In this in-depth interview, Mustafa Karasu, member of the KCK Executive Council, spoke extensively on the ongoing ‘Peace and Democratic Society Process’.
After more than a month, the delegation from the DEM party has once again made its way to Imrali, where it met with Kurdish leader, Abdullah Öcalan. How do you assess the meeting taking place after a month-long hiatus?
Before I answer your question, I would like to commemorate the comrades Kemal, Hayri, Akif, and Ali, who gave their lives in the course of the death fast in 1982, with gratitude and respect. The anniversary of their martyrdom is approaching. Once again, we assure that their aspirations will be realized through our struggle. The martyrdom of these comrades stands symbolically for the essence of the prison resistance and its historical value. It played such a crucial role during the period when our Movement made a tactical retreat, and thereby it truly served as an important bridge for our struggle, playing a major role in its regrouping and development. Their legacy will live on forever in the Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom.
Then again, I also respectfully commemorate comrade Bêrîtan Amed, who, due to a medical condition, was martyred this month. She was a very valuable comrade who had been part of our struggle for decades, served as a commander, and fought for women’s freedom. I offer my condolences to her family and the entire Kurdish people. Also, comrade Çiya Rizgar, one of the leaders of the youth movement, was martyred a couple of days ago due to a medical condition. He had and has a very important place in our struggle. With his leadership and enthusiasm, he contributed significantly to both the youth movement and our struggle and thereby created great values. I also commemorate him with gratitude and respect.
Now coming to your question, the meeting held on August 28 was long overdue. The fact that it had been delayed for so long shows the approach of the AKP government. Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has taken the initiative on such an important cause and issued the ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society.’ He took decisive steps towards the democratization of Turkey and the resolution of the Kurdish question. He took steps that no one expected and thereby created hope. In such an environment, the delay in the talks at this level is, of course, unacceptable. Because Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, is the chief negotiator, he is the interlocutor on the Kurdish question. At the same time, he is also the interlocutor on Turkey’s democratization. Because the lack of democratization stems from the unsolved Kurdish issue. In this respect, the democratization of Turkey is also an issue that will be realized through Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s direct involvement, his struggle, and his negotiations with the state.
Undoubtedly, the struggle for democracy has been going on for decades, and it has created a legacy. The Kurdish people’s struggle for freedom has been going on for more than one hundred years, and it has created a legacy. The Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, wants to ensure Turkey’s democratization and the solution to the Kurdish question based on this accumulated experience. On such an important issue, on Turkey’s most fundamental problems, when there is such a key actor, a negotiator, when the reality of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, who should play a major role, is obvious, delaying this meeting is an expression of not taking the process seriously. This is how we understand it.
Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s stance and statements on the resolution of the Kurdish question, the democratization of Turkey, and Turkey’s other problems are very important. Accordingly, it makes no difference whether the talks are interrupted for one day, 15 days, or a month; the result is the same. Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, has to be able to constantly meet with groups, with democratic circles, intellectuals, journalists, and politicians. Through these meetings, it will become clear what is the right path for Turkey’s democratization and what steps should be taken. Because only these discussions and meetings reveal which steps should be taken and with which methods to mature the process and bring it to a conclusion. Only this ensures the development of the Peace and Democratic Society Process. In this regard, if the state, the AKP-MHP government, truly wants a solution to the Kurdish question, then these meetings should not be interrupted. Spreading them out over a long period is not a serious approach to the issue. Particularly with Turkey facing so many problems and the situation in the Middle East becoming increasingly serious, it is necessary to maintain a high tempo and intensity during such times. Swift action must be taken at the right time. If this is not done, then it means that the process is not being understood correctly, the approach is not right, or there is a delaying tactic, dragging things out over time. It is clear that anything that is dragged out over time is risky. It is unclear what time will bring. If problems are not solved in time, they can become stuck, fester, and evolve into different channels.
It is crucial to solve the problems early on, to speed up the negotiations for this, and especially to strengthen Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. How the process is approached and the measure of how seriously it is taken depends on the approach to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and on whether he is frequently consulted or not. Success can only be possible by ensuring the physical freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and by guaranteeing him free working conditions. What I can say is that we are closely following the process.
