In the eight months since Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call on February 27, the Kurdistan Freedom Movement has taken its second major step, once again demonstrating its determination for peace.
Following Öcalan’s call, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) convened its 12th Congress and decided to dissolve itself. Shortly after the congress, on July 11, a group of guerrillas burned their weapons, showing their seriousness toward the peace process.
Eight months after the call, the Kurdistan Freedom Movement announced that, in line with the decisions of the 12th Congress and with Öcalan’s approval, the implementation of the decision to withdraw from Turkish territory had begun, and guerrilla forces had moved to the Media Defense Zones.
The Kurdish movement has taken another step toward peace
Hakan Öztürk, Chair of the Labourist Movement Party (EHP), spoke to ANF about the recent step taken by the Kurdistan Freedom Movement, describing it as highly significant.
Öztürk said: “The PKK’s announcement of its withdrawal from Turkey can be seen as a continuation of the process that began with the handshake in Parliament, followed by Abdullah Öcalan’s call and the act of laying down arms that brought the process to another stage. This statement should first and foremost be understood as the result of Abdullah Öcalan’s and the Kurdish Movement’s own internal logic and sequence of reasoning. Accordingly, it should be regarded as a very positive development by all political actors in Turkey and around the world.”
Öztürk added: “With this development, following the decision to dissolve and the symbolic burning of weapons, the Kurdish Movement has taken yet another step toward advancing peace. This step is one that expands the possibilities for progress in the peace process to the highest level, and it should be considered highly valuable as it opens the way forward for peace.
For such an important stance to be evaluated positively, the government must take it seriously and make an effort to fulfill its requirements. This position should by no means be treated with neglect or disregard.”
Better results could not be achieved due to the government’s delaying policies
Öztürk said that the government’s initial statements were positive but emphasized that better results could not be achieved because of its delayed policies. He continued: “In this context, as can be seen from the first statements, there was a generally positive attitude within the government toward this development. The process could have advanced with much better results. However, although steps were taken by the Kurdish Movement, the government failed to make any meaningful democratic initiatives in response, which caused the process to stagnate. Everything eventually became deadlocked at the point where the government made no democratic or legal openings.”
Turkey’s persistence in avoiding action has lost its meaning
Öztürk added: “With the PKK announcing its withdrawal from Turkey, it is now very difficult for the government to continue insisting on taking no steps. These developments are unfolding before the eyes of the entire country and the international public. Promises made or improvements that have been discussed so far can no longer be postponed. Public opinion, the Kurdish people, and all segments of social opposition fighting for peace will increase their pressure in this direction.
Conducting politics before the public as if they were writing in the sand is not that easy. In the end, everyone inevitably moves toward a common point.”
No one can escape the inevitable
Öztürk said that from now on, the process will be shaped according to the positive steps taken by the government, adding that its move will determine the course of developments. “Under all these conditions, I believe the PKK’s stance will raise hopes and have a result-oriented impact. Everything will take shape in response to the steps taken by the Kurdish Movement. The moment the government takes such a step, it will have demonstrated its goodwill and bound itself to the process. Indeed, its decision to remain in a waiting position until this stage must be linked to this. They acted in this way to define a point of no return.
However, objectivity does not allow this, and we will see that it does not. The Kurdish question is the product of centuries of accumulation. It is impossible to think that it can exist without objective pressures. No one can escape the inevitable. Those in power cannot prevent themselves from doing what must be done. Therefore, I can say that what lies ahead will unfold in a positive direction.”