Discussions continue in Turkey regarding a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Following Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and a Democratic Society" on 27 February, the PKK convened a congress and decided to end its activities. In this context, different groups are working to ensure that democratic and legal regulations are put in place to achieve lasting peace. 

 

Emine Uçak Erdoğan, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Party Assembly (PM), made assessments regarding the ongoing process. 

 

Emine Uçak Erdoğan stated that the conflict-ridden process has caused great suffering: "Steps are being taken to put this process behind us and, in particular, to end the violence. I consider this to be very important. Of course, this is also a matter of democratisation and equality; it is an issue that existed even before the conflicts. Therefore, in the current process, there are things that need to be done to prevent the recurrence of a conflict-ridden environment and to achieve lasting peace. The first step was to silence the guns, and progress has been made in that regard. This is a very historic and important issue." 

 

'THE RIGHTS OF THE KURDISH PEOPLE MUST BE RECOGNISED'

 

Emine Uçak Erdoğan pointed out that it is important for Turkey to leave the conflict behind while the Middle East is experiencing a period of instability, and emphasised that constitutional change is important for achieving lasting peace and an environment free of conflict. 

 

Emine Erdoğan Uçak emphasised the need to ensure equal rights for everyone: "Kurds are citizens of this country, but there are issues related to the granting of all their symbolic, cultural and public rights in a way that they can feel honoured and good about themselves. Additionally, there are issues related to democratic rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of association. Beyond that, there are matters concerning the economy, fundamental rights, and language. The solution to this must be a comprehensive process that includes democratisation, development goals, reform processes, legal processes, and above all, the elimination of cultural rights and discrimination in daily life."

 

THE ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT

 

Emine Uçak Erdoğan stressed that the state must ensure equality for all: "From media freedom to civil society freedom and freedom of expression, there is a situation we call dual law, where some are more privileged and the definition of crime is applied differently depending on the person. Even if partial solutions are provided, if this dual legal system, this dual state system, where only those close to the government have access to the justice system, continues, it will cause the problem to fester. Of course, the government's ambivalent stance is at the root of the trust issue in society. On the one hand, they say, ‘Let's unite the internal front,’ talking about the cessation of hostilities and peace, but on the other hand, they are taking steps to criminalise the country's main opposition party. The HDK case and trials are still ongoing."

 

'WE MUST ORGANISE THE PROCESS TOGETHER'

 

Emine Uçak Erdoğan pointed out that democratisation and peace are issues that concern everyone in the country and that we must all fight together.

 

She concluded: "Justice, law, social peace, inclusiveness, freedom of expression, and equality before the law are necessary needs for all of us. For example, it is not enough for only the CHP or the DEM Party to fight for the removal of trustees today. Therefore, we must fight together for all of our fundamental democratic shortcomings: political prisoners, ill prisoners, trustees, judicial reforms... For this, we need to organise a process that is more socialised and not closed off, bringing together very different segments of society, including those who criticise it, beyond the peace meetings where we all talk to ourselves in different rooms.”

 

MA / Yeşim Tükel