Situation in east Turkey?

[pecha72]

Hi, were heading that way shortly, just heard on the news theres been some more hassle near the Iraq border and the PKK areas.

At the moment we are planning to go from Kayseri to Diyarbakir to Van, then on to Dogubeyazit and Iran border... the other option is thru Sivas & Erzurum, but Im thinking it might get bitterly cold for bikes there, thats why the more southern route you could take the better (maybe!)

I understood previously, that the disputes were only at the immediate border region, and the rest of the east was in fact ok... anybody have any info, if this has changed significantly in the past week or so? I dont think the army will even let us into any regions where there might be high possibility of conflict, but still wandering what the reality is... and a bit cold would be better than going into a warzone, no doubt!

[Caminando]

Originally Posted by pecha72

Hi, were heading that way shortly, just heard on the news theres been some more hassle near the Iraq border and the PKK areas.

At the moment we are planning to go from Kayseri to Diyarbakir to Van, then on to Dogubeyazit and Iran border... the other option is thru Sivas & Erzurum, but Im thinking it might get bitterly cold for bikes there, thats why the more southern route you could take the better (maybe!)

I understood previously, that the disputes were only at the immediate border region, and the rest of the east was in fact ok... anybody have any info, if this has changed significantly in the past week or so? I dont think the army will even let us into any regions where there might be high possibility of conflict, but still wandering what the reality is... and a bit cold would be better than going into a warzone, no doubt!

Pecha , I get the feeling that you will be the first to post about this area! Good luck, be careful....

[the celt]

Hı Pecha,
In Erzurum at the moment weather ıs good at moment bıt of snow on mountaın pass at sıde of road from Sıvas to Erzıncan that was a few days back. Headıng for Iran tomorrow.
joe

[ozhanu]

hi petcha,

the stuation near the irak border is very very dangereous at the moment. you can not go to sirnak-batman-hakkari areas as the army closed the roads and ready to get into the northern part of irak to get rid of PKK terrorist group. it is just a matter of time.

the roads near diyarbakir is open but might be very pain for you as there are a lot of army check points and when the operation begins the army can close the roads.

sivas-erzurum-agri-dogubeyazit route is fine. try to take this road. the weather is ok during the day time. cold at night. so dont ride in dusk.

drop me line if you need more help while you're in Turkiye.

have fun

[Caminando]

[QUOTE=Caminando;155600]"Terrorist"? Since you use the word, its clear that both parties can claim that description in the Kurdistan area...lets hope that riders can pas safely.QUOTE]

[pecha72]

ok, thanks a lot for all advice. We're neatly stuck in the island of Lesvos in Greece, can see into Turkey from here, but cannot get a boat there, because its too windy... so will probably take us at least 5-7 days to even get close to these areas.

Just checked out some places in Turkey from accuweather.com, and their 15-day forecast says its going to be real cold right about that time, if you take the route thru Erzurum, below freezing at night, a bit of snow in the morning, etc. I ride many times in similar temperatures in Finland, but only short rides, dont think we have the gear to really do long distances in such conditions.

So while not being stubborn (hopefully!) still aiming to get thru Diyarbakir & Van, where it looks considerably warmer. Will naturally follow the news and ask for more advice, when we get closer... and be prepared to take that northern route, if needed.

Do you think its possible, that the brown stuff hits the fan "big time", and the whole eastern part of the country, or the PKK support areas, suddenly become no-go region? Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[Walkabout]

Hi Pecha,

Try the BBC for news:

http://[URL="http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/"]news.bbc.co.uk/[/URL]

The international version provides reasonable coverage, compared with the UK TV which is self obsessed on many occasions.

On your question: it is a volatile region and, therefore, it could go belly up at any time - much faster than you can get to an Internet cafe - has a long history of "simmering".

Just don't stick a Kurdistan flag on your panniers!! (that reference is a throw back to an earlier thread about "collecting countries" while travelling).

[ozhanu]

Originally Posted by Caminando

"Terrorist"? Its clear that both parties can claim that description...

Hi All, and especially caminando

Actually, there is legally one site only. The other is not a state, don’t have parliament, don’t have official border, and don’t even have an official army. I mean “pkk”. You can never ever claim a country that has recognised from all countries with an official state, flag, border, parliament, army, etc.. as a terrorist.

I am always and still hoping not only bikers, all the people from all over the world can pass/travel safely.

Yes, I have used the word "terrorist" according to Turkish, many European and EU countries and US policies. All these countries have described and recognised ‘”pkk” as a terrorist group. Do you think that they are just innocent freedom fighters? Do you think that they just killed Turkish soldiers in Turkish soil and not the civilian (even babies, and females)? Do you think that they do suicide bombing in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Diyarbakir, etc. just for fun and not killed any civilian?? Do you think that they just want to a piece of Northern Iraq and not a part of Turkey? I am browsing CNN, BCC, AP almost everyday and I know what you guys read and make you believed. But, there are always both sides. Now, maybe, you are reading/seing/realising the other side.

