Ömer Öcalan, an MP for the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) from Urfa (Riha) and also the nephew of Abdullah Öcalan, visited his uncle on Imrali together with other family members on 31 October.
Ömer Öcalan spoke to Mezopotamya Agency about the meeting and said that, for the first time in years, they had a visit in which his brother also took part. He said that during this meeting Abdullah Öcalan asked specifically about the relatives and the environment he lived with in the village during his childhood and youth, and that he spoke about memories from that period.
Ömer Öcalan stated that Abdullah Öcalan also asked his sister Fatma Öcalan to talk about childhood memories and noted that they only manage to hold family visits around five times a year, adding that Abdullah Öcalan appeared more positive and healthier compared to the first visits.
Ömer Öcalan said: “He also looked better physically. In previous meetings, the physical effects of isolation were noticeable. But in the visit on 31 October, he was healthy, positive and full of enthusiasm. We draw energy from him, we draw morale from him. He motivates us and gives us suggestions. To be honest, I can say that he was in a strong condition.”
Isolation continues in certain aspects
Ömer Öcalan said the following about the visit: “Abdullah Öcalan does not make any personal assessments about himself. At this point, he does not place himself at the centre in terms of health or conditions. He makes sacrifices in many areas for this process to continue. If we were to ask, ‘Is the Execution Law being applied to the Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali?’ That would not be correct. This is clear and well known. We know that these meetings are taking place due to the political process. There are many prisons in Turkey and more or less whatever exists in the execution law is implemented in those prisons. Of course, there are many problems in other prisons as well, but Imrali Island Prison is perhaps the place where the most isolation has been applied in this century, where the law has been most violated, where it has been almost completely isolated. Certainly, as part of family visits, I have managed to hold five visits in one year. Legally, the requirements written in the execution law are not being fulfilled, but if we were to say that isolation is continuing completely, I am not at that point. There are some loosenings, but isolation continues in certain aspects. The number of lawyer visits, the number of delegation visits, the number of family visits exist, yet we state that they are insufficient.”
Officials must be courageous
Ömer Öcalan said, “There is a leader there, one of the main interlocutors of this issue. The working conditions must be created by the government. There is a government and a state reality that claims to solve this problem. It is also known by the public that one side of this matter is the Abdullah Öcalan. In this sense, the state or the officials must be more courageous. If the relationship between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples is based on a historical depth, if we are talking about a thousand years of history, then at some point you will have to solve this issue. A political will must emerge that is obliged to show this courage and foresight. Politicians have responsibilities on their shoulders; those who run this process also have responsibilities on their shoulders. But first of all, the conditions on Imrali must be improved. Then, through appropriate ways and methods, the possibility for the Abdullah Öcalan to work freely must be ensured, this is extremely essential for us, for our people, and for our party.”
The place where we meet is the same, there is no change
Ömer Öcalan said, “I have been going there for one year. The place where we meet is the same. There is no change on Imrali Island. There is no change in Abdullah Öcalan’s conditions. We do not know what will happen in the upcoming process. Certainly, if the process succeeds and gains momentum, all of these issues must be reviewed.”
Door-to-door organising efforts
Ömer Öcalan conveyed Abdullah Öcalan’s words as follows: “You now have the conditions to be able to organise. You must organise this process together with our people. You must organise this process together with the people. If necessary, city by city, district by district, village by village, neighbourhood by neighbourhood, door by door, you must explain this process and explain to the people the model that we are trying to build.”
Societal organising
Ömer Öcalan continued: “He attaches great meaning to self-organisation and to organising society as a whole. He more or less expressed it like this: ‘Yes, when we first emerged, the number of words we could use was very limited. We only had a handful of expressions. We had no means. And from that point, we have come to where we are today. Now there are possibilities in many places. You have the capacity to do politics everywhere. These opportunities have been created. You must organise this process together with the people. This is not an issue that institutions can carry alone. The people must also take part in this process. They must both organise this process and, at the same time, contribute to the social system we are trying to build. This, in general, is the approach of Abdullah Öcalan.’”
Action matters more than rhetoric
Ömer Öcalan said: “Abdullah Öcalan attaches great meaning to the wisdom of the people. He always said, ‘The people are right.’ He values accumulated knowledge and the wisdom of society; but there is one concrete reality, only those who have fought can make peace. Abdullah Öcalan has taken a major initiative so that this war, this conflict, does not go on forever. He is trying to pull the state towards this point. He knows this very well, and a certain segment of the state also knows it. Sometimes Abdullah Öcalan speaks of a ‘non-normative’ state. We must be sensitive to this. More than sensitive, we must be attentive. Action matters more than words. Practice matters more than talking. This is important for us as well.”
What does democratic integration mean?
Ömer Öcalan also said: “Abdullah Öcalan sometimes speaks through memories; ‘When I was a child, I used to sit by the mosque wall in Amara. There was an old man there. When we talked about the Kurdish reality, he would tell me, “Can you bring life to this dried piece of wood? That is your struggle.” Great effort, great sacrifices, great political struggle brought this point. Now even those who do politics in the name of Kurdishness must respect and protect this heritage and this labour. Let me explain democratic integration clearly; it means the state accepting you with your identity, your culture, your thinking, your geography, your country, your belief. It does not mean: leave your identity, leave your language, leave your essence, leave your belief and come join the state.’”
