannot say anything more about this for the safety of the investigation. However, I would like to emphasize that the PKK is a terrorist organization in Denmark, too, as it is in all EU countries."

Turkey requested Roj TV stop broadcasting.


Copenhagen

Note: an amazing aspect of animosity towards Kurdish people and RoJ tv is clear in the way Mr. Hasan Cucuk here deals with the issue. He had coind the phrase "Separatist Channel" a concept that causes laughter.

Save Roj Tv

Official Gazzette in The Kurdish Language

The "Our Cultures are Our Wealth" program broadcasted in the Kirmanchi dialect of Kurdish on TRT3 channel, carried reports on the government, economy and culture. There was no mention of the recent developments in the region.

BIA News Center, 05/12/2005, Erol ONDEROGLU

BİA (Ankara) - The Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) began broadcasting programs in the Kirmanchi dialect of Kurdish on November 30. TRT had begun broadcasts in languages and dialects other than Turkish a year and a half ago.

The "Our Cultures are Our Wealth" program at 10:30 a.m. on TRT3, carried reports about statements made by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and members of the government.

News about the government but nothing on Southeastern Anatolia

The news program carried reports about the Italian President's meeting with President Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meeting with a group of Italian businessmen, Agriculture and Village Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker's statements on agriculture debts and subsidies to farmers, the viniculture meeting attended by State Minister Abdullatif Sener in Ankara, the statement by Health Minister Recep Akdag that "there still are difficulties in appointing doctors to the east and southeast," the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul with the First Deputy of the Prime Minister of Qatar.

Other reports were about Ahiska Turks who were exiled 61 years ago, the AIDA warning by the United Nations, nutrition and weight warnings during the winter months, the "Kaleici is our love" watercolor exhibition on the historic Kaleici site in Antalya, and the "Use of Biological Species" project launched to revive the anchovy in the Black sea.

No mention of "Hakkari" in Kirmanchi news

There was no reports about the developments in Hakkari, Semdinli and Yuksekova, where there have been bomb attacks and protests recently.

The sports program carried reports on the Fenerbahce-Milan football game of the past week, and the news that the Japanese government granted 1.8 million dollars to Turkey to support sports.

"Returning to village" song

During the music program, TRT broadcasted song with choruses and images of folk dances, named, "Nobody's left in our village," and a song by Memocan from Urfa named, "Aman Dilo."

The "Anatolia's Beauties" program carried images of weaver Ummu Karakus in the Pamukkale region of the province of Denizli. The famous buldan fabric of the region was presented to the viewers during the program. The "From Blue to Green" program was about raising calf.

TRT has been broadcasting programs in different languages and dialects for the past year and a half.

While Kurdish broadcasts are banned in local media, Radio 1 and TRT3 broadcasts programs in the Bosnian language on Mondays, in Arabic on Tuesdays, in the Kirmanchi dialect on Wednesdays, Circassian language on Thursdays and in the Zaza dialect on Fridays.

TRT had started broadcasts in different languages on June 7 with a Bosnian-language program after an ordinance on broadcasts in languages and dialects other than Turkish was published on January 25, 2004. (EO/EA/YE)

Message of Kurdish journalist Dr. Salaheddin Khadiw

I respectfully ask Danish government not to give in to the pressures exerted by Turkish government for closing down ROJ TV. We can criticize ROJ TV as any other media outlet ; this is a rule of democracy, but extinguishing a voice of kurdish people in a situation that according to the universal standards, they possess the least means of media , is not only an anti democratic deed but also it is a great disservice to the Kurdish people and no doubt it effects their life negatively. That is why defending the existance of ROJ TV is defending the right of expression and as such is a principle of democracy, at the same time it is a respect to the human rights of People of Kurdistan

Journalist

16.12.2005

The View of A Peace Researcher

A fundamental feature of a free and democratic society is the governments protection of the citizens freedom of speech and freedom of political expression. This includes the use of these freedoms to critisize gov't policy, religious authorities, and others. How can the Turkish gov't ever hope to join the EU if it feels it cannot withstand the pressures created by these core freedoms? Besides, history shows that stifling the voice of resistence will likely lead to increased violence.

