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Tue, 17 Jul 2007
[N]on-non-[G]overnmental [O]rganizations
I knew it very well that the acronym NGO stood for
"Non-non-Governmental-Organization" (let's call it a "NnGO") in Cyprus
so there is nothing suprising about the latest developments in the
"This Homeland is Ours" (Bu Memleket Bizim Platformu or BMBP)
platform. The platform which functioned as a united front for various
trade-unions, foundations and opposition (left) political parties
during last few years of Denktash's reign was always dominated by CTP
and their ilk. However, it succeeded in playing a leadership role
during the era of "large rallies", and produced some radical and
progressive declarations and actions. I had a few words to say about
it in my
article This Homeland is Ours" said the masses; Turkish Cypriot Uprising of 2002-3.
Anyway, before I digress into a story of the pathetic condition of
political atmosphere in north Cyprus in general, let me get to the
point. While all this was happening, Denktash, Eroglu etc and company,
i.e. those puppets who also proudly call themselves the "nationalist
right" responded by their own versions of platforms with even larger
number of organizations (organizations come a dime a dozen in north
Cyprus). Ofcourse, it was totally bogus and had no support from the
public. It was a perfect example of a
"Non-non-Governmental-Organization" and BMBP used to complain about
this. However, as CTP slowly drifted to power with support from the
puppeteer, i.e. Republic of Turkey, BMBP also drifted towards becoming
a NnGO itself and more radical groups, such as the New Cyprus Party
did the right thing as left the BMBP (this was a notable event, and
see the article I mention above for why). BMBP continued to function,
albeit without much of an impact or without the old radical
outbursts. This changed recently after CTP's "neo-Denktashism" became
so blatantly obvious and with the new "social security reform" package
hit the workers that the trade-unions represented right at
home. Specially the famous teacher's unions (e.g. KTOS and KTOEOS) who
were always at the fronts when it came to radical politics, organized
protests against CTP and became very outspoken. They then dared to
turn BMBP into a real NGO instead of a NnGO by suggesting the
expulsion of CTP.
Duh, wasn't that the obvious thing to suggest? Apparently, not,
because all the other puppet organizations that are attached to CTP
via their umbilical cords could not stand it, and neither did CTP's
hardened "communist" (hahah!) militants. They thought that it is
perfectly fine for the governing party to be part of a NGO and refused
the accusation of it being a NnGO. Hahah. One after another CTP's
heavy weights spoke and made amusing statements claiming that
trade-unions are not the important organization but rather the
political parties. I am reading this on Yeniduzen, which has the motto
"work is the highest value" ("emek en yuce degerdir"). The problem
according to Kalyoncu, is not with the CTP (ok, let's leave out the
absurd "-BG" tag which makes them sound like He-Man) but with the
platform which refuses to know its own country and is not willing to
accept the conditions on the ground. Hahah. Well, Mr Kalyoncu, why
don't you continue playing the role of a government and leave alone
this NGO and see what public says instead of making such statements?
Ahmet Barcin's statement was particulary amusing because he was one of
the radicals in BMBP, in the front lines before he sat on a seat in
the parliament. He saying that expulsion of CTP from the platform is
the biggest insult ant disrespect to the Turkish Cypriot
public. Really? Few years ago Turkey's strong grip, the Turkish army,
the "one who is gone and one who replaced him are both Turks" were the
insults he was talking about. Now, he thinks having a governing party
in an NGO is normal, the opposite is the biggest insult and disrespect.
What can I say, this "neo-Denktashism" is an amusing concept and they
are doing their past to prove more radicals like myself who used to
say "neener, neener, neener, these are all NnGO's, we want NGO's"
right.
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Fri, 02 Feb 2007
De-militarization is Evil & The "Dissident" should be silenced
Last few weeks in ...
Turkey..
North Cyprus, a.k.a. "baby Turkey" a.k.a. "the land of the absurd"..
