Problem of Kurd and minority arguments in Turkey

While most of the Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin continue their liveswithin the existing social structure and integrated themselves within themainstream cultural system of Turkey, a number of them seem to insist onbeing recognized as members of a minority group by the national andinternational law with various demands for legal rights granted only tominorities.Kurds in Turkey were never discriminated by any means since theOttoman times. Like other Muslim elements of the Ottoman Empire, theywere incorporated into the common cultural identity of the Ottoman life.There were some rebellions though, occurred in the south easternprovinces (vilayet) of the Ottoman Empire. However, they were not of politicalor religious nature and were among the ones that occurred throughout theentire Ottoman territories because of the weakening of the central authority.The movements during the World War I and the National Salvation periodwere not ethnic-based movements embracing all the Kurdish tribes. Likewise,other movements which occurred during the Republican period or during the1960s did not bear an ethnic character that could be evaluated as a Kurdishrevolt.The 1960 military intervention and the following Constitutional process,created a different atmosphere for the activities based on Kurdish ethnicity.Unlike the previous ones, the movements started in this period had a?separatist? nature.375Today separatist demands are brought forward by the terrorist PKKcircles, and by its affiliated parties and organizations including the DTP. Suchdemands are also voiced by some of their supporters, which were obviouslyaffected by the intense propaganda. These groups are the ones which alsoadvocate additional rights for the minority groups.However, the Kurds cannot be considered as having a minority statusgiven the necessary elements for the existence of a particular minority group.Nor, can they be considered to fall under a particular group minority. As such,they do not possess a minority character. The Kurdish separatists do nothave the right to demand self-determination which implies a separation fromTurkey. Their demands for an ethnic federation or regional autonomy are notworkable.The gist of the problem in Turkey is not related to the existence ofpersons having different sociological characteristics and their demands fordifferent life styles, as argued by the Kurdish separatists. The problem is thata particular group, which argues to represent the Turkish citizens of Kurdishorigin, though not accepted so by all other than their own, tries to haverecognition for their separatist demands through judicial means. Therefore,the issue which is named as ?Kurdish problem? by some is actually a problemof Kurdish separatism, or a problem of ?Kurdist racism?.