Fraser
Peace Researcher

16.12.2005

Court to Try not Orhan Pamuk, but Turkey

Rehn: Court to Try not Orhan Pamuk, but Turkey
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2005
zaman.com

"It is not Orhan Pamuk but Turkey to be tried in court on Friday," said Olli Rehn, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement, about the Pamuk trial.

The court's decree will "be a test for Turkey on freedom of expression and the reforms that have so far been put into action," the commissioner said. "I hope Turkey acts in accordance with the European Human Rights Convention and the Copenhagen political criteria."

The outcome of the Pamuk trial, according to Rhen, will possibly set a positive example for the other cases of freedom of expression pending for trial.

[13:11:00]

End the attempts to close down Roj TV

12/15/2005 KurdishMedia.com
PRESS STATEMENT
6 December 2005

Signed by 134 Kurdish and Turkish writers, academics, artists, and musicians

It seems that our country cannot deal effectively with the mindset which has its roots in the state of conflict of the last quarter of a century. It may also be that some groups within society wish to see the continuation of this conflict and negative atmosphere. This position adopts an isolationist approach and is blind to the efforts for democratization and peace. This is the result of the military coup carried out 25 years ago.

Turkey, however, has now turned towards Europe but it should be understood that the European Union process has been taking place for the last 40 years. Only in the last 3-5 years has the process made significant strides and it is undeniable that the suspension of conflict and partial peace that continued for the previous seven years has been a decisive factor in this accession process.

We view with sadness and alarm how some groups aim to make Turkey abandon its efforts towards democratization and peace and are using both secret and open methods. We do not know of any other country which causes so much destruction in defence of national security.

The one thing that we have to understand is that the political and technological developments show clearly that nothing can be as it was before. Neither Turkey nor the Kurds are the same as they were thirty years ago. It is important to realise that every Kurdish individual, artist and intellectual is determined to search for their people's rights by democratic means.

The challenge for Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who says that he "recognizes the Kurdish Question", is whether he truly recognises the question within the framework of the Kurdish people's democratic rights or not.

Mr Erdogan claimed that the legal obstacles that are in the way of the Kurdish people's democratic rights were abolished during the European Union process. In some areas these claims consist of symbolic steps. In practice however the situation can be as bad as during the Ciller period or yet worse than the time of the military coup of 12 September 1980.

For example, the recent events in Semdinli, Hakkari and Yuksekova are worse than what happened in the Ciller period. The denial policy which is breeding distrust in society and creating obstacles for the peace process is no different from the methods used by the nationalist DSP-ANAP-MHP government. The isolation, attacks and denials against the Kurdish language, culture and art also resemble what happened under past governments.

Now there is the very worrying campaign to close Roj TV and the crisis which was started by a speech made by the Commander of Land Forces General Buyukanit reached a peak in Denmark with the visit of Erdogan.

The Roj TV crisis has become an important issue since anyone who has been on the channel faces the possibility of judicial punishment. This shows that Turkey is very far away from the European democracy. The attitude of Deniz Baykal, leader of CHP, to this subject has to be condemned.

While the European Union plans to enlarge its existent democratic structure, the anti-democratic attitude towards the Kurdish language, culture and art in our country creates a feeling of tremendous disappointment.

In fact we had supported through our signature campaign the statements by Mr Erdogan recognising the existence of a Kurdish question. And we had waited with anticipation for the steps he would take following such a statement. And we had hoped that the obstacles imposed on the development of Kurdish music, cinema, theatre and literature will be removed one by one.

One of our hopes was to establish a TV channel broadcasting from Turkey to enable Kurdish musicians, actors, writers and film producers to express themselves. In reality, Roj TV, the only medium by which Kurds can express themselves, is under threat of closure. Nonetheless we have scripts for television series, music videos, documentary films, theatre plays, cinema films, entertainment and children's programmes. We announce to enter into talks with international television channels interested in broadcasting our productions.

