WAN – As the unilateral steps taken by the Kurdish Movement continue to spark debate, members of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) criticized the parliamentary commission for still not visiting İmralı Island, calling for immediate action: “The commission must go to İmralı; the doors must be fully opened.”

 

The political process launched with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s Call for Peace and a Democratic Society on 27 February is ongoing. The Kurdish Freedom Movement, which has taken multiple steps since then, most recently announced on 26 October in Qandil that it had begun withdrawing its forces from Turkey and Northern Kurdistan. While these steps remain central to public debate, criticism is growing over the failure of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commison in the Parliament to visit İmralı.

 

Participants at the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Rêya Armûşê (İpekyolu) District Congress in Wan (Van) insisted that the commission must meet Öcalan without hesitation or delay.

Şevket Çetin stressed the urgency of a meeting between the commission and Öcalan, saying: “Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan has taken a historic step on behalf of all humanity. After his call, a sense of peace spread across the country. But a question remains in everyone’s mind: why is the state silent while Kurds are taking so many steps? Why has the commission not met the chief negotiator of this process? The commission must go to İmralı immediately. Öcalan’s paradigm represents a new beginning for the entire Middle East. Our demand from the government is clear: to build peace and brotherhood, the commission must go to İmralı as soon as possible.”

 

‘THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR MUST BE CONSULTED’

 

Hesin Erkol said the parliamentary commission had stalled: “The Kurdish Freedom Movement has taken every step within its power. Abdullah Öcalan has always stood for peace, brotherhood, and democracy. The commission may listen to many different groups, but unless it goes to İmralı, all its work is meaningless. It is obligatory that they go to İmralı and meet the chief negotiator, Abdullah Öcalan.”

 

‘ÖCALAN IS THE ARCHITECT OF THE PROCESS’

 

Teymur Sayyiğit said lasting peace could only be achieved through dialogue with Öcalan: “This country needs a permanent peace and brotherhood. Abdullah Öcalan has initiated a process that could benefit all of the Middle East and humanity. The most crucial step is for the commission to meet with him. Our call is clear: the commission must go to İmralı and listen to Öcalan.”

 

THE NEXT STEP BELONGS TO THE STATE

 

Peace Mother Rabia Algör expressed concern over the process being one-sided: “We support this process wholeheartedly, but we have doubts. Why has no concrete step been taken by the state or the government while the Kurdish Freedom Movement has taken so many steps? We demand that the commission and government officials support the process and go to İmralı to meet Öcalan. How are we to trust a process carried out unilaterally? The Kurds have done their part; now it is their turn. If they want us to believe, the doors of İmralı must be opened fully, and Abdullah Öcalan must be allowed to address his people.”

 

‘THE COMMISSION HAS ONE TASK’

 

Mehmet Sait Karabıyık added: “There is an ongoing process led by Abdullah Öcalan. A parliamentary commission has been established. If it wants this process to succeed, it has only one task: to go to İmralı without any conditions or excuses.”