Then this cockfight between Kurds and Turkmens ?
Speaking frankly it has been not so bad but these incidents were regrettable because they are necessarily prejudicial for one of both parties, or even both. Certain media were moreover present and had probably reported these confrontations. The Kurds were largely in majority, hundreds against thirty, so they are inevitably presented as the bad guys… Our group was close to Turkmens but we neither answered the provocations, nor taken part with the confrontations.
In fact at the beginning, Turmens were rather passive, we could see that they came only to make an act of presence. Opposite them, the Kurds were particularly agitated though they did nothing but express their joy, while singing and dancing. In any case, at this time, I did’t see any provocation, neither of the ones nor others. But when other young people came to reinforce the Turkmens’ rows I felt thats events will take another turning. And concerning these new guys, I doubt extremely the “Turkmenity” of some of them. I will reconsider this point a little later…
These young people arrived with Turkmen flags and made a show of force which did not please certain Kurdish youths because their remarks were aggressive. The change of attitude of Turkmens who were already there was definitely perceptible. Feeling a little stronger, they adopted an aggressive tone. And honesty, at this moment, I did not feel any significant aggressiveness among young Kurds. They were too occupied to dance madly and let burst their joy.
And provocations started. Young Kurds shout strongly “Kurdistan, Kurdistan…”and hold up their flags front of the nose of Turkmens, some making the remarks “Kirkuk is the heart of Kurdistan” etc… And Turkmens answered by holding up their own flags and singing in Turkish. Then there was a competition for the largest flag and Kurds hold a flag which could cover all the group of Turkmens.
Then an incident a little more serious occurred between a young Kurd and a Turkmen woman. Personally I saw her drawing clothing from the young Kurd. Others claim, I cannot absolutely confirm, that she would have slapped him. In any case, the young man exploded and wanted to be avenged on a young Turkmen. But to old persons intervened, a Kurd and Turcoman, to calm minds.
They succeeded. But the respite was short, unfortunately. And the provocations continued. Policemen were present but they did not intervene because the situation was not so serioust. Nevertheless they were ready to intervene if necessary.
So young Turkmens that I mentioned formerly still spoke loudly, ever in Turkish, raising their fists. Some of them made odd gestures. Provocations turned round to another aspect.
My friend from Northern Kurdistan that I evoked already, those I met in the university of Bordeaux in 2002 and who accompanied us, has translated some remarks of these young men. He is born in Turkey and studied in Istanbul (or Ankara perhaps). He thus speaks perfectly Turkish language. He was very shocked by certain remarks and said to me that one could hear exactly the same things in the rows of the MHP in Turkey! He also said to me that some of these young people spoke Turkish with an accent, whereas others spoke it perfectly, the latter were precisely some of those arrived “in reinforcement”.
As I don’t speak Turkish, I was not able to compare both accents, but my friend was certain that Turks were among these “Turkmens”.
The only words which I have heard with certainty are : “Kurd”, “Kirkuk” and “Ataturk”. I know I have a lot of progress to make in Turkish!! But what the hell Ataturk was doing there?! I also saw certainty a small Turkish flag on the sleeve of one youth’s jacket, a small strapping man, a mini very agitated rugby player!
So ok, that does not prove anything, it is probably a young Turkmen who likes Turkey and which is an unconditional partisan of the “Great” Ataturk. After all he has the right to do…
But why some of these young people (a dozen) did not go to voter? Though their comrades came toward the polling office, they stayed front of it and did not make on step toward the building. However, they were largely so old to vote! Then why they did not it ??! Would “bad” Kurds have they prevent them ?? Did they forget to take their identity papers?? Or poerhaps they had not any identity papers which could give them the right to participate to this election…
From the Kurdish side also provocation increased. They continued to scoff at Turkmens with their falgs, and sang ” ey reqîb” . Then some young Kurds had taken the big flag and made one or two turns around Turkmens’ group, like indians dancing around a fire! And after, they decided to pass through their group, covering them with the Kurdish flag. So Turkmens (or Turks ?) jumped to seize the flag. It was the last spark before it burst ! But be sure that it was not a bib bomb…”
[…] (to be continued…) […]