The “Commission for National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy” in Parliament, established to work on the democratic solution to the Kurdish question, continued its work by hearing bar associations and parliamentary speakers. At the same time, the Imralı Delegation met with Abdullah Öcalan after a one-month break. In the three-hour meeting, Öcalan conveyed the message that democratic society, peace, and integration are the three key concepts of this process, and that only on this basis can results be achieved. Cengiz Çiçek, an MP of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and a member of the commission, spoke to ANF about Öcalan’s latest call was directed above all at the government. He stressed, “Legal regulations in line with the character of the process must be enacted.”
A culture of listening replaces an environment of insults
Cengiz Çiçek said that the process should be evaluated from both sides, like looking at the glass as half full and half empty. He underlined that it was significant for a parliament representing 95 percent of the people in Turkey to be embodied in the commission, as this has fostered empathy and a culture of mutual listening. Çiçek noted that until recently, political party representatives did not listen to one another and insults filled the air, but now even the formation of a culture where people at least look each other in the eye and listen calmly is very valuable as a starting point. He stressed that this must be advanced, expanded, consolidated, and strengthened. He continued:“Through the hearings in the commission, our aim is essentially to produce social consent and to involve society in this process. It is very important and valuable to hear the different segments of society, both in terms of their grievances and their positions as parties, and to reveal the entirety of the picture in the context of the Kurdish question. In the end, we cannot look at it one-sidedly, only from where we stand. The solution and the peace process must be organized according to the whole picture. These hearings also help commission members to grasp the problem factually and objectively, and, accordingly, to take legal or political steps concerning the process. This does not mean, of course, that we will not have different perspectives. But in this process, we constantly emphasize that the differences between the worldviews and ideologies of political parties can, as much as possible, be brought closer together through the search for a solution to the problem. After all, the political institution which has historically played a role in the lack of a solution to this issue, is this time obliged to produce a solution. That is also society’s expectation.”
Öcalan must be heard for the process to advance with the right steps
Cengiz Çiçek stated that in the coming days, the commission would hear from academics who have studied the Kurdish question, as well as labor organizations. He emphasized that while listening to different segments of society is important, it is equally crucial to listen to the actual parties to the process. Underscoring that one of the most significant actors is Abdullah Öcalan, who opened the way for the process with his call on 27 February and who ensured distance and decisions within his organization, Çiçek said that for the process to succeed, Öcalan must be heard by the commission. He noted that this matter had not yet come onto the commission’s agenda and said: “Mr. Öcalan must be heard for the process to advance with the right steps. After all, Mr. Öcalan is the actor who has most intensely focused on this process, contributed to it, opened the way forward when minor crises emerged, acted as a facilitator, and at the same time put forward the most objective and reasonable proposals for a solution. He is also the primary interlocutor. Devlet Bahçeli has already expressed this in different ways. Therefore, in this process, thresholds once deemed insurmountable have already been crossed. The commission’s hearing of Mr. Öcalan should not be regarded as an impossible threshold. It is important both for ensuring that the process is carried out more transparently and for enabling the political institution as a whole to fully address the problem. Ultimately, if we truly want to achieve a social and political solution to this issue and move it away from the grounds of conflict, the views of Mr. Öcalan must be heard.”
The fundamental principle of democratic integration is reciprocity
Cengiz Çiçek evaluated the message of Abdullah Öcalan following the Imralı Delegation’s meeting after a one-month interval, in which Öcalan underlined that democratic society, peace, and integration are the three key concepts of this process. Çiçek explained that when Öcalan speaks of democratic integration, he does not mean the dissolution of a smaller group into a larger one, or the absorption of one group by another that appears stronger. Rather, he pointed to mutual unification. Çiçek described democratic integration as having two sides and said: “The fundamental principle of democratic integration is reciprocity. On one side are the democratic social forces, which include the Kurds, and on the other is the state. Democratic integration means the unification and mutual recognition of democratic society and the state around democratic criteria and principles. By unification, what we mean is this: the state must take steps toward democratization and introduce legal regulations. This cannot, by its very nature, be handled unilaterally, because we are conscious that the practices and choices of governments and the state have been decisive in deepening the problems. Therefore, it is critical for the state to enter a process of democratic transformation. Steps taken solely by the democratic social forces will not resolve the matter on their own. At the same time, what is at stake is the creation of an environment in which the state becomes more sensitive to democracy, rights, and freedoms. Thus, this is not assimilation, it is not annihilation, it is not the dissolution of one into another, nor is it the loss of one’s identity and uniqueness.”
