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ON THE MATTER OF RESOLVING THE ALEVI ISSUE
Daily Sabah, Turkey
Nov 14 2014
Markar Esayan 14 November 2014, Friday
Turkey is now facing the massive problems created by the homogenizing
and totalitarian mindset prevalent during the foundation of the
Republic and the long tragic decline of the Ottoman Empire.
This confrontation has actually been in our lives in a general form
for the last 12 years. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
is politically in charge of this process. Its achievement to maintain
popular votes with a rate of 50 percent in the last nine elections
by increasing the votes each time is the strongest evidence that the
public also supports the process.
It is not easy to make reforms in a problematic state structure. One is
constantly against a crisis or a coup threat and has to tackle plots
by non-political factions in such a structure. The deeply rooted
problems that have persisted for about a century were developed
with reciprocally provoking prejudices and hatred. Because of this,
persuading society has become the primary concern of politicians. The
strongest support for the government, which is facing opposition by
civil and military bureaucracy, is realized with the right to conduct
reforms legitimized by the public.
Taking steps without compromising the prejudices and public wounds
of the Kurdish, Alevi, Armenian and Cyprus issues would mean giving
opportunity to the pro-coup mindset. The groups forming the grassroots
of the government have both religious and nationalist tendencies. A
strange form of nationalism that is not actually found in Islam has
flourished in the Republican period.
At this phase, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's exceptional skills
have been injected into the process. While persuading his own base
for the need for change, he displayed his recognizance. The love and
trust felt toward Erdogan was so strong that the base supported his
views, thinking he must definitely have a point.
This does not mean that the base is unreasonable or open to
manipulation. Society had already begun to suspect the official
Republican history in the democratization process and started to
research the past from ever-growing sources. They gradually realized
that the realities of many issues were not actually what they were
told and the prejudices were triggered as part of the divide-and-rule
tactic of the military and bureaucratic dominance.
The AK Party approached the Kurdish reconciliation process, the
change in the Cyprus issue and the steps for condolences for the 1915
Armenian incidents from this point. Our Western friends can comprehend
it more by looking at the country's media, dominant discourse and
state practices only 12 years ago.
The government, now led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, is preparing
to implement a radical reform for the Alevi issue. Workshops have been
organized on this matter before and Erdogan, while prime minister,
apologized on behalf of the state for the Dersim Massacre in which
13,000 Alevis were killed.
Although there is disinformation suggesting the contrary
in international arena, Turkey is taking radical steps toward
democratization and normalization. Most importantly, these steps are
not taken despite the public, but with its support and approval.
A new package on liberties will be announced soon. The shortcomings
in freedom of thought and expression will be met according to EU
standards.
As a Muslim country rapidly advancing toward a stable democracy,
Turkey constitutes a unique opportunity to repair the broken relations
between the Middle East and the West. Discrediting the value of Turkey
with cyclical estimations will not favor anyone.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/markar_esayan/2014/11/14/on-the-matter-of-resolving-the-alevi-issue
From: Baghdasarian
Daily Sabah, Turkey
Nov 14 2014
Markar Esayan 14 November 2014, Friday
Turkey is now facing the massive problems created by the homogenizing
and totalitarian mindset prevalent during the foundation of the
Republic and the long tragic decline of the Ottoman Empire.
This confrontation has actually been in our lives in a general form
for the last 12 years. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
is politically in charge of this process. Its achievement to maintain
popular votes with a rate of 50 percent in the last nine elections
by increasing the votes each time is the strongest evidence that the
public also supports the process.
It is not easy to make reforms in a problematic state structure. One is
constantly against a crisis or a coup threat and has to tackle plots
by non-political factions in such a structure. The deeply rooted
problems that have persisted for about a century were developed
with reciprocally provoking prejudices and hatred. Because of this,
persuading society has become the primary concern of politicians. The
strongest support for the government, which is facing opposition by
civil and military bureaucracy, is realized with the right to conduct
reforms legitimized by the public.
Taking steps without compromising the prejudices and public wounds
of the Kurdish, Alevi, Armenian and Cyprus issues would mean giving
opportunity to the pro-coup mindset. The groups forming the grassroots
of the government have both religious and nationalist tendencies. A
strange form of nationalism that is not actually found in Islam has
flourished in the Republican period.
At this phase, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's exceptional skills
have been injected into the process. While persuading his own base
for the need for change, he displayed his recognizance. The love and
trust felt toward Erdogan was so strong that the base supported his
views, thinking he must definitely have a point.
This does not mean that the base is unreasonable or open to
manipulation. Society had already begun to suspect the official
Republican history in the democratization process and started to
research the past from ever-growing sources. They gradually realized
that the realities of many issues were not actually what they were
told and the prejudices were triggered as part of the divide-and-rule
tactic of the military and bureaucratic dominance.
The AK Party approached the Kurdish reconciliation process, the
change in the Cyprus issue and the steps for condolences for the 1915
Armenian incidents from this point. Our Western friends can comprehend
it more by looking at the country's media, dominant discourse and
state practices only 12 years ago.
The government, now led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, is preparing
to implement a radical reform for the Alevi issue. Workshops have been
organized on this matter before and Erdogan, while prime minister,
apologized on behalf of the state for the Dersim Massacre in which
13,000 Alevis were killed.
Although there is disinformation suggesting the contrary
in international arena, Turkey is taking radical steps toward
democratization and normalization. Most importantly, these steps are
not taken despite the public, but with its support and approval.
A new package on liberties will be announced soon. The shortcomings
in freedom of thought and expression will be met according to EU
standards.
As a Muslim country rapidly advancing toward a stable democracy,
Turkey constitutes a unique opportunity to repair the broken relations
between the Middle East and the West. Discrediting the value of Turkey
with cyclical estimations will not favor anyone.
http://www.dailysabah.com/columns/markar_esayan/2014/11/14/on-the-matter-of-resolving-the-alevi-issue
From: Baghdasarian