Mehmet Ali Birand: cliche of “Turks are tolerant to foreigners” is all lies

November 28, 2011 - 10:53 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Hurriyet Daily News published an article by liberal Turkish journalist Mehmet Ali Birand, dealing with recent Dersim debate and racism in Turkey.

“I genuinely consider the Dersim debate important. It really does not matter whether the prime minister has disclosed already known documents or he has brought up this topic to wear down the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). What is important is the prime minister has opened the lid of Pandora’s box that was being held shut. This box is never to be shut again. Thus Turkey will find the courage to confront the bitter pages in its past,” Birand said in his article.

“Meanwhile, the Dersim debates have also unveiled another reality. That is, the inability to open the archives of the General Staff. The most important documents of the past are in the hands of the General Staff. This is indeed natural because the most important power of the past era was the army. Moreover, unless these documents are disclosed, it is obvious it will not be possible to hold a healthy debate.

Well, why and from whom are those documents being hidden? Every country discloses its documents regardless of its confidentiality after a certain period of time, whereas we live behind a curtain of confidentiality. Why? I cannot find a realistic answer to these questions.”

“Istwanbul-based correspondent Amberin Zaman asked in her column in daily Haber Turk, “Are Turks racist?” She said she used to reply to that question with a firm “No,” but now she has changed her mind. A journalist of Bangladeshi origin, Amberin has been called “Dirty Bangladeshi” or because of her stance on the Armenian issue, “Dirty Armenian.”

The cliche of “Turks are tolerant to foreigners, they are hospitable and they open their arms and help” is all lies.

It is bitter but true… Nobody take offence, but Amberin Zaman was right,” the author concludes.