Turkey's 'Olive Branch' takes root in Syrian olive business
Kurdish olive growers in Afrin, Syria, complain bitterly that Turkish authorities who control the area aren't doing anything to stop massive exploitation and armed extortion that is costing the local oil economy $100 million.
Turkey would have the world believe it's the savior of Afrin. Many Syrians disagree.
As the anniversary approaches of Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch in Syria, disturbing reports keep coming in that contradict Ankara's boasts that it is maintaining law and order in the Kurdish area. Turkey launched the operation in January to end the dominance of what it considers a terrorist group, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).
The UN has been receiving claims that the armed outfits Turkey brought to Afrin are responsible for looting, armed heists, burglaries, kidnappings and torture. Turkey dismisses these charges as outright propaganda, even though some of that criminal activity was cited in a UN Human Rights Council report submitted to the UN General Assembly in September.
The report quotes witnesses who say Turkish soldiers have been in the vicinity when these crimes take place, but don't intervene.
