Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Co-Chair Mertcan Titiz evaluated the visit of Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan to PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı, Öcalan's 7-point message that was reflected to the public and the discussions on the Kurdish issue. 

 

Titiz reminded that Abdullah Öcalan stated in his meeting with his nephew Ömer Öcalan that the isolation still continues. Titiz said, “Even if the talks with Mr. Öcalan have not yet gained stability, that is, even if there is a limited message, the fact that Mr. Öcalan can share his views and thoughts with the public, expressing that he is ready for the process and pointing out the interlocutors who should be ready from now on is a positive in itself. On the other hand, the fact that the Kurdish issue is back on the agenda after the meeting with Mr. Öcalan creates an opportunity in terms of legitimacy. As SYKP, we are aware that this process carries risks. However, the existence of risks does not push us to the point of 'let's wait and see what happens'. On the contrary, from a position that is aware of these risks, we also draw duties and responsibilities for ourselves, such as evolving the process to a genuine solution and a democratic place. We are committed to doing our part for this process. I hope this process will be crowned with a lasting peace.” 

 

'PROCESS ON ONE SIDE AND ATTACKS ON THE OTHER' 

 

Stating that the DEM Party has met with the political parties in the Parliament, Titiz emphasized that it should also meet with other social segments and underlined that other segments should also be involved in the process. Stating that the government constantly reminds of the war option and puts it into action, Titiz said, “In order to minimize any possible expectations from a possible peace process, the government is taking this process with conflicts and attacks in order not to go beyond the ‘terror’ bracket they have planned. For example a bomb was dropped on people going to the Tishreen Dam with UCAVs and 5 people lost their lives. The bodies of murdered journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan are still being held at the border. This is essentially due to such an approach. However, one must also realize this. The democratic opposition has a duty to open this parenthesis. It is important that all segments embrace a possible peace process.” 

 

Pointing to Abdullah Öcalan's 7-point message, Titiz said that Abdullah Öcalan stated that the issue should be handled with a pluralist character despite the government's tendencies to narrow the process. “The ruling bloc wants to squeeze the issue into the brackets of 'security and terrorism' and cut its relation with democratic transformation. However, Mr. Öcalan's linking it with the democracy issue is extremely positive. Bahçeli has been expressing the issue by compressing it into Kurdish and Turkish issues from the beginning. However, Mr. Öcalan uses the term “peoples” without excluding the Kurdish and Turkish brotherhood. This is one of the most important points of the message. We understand from the language and some expressions that Mr. Öcalan uses a language that equates himself with the interlocutors, and he expresses all these expressions in a positive tone, considering the common good of all peoples. On the other hand, Mr. Öcalan invites all of us to associate this process with democratic transformation.” 

 

'ÖCALAN'S PHYSICAL FREEDOM MUST BE ENSURED'

 

Pointing to the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on the violation of Abdullah Öcalan's right to hope, Titiz stated that the right to hope is not a favour of the government. Emphasising that the parties should represent themselves under equal conditions in order for a sincere path to be taken for the solution of the Kurdish issue, Titiz said: "Mr Öcalan is the leader of one of the warring parties. But at the same time, the Kurdish people have been campaigning for years for 'Öcalan is my political will'. Today, they insistently state that 'İmralı is the address of the solution and Mr Abdullah Öcalan is the negotiator'. Under these conditions, if the parties do not represent themselves equally, the expectation of a genuine peace process will not be fully fulfilled. Öcalan's physical freedom is important and must be ensured in order for him to contribute to the process and to hold talks as he wishes."

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu