We lived through a time in this country where the colours of the traffic lights in Diyarbekir were replaced so that the colours amber, red and green were not aligned on top of each other (thereby representing the colours of the Kurdish flag). This mentality was reformed by our government and now we see the flag of “Ala Rengin” hoisted alongside our flag of the crescent and the star.
Are you never going to think about why we are now so upset?
Mothers visiting their sons in prison were precluded from speaking their mother tongue (Kurdish) and now there are Kurdology departments. This was achieved by this government in a matter of five years.
Are you never going to think about why we are now reproachful?
This nation that once welcomed Barzani and Sivan Perwer with open arms from Habur are now raising their voices so that the Harbur border crossing is closed.
Are you never going to think about why we are now offended?
Those who we thought of as the “grandchildren of Salahaddin“, flying many Israeli flags, more so than the Turkish flags that these eyes have ever seen them fly. There were those who were insulted as “Turkish spies” for merely being next to a Turkish flag and now you refer to this lowly act as “independence“!
Are you never going to think about why we are now perplexed?
In spite of the US, a NATO ally, this government delivered the oil from the Iraqi Kurdistan Region to the world; if it was rejected at one port, it was carried to another.
Are you never going to think about why then when a suggestion to turn off the pipelines is made, it receives a standing ovation?
While Iran was hanging the Kurdish opposition, the MPs of this government were engaging in propaganda in Kurdish. But the Iraqi Kurdistan Region is a “friend” to both of us.
Are you never going to think about why we are now so angry?
Before the Iraqi Kurdistan Region engaged in “population engineering”, half of Kirkuk’s population was Turkish. You are now claiming that those who say “Kirkuk is Turkish” are racists, yet there’s only deafening silence when those who engage in referendum propaganda portray on their maps 27 Turkish cities as their own.
Are you never going to think about why we are now screaming at the top of our lungs!
You are the one who has issued Talabani and Barzani with a red passport; you opened your arms to those who sought refuge from Halabja, you blocked your ears to the opposing voices; you’re the one who rejected a friend’s handshake.
Are you never going to think about why we feel so betrayed?
You imprisoned yourself within a cycle of slogans: “They are enemies to us“, “We have no friend other than ourselves“, “Our only ally is Israel“. Now you’re struggling to find a way out.
Are you never going to think about why you are now so alone?
If you so wish, you don’t have to think about it at all. Because when the time arrives, you’ll be forced to think about it then.
**This article first appeared in Sabah at the following address: http://www.sabah.com.tr/yazarlar/hilalkaplan/2017/09/27/kurt-dusmaniymisiz-oyle-mi
It was translated by Fatih Ismailoglu.
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