Political prisoners in Armenia

[AlphaPapa]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

The above is garbage. Kurdish is now feeely spoken eveywhere in Turkey, including TV, films, and radio, and in eastern Turkey it is so widely spoken in public that any Turks living there must think they are now living in a foreign land (whether they de facto actually are or not, is one aspect the "Kurdish problem"). Of course nowhere in Turkey is an historical "Kurdistan": every Kurd is, in the overal history of population movements, a relative newcomer, though Kurdish "historians" (who outdo even Azeris in their fabrications) come up with wild claims to the contrary.

And how long have they been able to do so? a few months?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

Actually I have been to Van and other parts of Western Armenia, which are today heavily populated by the Kurds. So your "obvious" again flies out the window.

Same difference. Never set a foot outside the shelter of your tour bus or tourist hotel on your own.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

And how long have they been able to do so? a few months?

Since about 2000/2001 most things have been possible, but changes were gradual until about 2004 or 2005 (or maybe that date was the tipping point when all the small changes taken together were enough to speed things up greatly). There are now almost no restrictions that interfere with everyday activities and normal life, life for everyone is much safer and there is a lot more money around. However, for mainstream political activities the limits are still not clear-cut.

[Catharsis]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

Same difference. Never set a foot outside the shelter of your tour bus or tourist hotel on your own.

I know, you are brave, like Indiana Jones. No tour buses, went with three friends and did talk to several Kurds in Van about their situation. I have been as far as Nemrut, where have you been? Oh right, the ever adventurous and daring "strip" that always was.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

I know, you are brave, like Indiana Jones. No tour buses, went with three friends and did talk to several Kurds in Van about their situation. I have been as far as Nemrut, where have you been? Oh right, the ever adventurous and daring "strip" that always was.

So, on the basis of a single short visit, and after talking to a couple of Kurds who decided to talk to you, and not knowing anything about what things were like in the years and the decades before your visit, you honestly think you know the region?

I don't know how many times I've been to the Lake Van region, long since lost count. 50 times at least, probably higher, must have spent well over 6 months there in total.

[Catharsis]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

So, on the basis of a single short visit, and after talking to a couple of Kurds who decided to talk to you, and not knowing anything about what things were like in the years and the decades before your visit, you honestly think you know the region?

I don't know how many times I've been to the Lake Van region, long since lost count. 50 times at least, probably higher, must have spent well over 6 months there in total.

I am not doubting that you are a "regular" there. My point, is I would let the Kurds say how they feel about their freedoms rather than me saying whether Kurdish situation has gotten better or worse. I stand by what I say (and it is beyond language and culture freedoms) that the Turkish policy is to first of all create a favorable PR on the international scene, and second of all, try to win over the Kurds for eventual assimilation. This is what is most important, the 'freedoms' allocated are not made in genuine good will.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

I am not doubting that you are a "regular" there. My point, is I would let the Kurds say how they feel about their freedoms rather than me saying whether Kurdish situation has gotten better or worse. I stand by what I say (and it is beyond language and culture freedoms) that the Turkish policy is to first of all create a favorable PR on the international scene, and second of all, try to win over the Kurds for eventual assimilation. This is what is most important, the 'freedoms' allocated are not made in genuine good will.

And I stand by what I said - you do not not know enough about this region to have any legitimately held opinions. The situation in eastern Turkey today is astonishingly better than what it was like only 10 years ago, and the changes are of such depth and breadth that they would be impossible to reverse.

[Catharsis]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

And I stand by what I said - you do not not know enough about this region to have any legitimately held opinions. The situation in eastern Turkey today is astonishingly better than what it was like only 10 years ago, and the changes are of such depth and breadth that they would be impossible to reverse.

This is interesting since you are claiming extensive expertise in this field which contrasts with what many Kurdish leaders are stating (and my own take is based on what they are actually saying) about their situation. You have a right to your opinion based on your experience, which can or cannot be true.

[AlphaPapa]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

The MIT crippled Kurdish uprisings, though they still claim that the PKK exists. What we are seeing isn't 'improvements' but what could be called (relatively speaking) a return to civility.

[avetis]

Re: Political prisoners in Armenia

Այսօր 6 ժամ առաջ իմ (չեմ նշում իմ անունը) և իմ ընկերոչս աշխատանքի հիման վրա: Ռուսաստանի ազգաըին անվտանգության գլխավոր սեռվրից դժվարությամ կօպիյենք կատարել մի պաստատուխտ. Որտեղ նշված է որ Հայաստանի ղեկավարությանը հաձնարարվում է 22/02/2008 թ. կատարել աշխատանք որ ուղված պետքե լինի Հայաստանում հայրենասեր ուժերի, կուսակցությունների և սպյուրքահայ համայքի հնարավորին պառակտում . ոչինչացում: Փաստաթուխտ չեմ կարող հրատարակել ամբոխչովին քանզի վախենում եմ իմ կյանքի համար: