To the Editor:

The Turkish anti-terrorism police detained six Kurdish members of parliament after the Turkish parliament voted to lift their immunity March 2. The state security court wants to charge the lawmakers with supporting the Kurdish separatists of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or P.K.K.. The action could ruin elections scheduled for March 27, especially as Ankara has brought respected observers in to monitor the election, as requested by the European parliament. More violence and instability are expected in Turkey, which already suffers from a 10-year war and crumpled economy.

From the early 1920's to 1990, Turkish administrations banned the very word Kurd from public discourse. There were bans on Kurdish language, music, clothes and, of course, political organizations and publications focusing on Kurdish issues. The situation changed positively under President Turgut Ozal in 1990.

Recently, however, President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller have denied the existence of a Kurdish issue in Turkey. The consider it a "terrorist" problem. Therefore, they handed it to generals to "solve." The Turkish military believes it can solve the problem with force. Human rights are violated today more than ever, as reported by Turkish Human Rights. More than 12,000 people have been killed. About 850 villages have been demolished or evacuated. In December, Prime Minister Ciller stated that military operations in the Kurdish region have cost more than $30 billion.

To overcome difficulties caused by its clashes with the P.K.K., Turkey turned to the United States. The Clinton Administration agreed to go beyond military aid and offer economic and political aid. When the House Foreign Affairs Committee raised concern about Turkey's human rights record, State Department officials commented they use private channels to advise on and discuss the issue with Ankara. United States policy toward Turkey has been governed by the Administration's belief that Turkey plays a key role in regional stability from the Balkans to Central Asia.

Events of the last year contradict that belief. Tensions exist between Turkey and such neighbors as Armenia, Iran and Syria because Turkey accused them of supporting the P.K.K. American and European tourists were taken hostage by the P. K. K.. Mobile Oil Turk, the largest producer in Turkey, stopped operations following a P. K. K. attack in September 1992. Many observers predict the situation will be worse this year.

Politicians in Ankara need to be reminded that there is no military solution to the Kurdish issue or to any similar ethnic problem. Turkish interests can be achieved by developing democracy to serve Kurdish interest, too.

Salah Aziz
President, The Badlisy Center for Kurdish Studies
Tallahassee, Fla. March 14, 1994

The New York Times Editorials/Letters, Monday, March 21, 1994