DTK and DBP call for a united struggle and end to Öcalan’s isolation

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Berdan Öztürk and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chairs Saliha Aydeniz and Keskin Bayındır made a joint statement at the DBP Headquarters in Amed (Diyarbakır) to address the isolation of Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan and the ongoing prison resistance which is on its 182nd day.

‘UNIFIED STRUGGLE IS NECESSARY’

The press release read out by DTK Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk in Kurdish and Saliha Aydeniz in Turkish is as follows:

“At a time when the country is on the brink of a dark abyss, the freedom of the peoples is restricted and a fascist regime has become dominant, it is essential for us as democracy forces to call for a united struggle. Democracy, law, justice, human rights and hundreds of associations, civil society and media organizations are under attack. The government cracks down on bar associations, professional organizations, human rights organizations and activists through repressive methods. We see a great danger and emphasize that we will prevent it by using all the means of democratic struggle.

‘ KURDISH QUESTION IS THE SOURCE OF ALL PROBLEMS’

The Kurdish question is the source of all problems from health to politics, from economy to ecology. When we look at Turkey’s problems, we can realize that these problems emerge since the government does not seek to resolve the Kurdish problem by democratic methods but by violence.

Since the foundation of the Turkish Republic, the Kurdish question has been one of the biggest problems of Turkey. The Kurdish question also existed back in the Ottoman period and has escalated even further during the Republic era. The young republic sought to suppress the Şêx Said, Ağrı and Dersim riots through violence rather than solution. The Kurdish question grew into a deep war during the notorious 1990s. The society was polarized, nationalism promoted and rampant racism promoted by the state apparatus. The Kurdish people were terrorized and subjected to genocidal policies.

‘MR. ÖCALAN IS THE SOLUTION’

Mr. Öcalan is a political actor and the main interlocutor of the solution. In response to the state apparatus that favours violent means, Mr. Öcalan declared a ceasefire in 1993 pointing out that the Kurdish problem cannot be resolved through violence. The 2013 Newroz peace declaration penned by Öcalan gave people hope. During the resolution process between 2013-2015, weapons were laid down and deaths stopped. In that short period of time, many important developments were realized in the field of economy, health and education in Turkey. Those who believed that a solution through dialogue would jeopardize their own power put a bloody end to the process. They imposed an isolation that does not comply with legal principles upon Mr. Öcalan who is considered as the main interlocutor of the resolution of the problem.”