Veteran Kurdish politician #Ahmet Turk# on Sunday acknowledged the Turkish government’s intention to achieve peace with the Kurdish rebels but lamented the slow pace of its efforts.
Turk, who is a key mediator of the ongoing talks between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), stressed during an interview with Rudaw Turkey’s need for leave and democracy to strengthen the “brotherhood” between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples.
While acknowledging that Ankara “wants to take steps,” the veteran politician noted that “it is moving very slowly and with clear delays, which diminishes the people's hopes day by day.”
Jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan made a historic call on his followers on February 27 to dissolve the party and end armed struggle.
Despite initially stating that they would not hold a congress unless Ocalan physically attends it and calling on Turkey to stop its attacks on PKK positions, the PKK held its congress early May. The party heeded to Ocalan’s call, dissolving the party.
Emphasizing that the Kurds “have taken significant steps and called for peace,” Turk expressed hope for the peace process and optimism that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “will pursue this project sincerely and faithfully for the brotherhood of the Kurdish and Turkish peoples.”
We hope that [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s administration will work wholeheartedly for the process and Kurdish-Turkish brotherhood. We believe this brotherhood will advance many things in Turkey on the path to democracy,” he added.
Ankara has welcomed the PKK decision to end armed struggle but seeks tangible implementation, while the PKK demands democratic steps from Ankara, primarily the release of Ocalan, who has been jailed in Turkey’s Imrali prison since 1992.
Meanwhile, the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) - the main mediator in the peace process between Ankara and the PKK - met with Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday to discuss recent PKK decisions.
The discussions also focused on “Turkey’s democratization process” and the steps needed to ensure the success of peace efforts, including “the role that parliament will play,” read a statement by the party.
Meanwhile, Turkish lawmakers approved the 10th Judiciary Package on Sunday - a bill introducing several penal code amendments and includes provisions aimed at improving the legal framework for the treatment of ill prisoners and offers partial amnesty for certain prisoners.
However, Turk noted on Sunday that the package contains nothing related to the rights of the Kurdish people, but they say we will address these demands after October, and we are waiting.”
Since 2016, Turkey has dismissed dozens of Kurdish mayors on terrorism-related charges and replaced them with state-appointed trustees - a policy the DEM Party has repeatedly called to abolish.
Turk, one of the dismissed mayors replaced by trustees, said this policy contradicts efforts to “expand democracy” and violates “the freedom and will of the Kurdish people and must be ended.”
“If the will of the Kurdish people is not recognized, neither democracy nor the brotherhood of peoples will be achieved,” Turk stressed, underscoring that abolishing this policy is a “key demand of the Kurdish people.”[1]