Ömer Öcalan continued: “If Kurds are going to be part of the Republic of Turkey, it will be on the basis of a democratic republic. The conceptual definition of this is democratic integration. The Kurdish people can become part of the state with their differences. And this is what Kurds have wanted for a hundred years. In the Ottoman system, they lived for centuries with their own essence. But there is the reality of Abdullah Öcalan, who revived Kurdishness, lifted it up, brought it to a stage and took it beyond that stage. He formulated how Kurds and Turks can live together, how Kurds and Arabs or Persians can live together; how Syrians and Kurds can live together. At the same time, Kurds themselves are a very rich nation. There are Alevi Kurds, Yazidi Kurds and Kurds belonging to the Sunni Islamic faith. This method of struggle has brought all Kurds to the same table.”
Kurdish system should influence Damascus
Ömer Öcalan also added: “Officials of the Republic of Turkey must break away from their repeated habits of the past one hundred years. Kurds are not hostile to any people; they are not hostile to the state either. Kurds protect their identity and existence in their own authentic way. They represent a potential force for democracy. Kurds have never applied assimilation against any right; they have only tried to protect themselves. This is also valid for Syria. Abdullah Öcalan says the system that Kurds build there should influence Damascus. He says it should aim to influence the whole of Syria on a systemic level. If this system is built in Syria, Syria can become a livable country. Turkey can then discuss its concerns and habits with its interlocutors. I believe Abdullah Öcalan is also being spoken to extensively on this matter. I conveyed the recent developments to him during this meeting. He said that he is following Syria closely.”
The Syrian question must be solved within Syria itself
Ömer Öcalan said, “The Syrian question must be solved within Syria itself. The State of Turkey must approach this more sensitively, because Syria is an independent state. It should not interfere too deeply in its internal affairs. If a relationship is to be developed, then there are Kurdish representatives, politicians and leaders there. Instead of Ahmed al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani), one could speak with Mazlum Kobani. One could also speak with Ilham Ahmed. That place is a model for everyone and the world’s eyes are on it. Turkey must integrate with this and contribute to it. If it has sensitivities, it must be in contact with the authorities of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), because dialogue is important. Anyone can wage war, you can destroy things with three sentences, but building, creating and expanding something requires vision. Abdullah Öcalan had already stated his thoughts on Syria clearly, and he remains at the same point. The question is how the method will be, how the language will be and on this issue he is positive and constructive.”
Turkey must make peace with Kurds in all four parts
Ömer Öcalan continued: “Abdullah Öcalan protects this as if it were the apple of his eye. Syria is part of this. I hope that in the upcoming period, the sides will come together with mutual understanding and develop a positive perspective on Syria. If you want to strengthen the country, you must make peace with the cultures in all four parts of Kurdistan. Turkey must no longer conduct discussions about internal issues, internal problems and the language and existence of Kurds. In order to look forward more seriously and more courageously, it must solve its internal issue. You cannot carry out one peace process in the North, one peace process in Turkey and a different process in Rojava.”
CHP must take part in the process and must not fall into traps
Ömer Öcalan said: “Abdullah Öcalan emphasised that the Republican People’s Party (CHP) must take part in the process. It must not fall into traps or provocations. This process does not belong to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) or the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); it is a process that concerns the entire state. Abdullah Öcalan attaches great meaning and value to CHP’s participation in the process. This is how it can grow. There are democratic people within CHP, there are people who think positively. Those who provoke, on the other hand, are a segment in hell. In fact, certain groups are trying to block the end of this war. Very interesting things are happening. Over the past year, both the Kurdish people and the Turkish people have followed this closely. The people of Turkey must follow this very closely. They ask, ‘Why does the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) bring democratic politics to the forefront and disable weapons at a certain point?’ Our people must pay attention to this as well. The PKK and Abdullah Öcalan have been struggling for thirty-two years to put weapons aside and make democratic politics active.”
A culture of democracy must be built
Ömer Öcalan also said, “One of the things Abdullah Öcalan wanted most was the establishment of this commission. He wants it because he wants this to belong to society as a whole. Even though it is weakened, even though it has lost influence, the most recognised institution in Turkey is the Parliament. He attributes meaning to this place, he attributes value. He says this is the ground of legitimacy. CHP also wanted this very much. Abdullah Öcalan wants to explain the experiences of fifty-two years to the commission. And he wants this for the future as well. He wants this so that such things will not happen again. He wants this so that a culture of democracy can be built.”
The state must take serious steps
Ömer Öcalan concluded his remarks by saying: “Now you will listen to everyone. At the point of listening to the real interlocutor, the most legitimate interlocutor, you must show sensitivity. These are not things that can be justified. The state must take steps in a more courageous and more serious way. It must meet with Abdullah Öcalan; it must be courageous. The state must not hesitate about anything, it must take this step. When the state wishes, it must show the courage and foresight to meet with anyone it wants. A new order, a new process, a new language… In every sense, it must put forward a renewal.”