Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli said that if strong and sound steps are taken, and if progress is made on peace through democratic integration laws, then certain planning on other issues could come to the agenda. He added that there is no expectation of a general amnesty, but that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and some other groups are working on a regulation under the framework of “equality in execution of sentences.”
Temelli, who spoke to ANF, said that the existence of “entrenched mindsets” and approaches opposing a solution demonstrate the challenges of the process.
Temelli also evaluated the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) decision to lay down arms and the “weapons burning ceremony” on 11 July, followed by the establishment of the commission, as an important step for Turkey: “A very significant process is underway. In fact, perhaps the party most aware of how important this happens to be us, as the DEM Party. That is why we are approaching the process with full seriousness and responsibility. Because the statement made by Mr. Öcalan on 27 February was both a historic statement and the very moment when the step we call change and transformation was taken. We are embracing this with all our strength and working on how it should be implemented. Of course, this is not an easy process; there are entrenched mindsets and mentalities that are almost committed to keeping the Kurdish question unresolved. We are aware that changing and transforming these will take time, but despite all this, we are engaged in a great effort.”
Legal regulations must be enacted when parliament reopens
DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli said that while it is important that the commission is now holding its seventh meeting and continuing discussions, these steps alone are not sufficient. He added that as the DEM Party, they want the commission to be much more concentrated, focused on its core issue, and to work at a faster pace. Temelli emphasized that instead of continuing consultations until 15 September, the commission should immediately begin drafting proposals on legal guarantees and legal and political rights, so that these preparations can turn into legislative processes once parliament reopens in October. He said: “Especially after the PKK congress decision on disarmament and the strong message it delivered with the weapons burning ceremony on 11 July, perhaps one of the most important steps in Turkey has been the establishment of this commission. This pleased us, because we have insisted on this issue from the very beginning, and at last, the commission has been established. As of today, it is holding its seventh meeting, it is conducting talks, and while these are important, they are not enough on their own. They carry within them shortcomings as much as significance. Considering both the expectations and the sensitivity of the process, as well as all the developments, we want this commission to advance in a much more concentrated, more focused manner, and, so to speak, to find its rhythm. This is the direction of our efforts. Of course, it will hold talks, of course, it will engage in various consultations, but it must also immediately bring to its agenda and advance work that focuses on its essential issue. From this perspective, we frequently convey these views regarding the commission not only to the Commission Chair but also to its other members and to all actors in politics. In particular, it must promptly begin drafting proposals and preparing bills on legal guarantees and on legal and political rights, so that progress can be made as soon as possible. Then, when parliament reopens in October, this should be the main agenda. Parliament should primarily focus on enacting the commission’s work into law.”
Not amnesty, but sentence execution regulation
DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli, when asked about the debates in political circles on a possible amnesty or partial amnesty, said that there is no expectation of a general amnesty. He noted that the MHP and some other groups are working on a regulation framed as “equality in the execution of sentences,” which he defined not as an amnesty but as a sentence execution regulation. Temelli emphasized that in this context the main focus should instead be on “democratic integration laws” for those who lay down arms and for those prosecuted due to grievances during the conflict period.
Temelli said: “There is no general amnesty. First of all, this confusion needs to be cleared up. We know that particularly the MHP and some other groups are working on issues related to sentence execution. These will be regulations framed as ‘equality in execution of sentences.’ Of course, such arrangements or amendments to the sentence execution law, according to some rumors, will have a significant impact. They will affect more than 150,000 people. One may call this a partial amnesty, but technically and in legal jargon, this is a sentence execution regulation.”
No progress without a legal framework
Sezai Temelli underlined that their main focus is on what will be done for both those who lay down arms and those prosecuted as a result of grievances caused by the conflict period, and said: “This, of course, is inevitably an issue that we address within the scope of what we call democratic integration laws. If you do not take sound steps on these matters, if you do not carry out the necessary work for resolving this issue on a legal basis, then you cannot carry out other efforts either. From the broadest perspective of democratization to the widest debates on the rule of law, many issues are coming to the agenda through the commission. These are discussed and voiced within the framework of the commission. That is all very well, but unless steps are taken on what we call democratic integration laws, there is no possibility of advancing on other matters, they will remain incomplete. On the contrary, if strong and sound steps are taken in this regard, if progress is made on peace through democratic integration laws, then of course certain planning on other issues will also come to the agenda.”
A view on the Kurdish question through foreign policy
Sezai Temelli stated that Turkey’s foreign policy still “insists on flawed methods,” which creates problems, emphasizing that the democratic solution of Syria is closely linked to what is happening in Turkey, and that positive developments in Turkey would also contribute to democratization in Syria.
He also noted that Turkey must update its policy; otherwise, a state of waiting will continue, and progress cannot be achieved with past scenarios. Temelli said: “Whether you look at the 100-year historical trajectory of those in power or the opposition, or at the last 10 years, they have unfortunately failed to approach the reality of the Kurdish question in a genuine way in terms of foreign policy. Therefore, the overall developments in the Middle East are directly linked to the resolution of the Kurdish question. It is not possible to address them in a fragmented way. Of course, every country and society has its own priorities, but the Kurdish question is the common intersection of all issues. Turkey’s approach on this matter is a distorted one. Unless the democratic solution to the Kurdish question is addressed comprehensively, it is not really possible to expect healthy progress. This is also something we can draw from our past experiences. The relationship between Syria’s democratic solution and what is happening in Turkey is very important. And indeed, the reverse is also possible: positive developments in Turkey’s process would also contribute to the democratization of Syria.”
Insistence on outdated foreign policy
Temelli said: “Yet Turkish foreign policy still insists on those flawed methods of the past instead of analyzing the issue through the proper equation. As a result of this insistence, we are forced to experience the problems we face today. If Turkey can correctly address and evaluate the developments of the last year and update its policy accordingly, then the coming period will gain momentum both for Turkey and for Syria. Otherwise, this state of waiting will continue. By now, everyone knows that no progress can be made with old scenarios. Such insistence produces nothing but outcomes that waste time for societies and peoples.”