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Leyla Zana for President of Turkey can speed up EU
membership. By Steve Tataii 24.7.2007
By Steve Tataii, eKurd.net contributing writer
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July
24, 2007
New York, Steve Tataii, (eKurd.net), -- Leyla Zana
became the First Woman Parliamentarian in Turkey‘s
history. Awarded the 1995 Sakharov prize by the
European Parliament, she was unable to collect it
until the 2004 release from Turkish prison, serving
10 years for mere supporting the Kurdish cause
considered against Turkey’s unity.
The conviction included speaking her mother language
“Kurdish” in a Parliament session at the end of
taking oath to serve as Turkey’s first woman
parliamentarian. Prior to that she was awarded the
“Rafto Prize” for being recognized as a “Prisoner of
Conscience” in 1994, and the “Bruno Kreisky” Award
in 1995. In prison she authored her book titled
“Writings from Prison”. |
Steve Tataii, author of several books on Kurds and
Kurdistan and
recent U.S. Senator
Candidate in the 2006 elections-
Tataii website |
Her retrial led to the March of 2003 release after
her conviction was condemned in 2001 by European
Court of Human Rights stemmed from EU’s repeated
calls for her release, making it clear by awarding
her with the high “Sakharov Prize” in 1995.
I honestly believe; that as a grassroots political
Leader;
Leyla Zana is
perhaps Turkey’s only passport to be welcomed as a
member in EU family of states if she becomes the new
President, which is a ceremonial position compared
with Prime Minister, hence it is to the advantage of
Turkey to champion itself by choosing Zana, and take
a Giant Leap ahead during recent highly
controversial, and negative series of political news
developments since 2003.
Let’s make no mistake about it; this gentle woman is
one of most outstanding Leaders of our time, and
perhaps the only grassroots leader, who has survived
the harshest tests of her lifetime as a Kurd, when
she stood her grounds with pride, wisdom, sacrifice,
and tenacity to insist on Freedom of all captive
peoples to run their own social affairs.
Despite her clarifications on calling for “States of
Turkey“ right before the election; my point about
the endless persecution of today’s 30 million Kurds
in South, and South East Turkey is proven, when
regime‘s immediate distorted image initiated by
chief prosecutor of Igdir, where Zana spoke in a
Rally:
“It is time to Divide Turkey into States“. Zana
stated, and that:
“This is not a call to divide the country, but a
step to strengthen unity, and co-existence within
Turkey“. She then stated; that:
“A planned legislation on creating local
administration centers should be implemented to
allow people govern themselves”.
She continued by saying:
“They said redrawing borders is not necessary
anymore; people can live together in peace provided
that the governing class appreciate this. We have
tried this policy for years. What have you done?
Nothing. You have taken one step forward, followed
by two steps back”.
Zana also called for General Amnesty for the PKK,
considered a “terrorist” organization by Turkey, the
United States, and the European Union. (Source:
Zaman, July 21, 2007).
I believe now Turkey has a remarkable opportunity of
a lifetime, the chance to regain most of her lost
Democratic legitimacy.
A chance, which may otherwise fail to be fully
recognized for decades more to come, because Zana is
able to do what no other Turkish Leader has done
since 1923. I’ve listed only 5 difficult issues from
that long list below:
1- Able to quickly begin getting favorable support
from EU members to grant Turkey in becoming another
fellow member if it has the heart to let Zana become
president.
2- Bring to an end the 23 years of ongoing clashes
between Turkish military, and Kurdish PKK forces,
costing 37,000 lives on both sides, because she can
help to persuade them lay down their arms, and stop
fighting permanently in exchange for a fair, and
permanent General Amnesty, and because all Kurds,
and Turks respect her. Isn’t an end to PKK
retaliations what Turkey wants? I recon it is.
3- Almost immediately enhance Turkey’s tourist
industry due to more security, but best of all help
Kurds, and Turks to enhance their talents,
education, and become more advanced technologically,
while many other states are way ahead.
4- Offer the best alternative to help Kurds, and
Turks live in peace once again, after years of
conflict due to the negative political environment
since 1915. This takes skills, understanding,
honesty, and wisdom. She has all the above.
5- As a proven great peacemaker; she can use her
wisdom, and gentle skills to help bring peace, and
stability in the region as a popular leader they’ll
highly respect. This will help Turkey advance
economically, and maintain its strategic importance,
while other regimes have destroyed that chance
through lack of vision.
These are only 5 among dozens of other benefits with
great Potentials into the future.
I ask Turkish PM, and members of the selection
committee to consider my proposal, and enable their
“Fellow European” Journey to begin in a peaceful,
and effortless manner. I also hope; that if they do;
Leyla Zana will accept their offer to become the
First Woman President of Turkey in history.
I close by sending my sincere Congratulations to PM
Receb Teyyip Erdogan, and all other Winners of the
2007 historic elections, wishing them all the best.
If you need to contact me write to:
tataii2003congress@msn.com You may also visit my
educational Website at:
www.tataiiforcongress.com
Please forward this proposal to Turkey’s
Presidential selection committee for it to hopefully
be considered, helping to bring peace, and stability
in a longtime. Steve Tataii, author, and U.S.
Senator Candidate in the 2006 elections.
Steve Tataii is a prolific Kurdish author of
several recent books related to Iraq War, Kurds and
Kurdistan in English. He's the President, and
founder of K.U.R.D.S. NGO since 1991, founded to
help refugees passing through the pacific. He was
also a 2006 U.S. Senator candidate, and the seat for
U.S. House in the 2002 contested elections.Tataii
has lived in Hawaii since 1976, and has obtained his
degrees in Political Science, and Math from UH Manoa.
He has written, and lectured extensively about the
Kurds, their history, and contemporary Kurdish
Political situation since 1920s' unjust partition of
Kurdistan by colonial powers, leading to many wars
for independence, and creating the today's Iraq War
dilemma.
www.tataiiforcongress.com
* Steve Tataii is the author of several books on
Kurds, and Kurdistan in English. He was also the
recent U.S. Senator Candidate in the 2006 elections.
Exclusively for eKURD.NET. You may reach the author via
email at: tataii2003congress(at)msn.com
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