Writers and intellectuals who came together the previous day at the Hill Hotel in Taksim, Istanbul, called for steps to be taken for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue. One of the signatories of the call, writer Oya Baydar and Peace Academician Onur Hamzaoğlu evaluated the recent discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue.

 

'OPPOSITION MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY'

 

Stating that the Kurdish issue is one of the fundamental problems of Turkey, Oya Baydar said: "The so-called Kurdish issue is actually a Turkish issue. The solution to the Kurdish issue can only be found by first removing Kurdish hostility from the minds. The Kurdish hostility that manifests itself today, especially in the trustee policies, is not only a trustee issue, it is a democracy issye. With the trustee policies the state is saying 'You are not one of us, we do not recognise your will'. Everyone needs to wage a serious strugle on this issue. Especially the opposition has serious responsibilities, it must fulfil them."

 

'WE ARE NOT AGAINST PEACE BUT WE WILL NOT SURRENDER'

 

Oya Baydar stated that she did not find the discussions on the "new process" after MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) deputies in the parliament sincere and reliable "I see that Bahçeli wants to make the issue a tool for different issues rather than the solution of the Kurdish issue. We will closely follow and see the developments in this regard. Every development and every step is important. We are not against peace, but they should not expect us to surrender," she said.

 

INSINCERE PRACTICES 

 

Oya Baydar stated that if the Kurds become a target in the atmosphere of war in North and East Syria, it will lead to critical processes in Turkey, "If the Kurdish movement is made a target, it will bring pain in the coming processes. Then it will not be possible to take steps on the Kurdish issue in Turkey. We need to understand this. The state says, 'Let's give the Kurds some of their demands in Turkey and destroy them outside'. There are insincere practices here that we do not fully trust," Oya Baydar said. 

 

'WAR POLICIES ARE LOSING'

 

Peace Academician Onur Hamzaoğlu stated that the peoples have lost a significant amount from the war policies pursued by Turkey and said: "We have a demand for peace against war. War policies are now causing the country to lose. Therefore, we want to reverse this situation. Our initiatives will always be in this direction. We demand social equality and equality in the economy in order to establish democracy, to reverse inequalities in the social sphere and to give the poor and labourers their rights."

 

FIRST STEP IS TO LIFT ISOLATION

 

New processes to be formed should be transparent and open to the society said Hamzaoğlu and added: "If a process is to be initiated, the isolation must first be lifted. If a process is to develop, it should be institutionalised and the basic grounds for negotiation should be optimally provided and opened. The parties should be able to express themselves openly and clearly. If a natural transparent process is to be initiated, the isolation must first be lifted. Therefore, both sides need to hold talks to the extent that the public can see and hear."

 

DECISIVE STEPS MUST BE TAKEN

 

Underlining that they will shout their demand for peace in every field, Hamzaoğlu continued as follows: "We will continue to shout the peace demand of the society in every field. We need to believe that peace is very close to us and take decisive steps. Fear is of course a human emotion, but now is the day to shelve our fears. We will follow peace no matter what."

 

MA / Ferhat Sezgin