The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission established in Parliament as part of the ongoing process seeking a solution to the Kurdish question is holding its 8th meeting today.
Ayfer Koçak and Ahmet Karagöz, Co-Chairs of the Confederation of Public Workers’ Unions (KESK), who are among those attending today’s meeting, shared their views regarding the solution to the Kurdish question.
‘The main responsibility lies with domestic policies that reject a solution’
Ayfer Koçak said that the Kurdish question directly concerns not only Turkey but also Syria, Iran, and Iraq. She stated that external interventions in the region complicate the solution, but that the main responsibility lies with domestic policies that reject a solution.
“This problem cannot be swept under the rug. A solution is impossible without recognizing the people’s right to a dignified life based on equal citizenship. Otherwise, the country will be dragged into deeper political, social, and economic crises,” she underlined.
‘The real solution is only possible through the recognition of all peoples’ rights’
Ayfer Koçak stated that Parliament would either repeat its deadlock or take bold steps to open the door to a democratic future, noting that KESK would continue the struggle for workers’ rights and freedoms on the basis of equality throughout this process.
Recalling the Ankara Station Massacre of October 10, 2015, Koçak said that the attack was the bloodiest massacre in the history of the Republic. She stated that more than 100,000 public workers were dismissed under the decrees issued during the state of emergency, and more than 4,000 KESK members were also affected by this process.
Ayfer Koçak stated, “Our demand for public services in our mother tongue is a shared value,” adding that democratic peace is only possible through the recognition of all peoples’ languages, cultures, and historical identities.
Ayfer Koçak described the PKK’s existence as a result of the Kurdish question not being resolved through democratic means, stating, “The solution cannot be limited to laying down arms or dissolving the organization. The real solution is possible only through the recognition of the rights of the peoples.”
‘Peace should be preferred over war’
KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz remarked that the state’s failure to take concrete steps was cause for concern. He said that the pressure on opposition parties resembled the methods used against the HDP in the past.
“We propose a simple formula for a solution,” said Karagöz, adding, “Peace should be preferred over war, tolerance over violence, recognition over denial, and dialogue over deadlock.”
Karagöz then presented the proposals prepared by KESK to the commission. The proposals are as follows:
“* An action plan should be drawn up that is concrete and short-term, sets out what needs to be done in the short and medium term, has the agreement of all parties, and incorporates the contributions of civil society, labor, professional organizations and intellectuals. The most urgent tasks should be implemented immediately. The fundamental principles of labor, human rights, democracy, and a secular state should be clearly stated.
* A free environment should be provided where all possible solutions can be discussed so that debates on the issue can spread to broad segments of society. Freedom of thought and expression must be guaranteed in a manner that leaves no room for interpretation, and legal regulations should be established.
* The definition of citizenship should be based on an egalitarian and liberal perspective consistent with universal legal norms. Within this framework, the identity of Turkey as a whole should be highlighted without granting privileges to any particular ethnic identity, and the definition of citizenship should be guaranteed by the constitution.
* Laws concerning fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the Political Parties Law, the Law on the Election and Eligibility of Members of Parliament, the Turkish Penal Code, the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Law on Police and Their Powers and Duties, the Basic Law on National Education, the Higher Education Law, the Press Law, and the Turkish Radio and Television Law, should be revised.
* In this context, electoral thresholds should be abolished and the legal provision stipulating that languages other than Turkish cannot be used in elections should be amended.
* Regulations should be implemented to abandon nationalist and militarist language in the media that fosters feelings of hatred and anger, damaging the brotherhood of peoples.
* The powers of local governments should be increased. The approach of managing everything from a single center should be abandoned. Measures should be taken to address social and economic disparities and inequalities between regions.
* In democracies, state structures are transparent and accountable. Structures such as the founding system should be abolished and dismantled.
* Security forces should treat citizens with complete equality and avoid any form of chauvinistic staffing practices.
* Starting with conflict zones, efforts should be initiated to reforest areas that have been destroyed or burned throughout the country, and the plundering of our underground and surface resources should not be permitted.
* Reservations regarding democratization and working life included in international agreements to which Turkey is a party must be lifted immediately.
* The education system should be comprehensively reviewed. Nationalist, classist, exclusionary, and sexist elements in the curriculum should be condemned. The process of creating a new liberal, secular, and democratic curriculum based on equality among citizens and human rights should be initiated.
* Legal regulations should be urgently implemented for children who have been arrested during street protests and prosecuted with severe penalties. Instead of being sentenced, their right to education should be guaranteed and their return to school should be ensured.
* Measures should be taken to heal the wounds of our citizens who have suffered, lost loved ones, and are struggling to survive under conditions of physical and psychological trauma. The return of our citizens who have been subjected to forced migration to their villages must be ensured.
* The way to strengthen democracy and make peace permanent is to grant amnesty to trade unionists, journalists, academics, women’s rights activists, and student politicians who are in prison for expressing their democratic ideas, thereby addressing the injustices they have suffered.
* The concept of integration expressed by government spokespersons during this process should serve democratic participation through administrative reforms. As can be seen when examining examples from around the world, we wish to demonstrate the validity of preventing the recurrence of conflictual processes in the establishment of democratic politics.
‘We are ready to do our part’
Karagöz said, “We also believe that this process necessitates a democratic solidarity that will ensure the elimination of all imperialist Turkish policies in the Middle East and enable the peoples of the region to decide their own futures. In the coming period, we, as KESK and affiliated unions, will fulfill our responsibilities to make the struggle for peace and democracy become socialized, while at the same time we are ready to do our part to ensure that Turkey becomes a modern, secular, democratic state governed by the rule of law in the 21st century.”