Those who are very hopeful over the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) election success in the name of democratic prospects in Turkey had less than a week to celebrate before a delegation went to İmralı prison and came back with a message from Abdullah Öcalan.
The imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Öcalan’s message delivered after the presidential election not only celebrated the HDP’s election success, but also marked “a historical turn in Turkey on the path of becoming a democratic state.” After everything, it seems that Öcalan and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agree on the definition of “democratic state,” despite the fact that theirs is a rather peculiar understanding of democracy. There is no doubt that Erdoğan has been elected president in a democratic election, and indeed this was the only thing that has recently worked correctly in the name of democracy in Turkey. Otherwise, the country is permanently and firmly sliding into authoritarian politics in all respects; namely, lack of freedom of expression, political transparency and accountability, independence of the judiciary, and the increasing centralization of power in the hands of Erdoğan.
Moreover, these are not only current facts, but also promises for the future under the presidency of Erdoğan. He has declared his understanding of the presidency as an all-powerful position, and he has defined his politics as “a struggle for a cause” larger than an ordinary race for the presidency. He and his supporters defined Erdoğan as the leader of the cause for a “New Turkey” and also for the whole Muslim world, describing their political struggle as a “revolutionary change.” Erdoğan is believed to be a historical leader who will determine the fate of Turkey, and his fate is identified with the “national interest.” As such, it is no surprise that Öcalan and Erdoğan share a very similar understanding of politics in general and of democracy in particular. Öcalan is a revolutionary too; he is also considered to be the sole leader of the Kurdish nation, or even the embodiment of the Kurdish cause; he too believes in his genius to redefine not only the fate of the Kurds but also the whole Middle East. Öcalan also describes democracy in a national-historical context; as Erdogan advocates and craves for a “Turkish-style presidential system,” Öcalan argues for the superiority of his model of “democratic modernity” over “capitalist modernity.” Finally, both are very skeptical about Western powers and consider complexities and complications to be plots against their respective nations in particular, and against the people of the Middle East (or Muslims in the case of Erdoğan) in general.
It is perfectly understandable for the PKK and its leader to avoid confrontation with President Erdoğan or “the leader of New Turkey” - especially under the circumstances of turmoil in the Middle East - and to express more care about recent developments in the greater Kurdish world (in Iraq and Syria). Nevertheless, Öcalan sounds more genuine than tactical and it seems that he is investing his hopes in the establisment of the New Turkey. In fact, it could be a big chance for peace and democracy if “the leaders of Turks and Kurds” agreed to commit themselves to building a more democratic Turkey.
However, it seems that they simply agree more on the idea of the “New Turkey,” but it is not clear whether they attribute the same meaning to it. Besides, each has his peculiar political models - neither of which may be easily defined as democracy - and it may be that both consider themselves to be “the master of the game,” able to manipulate the other. That is why I am very concerned about the prospects of the peace process, let alone democracy.
