Following the bombing of targets in Northern Iraq on Sunday (16 December), the Human Rights Association (IHD), the Labour Party (EMEP) and the European Peace Parliament Initiative yesterday called for an immediate halt to operations.

EMEP: Only more losses, oppression and pain"

EMEP, a party outside of parliament, said, "Not one step forward has been taken in the Kurdish question by carrying out operations. There has only been an increase in losses, oppression and pain."

Levent Tüzel, chair of the EMEP, said: "The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has raised expectations of a solution, and has then put the support it enjoys among the people at risk by siding with military solutions and the USA."

Tüzel added that channels for developing peace and democracy were being blocked domestically, with an increase in pressure on the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) and the closure of Kurdish newspapers and publications.

IHD:  What about election promises?

The IHD reminded the government that "Wanting peace means defending life." The association said that political and military arguments had become intertwined, that the government was acting like a war council and had handed authority over to the military.

"The permission to use air space was given by the power that has occupied Iraq [i.e. the USA]. The media is reporting that both the Iraqi central government and the autonomous Kurdish government in the north have opposed operations."

Referring to election promises of the AKP, the IHD further said: "What about the economic, social, legal and cultural measures that were supposed to be taken? What about the MPs from the [Kurdish majority] region being able to work with political representation and to express their problems? What about seeing peaceful measures as vital and aiming for human rights, democracy, cultural rights and the rule of law?

The European Peace Parliament Initiative has said that the current developments are worrying: "In order to give peace a chance, operations must stop immediately and urgent steps must be taken in order to stop the atmosphere of war and violence from becoming worse." (EZÖ/TK)