PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan met with his nephew Ömer Öcalan on October 23 for the first time after 43 months of absolute isolation. During the meeting Abdullah Öcalan said: "Isolation continues. If conditions are right, I have the theoretical and practical power to move this process from the ground of conflict and violence to the legal and political ground."

 

While Abdullah Öcalan's message on the solution of the Kurdish issue remains on the agenda, the Central Executive Committee (MYK) of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) made an important statement for a solution. The statement, which included important calls to the government and the opposition, included a call to the government: “The isolation in İmralı must be lifted without delay” and to all social segments: “Let's build peace together, which is a universal value far above vicious bickering.”  

 

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan talked to Mezopotamya Agency's (MA) about the “new process” discussions and the party's position on this issue. 

 

'BAHÇELİ ACCEPTED ÖCALAN'S WILL POWER'

 

Referring to Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli's statements, Bakırhan stated that the Kurdish issue is an issue that triggers social problems in Turkey and that it is normal to make such a statement. “There is a significant difference between Bahçeli and me in the way we approach and solve the problem. But he has come to a point that we think on two basic issues. First of all, Bahçeli correctly pointed out the interlocutor of the Kurdish issue. He accepted Mr. Öcalan's will power to solve the Kurdish issue. Secondly, he talked about the isolation that has been going on for years and said 'open the doors, let him come and talk'. Despite all these important observations, Bahçeli and Erdoğan do not yet have a program and policy for the solution of the Kurdish issue. On the contrary, we encounter practices that make the issue even more unsolvable. If they have any realistic solution claims, they should share them with the public,” Bakırhan said and emphasized that the need for a concrete policy. 

 

'ÖCALAN OFFERS A SOLUTION'

 

Bakırhan reminded Abdullah Öcalan's message in his last meeting and said: “Those who have responsibility for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue say ‘I am here, I exist’. If the Kurds are here, if they show the will for a solution, if they act sincerely and in good faith, then we should ask: Mr. Bahçeli, are you in? Here you go, Mr. Erdoğan, are you in? If there is still a state mind left, I would like to ask: If this issue prevents Turkey from developing, democratizing and living in prosperity, if it prevents Turkey from becoming a democratic regional power, how will you solve the Kurdish issue?” 

 

Bakırhan said that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan's statements are “historic opportunity” and added: “Mr. Öcalan, who is the addressee of the issue, offers a concrete project for a solution. He offers a model of democratic nation, democratic republic and equal life. There is a generation, a Kurdish political mind that is waiting with its hands in the air for a democratic solution and peace. If we want to 'democratize the republic' in the second century, we must immediately talk to Mr. Öcalan and start negotiations. Look, while there is a will for a solution in İmralı, this opportunity must be seized. A peace and negotiation must be established in İmralı. We are talking about an issue that is draining Turkey's energy and economy, impoverishing the society, eliminating democracy and freedoms.” 

 

'ROJAVA IS THE PRIDE OF HUMANITY ALL OVER THE WORLD'

 

AKP Chair and President Erdoğan signaling a new attack on northern and eastern Syria while discussions on the “New Process”. Bakırhan said the following on this topic: “Rojava is seen as the pride of humanity all over the world. Rojava is not a threat. I ask Erdogan: On the one hand, you will say 'My Kurdish brothers and sisters, hold my hands tightly', and on the other hand, you will see the Kurds next to you as a threat. How will you make peace? You know, they always explained the internal debates that started after October 1 with 'survival'. They said 'the balance is changing in the Middle East, let's ensure internal peace'. With an attack on Rojava, the politics you call 'internal peace' collapses. You cannot whip the Kurds on the one hand, and make brotherhood moves on the other. Peace at home can only be achieved through cross-border peace. Kinship with Rojava is a win-win, enmity is a loss. For days they have been writing and drawing plans for a military operation against Rojava. Against whom is this war against? Is Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood going to be established by taking advantage of wars? The attack on Rojava is the name of destroying the Kurdish gains. Is it time for brotherhood and peace? Or is it time for more war, more denial, more pain? Decide on this.” 

