ISTANBUL - Human rights defender Ahmet Faruk Ünsal said that Abdullah öcalan must be in contact with his organization and political party representatives and that it is not a realistic goal for the government to call for "lay down arms" without taking any steps. 

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan held a second meeting with PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan at İmralı Type F High Security Closed Prison on January 22. After the meeting, the statement reads, "Mr Öcalan's work on the process continues. Necessary explanations will be made to the public after his preparations on this issue are completed."

 

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları also shared some details about the meeting at her party's group meeting the previous day. Tülay Hatimoğulları shared that Abdullah Öcalan said, “It would be the greatest disservice to the peoples of Turkey to resort to stalling, buying time and wait-and-see policies regarding the solution of the Kurdish issue and the democratization of Turkey.” 

 

Ahmet Faruk Ünsal, a politician and human rights defender who took part in the Wise People's Delegation during the so-called “solution” process in 2013-2015, evaluated the solution of the Kurdish issue and the messages from İmralı. Pointing out that the recent developments are different from the previous processes, Ünsal said that there have been some radical changes in the new perios. Pointing to the developments in Syria in particular, Ünsal said, "The Syrian issue was evident in the past, but now there has been a radical change in Syria. Iran, Russia and Bashar al-Assad have permanently left Syria and another mediocre power has emerged. On the one hand, this was an opportunity for the political practice of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to spread to the entire Syrian territory."

 

Ünsal said that Abdullah Öcalan is working on a solution for Kurds living in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey and added, “That work has not yet been shared with the society. If the island visits are not terminated and Öcalan's work is shared with the people, I believe that it is also on the table as an important option. As of now, very clear steps have not yet been taken. But I also think it is not important to try to solve the issue by reading it only through Syria, because the Kurdish issue is about the mother tongue. It is also a problem related to the legal definition of citizenship and the correction of some constitutional and administrative practices in Turkey. It is necessary to come up with a solution that we can solve the Kurdish issue both within our own borders and that will also include the Kurds outside our borders. In fact, I think that sharing Öcalan's solution for other Kurds with the society is an important horizon-opening opportunity.” 

 

'A CALL TO LAY DOWN ARMS IS NOT REALISTIC WITHOUT STEPS TAKEN'

 

Referring to AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik's statement “The visit traffic in İmralı has been completed. What is expected from now on is the emergence of a call for the liquidation of the organization,” Ünsal said, "However, the issue of laying down arms is the last step to be taken in a conflict process. There can and must be a ceasefire. But if you set a goal of 'laying down arms' without taking steps to solve the issue, it is not a realistic goal. The fact that only 3 visits have been made to the island does not mean that Abdullah Öcalan and his organization or the political delegation have talked enough. Therefore, the isolation must be lifted. Öcalan's contact with the public, his organization and political party representatives must be ensured so that this big problem can be solved. Therefore, it is not acceptable for the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan to continue.”

 

'ABDULLAH ÖCALAN MUST ALSO BE FREE'

 

Stating that Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom should also be ensured after certain stages of the process, Ünsal continued, “But we see that even the initial steps have not yet been taken. On the one hand, the ruling bloc is saying 'Let Öcalan come out, let him benefit from the right to hope, let him speak in the Parliament if necessary', on the other hand, it is in an antagonizing language and style that is not in line with the spirit of this process. While continuing to use the language of hate, the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) is conducting a political grudge operation against the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), and we see that there is a great tendency towards members of the press close to the Kurdish political movement. Therefore, if there is going to be a process, we all have the right to expect political courtesy in the spirit of the process, both from the PKK and the state. You both want to make peace and insult your interlocutor whom you want to sit at the table. This is not in the spirit of the process. If the right steps are taken, the point of Öcalan's freedom will be reached. Because there is also the possibility of a right to hope.”

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu