Recently, the sources feeding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been drying up one by one. First of all, the martial law imposed by the military rule of Sept. 12, 1980 and the subsequent state of emergency were removed. The Southeast has been administered by non-emergency rule for the last five years. You will remember that when the state of emergency was lifted, there was a surge of terrorist attacks as if they were saying that “the state of emergency should continue.” But not backpedaling from that decision has helped us make significant progress in treating that bleeding wound.Another important step was to crack down on Ergenekon, the shadowy network nested within the state that sponsored the terrorism in the Southeast. Today, the state is opening the case files of the mysterious murders committed by unknown assailants in the region, and touching the untouchables. The state is questioning the policies designed and implemented for too long to intimidate the local people. Col. Cemal Temizöz, who is infamously linked to these mysterious murders, was arrested and jailed in Diyarbakır. Other infamous figures related to the summary executions in the region were arrested under the Ergenekon investigation.With ever-increasing numbers, private schools and study centers are rushing to provide better education to Kurdish children. With each passing day, we understand more clearly that there is no need to argue. For instance, no one can say that a person is prevented from attaining high positions in state institutions because of his/her Kurdish identity. It is well known that there are no obstacles to Kurds assuming critical positions within the government or bureaucracy. After faint-heartedly broadcasting a Kurdish music clip several years ago, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) has now established a separate TV channel broadcasting in the Kurdish language. There is now TRT Şeş that does not serve the PKK's purposes by imposing the official ideology. Turkey has gone through an important process of change from a time when people were prohibited from speaking Kurdish among themselves to a time when a Kurdish TV station is on air. Under the Village Infrastructure Support Projects (KÖYDES), the governors have paved the way for large infrastructure services in the region and the poor people of the region are being provided with considerable financial support.
In addition to dealing with the problems of Kurds, an Alevi workshop was held, where the Alevis could talk about their problems freely and suggest possible ways of overcoming their problems. Close interest was shown in the problems of minorities, and a bill was passed to settle the ongoing problem of a large group in society by changing the coefficient applied in the entrance exam to universities -- all important steps taken to restore social peace. The supporters of the status quo in Turkey are now combating this change. They are considerably uneasy as their tools for creating conflict are being removed from them one by one. A cartoon by Mehmet Çağçağ of Habertürk newspaper described the situation perfectly. A white dove was carrying an olive branch but was attacked by vultures and war veterans.
Öcalan's efforts to capture a lead role in this process is the biggest obstacle to the change the Turkish Republic is undergoing in an effort to renew and improve itself. We should not forget that the PKK is the only argument left that the deep state can use. The PKK abandoning terrorist methods means that all discourse in Turkey will change and the state will redefine itself to become a more democratic and more human-centered state.