Under present circumstances we do not think there are any communication mediums which would be willing to broadcast work which reflects the Kurdish culture and art. Those who claim that one can develop his/her own culture and speak his/her language are also preventing and threatening the people who want to develop the Kurdish language and culture.

The 12 September regime burned our music, books, films and plays and today's system wants us to destroy our minds and cultural creations ourselves. Unfortunately, this seems to be the only difference between 12 September and today. If the national channels will not open their broadcast to us and if Roj TV is closed down, our work might as well be burned.

We would like to ask government officials what they think will be addressed through the programme on TRT-3, which is limited to half an hour per week, does not answer to any need and which is very far from reflecting Kurdish culture and art.

Furthermore, we offered the TRT assistance on the content, dubbing, translation, documentary films and production of the half an hour program, but we have not received any reply positive or negative. We think that the attitude of TRT is significant.

In addition, we are worried about the incorrect use of the Kurdish language used in these broadcasts because the rules are not used correctly.

There is also a serious issue with certain television companies which do not broadcast our music videos even though the agreed sum is paid to them. As a result, we face financial loss because our right to broadcast and publicity is usurped.

Government officials need to urgently deal with these injustices and remove the legal and actual obstacles facing the Kurdish language, culture, art and literature. In truth the Kurdish language, culture and art are under attack and in danger of being silenced. The systematic denial of and obstacles on the Kurdish language, culture and art show themselves in the attacks on Roj TV.

We, the associations, organizations and artists whose names are listed below, want to see an end to the attempts to close down Roj TV, which right now is the most important tool for the growth and expression of the Kurdish language, culture and art.

We want to see the creation of new opportunities for all languages and cultures which have been denied for years in Turkey, to allow them to be expressed freely. We want the life with all the colours of our country, peace and brotherhood not to be obstructed.


Translated from Turkish original

BASINA VE KAMUOYUNA 06.12.2005

Ülkemiz, son çeyrek yüzyılını kapsayan çatışmalı ortamının yarattığı ruh halinden kurtulamıyor bir türlü. Ya da birileri hala bu çatışmalı ortamın ve bu ruh halinin devam etmesini istiyor. Bu ruh hali bütün demokratikleşme çabalarına, bütün barış çabalarına kulak tıkayan ve bu çabalara tecrit uygulayan bir ruh halidir. Bu ruh hali "netekim" 25 yıl önce yapılan darbenin yakıcı bir şekilde etkisini taşıyan bir haldir.

Ama birilerinin artık algılaması gerekir ki, Türkiye son yıllarda yüzünü Avrupa Birliğine çevirmiştir. Ve yine birileri bilmeli ki, Avrupa Birliği süreci her ne kadar Türkiye'nin son 40 yıllık politikasını ifade etmekte olsa da, bugünkü hükümet yetkililerinin de belirttiği gibi bu süreç son 3-5 yılda katlanarak hızlandırılmıştır. Ve hiç kimse bu sürecin hızlanmasında 7 yıldır sürdürülen çatışmasızlık ortamının ve kısmi barışçıl ortamın etkisini görmezden gelmemeli.

