The Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), which aims to unite different identities, beliefs and cultures in Turkey under one roof, to ensure social peace and to fight for fundamental rights and freedoms, held its 13th General Assembly on November 3. Meral Danış Beştaş and Ali Kenanoğlu were elected as new co-spokespersons at the general assembly, which was held with the slogan “With hope, with resistance, to freedom together”. 

 

New Co-Spokepersons Meral Danış Beştaş and Ali Kenanoğlu answered our questions about the work they will do in the new period and the developments on the agenda. 

 

'AIM IS TO STRUGGLE EVERYWHERE'

 

Meral Danış Beştaş stated that there are serious problems in many areas in Turkey and that the most important problems are the lack of equality and the lack of a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Meral Danış Beştaş stated that as HDK they want to create a line of struggle that encompasses everyone, and that one of the most important criticisms against HDK at their congress was that it conducts Istanbul-centered activities, and said: “Istanbul is of course the most important center, our work can be more intense here, but it will not only be in Istanbul. It will also be in Çukurova, other provinces of Marmara, Thrace, Central Anatolia and the Black Sea. In other words, we have a perspective and approach to organize and work everywhere in western Turkey. This is what HDK means. In this respect, we aim to realize HDK's presence, struggle and meeting with social dynamics everywhere.”

 

WOMEN STRUGGLE

 

Stating that the HDK held its 13th General Assembly at a time when there were significant problems in every field in Turkey, Ali Kenanoğlu said: “There were criticisms that the HDK could not mobilize the structure that organizes all layers of society, could not develop it sufficiently and could not implement it in the field. With these criticisms, we will emphasize the united struggle of the peoples in the coming period. In this process, the HDP carries the ground for all laborers, socialists, women, youth and nature, who are oppressed under this brutal capitalism, to be organized. With all these self-criticisms, the restructuring process came to the fore at the congress.” 

 

Emphasizing that women's organization means the organization of half of Turkey, Meral Danış Beştaş said that HDK will deal with the social pillar of all the problems women face. Meral Danış Beştaş stated that the women's struggle united with the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî” and with the perspective of free and equal life will be embodied in HDK and said: “We believe that women's participation in this struggle everywhere under the roof of HDK will stand against inequality and marginalized identity. We discussed this in a very wide way at the women's original assembly meeting and women of very different identities, languages and beliefs are taking part in our HDK Women's Assembly.” 

 

'HDK HAS A DUTY TO ENSURE PEACE'

 

Regarding the work for the new period, Ali Kenanoğlu said the following: “We want HDK to be a common struggle organization for all those who have problems in the ruling system. We want to unify the problems of all people and ensure that they all fight on a common front. We want to create a Turkey where both the people in the Kurdish geography and the people in the western geography can live in peace, justice, equality and dignity. We want to ensure that the second century ahead is such a Turkey.”

 

Stating that they aim to make the Kurdish issue understandable in the west of Turkey, Ali Kenanoğlu said, “The solution to the Kurdish issue or what we call peace is not a matter of a few people making peace. It is important to socialize peace. People living in Thrace also need to know how important this peace is for Turkey and make peace. Because on the western side, especially since the start of the conflict in 2015, a poisonous language has been used. Kurdish politics and almost all Kurdish people are terrorized and demonized. The government established this in this way and has been operating it for 9 years. Therefore, we need a development on the western side that will condemn this language. Something unnamed is happening and the HDK has a duty to ensure that it evolves into a process and a peace is formed. For example, organizing the social sphere and building social pressure for the establishment of peace. Because we are facing a government that thinks about its own survival and pursues a policy based on winning elections. Therefore, if they do not feel social pressure on them, they will carry out this work according to their own pleasure or not at all.”

 

'WE CANNOT SAY ISOLATIN ENDED'

 

Regarding the discussions on a new peace  process, Meral Danış Beştaş stated that it is not important if there is no concrete step. “We note that with all the problems in Turkey, peace is also in an effective and decisive place. Everyone is discussing what is going on. Both the pro-press and the opposition press are discussing this from different perspectives. But in the end, it is clear as day that a conflict-free environment must be ensured, the channels of democratic politics must be opened to the fullest, and the necessary steps must be taken in this regard. In other words, the Kurdish movement's approach to this issue has been clear for many years. Öcalan also states in his interview notes between 2013 and 2015 that he favors peace and a solution. I also think that these conditions must be created. There is no other way out.”

 

Stating that the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan is unacceptable, Meral Danış Beştaş said: “The isolation can be lifted with social reflexes, struggle and resistance. Many people say that it is unlawful and a method of torture. Many people also say that Mr. Öcalan plays a decisive role in the solution of the Kurdish issue. The isolation continues and we cannot say that the isolation is ended with one meeting.” 

 

MA / İbrahim Irmak - Ferhat Sezgin