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Welsh author supports the Kurds in Istanbul
A highly acclaimed writer and academic, whose memoirs recall scenes from a varied and exciting life in many countries, will again find himself in a politically delicate situation when he takes his new book to the Istanbul Book Fair.
Ned Thomas is renowned as founder of the Mercator Institute in Aberystwyth, and leader of the campaign to establish a Welsh daily newspaper, Y Byd ( The World ) says Meleri Wyn James from the Lolfa press. He will be travelling to Istanbul on the 28 th of October to take part in a public debate about literature and publishing in minority languages. This is an area in which Ned and the Mercator Institute have considerable expertise.
Its a controversial subject because of the Kurds present situation, says Ned Thomas. "The Turkish government, having applied to join the European Union, is keen to be seen to conform to European standards in the treatment of its minorities, but there is still a lot of opposition to the public presence of Kurds as a distinct group, and it is unlikely that they will be taking part in the discussion on the public stage in Istanbul.
But representatives from Western European minorities, including myself, will in any case meet with Kurdish cultural movements on the festival fringe. They are on the threshold of exciting times in the history of their language and culture, and deserve our full support.
Ned Thomas will be amongst a small group from Wales attending the Istanbul Book Fair including Mari Sion and Nia Davies form Mercator and Sian Melangell from Wales Literature Exchange. The Book Fair attracts over 500 publishers and will be the setting for the international launch of Ned's book. The Wales launch takes place in Aberystwyth on November the 4th.
Ned Thomas, who now lives in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, spent a migratory childhood in Wales, England, Germany and Switzerland. These early experiences fostered a spirit of adventure and in his book Bydoedd ( Worlds ) we follow him on several journeys visiting the Pope as a child, avoiding the enticements of female KGB agents in Moscow and meeting members of ETA in the Basque Country. Back in Wales he is accused of being a spy, sets up Planet Magazine, and switches off the TV mast at Pencarreg during the campaign for a Welsh television channel in the company of Dr Meredith Evans and Principal Pennar Davies.
a unique and penetrating autobiography, Gareth Miles, Taliesin
More from Ned Thomas:- Welsh Writing in English: An Interview? with Ned Thomas http://ariel.synergiesprairies.ca/ariel/index.php/ariel/article/view/2508/2461 Ned Thomas and the Condition of Wales:- http://ariel.synergiesprairies.ca/ariel/index.php/ariel/article/view/2507/2460