food and politics

The end of February: Over 30 Turkish troops died in airstrikes in Idlip province of Syria.
According to Turkish sources, troops were killed by the Syrian Regime forces backed by Russia.
According to Russia, Turkey failed to inform that there were Turkish troops in the targeted area.

While Turkey and Russia are discussing the losses as if people are just numbers or characters from a war strategy game, who is accounting for the lives of these young men? And the suffering of the ones who are left behind?
A tragedy, 33 men paid the price of complete breakdown of Turkish foreign policy.

Turkey backing up rebels in Syria, as did the UK, France and the Netherlands up until 2018, until they realised that Assad wasn’t going to be overthrown easily, nor “smoothly”. After left alone in the region as the only actor supporting the rebels (at least openly), what are Turkish troops still doing there?

Of course, the answer is not as simple as “protecting borders”, “a matter of national security” or “bringing democracy to Syrians who suffer under Assad regime”. Really? Is it now our (when I say our it means Turkey’s) duty, a Turkey ruled by one man who is drunk on power, a Turkey already dealing with massive internal problems, to bring democracy to neighbouring countries?

What is the Turkish response to killings? I’m not talking about politicians going in front of cameras and throwing out empty words like “the troops will be avenged”.
Syrians hit by Assad regime are at the borders of Turkey. The Turkish authorities say that Turkey cannot handle any more refugees, having hosted millions for a long time. And that it’s time for the EU to step in.
The EU has been ignoring Turkish demands, undestimaing the seriousness of the growing discomfort in Turkey, following the EU-Turkey Statement of 2016. Finally, after the killing of Turkish troops and the EU being missing on the scene, Turkey no longer prevents refugees from entering Europe.

Then what? Many refugees – UN says about 20,000 including Iranians, Afghans, Iraqis – hosted in Turkey, ending up at the Greek borders, Bulgarian borders. Greece rejecting all irregular migrants and violently pushing them back. Shootings, battering, use of tear gas. Greece’s inhumane attitude, backed by the EU, towards migrants. A human tragedy on the borders and on Greek islands.
Proving us that the populist parties in Europe are doing a good job so far in disseminating anti-migrant ideas, even if they are not necessarily in power.
Escalation of a new trend, the “EU nationalism”. How we came from EU solidarity to EU nationalism, another story…
Now Turkey deploying more forces to the border to prevent the Greek pushbacks. Refugees stuck at the borders in inhumane conditions, like they haven’t suffered enough already.

Subjected to bombings by Assad and Putin at home, they are driven to desperation. Now being moved like pawns to the EU borders by Erdoğan. Perceived as threat and pushed out by the EU.

Being exposed to physical violence by Greece and psychological violence by Turkey.
Turkey using them as pawns in political games. Erdoğan hoping to regain the support of his electors who are fed up of the refugees in Turkey. The same electors who, for the last years, have been supporting his “Islam brotherhood” policies, unconditionally.

More than 1,800 unaccompanied children trapped on Greek islands. Some experiencing traumas on the border. Here is just one of the stories. (The link opens a video from BBC, even without understanding the language you can get the feeling.) After crossing the border with her family, her parents were detained in Greece and she was lost in Turkey. 12-year-old Afghan refugee Menice. After her story being published by BBC Turkey, his father was found and now at least she has him.

Who should take the blame for this human suffering? Putin’s Russia? Assad regime? Erdogan? EU backed Greece? Simply all. All abandoning moral and human values.
Everyone who is blinded by ideologies, by dirty politics, by power lust.
Everyone who ignores this tragedy, which we will be ashamed of for years.
Like we ignored climate change, like Greta screamed at us “how dare you?”; our children will question in what state of mind, us “humans” allowed this to happen. Of course, if we manage to raise children who are just and fair and know to question our mistakes.

Here we are, Turks, Greeks, all of us, thinking “oh but our countries/economies suffered a lot.”
True, the distress in multiple areas of life caused by the refugee crisis is undeniable. In some regions, even unbearable. Mainly because of the wrong policies and actions taken by all the political actors involved, since 2015 up until now.
The distress eventually pushed us to marginalise people. As encountered many times in history.
“Us” versus “Others”. Others as the cause of our problems.
Even feeding hatred for “others”.
While European populists are further implementing racism against Turks in Europe & all “others”, some Turks are developing racism against Arabs.

Have you, any of us, been without a land? Have you ever been pushed away from everywhere you go? Watched your loved ones die? Hard to empathize with these “others” huh?
I think it would be quite difficult to find someone who is happy about leaving her/his home, trying to settle down in an unknown country, losing family & friends and meanwhile watching her/his home burn down.

Some Turks say “Well we didn’t force them to leave. The second they were given the chance; they ran to the borders of the EU. Then, what’s happening is on them.” How sensible. 
Sure, it is people’s own decision to leave or stay; even though there are some carried to the borders by “forces” “overlooked” by the Turkish authorities, some human smugglers holding “permission” to risk people’s lives. But, besides the increasing violence and hate in Turkey towards Syrian refugees, don’t you ever think these people prefer leaving because there is hope for finding a better life?
For the most, the goal was never settling down in Turkey. Turkey was just a passage, a part of a long journey. Just as Greece is now.

Greece blaming Turkey. Turkey blaming Greece. A vicious circle. Apparently, our history thought us nothing.

Maybe my perspective is too idealist or too humanist (like there is anything wrong with that). Or even naïve. But I find it hard to overlook while people are suffering, physically and mentally. I find it hard to feel relieved because “finally they are out of Turkey”.

There must be a humane way of protecting one’s nation’s interests. All parties of this conflict have to respond with human dignity.
If Turkey and the EU keep ignoring the need for solidary and fair policies & solutions, the burden falling on our consciences will become another common heritage that we share.