Öcalan’s call is directed above all at the government
Cengiz Çiçek pointed out that Mr. Öcalan’s call was directed above all at the government. He said: “Mr. Öcalan is here conveying the message that certain steps must be taken for the process to move forward. Legal regulations in line with the character of the process must be enacted. In the end, we all witnessed the weapons-burning ceremony on 11 July. Statements were made there. How will those who laid down their arms participate in social and political life? From the Anti-Terror Law to the Turkish Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, we are in a process that requires democratic amendments to the laws as a whole, or the removal of certain anti-democratic articles and provisions introduced with a security-oriented mindset.”
The commission must provide a basis for a democratic solution
Çiçek continued: “Perhaps not all laws will be changed from the ground up. That is not the commission’s task anyway. The commission will submit draft law proposals to the relevant bodies. But it will be the commission that organizes both the political and legal rationale. The commission’s role is important in shaping the mentality for this. Therefore, political parties of different views coming together must provide a basis that opens the way for a democratic solution to the Kurdish question. It must form both the political and legal grounds, fastening the first button correctly on the path to a solution, so to speak. In our view, one of the greatest historical tasks of the commission will be this. All our efforts are in this direction.”
The process must proceed more quickly and with greater discipline
Cengiz Çiçek stated that the process must urgently be carried out with greater discipline and speed, noting that many international and national powers are engaged with and interfering in the Kurdish question. Recalling that in the past this was referred to as the “coup mechanism,” he pointed out that the Middle East has turned into a region in flames and that historical developments around the issue occur daily. From this perspective, he warned that the process must be approached in a more disciplined and rapid manner. Çiçek emphasized that it is necessary to address the root causes of the problem and to cultivate the ground for a solution within a democratic framework. He added that if the atmosphere they aim to build in Turkey succeeds, it will have an impact on Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the Middle East as a whole.
Fifty years have shown that rhetoric and threats cannot solve the problem
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and other figures in the AKP have made statements targeting Rojava and contradicting the process. Responding to these, Cengiz Çiçek said it has long been understood that this problem cannot be solved with rhetoric and threats, recalling that fifty years of practice has shown this. He underlined that historical experience has demonstrated the failure of approaches that confine the Kurdish question to the concepts of terrorism and security mechanisms. Çiçek continued: “What is needed now is an approach that moves away from rhetoric, one that is not based on propaganda but instead grounded in facts and truth, bringing objective reason into play through the perspective of a solution. It is clear that certain powers, or certain mentalities within the state or government, still insist on addressing this problem through traditional methods. It is also possible to see that a particular bloc or tendency within the government remains distant from addressing this issue on a democratic basis. One of the fundamental dynamics that initiated this process was, after all, the dynamics of Syria–Rojava. And it must always be borne in mind that this is also one of the fundamental dynamics that will determine its outcome.”
Egalitarian and peaceful vision that flourished in Rojava sets an example
Cengiz Çiçek underlined that developments in Syria will inevitably affect the process in Turkey as well: “This is very clear for us, and the latest developments have shown it. The way Israel and Turkey confront one another in the region will also be one of the key factors that determines the future of the Kurdish question, either positively or negatively. From this perspective, developments in Syria appear likely to influence the process in both directions. Being aware of this, we need to develop a political mindset concerning Syria and Rojava. The Kurds are very clearly saying that they want this problem solved with Ankara in Turkey and with Damascus in Syria. In fact, the Kurdish position is genuinely oriented toward Damascus and Ankara. They are seeking a solution based on democratic integration. Kurds are calling for Damascus and Ankara to approach Kurdish politics and the Kurdish question with a more democratic perspective. Because right now in Syria, no community has a guarantee of existence vis-à-vis the Damascus regime. In such an environment, where existence itself is so threatened, to demand that everything be abandoned and joined to the process in this way would mean denying the political values upheld, above all the struggle against ISIS, and the historical reality carried forth by Kurdish politics and the Kurdish people. In Rojava, a more inclusive, peaceful, egalitarian, and democratic vision has flourished. Especially on this matter, we call upon the government: those who truly seek a solution have a responsibility to embrace this vision more strongly and to engage with it more deeply. The path to lasting peace and resolution also lies here.”