Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 08:02:32 +0100 From: Chris Burford <cburford at gn.apc.org> Subject: Ocalan's death sentence
There has been surprisingly little comment or reports of mobilisation against Ocalan's trial. As far as I can see quickly scanning the lists I s*bscribe to, there has been no report on his death sentence.
I suggest this is the result of the leftist error many good people have fallen into over Kosovo. Just because it was correct to oppose NATO's bombing, it is neither right nor realistic to oppose all interference by the "democratic" imperialist west in Turkey over its treatment of the Kurds.
There has to be a movement for example pressing the European Union to make clear that there will be considerable disadvantages to Turkey if it continues to oppress the Kurds. That frankly is interference and intervention in a sovereign country.
The two situations are rather parallel. There are still strong nationalist traditions in Turkey and in Serbia. They have been prepared to work with fascist elements. They have no sympathy for the oppressed national minority, which may be is only part of their country by a flourish of imperialist map-makers decades ago. They do frankly have considerable popular support or at least acquiescence in their policy among the dominant oppressor nation, who turn a blind eye to the suffering of the oppressed nationality.
It does not look from the presentation of the trial that the political conditions can be created in Turkey for reducing the oppression of the Kurds without some pressure from outside about the consequences. No I do not mean bombing, though that is good for politics at the level of political satire. I do mean intervention whether it is economic or political, and that means addressing the levers of state power of imperialist nations, in the course of campaigning.
The life or death of Ocalan is in itself not important but it is a life and it represents a democratic struggle.
Perhaps purer marxists than myself can explain why it is now more revolutionary to do nothing for the Kurds than to do something.
Chris Burford
London