We call on the UN, its member states and all its institutions and agencies to fulfil their duties and take action to enforce the law by holding Turkey to account for its actions.
PEACE IN KURDISTAN
Statement, 23 July 2019
Last Friday, it was reported that Turkey had launched air strikes on the Maxmur refugee camp, located in the Kurdish region of Iraq, over which the UN flag flies. This brutal military action targeted civilians but was met with total silence and utter inaction from the international community. This is an outrage as is the fact that the liberal media turned a collective blind eye. The lack of response from Iraq and the Kurdish regional authorities is equally an outrage.
We remain shocked even though it is far from being the first time that such actions by Turkey have escaped scrutiny or even comment.
In its attack on Maxmur Camp we see once again that the Turkish state’s reputation as a serial violator of international law is well earned. The litany of human rights abuses and atrocities committed by Turkish state forces in its war against the Kurds have made the regime notorious, but it has incurred few penalties from those with the power to constrain its activities.
Turkey’s violations have been carried out brazenly in full view of the world. It is deeply shocking how those powers, who seek to portray themselves as world leaders in upholding human rights, are always ready to remain absolutely silent in the face of Turkey’s repeated flouting of every known legality, no matter how brutal and blatant these actions might be. To remain inactive before crimes is tantamount to complicity.
All those who are formally signed up to international law have a duty to defend and uphold the system of law that provides protection to the world’s most vulnerable. Refugees deserve and are entitled to that protection.
Equally, those who uphold the law have a responsibility to take action to punish those, such as Turkey, who are caught in repeated violation of their commitments, because Turkey, it must be recalled, is itself a signatory to the UN Charter and international human rights laws.
We call on the UN, it member states and all its institutions and agencies to fulfil their duties and take action to enforce the law by holding Turkey to account for its actions.
Turkey must not be allowed to avoid punishment for its brutal and unprovoked use of force against civilians in the UN protected Maxmur Camp, where more than 12,000 refugees reside.
If Turkey is allowed to act with impunity, it will continue with its military interventions in its brutal war against the Kurds. Turkey must be stopped.
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
http://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Contacts Estella Schmid 020 7586 5892 & Melanie Gingell – Tel: 020 7272 7890
Patrons: John Austin, Christine Blower, NEU International Secretary, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Dr Cynthia Cockburn, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans MEP, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Christopher Gingell, Rahila Gupta, Nick Hildyard, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert MEP, Elfyn Llwyd, Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, Lord Rea, Joe Ryan, Stephen Smellie, Jonathan Steele, Steve Sweeney, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward MEP, Hywel Williams MP.
Peace in Kurdistan 