Never ever mix “pkk” terrorist group with Kurdish People. They are different things. “pkk” does not represent the Kurdish People or community. Any attack which would done by Turkiye and Turkish Army to the North part of Iraq will only aim the “pkk” terrorist group, their camps, their training fields and those who give them support and not the Kurdish People. As you all can remember, in the beginning of the Iraq war in 2003 Turkiye did not give permission to US to enter the Iraq from south part of Turkiye (or North part of Iraq). The deal was, if Turkiye let US enter to Iraq from north, US also let Turkiye enter and control the north part of Iraq. But as you all well know, Turkish Parliament voted it and did not accept this deal. If Turkiye wanted to fight with the Kurdish People this was a good deal then.

I know, it is not only about “pkk”, not only about Turkiye, not only about the North Part of Iraq. This is a sort of (or may be beginning of) the new world war. After the UdSSR collapsed at 1991 the cold war has ended and the world was managed only by one pole since then. All the balances which are existed had been changed. And after 9/11 the new era has been begun!! Named as "globalism". Actually, that means to share the world again. Just like after the First World War, or the 2. World War.

Now the world is re-shaping. The Balkans has been shaped in 90's. And now time for Middle East. The playground is the Middle-East now. The participants are the countries in that area. Main reason, oil and the energy sources. Other reasons make a barrier for China and Russia, bringing democracy , get rid of dictators, etc… (I know that there more dictators in Africa than Middle East, but no one cares about it)..

So as you see my friends the problem is not Turkish-“pkk” problem. The problem is to share the world and now we are watching the Middle East episode. Is “pkk” terrorist group? Yes, if you kill someone in their country soil you are a terrorist, just like Al-Quide or any other terrorist group.

[edit: there is no any official Kurdistan country in the world, and also no Kurdistan part, or state in Turkiye. Many Kurdish people live in east part of Turkiye and this part named as East Anatolia, and South-East Anatolia. Just for you information .]

Sorry for this non-motorbike thread. But I just wanted to discribe/explane the problem from this side. Hope you all understand me.

[Caminando]

Thanks Ozanu,

My point was that Turkey has a poor record on human rights, and not long ago did some dreadful crimes in South East Turkey. So the word terrorist is not only for the PKK. I'll leave it at that.

[ozhanu]

thanks caminando,

but who have good record on human rights? US, UK, Germany, France or any other developed country???

anyway.. this is deply politics..

Thanks for your sensations anyway.

peace

-----end of this thread for me-----

Originally Posted by Caminando

Thanks Ozanu,

My point was that Turkey has a poor record on human rights, and not long ago did some dreadful crimes in South East Turkey. So the word terrorist is not only for the PKK. I'll leave it at that.

[Nigel Marx]

Originally Posted by ozhanu

thanks caminando,

anyway.. this is deply politics..

Thanks for your sensations anyway.

peace

end of this thread for me

And I will hold you both to that. Points have been made, and further discussion on these lines will be of no help to Pecha72. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ilies/nono.gif


Regards

Nigel in NZ

[brettsyoung]

What Ozhan said in his first post. There are major oil/gas refinery works in Batman and the Turks are concerned about sabotage not only to these oil works but to the infrastructure in/out of the area. He is also right in that the road blocks will be your greatest drama. A few days ago someone I know took all day to get halfway to Hakkan from Batman (in a car), only to be turned back. (Although this coincided with military movements and a visit by Turkish parliamentarians to the area, so the situation probably changes one day to the next). The queues are long and the locals hostile. Just avoid the place for the time being.

On the political debate in the latter posts; it's not really fair to visit a thread, fire a broadside about something of which you probably know little about, and back away. This does not add to the discussion, and simply compels people who are close to the issue, and who probably do know what they are talking about, to fire up. I've noticed this has happened in a few ME threads in the last day or so. There are plenty of sites to air these views, and I reckon it's not here.

cheers
Brett

[SKILLO]

When we booked into a hotel in Tatvan in late 2006, the owner greeted us with a big smile and said "welcome to Kurdistan". I did a double take and instantly played back the last 2 days riding in my head and could not recall crossing a border, then realised that he wanted to tell us where his support lay on this issue, or maybe he was testing our views? I didn't say anything, just smiled back. What is my point? Not sure really, except there appears to be more support for the Kurds in this part of Turkey than I expected.

Hope things work out for you pecha72 and you get to see & experience a great part of Turkey (or Kurdistan, depending what your views are).

John