The Cypriots
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Tue, 17 Oct 2006
Neo-Denktashist Apologism: "Need to be in tune with Turkey"
Neo-Denktashism's spokespeople never fail me. They create gems that try to act as apologist manifestos for their actions. Hasan Ercakica provided a nice example today in Yeniduzen newspaper (see below for complete quote in Turkish). He begins his column by attacking AKEL. He thinks that what Greek Cypriots are doing through by-passing TRNC is ignoring the presence of Turkish Cypriots. This might have made sense if the rest of his article argued that the "government" in north Cyprus was an independent one capable of making its own decisions regardless of Ankara's wishes. However, ironically, his article's punchline is that in order for a political party to come to government and stay there,it should act in tune with Turkey and should never go against it. To me, this is plenty of reason to do precisely what he claims Greek Cypriot administration, AKEL, Papadopolous and others are doing -- i.e. deal with Turkey directly about Cyprus, pressure Turkey in all international platforms etc.
He makes a big deal about the fact that CTP got a vote explosion in 2003 as opposed to others such as Akinci's BDH and Ali Erel's party. He thinks this is because CTP worked in tune with Ankara. Fair enough, this is what we are all saying! That is what Denktash used to be and it is what neo-Denktashists have to be. Funnly enough, he claims the reason is not Turkey's strong grip in north Cyprus ("as an occupying power") but it is Turkish Cypriot wisdom that it is necessary to be in line with Turkey. This is probably also true to some degree but the reason for that wisdom is not because of acts of conscience and goodwill on Turkey's side but it is because of decades long opression and non-democratic actions from Turkey. The point is that the elections in north Cyprus are a farce and artificial population movements never allowed the will of the Turkish Cypriot people to be expressed -- see http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~durduran/hamambocu/authors/tdr/tdr11_9_2003.html
It is always amusing to watch them evolve more and more into neo-Denktasist apologists who needs to clear their conscience frequently by making up self-contradictory stories like this.
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Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Neo-Denktashism: Talat the new "basbug" or the "chief gray wolf"?
Murat Kanatli circulated two photos today. One was Dentash attending a myhtological Gray Wolf -- and/or Pan-Turkist -- ceremony and hammering a piece of hot iron and the other was the new chief of the herd, Talat doing the same now. The photos talk for neo-Denktashism themselves. The question Murat posed was whether Talat will be crowned the "basbug" or the "chief Gray Wolf" by the crowds in the next round of ceremonies where Denktash had reached the level of recognition.
[[image:demirciler.jpg::center:0]]
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Fri, 01 Sep 2006
Latest Wave of Arrest of Journalists in north Cyprus
It is the usual story; suddenly, for no very clear reason, a series of arrests, intimidations, harrasment occurs in north Cyprus. Generally the origin is from the government, military, police and, ofcourse, is somehow related to Turkey. This time, over a time span of few months, several Greek Cypriot journalists were arrested with pretty much bogus charges of filming or photographing military zones. Well, since north Cyprus is pretty much a military zone as a whole, you can imagine how valid(!) of an issue this is! You do not believe me? see for yourself from the official government gazzette at http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~durduran/papers/askeriharita.pdf , the gist of this map is that in case of "emergency" everywhere can turn into a 1. level military area. Anyway, I am digressing. I wanted to raise two points: (1) Sevgul Uludag's short e-mail report about a protest by BASIN-SEN (Union of Press Workers) and
Turkish Cypriot Journalists Asociation and Turkish Cypriot Association of Communicators (three pressassociations/unions) , (2) Sami Ozuslu's latest pearl of wisdom that shows how much of a "neo-Denktashism" follower he and other prominent CTP/RTP members are --specifically Yeniduzen columnists. BTW, I use "neo-Denktashism" instead of "new Left", "greened-reds" (note here, this has nothing to be about being an environmentalist!) etc that others use to refer to CTP's new face because it is exactly what they are doing. They are very good students of his in style and tactics -- aha, I got some of you here, before you can get up and list me differences between CTP and Denktash/DP/UBP/etc. Sure, they exist, but I am not calling them identical! Anyway read on!
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