Ama kaygıyla ve üzülerek izlemekteyiz ki, Türkiye de bazı kesimler bu ülkenin demokratikleşme ve barış şansını yitirmesini istiyor, bunun için çeşitli açık ve karanlık faaliyetler yürütüyor. Ülke güvenliği bahane edilerek ülkesine bu kadar fazla zarar veren başka bir ülke bilmiyoruz maalesef. Algılanması gereken şu ki, dünyadaki gerek siyasal, gerekse teknolojik gelişmeler artık hiçbir şeyin eskisi gibi olamayacağını açıkça göstermektedir. Ne Türkiye 30 yıl önceki Türkiye'dir ne de Kürtler. Ve bilinmelidir ki bugün her Kürt bireyi, sanatçısı, aydını kendi haklarını demokratik yollardan aramaya kararlıdır. Sorun, "Kürt meselesini tanıdığını" söyleyen Başbakan Sayın Recep Tayip Erdoğan'ın Kürt meselesini Kürtlerin demokratik hakları çerçevesinde tanıyıp tanımaması sorunudur. Sayın Başbakan, Avrupa Birliği sürecinde Kürtlerin demokratik hakları önündeki yasal engellerin kaldırıldığını iddia ediyor. Bu iddialar bazı alanlarda sembolik düzeyde atılan adımlardan ibarettir. Uygulama ise adeta Çiller dönemini ve hatta kimi zaman 12 eylül dönemini dahi aratır boyutlara ulaşmaktadır. Örneğin son dönemlerde Şemdinli, Hakkari ve Yüksekova'da yaşananlar Çiller dönemini aratır tarzdadır. Öte yandan toplumu geren, barışa dair atılacak adımların önünde engeller yaratan tecrit uygulaması, milliyetçi bir hükümet olan DSP-MHP-ANAP hükümetini dahi yine aratmaktadır. Kürt dili, kültürü ve sanatına karşı da uygulanan tecrit, yok sayma ve saldırılar da yine geçmiş hükümetleri aratmaktadır. Nitekim Kara Kuvvetleri Komutanı Orgeneral Büyükanıt'ın bir konuşmasıyla başlayan ve onun ağzından Erdoğan tarafından Danimarka'da zirveye taşınan Roj TV krizi ve kapatılması yönünde geliştirilen kampanya, kaygı vericidir.

Nitekim, Roj TV'ye Türkiye'den katılan herkesi takip altına alma, onları cezai müeyyidelerle tehdit etme boyutuna vardırılan Roj TV meselesi, Avrupa Birliği'ne aday Türkiye'nin Avrupa demokrasisine ne kadar uzak olduğunu gösterirken, CHP Genel Başkanı Sayın Deniz Baykal'ın konuya ilişkin ise tutumu esefle karşılanacak boyuttadır. Avrupa Birliği, mevcut demokratik yapısını daha da genişletmeyi planlarken, ülkemizde geliştirilmekte olan özellikle Kürt dili, kültürü ve sanatına yönelik antidemokratik tutum ne yazık ki hayal kırıklığı yaratıyor. Oysa bizler, Sayın Başbakan'ı Kürt meselesini tanırken ve isim koyarken imzalarımızla desteklemiştik. Ve o açıklamaların arkasından atacağı adımları heyecanla beklemiştik. Ve Kürt müziği'nin, sineması'nın, tiyatrosu'nun ve edebiyatının gelişimi önündeki engellerin bir bir kaldırılacağını umut etmiştik.

Umutlarımızdan biri de, Kürt müzisyenlerin, aktörlerin, edebiyatçıların, tiyatrocuların ve sinemacıların kendini ifade edebilecekleri ve Türkiye'den yayın yapabilecek bir TV kanalının kurulmasıydı. Ama bugün geldiğimiz noktada, böyle bir adımın atılması bir yana, Kürtler'in şu an kendilerini ifade edebildikleri tek araç olan Roj TV de kapatılmaya çalışılıyor.

Oysa elimizde Kürtçe dizi senaryoları var, kliplerimiz var, belgeseller var. Tiyatro oyunları, sinema filmleri, show programları, çocuk programları var.

