Pervin Buldan, a member of the DEM Party’s Imralı Delegation, spoke on JINTV about the Peace and Democratic Society process and the most recent meeting with Öcalan.
Öcalan: Rojava is our red line
Pervin Buldan said that Abdullah Öcalan made evaluations about Northern and Eastern Syria and developments in Syria. Buldan explained that Öcalan discussed these issues with the state delegation, adding:“With us, with the DEM delegation, he only spoke about Turkish politics, but I know he said this several times: ‘Syria and Rojava are my red line. For me, that place is different.’ He made this point about Syria a few times. Beyond that, however, I want to stress that he did not make evaluations with us regarding Syria and Rojava. He discussed this mainly with the state delegation, debated the issue there, and even said that if the opportunity and circumstances arose, he considered it important to establish communication with them as well. Yes, he emphasized several times that communication with Rojava is important. He expressed that he wanted to talk with them, debate with them, and consider together how a path should be followed and what decision should be taken. This has not yet happened, but if progress is made in the future and such an opportunity is created, perhaps through meetings and contacts with officials in Rojava, we believe the issue will be resolved more easily.”
Pervin Buldan also drew attention to the government’s statements about Northern and Eastern Syria, commenting: “Turkey, in this sense, on the issue of Rojava and Syria, needs to stand with the Kurdish people. Excluding the Kurds there, launching an operation against them, or undoing the achievements of the Kurdish people brings no benefit to Turkey, and the Kurds in Turkey will not accept it either. This must be understood clearly, and I believe there is a need to think more rationally and take correct decisions in order to resolve the matter through the right path and method.
Therefore, the developments in Syria, agreements, negotiations with the Damascus government, etc., are being closely monitored by Turkey as well. But the Kurds are extremely sensitive on this issue. Rojava is the greatest sensitivity of the Kurdish people.
So, no matter how many steps we take toward democratization in Turkey, even the smallest loss in Rojava, or an operation there, would cause great devastation among the Kurdish people. Such an approach would not be accepted. No one would accept it. Above all, Mr. Öcalan would not accept it.
I believe that if Turkey approaches this issue with an understanding that stands by the Kurdish people, respects their achievements, and recognizes their right to live in every region with their own gains, their own language, identity, and culture, and seeks to resolve this on a democratic, legal, and constitutional basis, then Turkey itself will be the one to gain. This way, not from a place of loss or causing loss, but from a place of winning and helping others win, a common understanding and consensus can indeed resolve this issue.”
Three key concepts
Pervin Buldan said that Öcalan emphasized three key concepts: “We can think of the issues of democratic society, peace, and integration as a single package. Placing them separately or disconnected from one another would be a mistake, it would be wrong. Mr. Öcalan stressed the importance of taking rapid, synchronized steps that can interweave all of these and of ensuring that integration finally becomes a reality.
Let me put it this way: a commission has now been formed. This commission has started its work, and its actual purpose is to pass laws as quickly as possible. Because without integration laws, nothing can be implemented. Of course, we can talk about peace, we can talk about democratization, we can certainly discuss the injustices and lawlessness in Turkey and how new laws might be passed to address them. But integration is something very different.
Today, there are thousands of people in the mountains with weapons in their hands. Yes, symbolically a dissolution ceremony took place. The PKK declared its disbandment. But there are still armed people. Now, these armed individuals must both lay down their weapons and return to Turkey, and the barriers preventing them from participating in democratic politics must be removed. This can only become a reality through the laws that will emerge from the commission.”