The coming 29 October Turkey is going to observe her Republic Day. They have been observing this day after Kemal Ataturk established this new Republic on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. He founded this Republic on the basis of secularism. Turkey became a most prosperous and modern country defeating European countries like Greece and France and became a powerful Eurasian state.Turkey as well as Bangladesh need the secular umbrella
Only the secular policies of the father of the Turkish nation, Kemal Ataturk, can unite the Turkish people again. This is true for Bangladesh also. America pretends to be our great friend. If we can remain alert about the nature of this friendship and revive the secular ideals of our Father of the Nation,
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then we can also successfully
overcome the conspiracies now confronting us
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury
The coming 29 October Turkey is going to observe her Republic Day. They have been observing this day after Kemal Ataturk established this new Republic on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. He founded this Republic on the basis of secularism. Turkey became a most prosperous and modern country defeating European countries like Greece and France and became a powerful Eurasian state.
Now this country has been embroiled in the Middle-eastern crisis and facing a civil war. Recently there was a bomb attack in Ankara on a mass rally which killed more than a hundred people and injured many more. During the Second World War, Turkey remained neutral and kept itself free from the war devastation. Even, it managed to remain trouble free at the time of Jihadist uprising in the Middle-eastern countries. Now the country has invited the trouble in her own home. Many observers including distinguished historian Norman Stone said, Ankara incident is probably only the beginning of this trouble.
Nobody knows whether the present Islamic government of Turkey headed by Erdogan realized their folly in leaving state policy based on secularism and tried to impose old religious creeds on its people. After the Ankara bomb attacks the trouble has spread in other cities also. In Istanbul police had to use force to break a mass protest rally. Turkey is no more a peaceful country and many observers fear that the present Middle-eastern trouble might also engulf Turkey.
Now this Islamist government is perhaps trying to use the name of the founding father of the Republic Kemal Ataturk to rebuild national unity and cohesion among Turkish people. On the Republic Day on 29th October the politicians, diplomats and generals will proceed in great pomp to the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk to imbibe the spirit of national unity among the strife-ridden and divided people. Now this Islamist government wants to survive the trouble by using the great leaders name; but since they came to power in 2002 they have tried to demolish Ataturks secular ideals and have taken back Turkey to the old pattern of rule based on fundamentalist rituals.
In the early part of the last century Kemal Ataturk not only abolished the feudal system, he modernized the whole society. He changed Arabic alphabets and language in education and introduced Turkish language. He also introduced modern scientific education in place of old Madrasah system. Women were freed from the old dress-code, and allowed to have higher education and enter into different professions. Ataturks Turkey was no more a part of the Middle-east politically or socially. It became a most modern Eurasian state. During the Second World War under the Presidency of Ismet Inonu Turkey remained totally neutral between the two combatting powers and escaped the wrath of war. Even in the recent times when Suleyman Demirel was the president of the country he was respected both by the Israelis and Palestinians and was a good mediator between them.
Secularism gave Turkey political strength, national unity and modernity. Unfortunately, some old Islamist leaders stood against Ataturks secular state policy and established Islamic AK Party which came to power in 2002. Gradually they abolished Ataturks social reform and went back to the old social form guided by religious doctrines. At first this Islamist government had some success in running the country and Erdogan was a successful Mayor of Istanbul. But very soon he deviated from Kemals ideals and encouraged the fundamentalist forces and created division among Turkish people. Erdogan also showed interest in territorial expansionism and many observers say that he had a formula for the formerly Ottoman territories. According to historian Norman Stone, Turkeys present government intervened in secular Syria and is now facing crisis. Turkey has been sucked into the mess that is the Middle-east.
Two and a half million refugee from Syria are now in Turkey. Some of them are begging in the street, some of them are setting up teaching Quaranic lessons segregating boys and girls which was banned in Turkey during Kemals period. The demand for establishing a separate Kurdistan has fomented further trouble in Turkey. Turkeys southeast Kurdish block are very religious minded, but they were happy under the secular Turkish government because there was no religious discrimination. Now they are being treated as second class citizens because many of them are of Shiite beliefs. Now the Kurds, whether Turkish, Iraqi, Syrian or Iranian are united to establish a new Kurdistan. They will fight against ISIS brutality and may become ally of Israel.
Western observers including historian Norman Stone in their recent writing are blaming the rise of Islamist parties in politics and their divisive policies for the present turmoil in Turkey. But the neutral observers who study recent history agree that the so-called American friendship brought all the misery of this country. In the name of Middle-east security from communist aggression America established a military treaty organization named MADO (Middle-East Defence Organization). America persuaded Turkey to join this military pact along with Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. All these countries are now devastated not by communist aggression but by Americas divisive and destructive policy. On one hand America encouraged the revival of Islamist parties against secular governments, and on the other they gradually brought army into power in the name of saving Kemalism or secularism. When civilian governments were not happy with Americas policy of domination Washington tried to induce political instability in the country and brought army to power directly. The civilian government of Adnan Menderes was overthrown because he tried to promote friendship with Soviet Union. General Gursel, the-then Chief of Turkish Army took over power and executed the elected prime minister. Eventually it was known that American CIA was behind this violent regime change.
Similar scenario was repeated in Pakistan. Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos elected government was overthrown by military coup and Army Chief General Ziaul Huq took over power. He hanged Bhutto in prison. Though Pakistan was a MADO (once known as Baghdad pact) member country America did not come forward to help to save democracy and Pakistan or save Bhuttos life. Bhuttos death was a judicial murder but his western friend did nothing to save him form this barbarity. The three Muslim countries, the great friends of America and once Americas client states-Turkey, Iraq and Pakistan are now facing similar tragic fates. Only Iran escaped this fate by clerics revolution by overthrowing the Shah of Iran, who was an American puppet at that time.
Under American pressure and instigation Turkey has been opposing Assad government in Syria and made the fatal mistake of getting involved in Syria. The Islamist party which long ago came to power with tacit American support and Armys cooperation is now facing great trouble not only for themselves but for the whole country. Perhaps they now realize that the country can only survive under the protection of a great leader Kemal Ataturk and his secular ideals. If they believe it and take the country back to the father of the nations ideals there is a ray of hope that they can cross this insurmountable crisis. But if it is a political ploy and to attend Ataturks mausoleum on Republic Day is a show to mislead the people they will not succeed. Only the secular policies of the father of the nation can unite the Turkish people again and can break the bondage of American imperialism.
This is true for Bangladesh also. We are now facing the rise of extreme fundamentalism under the disguise of religion. America pretends to be our great friend. If we can remain alert about the nature of this friendship and revive the secular ideals of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then we can also successfully face the crises created one after another by the unholy alliances of the reactionary forces. Only Bangabandhu and his secular ideals like Turkey can create a national unity and save the country and its people.
London: Friday 23 October, 2015