Şimdi buradan sesleniyoruz: Bu çalışmalarımızı yayınlayacak ulusal bir televizyon kanalı varsa, bizler eserlerimizi yayınlamak için bu yayın kuruluşu veya kuruluşlarıyla gerekli görüşmeyi yapmaya hazırız. Evet, var olan anlayışla her hangi bir yayın kuruluşunun, Kürt Kültür ve sanatını yansıtan eserleri yayınlayabileceklerini düşünmüyoruz. Çünkü kendi dilinizi konuşabilirsiniz, kültürünüzü geliştirebilirsiniz diyenler, Kürt dili ve kültürünü geliştirmek isteyenlere de her türlü engeli çıkarmaktan ve her türlü tehdidi savurmaktan geri kalmıyorlar. 12 Eylül rejimi bizim albümlerimizi, kitaplarımızı, filmlerimizi, oyunlarımızı yakıyordu. Bugünkü sistem de ise bize adeta eserlerimizi yakmamız dayatılıyor. Bugünü 12Eylül'den ayıran tek fark budur maalesef. Ve eğer ulusal kanallar yayınlarını bize açmayacaksa, Roj TV de kapatılacaksa, halka ulaşamayacak olan eserlerimizi yakmaktan başka çaremiz kalmayacak maalesef.. Buradan yetkililere sesleniyoruz: TRT-3'te haftada yarım saatle sınırlı olan ve hiçbir ihtiyacı karşılamayan, Kürt kültür sanatını da yansıtmaktan çok uzak olan programların neyi çözdüğünü sanıyorsunuz? Üstelik TRT yetkililerine, yapılmakta olan yarım saatlik yayının içeriğine, dublajından çevirisine, belgeselinden program yapımına kadar teklif sunduk. Ancak TRT'den olumlu ya da olumsuz bir cevap dahi alamadık. TRT'nin bu tavrını manidar buluyoruz. Nitekim söz konusu yayında, Kürt dilinin tüm kuralları altüst ediliyor ve bizler bundan ayrıca kaygı duyuyoruz. Öte yandan çektiğimiz Kürtçe klipler, ilgili kanallara gerekli ücreti ödenmesine rağmen hiçbir şekilde yayınlanmıyor. Dolayısıyla reklam ve tanıtım hakkımız da gasp edildiği için ciddi ticari zararlara uğramaktayız.

Devleti yönetenlerin acil olarak yapması gereken şey; bu haksızlığı derhal gidermeleri; Kürt dili, kültürü, sanatı ve edebiyatı önündeki yasal ve fiili engelleri ortadan kaldırmaktır.. Çünkü saldırı altında olan ve susturulmak istenen aslında Kürt dili, kültürü ve sanatıdır. Kürt dili, kültürü ve sanatına ilişkin sistematik yok sayma ve engelleme çabası bugün kendini Roj TV ye saldırılar şahsında göstermektedir. Biz, aşağıda ismi bulunan kurum, kuruluşlar ve sanatçılar olarak şu anda Kürt dilinin, kültürünün ve sanatının gelişiminde ve kendisini ifade etmesinde en önemli araç olarak gördüğümüz Roj TV'nin kapatılması yönündeki çabalara son verilmesini, yıllardır yok sayılan Türkiye'deki bütün dillerin, kültürlerin kendilerini özgürce ifade edebilecekleri yeni araçlar yaratılmasını ve ülkemizin tüm renkleriyle bir arada barış ve kardeşlik içinde yaşamasına engel olunmamasını istiyoruz. Saygılarımızla.

