Telafar, interview with Rıza Çolak, Iraqi Turkmen Front Representative

An interview with Rıza Çolak, Representative of the Iraqi Turkmen Front’s Southern Office about the problems of Talafar and their solutions…

ÇOLAK: “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SUNNI-SHIITE CONFLICT IN TALAFAR”
Although they are treated as second-class citizens, the people of Talafar never foreswear loyalty to their country. The people who resist Talafar for political reasons think that fraternity is eternal. Rıza Çolak, Representative of the Iraqi Turkmen Front’s Southern Office, defines the situation briefly: “There is no such thing as Sunni-Shiite conflict in Talafar. We are all brothers and sisters.”

Ortadoğu Analiz : What do you think about the importance of Talafar for Turkmen?

Talafar is the residential area most densely populated by Turkmen in Iraq. Talafar Turkmen are the descendants of people who migrated in waves from Central Asia to Iraq in different eras of history. They are a brave community that survived under hard circumstances and protected their identity.

What can be said about the Turkmen identity of Talafar?

Talafar Turkmen resisted English forces that wanted to occupy Talafar during World War I. The have resisted modification of their identity, genocide and the oppressive policies of successive governments, especially, that of the ousted regime. Thus, they protected their language and identity as well. Moreover, illiterate women and the elderly speak only Turkish. No matter where you go in the city, if you knock on any door, the only answer you will get is, “kimdi bu?” Nothing else. The names of the territory, its districts and sub-districts, its plants and tribes prove that Talafar is plainly a Turkmen city.

What can you say about the importance of Talafar from Iraq’s perspective?

Talafar county is known as Iraq’s most important agricultural area. Furthermore, animal raising is a remarkable source of income for the region. The old Mosul Dam Project on the Tigris River could make this region a heaven on earth.

What do you want to say about the strategic importance of Talafar?

The opening of the border at Ovacık will make the city an important trade centre. This can help the development of Turkmen people. Even more importantly, this border crossing can strengthen the lines of commerce between two neighboring countries. The city of Talafar swims on a covered oil lake. Apart from the unused oil on the wasteland of “Susen,” there are other underground sources such as iron.

What were the results of Arabization decision of Talafar by Saddam regime in the late 1970s?

As soon as Saddam Hussein came to the power, he pursued his policy of identity change in Talafar, as he did in other Turkmen regions. He did awful things for this reason.

First, he changed the names of the tribes. The names of many tribes of Turkish origin were assigned Arabic names like El Tai, El Hayali, El Mevla, El Ubeydi.

Then, involuntary migration and resettlement. If it weren’t for the Iraq-Iran War, the people in Talafar would have been resettled in a region in the El-Ramadi desert, according to a decision made in 1980s.

Third, the names of neighborhoods and districts were changed. The Turkish names were replaced with Arabic ones. For example, Kanberdere became El-Nida and Toptepe was changed to El-Kadisiye. Another practice of Saddam’s regime is that families of Arab origin were given housing opportunities and granted the right to build houses.

How would Iraq and Turkmen benefit were Talafar to become province?

This issue has been on the agenda for 30 years. Talafar deserves to become a province. In the 1980s, an extensive study was carried out regarding this issue. But later, this idea was given up. On paper, budgets are distributed according to population. But, the largest share is spent on city centers. Seeking solutions in Mosul for the problems of Talafar is incorrect and unrealistic.

Talafar’s becoming a province will enable Talafarians to assess its problems accurately and use the budget efficiently. This will also be beneficial for Turkmen. The situation of Arbil and Kirkuk is clear. If Talafar becomes a province, the majority of Iraq’s Turkmen population will be here. If Tuz Khurmatu is to be a province, too, the first step is for Talafar to become a province.

How was Talafar affected by the US occupation in 2003 and the military operations of US allied forces in 2004-2005?

The US, which ended Saddam’s regime, disappointed everyone who was expecting them to bring freedom, independence and democracy. Talafar was exposed to terror attacks. During the first US operation, Turkey’s intention of defending Talafar Turkmen created excitement among the people. Terrorist pressure on Talafar Turkmen kept tensions high. Conflict broke out in the city after a car loaded with bombs blew up on May 23, 2005, exposing the US’s true face. Occupation forces supported both the Shiite Turkmen and the terrorists. In the end, Talafar turned into a blood bath. Perhaps, it had even been planned that way. Because, the city was divided in two. All Turkmen were harmed by these events. The pain they suffered is still on minds.

What is the situation of social life and education system in the city? How do the young spend their times?

There aren’t any organizations serving for the people apart from civil society organizations. The level of education is very low. The educators think that it is because of terrorism. They are right. Because, how the children whose parents died because of terrorism can be ambitious to go to school? Because, they can’t have education in Mosul, high school graduates have to receive education in distant provinces of Iraq. And it is a difficult situation, of course. Turkish read and write started just 2 years ago. Because, there aren’t enough schools and teachers. There are only first grade books. Facilities such as parks, pools, fountains, culture-youth centers, gyms and stadiums do not exist in Talafar. So, the young waste their time. This situation sometimes creates extremism between them.

What do you expect from the central government in Baghdad?

Talafar is being ignored as in the past. There are no worthwhile social services. Schools do not satisfy the needs. Three or four government offices are operating out of one building. The hospitals are neglected and medical care is insufficient. There are no gynecologists in Talafar.

Iraq’s most neglected city is Talafar. Our demand to the Baghdad Government is that either they make us a federal region bounded to them, or they make us a province separate from Mosul. Because, the source of our problems is being tied to Mosul. We were executed under Saddam, languished in prisons, our villages and lands were captured, we didn’t get promotion and our children were deprived of university educations. We are in the same situation now, being neglected again.

What do you expect from Turkey?

The northern parts of the country will be given to Kurds in return for the Southern Iraq Federations that Abdulaziz El Hakim seized. We Turkmen will pay for these political calculations. The media in Turkey focuses only on Kirkuk. Events are seen only from the perspective of Kirkuk. Other regions like Talafar do not receive enough attention. We expect much more attention from Turkey and Turkish people about Talafar’s problems.

What would you like to say about social peace and fraternal relationships among the Turkmen in Talafar?

In fact, there is no problem with Sunni-Shiite conflict in Talafar. Friends do not make peace; enemies do. We aren’t enemies so there is no need to make peace; we are brothers and sisters. The issue is terrorism. Yes, the two sides are partners of a commission in the name of the peace and fraternity committee, but it is not active. Why? Because, the wounds are still bleeding and the damage is so great. This can’t be solved by just a few people. The authority and skill of the state should stand behind this. On the other hand, Sunni commission doesn’t represent the terrorists. If it did, it would speak the same language as the terrorists. According to Shiites, peace can’t be made with those whose hands are stained with blood.

Thanks for your account.


Note: This interview was first published in Ortadoğu Analiz (Volume 1, Number 5 and pg. 52-54) in the issue of May 2009 in Turkish.

June 30 2009

http://www.orsam.org.tr/en/showOrsamGuest.aspx?ID=20