Important messages that Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan gave at the recent meeting were shared with the public. He emphasized three key terms of the process in particular: Democratic Society, Peace, and Integration. This attracted a lot of attention. Can you elaborate on what he wants to express with this emphasis on these key terms?
To a certain point, there have been reports on the latest meeting by T24. Again, Pervin Buldan publicly provided some assessments and information regarding the meeting. Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, made important assessments and stated his positions. He indicated how the process should proceed. He clearly emphasized that this process must be taken seriously, without delay or procrastination. That is something that we also always emphasize. He also emphasized his own role as the chief negotiator. He is a leader who ended 50 years of war. A leader who took the initiative and plays a decisive role in solving the 100-year-old Kurdish issue. He must be approached in this way. He is not just any ordinary person but a crucial actor in this political development. The state, the authorities have to approach him accordingly.
We have stressed it out many times before, Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan is no one to be deceived and doesn’t deceive. But what they are trying to do is to stall him, play on time, set an agenda according to themselves, and try to make plans solely for their own benefit. This is self-deception. This is an irresponsible approach to the process.
At the beginning of this process, Devlet Bahçeli made a statement. He said, “Let him come to parliament, and let him speak in the name of the group of the DEM Party.” He said that the so-called ‘Right to Hope’ should be applied to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. This was the expression of a commitment. It was not just a random personal opinion but the expression of the government’s commitment. After Devlet Bahçeli and Erdoğan met, this step was taken as a mutual agreement. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan must go to parliament and speak; he must be able to engage in politics. The Right to Hope must be implemented. If these things are not being done now, then what is the meaning of the promises made? The Right to Hope must be implemented. Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, must be granted the conditions to be able to freely work. He must be able to meet with journalists, intellectuals, and politicians. He must be able to meet with delegations whenever he wants.
Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan assesses this delay as inappropriate. He expressed that this delay is a wrong approach to this process and to himself. And we are not assessing it differently. What will their approach to Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan be? Will they approach him appropriately? Will they accept him as the chief negotiator? Will they recognize him as a key actor in resolving the issues? Or will they continue to make their own plans, trying to use him and stall him? The state or the authorities need to be conscious and clear.
This Movement has been struggling for 50 years; it is experienced. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan has great political experience, insight, and intuition. The right approach must be taken. If the right approach is not taken, the Turkish state will suffer the greatest damage. Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, wants to resolve this issue.
Peace, Democratic Society, and Integration. By Integration, we mean democratic integration. Unification and integration with the Republic on a democratic basis. It must be integrated by accepting the existence and identity of the Kurdish people. If assimilation and genocide policies against the Kurds continue, then there will be no integration, no unification, and no progress in this process. That is why he says that the fundamental principles are Peace, Democratic Society, Integration. There will be peace, there will be a democratic society, the Kurds will organize freely and be ensured to express themselves. Their rights will be recognized, and their identity and culture will be protected. The Kurdish self-administration will be accepted.
Right now, trustees are being appointed to the municipalities. Not even the elected municipalities are tolerated by the government. Then comes integration. What they are trying to implement is ‘integration’ without peace and without a democratic society. But then there can be no talk of integration, because that is just a continuation of the policy of assimilation and genocide.
The issue must be approached appropriately and correctly. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan is playing a positive role. He is taking a solution-oriented approach. He is showing a reasonable approach on this issue. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan expressed that the aim is not a state and that he is against the state. But integration based on negotiation with a state is also necessary. But the approach of the other side is not to accept the existence of the Kurds, their rights, or anything. This is just the continuation of the current policy. Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan has issued a warning in this regard. It cannot be like this. If their approach continues to be like this, the process will be blocked, and it will only be a repetition of the old. There have been a hundred years of uprisings. There has been strong resistance from the Kurdish people. The war has been going on for fifty years. The cause for this must be eliminated. No seriousness on their part, no change in approach, but they say that the process continues. In this respect, Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s statement about the three key terms is very important. He wants his role to be understood correctly and wants to be approached correctly. Such wrong approaches—Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan calls them “the Muawiya methods”—deceiving, stalling, and playing games will not work. It is known how Muawiya won the Battle of Siffin through trickery. One cannot be naive in the face of such Muawiya methods. Neither Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan is naive, nor are we. The approach towards him and the approach towards us must be correct and appropriate.