Syrian Turkmens ask for Turkey’s help under heavy bombardment by Assad, Russia

Tents set up for Syrian Turkmens fleeing a military offensive and clashes between opposition fighters and Assad forces are seen on the Syrian side of the border on Nov. 22. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Turgut Engin)

November 22, 2015, Sunday/ 16:12:40/ TODAY'S ZAMAN / ANKARA

The army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military operation backed by Russian airstrikes in a rural area of Latakia inhabited by Bayır-Bucak Turkmens since last week has caused a number of Turkmens to flee to the Turkish border as a Turkmen brigade commander has called on Turkey's assistance and expressed his frustration that Turkey's helping hand hasn't been extended so far.
In the meantime, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu held a security meeting in Ankara on Sunday to discuss the situation in Syria and the Bayır-Bucak Turkmens.
The Syrian regime forces started a ground military operation close to villages in the Gimam area where there are about 50 Turkmen villages this past week and Russia has supported the Assad forces by pounding the area. Turkmens are an ethnically Turkic group living mostly in Syria and Iraq, along with Arabs and Kurds.
Sultan Abdülhamit Brigade Commander Ömer Abdullah, who is fighting against the Assad forces in one of the Turkmen brigades, on Sunday called on Turkey to help the Turkmens, as the Syrian regime forces and Russians pounded Turkmens with cluster munitions, according to a report by the private Cihan news agency.
“We are trying to survive under unbearable brutality and we need Turkey's help,” said Abdullah. Expressing criticism against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Abdullah said: “Every day our Turkmen brothers are dying. We expect the government to support us. Why do they leave us alone? We have fallen martyrs every day. Why are we left alone? I don't understand.”
Abdullah stressed they have been under heavy bombardment for about a month now and Turkmens need logistic support. Ömer Abdullah said Turkmens have been trying to defend the area for almost four years now and along with Russian bombardment, Iran's Shiite forces and Hizbullah forces from Lebanon are attacking Turkmens.
He called their fight against the Syrian forces the second Çanakkale campaign of Turkey – the first being during World War I -- against the invading forces. “I don't understand why our Muslim brothers remain silent. We need all kinds of support. It's impossible to survive under such heavy bombardment,” Abdullah added.
Grand Unity Party (BBP)Deputy Chairman Kaptan Kartal, along with a delegation from his party, has passed into the Bayır-Bucak Turkmen area to support the Turkmens, according to the Cihan news agency.
“Our friends are waiting from the mighty Turkish Republic. We have no doubt that the Turkish nation's prayers are with these friends. But along with praying, there needs to be action. We cannot let our friends prey to a few looters. We need to give Bayır-Bucak Turkmen brothers. I came here today and I am with them. I am ready to die with them,” said Kartal, according to the report.
Kartal also posted on his Twitter account that the reports of Syrian regime forces capturing the Turkmen mountain are simply not true.
In the meantime, a member of the youth branch of the Grand Unity Party (BBP), Alperen Ocakları, has criticized the government for remaining silent in the face of the tragedy of Bayır-Bucak Turkmens in Syria.
Manavgat representative of Alperen Ocakları, Nusrettin Karakoç condemned the attacks against the Turkmens on Sunday and said the Turkish government has exploited the name of the Bayır-Bucak Turkmens for political gain, but today they remain silent when Russian jets and Syrian regime forces are bombing Turkmens.
“Turkmens today are facing a human tragedy and the ruling party cannot raise its voice. They abandoned the Turkmens. Today is the day to support our kin. Today is the day to support the Turkmen mountain. As Alperens, we condemn and damn the attacks,” he said, according to the Cihan news agency.
The Turkish government had clandestinely sent weapons into war-torn Syria using trucks from Turkey's intelligence organization and admitted that the trucks were headed for Bayır-Bucak Turkmens, but the shipment has never been confirmed by the Turkmens.
The involvement of the AK Party government in clandestine arms shipments to some groups in Syria was proven by the Cumhuriyet daily in a front-page story published on May 29 that included video stills of weapons carried by trucks operated by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT).
According to the daily's report, a truck, which is thought to be one of many, contained a total of 1,000 artillery shells, 50,000 machine gun rounds, 30,000 heavy machine gun rounds and 1,000 mortar shells.
Mehmet Şandır, Syrian Bayır-Bucak Turkmen Culture and Solidarity Association honorary president and a former Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy, told Today's Zaman that Bayır-Bucak Turkmens are being exposed to ethnic cleansing in northern Syria and Ankara is not doing enough to support those Turkmens. He pointed out that Turkmens don't have weapons to protect them, not even rocket launchers. “Turkey has to help the Turkmens. The aid going to the Turkmens is not enough,” he said.
Şandır said Ankara is not taking steps in a timely manner and it needs to be in the picture, when countries like Russia or France are in the region. “If one defends its position only on its soil, then it will lose the battle,” said Şandır, but quickly adding that he is not defending Turkey entering into a war in Syria. “I say that Turkey needs to be present, as much as France and Russia in the region,” he said.
Levent Gök, the group deputy chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), also criticized the AK Party government and said the government has taken sides in the Syrian conflict and has caused today's problems in Syria. “At this point, their policies in Syria have collapsed and the government has left the Bayır-Bucak Turkmens without help,” Gök said.
Gök also said the AK Party government has made many mistakes since the beginning of the Syrian conflict and it is responsible for the current outcome in Syria. “The government not only has damaged Turkey's reputation, but they have also caused the victimization of millions of people,” said Gök.
Speaking to Today's Zaman, the group deputy chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Yusuf Halacoğlu, said the sincerity of the government, which had previously claimed sending weapons to Turkmens, has been tested and he argued that it's obvious to him that the weapons had been sent to others, but not Turkmens.
“The Bayır-Bucak Turkmens have been fighting against ISIL [terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant]. The Bayır-Bucak Turkmens had been one of the most important obstacles before the PYD [Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party] to create a corridor towards the Mediterranean. There is ethnic cleansing against the Turkmens now, and therefore there is no obstacle before the PYD,” Halacoğlu said.
Halacoğlu said the government cannot stop this human tragedy by making statements and called on Ankara to do something to end this ethnic cleansing against the Turkmens. He said Turkey supported Kurdish forces in Kobani town last year in their fight against ISIL and now it's time for Turkey to support the Bayır-Bucak Turkmens.

Turkmens flock to Turkish border

Nearly 1,500 Turkmens from villages in northern Syria have fled to the Turkish border, following the bombardment against Turkmens, the governor of the Turkey's border province of Hatay said.
Speaking after a meeting with representatives of Syrian Turkmen groups in Yayladağ district on Saturday evening, Governor Ercan Topaca said measures have been taken to meet the humanitarian needs of the Turkmens, including tents, blankets and food. Turkish authorities have already provided 575 tents, 4,200 blankets and 20,000 cans of food and will begin serving hot meals as of Sunday, he said.
He said the Turkmens will be let into Turkey if such a need arises, with the authorities currently working on providing the infrastructure on the Turkish side of the border for a possible entry of Turkmens. A total of 17 people injured in clashes have been brought to Turkey for treatment, Topaca also said.