The isolation against PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan continues. As part of the discussions on the Kurdish Question, Abdullah Öcalan was allowed to meet with his nephew Ömer Öcalan on October 23. During the meeting, Öcalan stated that the isolation continues and gave the message, "The isolation continues. If the conditions are created, I have the theoretical and practical power to change this phase from the basis of conflict and violence to a legal and political basis." The Ministry of Justice has not yet responded to the request of the Co-chairs of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) to meet with Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

Akın Birdal, Honorary President of the Human Rights Association (İHD), who is among the intellectuals and writers who have called for “urgent steps to be taken for the silence of weapons and the start of a peace and democracy process regarding the Kurdish issue”, evaluated the ongoing discussions and the impact of Öcalan in a possible new process. 

 

'ISOLATION IS INSISTENCE ON THE KURDISH ISSUE'

 

Drawing attention to the appointment of trustees to municipalities following MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli's statements, Birdal said that Turkey is not a state of law or a peaceful state, and that it is always open to surprises. Stating that the “acceptance of the ‘cross-border operation thesis’ in the Parliament every year on September 1, the International Day of Peace, is an example of these surprises, Birdal said, ”On the one hand, this hand is extended, on the other hand, the will of the people is usurped. That will is the will of peace, the will of democracy. Later, a call for PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan to come to the Parliament was reiterated. He was asked to speak at the DEM Party Parliamentary Group Meeting. Undoubtedly this was very meaningful. Following this statement, Abdullah Öcalan's nephew, Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan, traveled to İmralı and held a meeting. Therefore, the 43-month isolation door was opened. But what happened? The very next day he was given a 3-month disciplinary penalty. Not only that, a few days later, he was given a 6-month disciplinary penalty. This is an eclipse of reason."

 

'OPPORTUNITY MUST BE GIVEN'

 

Stating that the call for peace will come to life if it is socialized, Birdal said that there was a period of illusion between 2013 and 2015, and as a result many people have lost their lives and been imprisoned since then, and added: “However, this could have been avoided. 2013-2015 was a bit closed, a bit closed circuit. I think this process needs to be conducted openly and socialized. Intellectuals, writers, journalists, rights defenders came together in Istanbul and made a call. We have ideological-political nuances among these friends. But there is something that unites us: There is a longing for peace, justice, democracy, equal and free coexistence. We will create projections of this call in the provinces, socialize the call for peace and spread it to all areas. First of all, we need a road map. First of all, the isolation door must be opened and PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan must speak. The message he gave through Ömer Öcalan in the past days was very important. He said that he would bring violence and conflict to the ground of law and politics and that he was theoretically and practically capable of doing so. Then this opportunity must be recognized and given.”  

 

'LEGAL CHANGES ARE ESSENTIAL'

 

In order for the discussions to evolve into peace, it is essential to amend some laws said Birdal and added: “All prohibitions on freedom of thought and expression and freedom of the press, especially the Anti-Terror Law, must be removed. Because if we are to build the present and the future, we must question the past. And we must be able to write and speak without anxiety and fear. And you, the Free Press, face many difficulties and pressures while exercising the right to receive news. We must be able to write and speak about these without fear or anxiety. Seriously ill prisoners must be released immediately. In other words, a general amnesty should be declared without discrimination except for those who have committed crimes against humanity. This is very important for social peace.” Birdal also noted that the economic crisis and labor exploitation in the country should not be treated differently from the absence of peace. 

 

'PARTIES MUST COME TOGETHER AGAINST ISOLATION'

 

Calling on everyone to take responsibility in this process, Birdal emphasized that the opposition should react against the isolation in the same way it reacted against the appointment of trustees. Birdal said the following: “The 10 parties with or without a group in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey are in unity against the trusteeship. This will against the trusteeship should also come together against the unlawfulness of isolation and make it the agenda of the Parliament. The law on this matter must be established immediately. Because isolation is against the law, it is a crime. In this context, I make a call to the main opposition party and other opposition parties: Let this year be a year of peace, justice and hope in which isolation ends and lawlessness ends.” 

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut