Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) MPs Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder went to İmralı Island on December 28 and held a meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

After the meeting, 7 points were listed regarding Abdullah Öcalan's approaches. Among the points, it was emphasized that it is a historical responsibility to strengthen the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood again and that all political circles should take the initiative without getting caught up in narrow and short-term insterests. It was also stated that “This is a time for peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Turkey and the region”. After the meeting, the DEM Party delegation started to meet with the representatives of the political parties that have a group in the Parliament. The round of meetings is expected to be completed next week. 

 

Journalist Cengiz Aktar evaluated the developments in the recent process and the messages given by Abdullah Öcalan. 

 

'NO STEP FORWARD ON DEMANDS'

 

Emphasizing that Turkey is not a democratic country, “Turkey is a fascist, undemocratic country and regime. Is it possible to expect a permanent peace and solution with a completely democratic flavor from such a regime? Where has it been seen that non-democrats have evolved into a democratic politics?There is no example in the world,” he said. 

 

Aktar said that the state and the AKP-MHP are addressing the problem only in terms of “laying down arms” and added: “They say ‘PKK, YPG will lay down arms’. There is talk of house arrest for Abdullah Öcalan. Apart from these, there is no step towards the demands of the Kurdish political movement. There is no development regarding education in mother language, Kurdish and its dialects. There is no step on the situation of politicians in prison. Not even a positive statement about Demirtaş, Yüksekdağ and Mızraklı. There are many other people. Will anything be done about them? Will there be a general amnesty? There is nothing. We need to be very careful.” 

 

Stating that the demands of the Kurdish political movement are clear, "The same things have been said for years. Will these be on the table or nor? On the one hand, it appoints trustees, on the other hand, it includes them in the table. Is such a dialog possible?" he asked. 

 

'WHY SHOULD YPG LAY DOWN ARMS?'

 

Pointing to Turkey's attacks on North and East Syria, Aktar said: "They says "YPG must lay down arms'. Would an army of 100 thousand people lay down arms, and why should do it? 60 percent of the army is Arab anyway. There are not only Kurds. What does Ankara say? 'Disband this army'. Is that possible? Will he trust Ankara and disband it? The marauding gangs called the SNA are still continuing their attacks. They have nothing to do with the future of Syria. They are Kurdish enemies, enemies of Autonomous Administration. They keep attacking under the guidance of Turkey.” 

 

'IT WILL NOT BE AS ANKARA SAYS'

 

Noting that it does not matter whether Turkey accepts the status of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria or not, “This is not Ankara's business. It is Damascus' business. Damascus will decide. They will sit at the table and talk. The important thing here is that the Rojava administration is at the table. Right now it is not at the table and this is not normal. But they have started talking to the Damascus administration. Therefore, whether Turkey accepts or not is not very important. But Turkey is putting pressure on the Damascus administration. As a result of this pressure, they did not talk to the Kurds for a while, but they started talking to them again. The US, Britain and France are also involved... They are trying to find a middle way. It will not happen there as Ankara says,” he said. 

 

'ÖCALAN'S MESSAGES ARE POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE'

 

Aktar said, "Turkey knows what Kurdish politics wants. They express it openly and transparently. The demands of the Kurdish political movement are also important for Turkey's democracy and future. We also know what the other side will not give. This is like fire and water. How will they come together? I don't know if this fire and water will come together."

 

Emphasising that Abdullah Öcalan's messages are positive and constructive, Aktar said that the messages of the state and the government are not positive. Drawing attention to the role of the Parliament in solving the Kurdish issue, Aktar said: "The current Parliament is a puppet of the regime. There are deputies raising and lowering hands. There are also those who are eager to be included in the regime. Can they produce a second policy other than the demands of the regime? It is out of the question. The legislature in Turkey is a door servant to the executive. It is the Palace's notary. CHP does not know what it wants either. What does he want when he keeps saying parliament?"

 

'DEMANDS MUST BE ACCEPTED'

 

Regarding some of the steps that need to be taken to solve the Kurdish issue, Aktar said the following: "It is clear what needs to be done; those who work on conflict-solution have spoken out. Decentralisation is necessary. Education in the mother language is necessary. The Kurdish movement and the demands of the Kurds need to be recognised all over Turkey. Can something similar to the Autonomous Administration in Syria be applied to the Kurds in Turkey? This is a claim. I wish it could be."

 

MA / Mehmet Aslan