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| Europe |
| Its easier said than done (Turkish Press) |
| 2004-11-22 |
| The number of Turks, mostly truckers, who were blatantly murdered by so-called "resistance fighters" in Iraq, mostly in the Sunni triangle or in and around Baghdad, has reached 64. Just a six and a four put together for some perhaps, but these were our beloved ones who risked and lost their lives not to provide a luxurious life or wellbeing for their families but just to keep them alive and lead a decent life. How, in a country with such rampant unemployment, can Turkish truckers turn down orders from their bosses and refuse travelling to Iraq? The Foreign Ministry keeps on issuing warning after warning for Turks not to travel to Iraq. Complying with these warnings is easily said than done for poor truckers. According to reports from Iraq and statements from members of the families of slain truckers, most of them risked their lives for a second or third time pledging to their families and vowing on their most sacred honor not to undergo the same ordeal again. Still, how could a father opt to return home at the end of the day empty handed even though he would risk his life there for an employment opportunity that would enable him buy some food to help his family survive? In a country where one man's life has become riches for terrorists -- because of the bounty -- insisting on adequate security measures be taken for our truckers must be a legitimate demand of the Turkish government. If we are to put the record straight once again, the responsibility for the security of Turkish truckers travelling to Iraq lies primarily with the government in Baghdad, even if it is an interim one, as well as the American-led occupation forces and the government in Ankara. Turkey cannot brush aside the Iraqi market -- and the market beyond -- nor can Iraq's trade with Turkey be interrupted. Establishing "guarded" convoys has proved to be an efficient security measure. But, if it is taken into consideration that almost all fatal attacks on Turkish truckers have taken place on their return to Turkey, one could understand that Turkish truck convoys were well-protected until they have unloaded the goods they carry but left to their own destiny from then on. The Ankara government must tell our American allies, as well as the interim government in Baghdad that the lives of our truckers are more valuable than the goods they carry. |
| Posted by:tipper |