Calling on an outlawed group to show sincerity for the resolution process of the Kurdish issue, President Gül urges avoiding propaganda activities
President Abdullah Gül has called on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to show good faith toward the resolution process, warning the organization not to turn the prospective release of kidnapped public servants and soldiers into a propaganda show.“It’s obvious that there are sincere efforts and intentions [on our side]. Now the other side should show sincerity too, by laying down arms, by not turning this process into an exercise in propaganda, and by not manipulating the events of the process; these are points that should be taken into consideration. All of these points will be testing factors of the other side’s sincerity,” Gül told reporters yesterday when asked to comment on fears that the release of the public servants and soldiers. The president held a brief press conference before his departure to Sweden where he spoke about the release expected to take place this week, which some have feared may turn into a self-promoting performance by the outlawed party.“We are closely following [the developments] on the alert. We have many experiences from the past until today. We always keep our experiences in mind,” Gül said, in a veiled reference to the Habur incident of 2009, during which a process launched by the government to accept eight PKK members and 28 Kurdish refugees from the Makhmour Camp in the Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq was disrupted by a festive welcome at the Habur border gate.The incident was perceived as “a show of force” by the government and sparked public outcry throughout the rest of Turkey, eventually causing the peace initiative at that time to come to a halt.The government’s recently launched talks with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, to convince PKK militants to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkey, are well-intentioned and sincere endeavors to put an end to the terror which is Turkey’s biggest problem, Gül said.“A substantial majority of our people support these endeavors. We hope these endeavors will come to a conclusion that will not weaken the national unity and integrity as well as its unitary structure. We hope a resolution will be reached,” Gül said.‘Democratic Constitution’ neededWhen asked to comment on the work of Parliament’s charter panel, Gül said the panel had made considerable progress up till now. “I hope there can be a consensus. What is important here is that Turkey should have a constitution that includes all the characteristics of developed democracies,” Gül said.The president also commented on criticism from the opposition that the fourth judicial package, which was recently submitted to Parliament, does not contain any amendment to resolve chronic problems plaguing the judiciary such as lengthy detention periods. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ, for his part, said that the issues of general amnesty and house-arrest for Öcalan are being upheld by those who want the resolution process to fail.“There’s nothing related to an amnesty on our government’s agenda,” Bozdağ said.
The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) has given the green light to the ruling Justice and Development Party’s bid to replace the current system of parliamentary democracy with a presidential system in the new Constitution, with BDP deputy Altan Tan saying that his party finds the suggestion open for discussion.
The BDP, which stuck to its original suggestion of keeping the current system but electing a president with a public vote, may consider discussing the issue at Parliament’s Constitution Reconciliation Commission, Tan told the Daily News yesterday.
“We discuss many issues. Why shouldn’t we discuss the AKP’s presidential suggestion? There is no problem with us,” said Tan, who is one of three BDP members in the commission.
“If the suggestion [on the presidential] system comes up, we will see it. We may agree with some parts and reject some. There might be parts to be revised. We are open to discussing this issue.”
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), reportedly said he backed the AKP’s offer, according to daily Milliyet, which claims to have seen the minutes of a Feb. 23 meeting between Öcalan and three BDP members as a part of talks to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue.
Atilla Kart, a Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy and member of the commission, told the Daily News that the BDP leans toward the presidential system. “I can see that they are warming to the AKP offer. But I cannot say that they are united under the idea,” he said.
Clashes between the Turkish military and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) could soon restart if the army continues its operations, as the group needs direct contact with its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, to obtain a clear and certain decision about the process to solve the Kurdish issue peacefully, Murat Karalıyan, the leader of the PKK in northern Iraq, has said.
“It is already known to everyone that the Kurdish guerrilla movement will have more power than the state’s security forces to carry out operations with spring coming in two weeks. The continuation of operations means the continuation of clashes as well,” Karayılan said, according to a report published yesterday by Fırat News Agency, known for its close links to the PKK.
This two-week rtimeframe to March 21, the date of Nevruz, which is usually considered by several government members as a crucial date for ongoing talks as PKK leader Öcalan is also expected to reveal his road map for the process.
“The policies of the Turkish state and government are obviously not aimed at forming the sub-structure of a solution and a new peaceful process. On the contrary, they deepen the lack of confidence that already exists,” Karayılan was quoted as saying.
He said recent visits from Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) members to Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq were not enough.
Karayılan also said Turkish prisoners held captive in northern Iraq would be released within a week, according to the report. “As our leader has demanded, we have decided to release the prisoners we are holding within a week, after the solution of some technical preparations. This will be a significant step taken by our side for the progress of the ongoing talks,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BDP has revealed its Nevruz program to its provincial branches. “As we go through a historic period, the process, kicked off by the esteemed Öcalan in İmralı, will be taken to a higher level by the symbol of freedom, Nevruz,” a BDP statement read.
