On the one hand it's easy to sympathise with anyone who's resisting Islamic State. There can be few fates worse than falling into the hands of IS - especially if you are gay or a freethinker or a woman - or just like music! The Kurds are holding the line despite inferior equipment and funding.
On the other hand Greens are sceptical of military 'solutions'. We prefer negotiation and we remember how the 'heroic' anti-Soviet mujaheddin evolved into Al Quaeda. Not to mention the role of the Blair-Bush invasion in creating the very forces the Kurds now face.
As historian Tom Holland put it at the Hay Festival we tried intervening and that was disastrous so we tried not intervening and so was that!
Yet the Kurds are not another military sect but a settled community resisting attacks. The leaders of Rojava - the Syrian enclave - are trying to develop a tolerant and democratic society. Independent observers take their attempts seriously whilst criticising shortfalls. And this is important. There are few Middle East states which even share these humane and civilised aspirations. It would be wrong and stupid of us not to make real efforts encourage a development that could, eventually, be a beacon for the region.
There are risks in every course of action but I believe that we should support the Kurds' defence of their territory. That means military supplies and, probably, training and intelligence sharing. It does not mean military action by British forces.
As I argued in a recent post the Muslim world is going through an extended period of warfare akin to the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It's unpredictable but it must be right to support those who share our values.
So here are some non-military things the UK government should do:
- Increase humanitarian aid to the Kurdish enclaves in Syria and Iraq.
- Cease to treat the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) as a terrorist organisation
- Ask Turkey to end the ban on the PKK and open negotiations.
- Release its leader Abdullah Ocalam from solitary confinement.
The
pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) can secure representation
in a new parliament, marking a significant shift in Turkish politics by
moving away from the era of AKP single-party governments.
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
The
pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) can secure representation
in a new parliament, marking a significant shift in Turkish politics by
moving away from the era of AKP single-party governments.
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
The
pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) can secure representation
in a new parliament, marking a significant shift in Turkish politics by
moving away from the era of AKP single-party governments.
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
The
pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) can secure representation
in a new parliament, marking a significant shift in Turkish politics by
moving away from the era of AKP single-party governments.
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
Commenting on the elections, Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP said:
‘The HDP are a party with an ecological, pro-democracy, equality driven agenda. They are also clear about wanting autonomy and peace for the Kurds. Their representation is important.’
International coordinator of the Green Party of England and Wales, Derek Wall concluded:
'They are an inspiration. Success for the HDP would be a win for the Kurds, the LGBT community and the Turkish Greens who are part of the HDP. More should be done to promote their message. Turkish voters who want to influence their country's future can vote in the General Election this weekend at Olympia.'
Turkey has the world’s highest electoral threshold, requiring a 10% vote share to achieve representation. The general election takes place on the 7th of June.
- See more at: https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/29/greens-support-hdp-ahead-of-upcoming-turkish-election/#sthash.iZ2B5Iin.dpuf
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