TODAY’S MESOP COMMENTARY (II) : Prof. Dr. Van Bruinessen: Thousands of people were killed by state in 90s

İSTANBUL- The first session of two-days conference entitled as “Kurds and Kurdistan in 1990s” organized by the Bilgi University Kurdology Research Deparment, the Bilgi University Culture and Though Group and the Society and Doctrine Journal began in Istanbul Bilgi University Kuştepe Campus.

A great number of people participated into the conference in which the 1990s years, when tens of thousands of people lost their lives, will be discussed. Apart from lots of academiscians from international sphere, hundreds of students joined in the conference. The opening speeches were made by Information, Culture and Though Group member Hişyar Aydın and Istanbul Bilgi University Rector Prof. Dr. Remzi Sanver.

‘There is the reality of Kurd’

After the opening speeches, Istanbul Bilgi University and Utrecht University teaching fellow Prof. Dr. Martin Van Bruinessen made a presentation entitled as “Kurdistan in 1990s: Policies of identity, civilian society, efforts of institutionalization”. Presenting a perspective of the 1990s regarding these lived in both the geograpghy of Middle East and Balkan, Bruinessen added: “If it’s neccessary to define 90s with a name, these can be done only with two names. We can define that the borders disappear in this term. In the end of same ten years, in 1999, Kosova seperates from Sırbia with the intervention of NATO. The aim of NATO is not to found a new state. It is trying to portect Kosova people against the Sırbia army. NATO became together with the guerrilla movement there. This guerilla movement is a guerrilla movement that resembles to PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) very much. You know, there is the verdict of ‘borders will not change’ in 90s. The cold war was stabilized with these borders. As there is a reality of Kurd, it does not reflects to realities in the local. The 90s have become an important term for Kurdistan for all the Kurds.”

‘Halabja massacre created a memory uniting all the Kurds’

Noting that ending of Iraq War is a vital milestone for Kurds, Bruinessen underlined: “Iraq is attacking with toxic gas tı Halabja city. The photographes of Halabja is seen by all th world. Halabja has become symbol not only for Iraqi Kurds but also for Kurds in Syria, Iran and Turkey. What Holocaust means for Modern Jew, Halabja is the same for Kurds. Halabja and the attcks after Halabja created a memory that uniting all the Kurds.”

‘PKK turned its struggle into political struggle in 90s’

Bruinessen made a short speech concerning the situation of Kurds in 90s. Saying that the PKK turned the Kurdish struggle into political struggle, Bruinessen underlined: “In the territories, where the PKK felt itself powerful, the society began to manage itself. And unresolved murders began. Almost all the political people were killed. Thousands of people were killed and annihilated by the State. Kurdish political parties were established in this term. Kurds were represented in the Parliament for the first time. This is a crucial experience.”