The meeting between Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan and PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan on December 28th in İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison remains on the agenda. The evaluations made by Abdullah Öcalan during the meeting were announced to the public with a 7-point message. The messages emphasized the strengthening of the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood and called on all political circles to “take initiative without getting caught up in narrow and periodic calculations”. They also emphasized that “Time for peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Turkey and the region”.  

 

 

Murat Kan, Chair of the Social Peace and Dialogue Association (TOD-DER), evaluated the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue and the messages from İmralı. 

 

'DEMOCRATIC NATION IS THE ALTERNATIVE' 

 

Kan said that the Middle East is at the center of the “Third World War” waged by global powers and that this situation has led to serious developments in Syria. Kan said that in line with the interests of the hegemonic powers, peoples are being pitted against each other in Syria and that Abdullah Öcalan's Democratic Nation project is an alternative to this situation. 

 

Kan said, “When we consider this with a perspective in which all peoples and differences in the region can express themselves on equal and free grounds, democratic participation can be ensured, and they can be included in the governance of the country, we can have information about what the solution should be. Especially considering the reality of how leaving the Kurds without status has led to conflict and social destruction, this call is the antidote to these events.”  

 

Pointing out that Abdullah Öcalan made some warnings in the light of developments in the Middle East, “The Kurdish card was a card used by global powers against both the Turkish nation state and other nation states in the region since the beginning of the 20th century. It is in this context that the call must be evaluated and given importance. Because the strategy of the global powers is to perpetuate this. In fact, this card should be taken out of the hands of global powers and taken towards a solution where the common will of the peoples is revealed,” Kan said.  

 

'THE CALL MUST BE HEEDED'

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan's calls must be answered, Kan said, “It is very important for the peoples that this call evolves towards peace.” Stating that the process carried out in 2013-2015 was instrumentalized by the government, Kan emphasized that the last call made from İmralı should be heeded. 

 

Underlining that everyone should take responsibility for the last process to evolve into peace, “This society will prosper as a result of everyone taking responsibility. Social peace will be built. This war has consumed many governments for years. Many political parties have crumbled as a result of insisting on this war. One of the main reasons why all political structures have become like this was their insistence on war. This reality should not be ignored. War does not give anything to society, especially political structures,” he said. 

 

'WE ARE READY TO DO OUR PART'

 

"Turkey is being told that either you will solve this problem or you will be solved together with this problem," said Kan and added, "The Turkish ruling classes and political structures in Turkey should not ignore this reality. Both the opposition and the government in Turkey need to recognise the reality that problems can no longer be solved with a political understanding that ignores the self-governance of the peoples. From this framework, they need to take the right attitude by addressing the problem correctly."

 

Kan continued as follows: "The war led to poverty. The war led to rents and corruption. Turkish society has lost all its values due to the war. The way for the peoples of Turkey to reunite with their own values is to heed this call and show a positive approach to this call. Social peace will only be possible through this. The way to confront poverty and social decay is to defend social peace. If these demands are agreed upon, the problems of the societies of Turkey will be solved. We are ready to do our part. Everyone should also do their part."

 

MA / Müjdat Can