 

Bakırhan said that DEM Party is ready for the solution of the Kurdish issue and added: “You extended your hand but you appointed trustees and usurped the will of the people. In the 21st century, people are fed up with these perceptions. We are confident in ourselves. No matter what their intentions are, we will work with all our strength to resolve the issue through democratic means. We will tirelessly explain the importance of an honorable peace. We are brave and confident about peace. If someone extends their hand, of course we will extend our hand without hesitation, and if they try to beat us, we will resist and fight to the end.”  

 

'NO SOLUTIONS CAN COME OUT OF TRUSTEE POLICIES'

 

Stating that the appointment of trustees to the municipalities is against those who struggle for democracy, Bakırhan said: “We say local democracy, the government says trusteeship. We say the differences of society are richness, we are facing a mentality that attacks differences. With the appointment of trustees, we have once again seen the hostile approach of the government towards democracy and the will of the Kurdish people. The government still insists on not recognizing the will of the Kurdish people. It continues to see municipalities as an area of economic plunder. The trusteeship is a policy of political, social, economic and cultural subversion of the will of a people. This collapse policy will collapse even if they try a thousand times. How will peace in Turkey be ensured on the one hand while the Kurds are being subverted on the other? No one can bring us into line with trustees. The trustee policy is a practice that poisons the environment of negotiation and dialogue. No solution can come out of this. There is no solution from this mentality. Even if you appoint trustees for fifty years, the people will still choose their own will. For days, people in many cities, especially Mardin, Halfeti and Batman, have been defending their will. We will fight against the trustee coup, but on the other hand, we will not hold back from strengthening the ground for dialogue and negotiation that will contribute to the freedom of Kurds and the democratization of Turkey. Negotiation is also part of the dynamic of struggle.” Bakırhan stated that he found it positive that the opposition parties made statements that they wanted to take responsibility today, contrary to their stance against the 2013-2015 solution process. Referring to the need for a common ground of social and political struggle in order to achieve peace, Bakırhan stated that all the circles they met with agreed on a democratic solution. 

 

'CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS'

 

Bakırhan stated that they met with Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş regarding the discussions on the new constitution, and emphasized that the AKP does not have a concrete constitutional proposal and that there should be a constitutional process in line with the demands of society. Bakırhan said: “What is on the agenda today is only the statement of the parliament speaker and the government spokespersons that ‘Turkey needs a new constitution’. Turkey already needs one. We know this too. If there is a new democratic constitution that includes everyone, of course we are for it. But there are no conditions for this right now. There is no content, no text. It's like beating water out of a mortar. Is such a thing possible? What is a new constitution? Will you listen to the Kurdish, Alevi and all marginalized peoples and beliefs in the new constitution? Will the voices of the poor and laborers be listened to? Will the demands of all these groups be taken into consideration? We will sit down with any political party that answers these questions positively and thinks of a solution without any buts and buts. But if someone puts his/her own political future and interests ahead of the future of the society, we will say 'stop' there.” 

 

Emphasizing that they will continue their organized struggle for peace, Bakırhan continued as follows: “The greater the organization, the safer the peace and the solution. In this process, we will knock on every door, we will explain ourselves, we will multiply. We cannot expect anyone to offer us peace on a golden platter, this is not realistic. For a democratic solution, first we need to be strong and organized. For a democratic negotiation, we need to shout that demand more loudly. I firmly believe that we will do this. Regardless of how the other side approaches it, I say that we need more organization, more alliances, more strength, more growth. Powers do not change in a day and wake up to a solution. Powers are forced to a point and pulled to a point. If the rulers feel that peace and a solution are at the doorstep, the ground for negotiations will strengthen. Of course, every government wants to maintain the established order. The responsibility falls on those who are disturbed by this order. For this reason, we must unite more with all organized and unorganized forces of the peoples of Turkey for democracy, peace and an equal life.”

 

 

MA / Selman Güzelyüz