Support for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's call for "Peace and Democratic Society" continues. Human Rights Association (IHD) Amed (Diyarbakır) Branch Chair Ercan Yılmaz, who evaluated the call, which was enthusiastically welcomed by a large section of the society, stated that the parliament must take responsibility.

 

Yılmaz reminded the process that took place after Devlet Bahçeli's hand extended to the Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on 1 October 2024, and noted that they found the call that came on 27 February as a result of these developments positive in terms of discussing the Kurdish issue on a democratic level. Yılmaz said, "For years, even with the change of governments in Turkey, the state had an argument that the Kurdish issue 'could not be solved at the same time as terrorism'. With this call by Mr Öcalan, this argument of the state has disappeared."

 

Stating that a very serious threshold has been crossed in terms of the resolution of the Kurdish issue through non-conflict means, Yılmaz said that at the same time there is a nervousness among citizens, civil society organisations and human rights defenders. Reminding that similar processes had taken place, Yılmaz stated that it was now the turn of the government and the state. Yılmaz listed the steps to be taken as follows: "First and foremost, confrontation with the past must be ensured. There are thousands of people who were disappeared by paramilitary forces affiliated with the state in the 90s and who were victimised in unsolved murders. The fate of these people must be revealed and their perpetrators must be tried. Because it does not seem possible to have a healthy peace without confronting the past."

 

Pointing out that thousands of politicians, rights defenders, journalists and academics are in prison due to the unresolved Kurdish issue, Yılmaz said, "The process needs to proceed with mutual steps and in a reassuring manner. Only in this way can it succeed. Now, the statements and steps to be taken by the government after today will reveal how healthy this process will proceed."

 

Yılmaz stressed that the parliament must take responsibility. "The Kurdish issue is not something that emerged when the PKK started armed struggle, nor is it a situation that will end with the PKK laying down its arms. The denialist, rejectionist republican mentality that gave rise to the Kurdish issue must be abandoned. Legal arrangements must be made on the basis of equal citizenship as stated in Article 10 of the Constitution. One of our biggest concerns is the possible provocations that may occur in this process. Ending the process or returning to methods other than dialogue and negotiation must not even be the last option," Yılmaz added.

 

Stating that non-governmental organisations, bar associations, universities, chambers of commerce and industry and business circles have duties to perform, Yılmaz stressed: "The society as a whole should be included in this broad layered process and the process should evolve into a lasting peace. After this process, all segments of the society should embrace this process together with the government's reassuring steps. More effort needs to be made to integrate the society into this process. As İHD, we are trying to do this and we want to ensure the socialisation of the process."

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıgüzel