DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan held a press conference at her party’s headquarters in Ankara on Wednesday.
Commenting on the ongoing process in search of a resolution to the Kurdish question, she criticized the fact that the state and the government avoided taking concrete steps.
Ayşegül Doğan stated that her party emphasized the importance of the social aspect of the Peace and Democratic Society process at its Central Executive Committee meeting. Speaking out against those who stand against a solution, she said: “Relying on a deadlock means bringing tears. The country has lost a lot. We are talking about human lives. The country’s energy and potential have been lost in recent years. That is why we need to give strength and support to the solution, not to the deadlock.”
“What stage is the process at? Has it stopped? Has it slowed down? Has it stagnated? Are there any problems?” asked Ayşegül Doğan, drawing attention to the lack of confidence caused by the failure to take concrete steps. “We can say that the establishment of the parliamentary commission was met with great enthusiasm in order to eliminate this lack of confidence. People want to see concrete steps. Both politics and society want to see concrete steps.”
Ayşegül Doğan stated that Abdullah Öcalan’s call regarding the process must be approached strategically, saying, “We have repeatedly emphasized that Mr. Öcalan’s call is not a tactical but a strategic one, and that it must be approached holistically. Statements have been in Turkey that have broken the mold – from granting him the right to hope to a speech in the Parliament- and these were very valuable.”
Doğan continued: “Numan Kurtulmuş says that there will be a reporting process and that a number of legal regulations will be finalized by October. It’s a belated statement, but a valuable one. We believe that the Parliament should focus on peace efforts at the beginning of the new term. We hope that the next term will be more efficient and focused, and that we can discuss and debate the root causes of the Kurdish question and make some proposals in this regard.”
Ayşegül Doğan reiterated her call that the parliamentary commission must listen to Mr. Öcalan and his views must be incorporated into the process. She added: “There is no point in not doing what should be done or arguing about it. That will only be a waste of time. You must listen to Mr. Öcalan as the main actor, give him a platform to speak and establish contact with him.”
Remarking that the isolation on Imrali continues, Doğan said, “Lawyer visits are important but not sufficient,” adding: “Mr. Öcalan should communicate not only with the DEM Party but also with different segments in Turkey. He had mentioned practical and theoretical leadership in his first message.”
Referring to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers’ decision on the “right to hope,” Doğan said: “We are talking about a situation that concerns not only Mr. Öcalan but thousands of people in Turkey. The Minister of Justice is not sharing data. However, based on the information obtained by rights organizations, this issue concerns the lives of more than 4,350 people. So, this is a clear violation of human rights, which must be ended. Everyone who has been victimized by this practice, especially Mr. Öcalan, should benefit from the principle of the right to hope. Together, we will succeed, we will win, and we will undoubtedly crown this process with a lasting peace through the construction of a democratic society.”