SIGNATORIES

1. Ada Culture and Art Center
2. Adana Lales Culture Center
3. Akdeniz Culture and Art Center
4. Anadolu Youth Culture Center
5. Anka Culture and Art Center
6. Ankara Youth Culture Center
7. Arzela Culture Center
8. Avasîn Culture and Art Center
9. AYDIN Music
10. Bahar Culture and Art Center
11. Bingöl Culture and Art Center
12. Botan Culture and Art Center
13. Dicle-Firat Culture and Art Center
14. Gever Culture and Art Center
15. Günes Culture and Art Center
16. HUNER Music
17. Istanbul Kurdish Institute
18. KOM Music
19. Kommagene Culture and Art Center
20. LORÎN Production
21. Mem û Zîn Culture and Art Center
22. Mezopotamya Culture Center
23. Mus Culture and Art Center
24. Sarya Culture and Art Center
25. Serhat Culture and Art Center
26. SES Record
27. SILVANA Music
28. Urfa Culture and Art Center
29. Ahmet Soner (Director)
30. Alaattin Aktas (Manager of Kurdish Institute)
31. Ali Baran (Musician)
32. Alisan Önlü (Actor)
33. Apo Kaya (Theatre Director)
34. Armanc (Musician)
35. Ayfer Düzdas (Musician)
36. Beser Sahin (Musician)
37. Beytocan (Musician)
38. Bilal Ercan (Musician)
39. Brader (Musician)
40. Burhan Berken (Musician)
41. Cabbar Baris (Productor)
42. Cafer Solgun (Writer)
43. Caner Canerik (Journalist)
44. Cejno (Musician)
45. Cemal Tas (Researcher)
46. Cemil Andok
47. Cevdet Bagca (Musician)
48. Cewat Merwanî (Musician)
49. Ciwan Haco (Musician)
50. Çem Production
51. Çiçek (Musician)
52. Delîl Dîlanar (Musician)
53. Dengbêj Kazo (Musician)
54. Deniz Deman (Musician)
55. Dogan Munzuroglu (Writer)
56. Egîdê Cimo (Musician)
57. Ehmed Huseynî (Poet)
58. Emir Ali Yagan (Poet-Writer)
59. Emrah Öner (Journalist)
60. Erdal Ceviz (Director)
61. Eylem (Musician)
62. Fadil Öztürk (Poet-Writer)
63. Ferhat Tunç (Musician)
64. Feyzoyê Rizo (Musician)
65. Group Agirê Jiyan
66. Group Çar Newa
67. Group Azad
68. Group Çiya
69. Group Gulên Xerzan,
70. Group Hemdem
71. Group Janya
72. Group Rewsen
73. Group Serhildan National Dance Community
74. Group Vengê Sodirî
75. Güler Yildiz (Writer)
76. Gülistan (Musician)
77. Hatice Dogan (Painter)
78. Haydar Isik (Writer)
79. Helîm Yûsiv (Writer)
80. Hemê Hecî Musician)
81. Ibrahim Rojhilat (Musician)
82. Kawa Nemir (Poet)
83. Kazim Öz (Director)
84. Kemal Kahraman (Musician)
85. Kemal Orgun (Theatre Writer and Actor)
86. Kemal Ulusoy (Actor and Programme Producer)
87. Leyla Îsxan (Musician)
88. Mehmet Atli (Musician)
89. Metin Kahraman (Musician)
90. Mezopotamya Cinema Collektive
91. MKM Modern Dance Community
92. Murat Batgi (Kurdish Stand-Up maker)
93. Nail Yurtsever (Musician)
94. Nesimi Aday (Poet/Writer)
95. Nilüfer Akbal (Musician)
96. Nizamettin Ariç (Musician)
97. Ozan Aydin (Musician)
98. Ozan Bülent (Musician)
99. Ozan Comert (Musician)
100. Ozan Diyar (Musician)
101. Ozan Kawa (Musician)
102. Ozan Maruf (Musician)
103. Ozan Peyman (Musician)
104. Ozan Seyidxan (Musician)
105. Ozan Semdîn (Musician)
106. Reso (Musician)
107. Rojda (Musician)
108. Rojhan Beken (Musician)
109. Rotinda (Musician)
110. Sami Tan (Kurdish Linguist)
111. Serap Sönmez (Musician)
112. Sosin (Musician)
113. Suat Alican (Musician)
114. Sefik Beyaz (The President of the Kurdish Institute)
115. Teatra Jiyana Nû
116. Tevfik Tas (Writer)
117. TiyatRO
118. Turan Yapistiran (Musician)
119. Umur Hozatli (Writer/Director)
120. Umut Altinçag (Musician)
121. Vecdi Erbay (Writer/Poet)
122. Xanemîr (Musician)
123. Xelîl Xemgîn (Musician)
124. Xemgîn Bîrhat (Musician)
125. Xêro Ebbas (Musician)
126. Yekbûn (Musician)
127. Yildiz Gültekin (Theatre Actor)
128. Yusuf Çetin (Actor)
129. Zana Farqînî (Kurdish Linguist)
130. Zarife (Musician)
131. Zelemele (Musician)
132. Zinar Sozdar (Musician)
133. Zozan (Musician)
134. Zülfü Akar (Writer)