PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held under aggravated isolation in İmralı High Security Prison, held a face-to-face meeting with his nephew Ömer Öcalan on 23 October 2024 after 4 years. Afterwards, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) MPs Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder went to İmralı Island on 28 December. During the meeting Abdullah Öcalan presented a 7-point declaration on the process to the delegation. In the declaration, articles such as strengthening the Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood and all political circles taking initiative without being caught in narrow and short-term interests were made and it was emphasised that "This is a time for peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Turkey and the region". After the meeting, the DEM Party delegation started to meet with the representatives of the political parties having a group in the Parliament.

 

The discussions on the Kurdish issue are being carried out under the shadow of the first dialogue process that started in 2013 and did not lead to a solution. Lami Özgen, Former Chair of the Confederation of Public Laborers Union (KESK), who was a member of the Wise People's Delegation established to ensure social support during the first dialogue process, stated that the 2013-2015 process was the first time in Turkey that the Kurdish issue was tried to be solved through face-to-face talks. Stating that there were many factors that led to the end of this process, Özgen said that one of the most important factors was the lack of clarity on solving the centuries-old Kurdish issue through democratic methods and securing the constitutional rights of Kurds.

 

"Turkey had invested in war. Therefore, the discourse of 'Kobanê has fallen, it will fall' found expression with great enthusiasm in one section. It caused a serious fracture in the other section. There is also the deterioration of the state by internal dynamics. Thus, the process, which started with a positive intention, evolved into a different channel," he said. 

 

Özgen reminded that the National Security Council (MGK) meeting on 2 October 2014 decided for a total crackdown while negotiations were taking place at the time, and underlined that this created insecurity on the political ground. Özgen stated that this choice has caused serious and heavy political, political and economic costs to be paid for 10 years. Özgen said, "When we look at the practical attitude and approach, a monist, authoritarian presidential system has been implemented in this 10-year period. Can a government system with such a mentality really transform? Such a mind does not need democratisation, on the contrary, it constantly needs authoritarianism. All of this stands in the center."

 

Özgen stated that after 2014, an AKP-MHP-Ergenekon alliance was formed and that this alliance had difficulty in achieving results despite its monist, authoritarian and anti-democratic practices. Özgen said that because of this, Devlet Bahçeli, who was the most ruthless opponent of the 2013-2015 process, was given a task, adding that the international campaign for Abdullah Öcalan's freedom also had a great impact.

 

Özgen stated that the government is expressing its own demands from the top as a method of psychological warfare and emphasised that although many legal amendments have been decided, none of them have been implemented.

 

"Turkey and the SNA are attacking the Kurds and the self-governments established with them. These are the situations that will determine the course of the negotiation process. There is mutual caution. The rights of Kurds and others within the framework of basic citizenship rights must be constitutionally guaranteed. Kurds have many demands ranging from local government to representation, from education in their mother tongue to culture. What is the road map to be targeted for all of these to be realised? The process cannot be carried out with the rude statement 'We accept this, we don't accept that'. These will soon undermine the negotiation process."

 

DEMAND FOR SOCIAL PEACE

 

Özgen added that the call to the Parliament is important, but pointed out that the Parliament has a function that takes a position and raises its hands according to the wishes of the President.

 

"The most important issue here is the socialisation of the demand for peace, which has been lacking in the past period. Due to 10 years of unlawful orientations, even the most natural demand for peace has been associated with terrorism and people have been arrested," said Özgen and added: "Not only the opposition segments of the society, but all segments should develop the struggle for social peace without waiting for the course of the negotiations. Peace is a common future. In this sense, it is necessary to strengthen and reveal the common contacts made. Yes, there is uncertainty, but the struggle for peace does not wait for uncertainties. Because war, death, persecution and lawlessness continue uninterruptedly. I have hopes that those who want peace will take steps to come forward. This will both contribute to the negotiations and be a strong way for the rights of others to be realised on the basis of free citizenship."

 

MA / Tolga Güney