The opposition parties, namely the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), oppose the government's democratization initiative, arguing that the initiative, which is described by the government as a “national unity and solidarity” project, is actually aimed at dividing Turkey. The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) seemingly supports the initiative, but the statements of its leader during the party's extraordinary congress held on Sunday increased skepticism about the party's willingness to back the project. DTP leader Ahmet Türk called for dialogue with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan. Although some agree that it is not possible for the DTP to sever its ties with the PKK in one day, analysts find the DTP basing the success of the democratization initiative on dialogue with Öcalan very unfortunate at a time when Turkey has seized a historic opportunity to resolve the decades-long issue.According to Yeni Şafak's Yasin Doğan, the DTP has difficulty understanding the point reached today in resolving the Kurdish problem and producing policies accordingly; instead, it chooses to perpetuate its traditional line. Regarding the DTP's call for dialogue with the PKK, he asks how it could be possible for a terrorist organization that threatens and is nourished by tears and blood to be sincerely in favor of peace and how a political party that is under the influence of such an organization can voice messages of solidarity and peace. In consideration of this, Doğan says it is very natural for the DTP congress to appear distanced from democracy and law. “Is it possible for the reckless terrorist organization, which does not even tolerate its party's discourse, to tolerate the development of the Kurdish initiative in line with the expectations of the public? The DTP must see that it cannot move forward to a democratic line under the domination of the PKK monster,” says Doğan.
Indicating that it is not possible for the DTP to adopt a democratic political line in one day, Radikal's Nuray Mert thinks that the DTP-PKK link needs to be ignored if the DTP is to assume such a line. “The conversion of armed political struggle movements into democratic political movements is a challenging process. No terrorist organization lays down weapons or changes its mentality in one day upon hearing nice words. To the contrary, it takes affront to those asking them to lay down weapons, and things become intractable. We are aware of this,” says Mert. Nevertheless, she thinks those who represent the Kurds politically, like the DTP, should avoid constantly emphasizing their links with the armed struggle, the PKK, which has no place in the framework of democratic politics.
According to another Yeni Şafak columnist, Ali Bayramoğlu, the problem with Kurdish politicians is not the government speaking to them or Öcalan because they are already being spoken to and Öcalan is being spoken to behind closed doors. In his view, their real aim is for these dialogues to be carried out on a legitimate and legal basis and for Öcalan to be accepted by the state as the “leader of the Kurds.” “Alright, but is this the only Kurdish policy? What will happen to the Kurds?” asks Bayramoğlu. He notes that it is really unreasonable for the DTP to block peace efforts and base their success on dialogue with Öcalan at a time when the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) wants an end to the clashes and the government is taking courageous steps for a solution, risking its existence.
