.... Ankara dramatically miscalculated at the advent of the Syria conflict by supporting Sunni Arab groups and hardline Islamists, which disregarded the rights and demands of Syrian Kurds. The position backfired after Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, responded to Turkey's swift support for the Syrian opposition by allowing the Kurds in the north-east to take control of several towns and cities.
Turkey fears the rise of the Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan because the PYD (Democratic Union party), a sister grouping of the PKK, is now the de facto government of the region. This has emboldened the PKK and strengthened its hand both within Turkey and regionally. Assad's carte blanche for the PYD to consolidate its position in the region and establish checkpoints, educational and healthcare services, allowed the group to entrench its dominance and influence. It has a well-trained and armed group of fighters known as the YPG (People's Protection Unit).
The PYD announcement, last Tuesday, included the creation of a parliament of 82 members elected from three districts across the region, which will each have their own local assemblies. The plan is due to be implemented within six months, meaning that the PYD will officially secure its control over large swaths of strategically important land with significant energy resources. This will enhance the prospects of Turkey's own restive Kurds to achieve similar rights and edge toward achieving territorial autonomy.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... a-autonomy
