Prof. Tahsin Yeşildere stated that the approach of “overcoming this issue with a few minor rights” must not be allowed to dominate, and noted that there are many essential areas that must be addressed, ranging from the requirements of a democratic state of law to legislative reforms, from confronting historical truths to reverse migration, and from cultural rights to multilingual education.
Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yeşildere, a Peace Academic who spoke to ANF, said: “Despite everything, I consider the step taken by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli important for the establishment of social peace. The Justice and Development Party (AKP), both because it is in power and due to its calculation to weaken the opposition in the future, has brought the MHP to the forefront to initiate the process and has now claimed ownership of it. It is also natural that other parties, including the Republican People’s Party (CHP), have accepted this process out of necessity and for the sake of peace in the country. The Kurdish people have for years taken a stance in favor of social peace, democracy and freedoms. They have shown their support through the call of Abdullah Öcalan and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). If the political power fails to fulfill its responsibilities, problems may arise in advancing the process in favor of peace. In the coming period, we will all see who truly stands for peace and who uses peace for their own interests.”
Policy to undermine the CHP from all sides
Professor Yeşildere recalled that while the AKP continues talks with the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) as part of the process, it is simultaneously carrying out political operations against the CHP. He stated that the AKP’s attacks on the CHP are an attempt to suppress social opposition but that the CHP’s stance has frustrated these efforts.
Prof. Yeşildere continued: “Although the MHP has made a call, the real interlocutors of a solution are the government, opposition parties, independent members of parliament and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Outside parliament, the Kurdish people and the democratic mass organizations that represent them, the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), trade unions, peace initiatives, the media, democratic civil society organizations, universities, intellectuals and employer unions and organizations must be involved. It is also important for the future that Abdullah Öcalan and leading figures of the PKK take part in this approach to a solution. However, it does not seem likely that the state will welcome such an approach. While the AKP attempts to bring other opposition parties to its side during the so-called solution process, it simultaneously pursues a policy aimed at undermining the CHP from every angle, rendering it ineffective through unlawful and unjust practices and discrediting it with allegations of corruption and theft.”
The CHP did not approach the Kurdish question correctly for years
Professor Yeşildere recalled that for many years the CHP neither took concrete steps nor developed a realistic and applicable project regarding the solution of the Kurdish question, and that it remained distant from the future of the DEM Party. He continued: “The CHP played an active role in lifting parliamentary immunities and failed to show the necessary democratic social struggle when state-appointed trustees replaced elected mayors in Kurdish provinces, which made things easier for the AKP. This continued until the 31 March local elections. Under the leadership of Özgür Özel, a new CHP has emerged as an active democratic opposition. This has significantly affected the AKP. It is clear that the CHP’s presence at the table during the solution process, as well as its discourse towards Kurdish and Alevi communities, disturbs the AKP.”
I support this process for peace
Professor Yeşildere, a Peace Academic, stated that despite everything he supports the process for peace and equal citizenship and said: “The process must be conducted in a transparent, open and democratic manner. In fact, this is a very long process. It is inevitable that every segment of society must support it patiently and persistently. In countries that have overcome such social peace processes with a consciousness of equal citizenship, the process lasted at least three years and sometimes up to ten or fifteen years. Patience and genuine commitment to social peace are essential.”
The priority is a democratic state of law
Professor Yeşildere stated that in order for the process of social peace to succeed, what he considers most essential is a “clearing of the path.” Yeşildere said, “First and foremost, it is inevitable to restore the democratic state of law. In other words, checks and balances, the independence of the legislative, executive and judiciary, and the separation of powers are extremely important. The Law on Political Parties, the Law on Political Ethics, the electoral threshold, rights, the law, justice, equal citizenship and the concept of restorative justice must be developed; historical truths must be confronted; legal restrictions, pressures and arrests must be ended; the appointment of state trustees must be stopped; and all political prisoners, especially Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ, Adnan Selçuk Mızraklı, Osman Kavala and Can Atalay, must be freed. It is also inevitable that many other issues be addressed together, such as providing legal guarantees for those who speak openly and clearly in favor of a solution process. The obstacles to freedom of organization, thought and press must be removed, and as has been clearly seen in recent years, the existence of courts and prosecutors under political pressure must come to an end. Without progress on these matters, I am not convinced that this problem can be resolved within such a system. Despite everything, I support the steps taken towards a democratic solution to the Kurdish question and the initiative for peace.”
What must be done for peace to succeed
Professor Yeşildere stated that the mindset of “overcoming this issue with a few minor rights” must not prevail and listed what he believes must be done:
*The state must understand the indispensability of confronting the massacres of the 12 September period and the 1990s whose perpetrators are known. In this context, it must restore the sense of belonging and dignity of those who were tortured, oppressed, killed because of their identity or who suffered psychological trauma, as well as their families. Opening the door to restorative justice is inevitable. For this reason, it is essential to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Commission for Justice and Confrontation with the Past in order to confront history and seek justice. This is extremely important.
Cultural rights
* To ensure the success of social peace, the process must begin with the recognition of cultural rights, which I believe would greatly help overcome the issue in its initial phase. By understanding the historical development of Kurdish culture, the identity problem can be addressed more comfortably, and a peaceful environment where multiple cultures, multiple identities and multiple faiths can coexist will naturally emerge.
Multilingual education
* Secondly, multilingual education programs must be introduced, beginning from preschool, to ensure that peoples can learn their mother tongues (Kurdish, Laz, Arabic, Syriac, Romani, etc.). In addition, with state support, literacy courses in mother tongues must be opened for adults, especially women. At major universities, institutes must be established, primarily in Kurdish studies (Kurdology), but also for endangered languages such as Laz, Romani and Circassian. These institutes must be able to conduct historical research on the social, cultural, linguistic and religious heritage of peoples and illuminate the future.
Democratic constitution
* If there is to be an initiative for a democratic and libertarian constitution and I must emphasize that drafting a new constitution under the current circumstances is extremely difficult, if not impossible, the issues faced by the peoples of this country can, in fact, be addressed through the current Constitution and existing laws.
Reverse migration
* Alongside these efforts, state support for the return of victims of forced migration to their villages must be accelerated under the Village Return and Rehabilitation Project. Investments and incentives must be implemented in a way that reverses migration from rural areas to cities in the region and to other provinces.
Local administrations
* In order to strengthen decentralization, the Law on Local Administrations must be reorganized according to the characteristics of the region. In other words, granting Democratic Autonomy to Local Administrations through a framework law on the Strengthening of Local Government could significantly ease regional problems. (In this context, I would like to remind that the European Charter of Local Self-Government was signed by Turkey in 1988.)