Turkey must not be allowed to dominate Kurds

THE EDITOR: The war against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein, effectively commenced on March 19, 2003, by coalition forces led by the United States of America, is a war against a brutal terror regime. The crimes of Saddam Hussein, his sons, and members of his dictatorial government are well known. This brutal dictator has oppressed and suppressed his own people, the worst act of atrocity being the ethnic cleansing by chemical warfare, against the Kurds of North Iraq.  He waged wars against neighbouring states to fulfil his extraterritorial ambitions.

Saddam Hussein has consistently ignored and disregarded the many directives of the United Nations to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction. The missiles fired against Kuwait provide irrefutable evidence to the world of the lies of Saddam Hussein that Iraq possesses no weapons of mass destruction. As the war to disarm him unfolds, more of such weapons will undoubtedly be revealed. The actions of President Bush and the coalition forces are consistent with dharma. In ancient times Shri Rama removed two unjust and evil regimes, those of Bali and Ravana. In the process he liberated two kingdoms and peoples from oppressed rulers. He also brought to an end the terror campaigns which the savants of these regimes engaged in, even outside their own boundaries. Shri Rama installed in their place dharmic rule and governments, run by the people of Bali and Lanka.

President Bush, Prime Minister Blair, the governments of Spain, Italy, Australia, and many others in eastern Europe and around the world, in their military campaign against Saddam Hussein and his terror regime, are on the side of dharma. They are engaged in actions similar to Shri Rama of ancient times. It is unfortunate that the present government of Trinidad and Tobago, the PNM government led by Mr Patrick Manning, choose not to be on the side of dharma. We also regret that the government of India, the motherland of our ancestors, continues with its “non-aligned” position, and has not openly taken a position of support for the coalition forces of liberation. The quisling nature of the government of India is so evident in its failure to effectively deal with Taliban regime of Afghanistan and its Al-Qaeda operatives and had to await an American solution. It continues to fail the people of India and the Indian Diaspora in not possessing the political will to deal decisively with the failed and terror state of Pakistan.

We trust that the post Saddam Iraq will be one of democracy and freedom for all its peoples. A federal democratic republic allowing nationalities like the Kurds and Shiites some degree of self-government and autonomy, a position enjoyed by the Kurds at present, may be the future model of a new Iraq. The United States and coalition forces must not allow Turkey to intervene in northern Iraq to pursue its national self-interest and not the interest of the Kurds who already enjoy freedom from Saddam Hussein’s direct rule, as precarious as this had been. Turkey wants to replace Saddam Hussein’s domination of the Kurds with their own rule. This must not be allowed to occur. It is unfortunate that some local groups and organisations have taken an anti-democratic, anti-people, anti-American and anti-west stance on the liberation of Iraq. These organisations are clearly misguided by their blind loyalty to Islam and are incorrectly viewing the conflict as one against Islam — a clear indication of their Islamic agenda in their actions by using the cover of Islam. The position of exiled Iraqis and the people of Iraq such as the Kurds, Shiites and the ordinary people must be considered.

D H SINGH
Secretariat
The Hindu Writers’ Forum
Chaguanas