The escalation of violence in Turkey in recent weeks has been reflected in the newspapers today.
Following the death of thirteen soldiers in the south-eastern province of Sirnak on Sunday (7 October), two more soldiers died yesterday (8 October) in mine explosions in Diyarbakir and Sirnak and three were injured.
Last week, twelve villagers, seven of them village guards, were killed in an attack on a minibus in Sirnak's district of Beytüssebap. The PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party) has denied carrying out the attack.
Deaths every week
According to data from the General Staff, more than 175 PKK militants have been killed since April 2007. The number of soldiers who have died in the same period is not clear, but there are regular reports of deaths. Hürriyet journalist Yilmaz Özdil estimates that 46 soldiers have died since June this year.
Headlines agitating emotions
Yesterday, many of the soldiers who died on Sunday were buried, and their pictures as well as scenes from the funerals dominated the front pages.The headlines of mainstream newspapers were as follows:
Hürriyet: "The Heroes in Our Hearts: When thirteen of our soldiers became martyrs after an attack by PKK terrorists at the Gabar Mountain, all of Turkey swore an oath: Someone will be held to account for our martyrs."
Milliyet: "Fire Has Fallen onto Turkey: Some were newly married, some were counting the days until they could be united with their children. But they will not come home."
Radikal: "All Possibilities on the Table, Including Operation in Iraq: [Deputy Prime Minister] Cicek: We are at a point where words stop."
Yeni Safak: "How Could You Do This to These Saplings?"
Zaman: "Determination Summit against Terrorism: The news of the martyrs smothered the country in grief yesterday."
Sabah: "Our Hearts are Burning: Turkey is crying for 15 martyrs and cursing the PKK."
Vatan: "Stop These Tears Now: The Turkish nation, 15 of whose lion-like children became martyrs within 24 hours, is in mourning. [...] The people do not want words, they want a solution."
Cumhuriyet: "Where Words End: In three days, there have been 16 martyrs. Delegating the struggle against terrorism to the USA, the government is trying to soften reactions."
Call for peace
Two newspapers had a different take on events. In its leading article, the Evrensel newspaper said:
"First it has to be accepted that the issue is not a military but a political one, that the issue is the democratisation and modernisation of Turkey, and, for the same reason, that the roots of the problem lie not outside but within [the country]."The headline read: "Dangerous Escalation".
The Birgün newspaper had the headline, "Peace Efforts Drown in Blood Again", followed by, "The deaths of 15 soldiers in the attacks in Sirnak and Diyarbakir has made society's demands for peace inaudible."
While the mainstream headlines appealed to the emotions, columnists were, on the whole, more level-headed.
"We will win this fight"
Ertugrul Özkök (Hürriyet): "Fighting terrorism is difficult. Fighting against so many traitors, so many vulgar low-lifes is even more difficult. But we will win this fight. We will not be deterred by a murderous gang who has lost the elections in the region and has delivered the ballot box to moderates."
Yalcin Bayer (Hürriyet): "Behind our 13 martyrs is the PKK's smuggled petrol. [...] And were does this ill-gotten gain go? All to the PKK. If you research it, you see that except for two distributing companies, the are all from the South-East. Everyone knows these companies, the government included."
Isolate PKK
Ergun Babahan (Sabah): "All segments of society who hope for civilian politics need to join the opposition of violence. [...] If democratic reforms are sped up, if investment in the region is increased, if the hurdles for cultural rights are lifted, then the terrorist organisation will become isolated. The only way to isolate it is not the force of arms."
Umur Talu (Sabah): "Let the 'terrorists' be held accountable for the terror. But we also need to see those who will be held accountable for political, economic, social and military failures. Civilians and soldiers. Prime Minister and commander."
"Sense of belonging"
Nazli Ilicak (Sabah): "The Tears Do Not Stop: [...]As freedoms and welfare are increased, the 'exchange with terrorism' of our Kurdish-origin citizens becomes weaker. Even the DTP [Democratic Society Party] is more moderate than in the past. Besides the security precautions, a psychological atmosphere which strenghtens the sense of belonging to the country needs to be prepared [...]"
Cross-border operation not the solution
Ekrem Dumanli (Zaman): "A treacherous trap was laid in Sirnak and this country's children became martyrs; according to some, Turkey must immediately enter Northern Iraq. You would think that if a cross-border operationis carried out, the terror will stop completely. Is that really true? [...] There are many floating mines in the DTP. [...] With its bloody actions, the PKK is trying to bring the state and the Kurds into confrontation."
Fehmi Koru (Yeni Safak): "Are the PKK and its supporters not exacerbating the terror in order to make Turkey withdraw into itself?"
Ali Bayramoglu (Yeni Safak):"Twelve people were killed in Beytüssebap, and then 13 soldiers became martyrs in Sirnak. There is a problem in the Kurdish region and it has nothing to do with the Kurdish question. [... ] With the victory of guns, the violence and pain in the Kurdish question, politics cowers and stays silent. [...] The most important duty lies with the DTP."
Okay Gönensin (Vatan): "With this most recent pain, the DTP has come to a cross roads. And decision day for the DTP is not tomorrow, but today."
Opportunity missed?
Murat Yetkin (Radikal): "There is also the worry that the government's space for manouever both in foreign and domestic politics is decreased with an increase in PKK activity and loss in life. There is a wide-spread belief that the opportunity for relaxation which arose with the DTP's election into parliament on 22 July and its formation into a parliamentary group is fast being wasted."
Taha Akyol (Milliyet): Seeing as it is impossible for Turkey to create a lasting "regional dominance" in Northern Iraq politically, one should not believe naively that the problem will be solved with cross-border operations. To destroy the roots of terrorism is only possible by stopping people from joining the PKKK, and this is only possible in the long term and by taking security, economic, social, democratic and political measures." (EÜ/NZ/AG)
