However, it is also important to properly interpret issues and adopt a flexible approach when necessary. Regardless of his Stalinist views and practices in the past, his unrealistic arguments and ungrounded megalomania, it should be admitted that Abdullah Öcalan is a “good” politician. He is able to interpret the current agenda and the demands of some of the Kurdish people. He is able to change his position swiftly to adapt to new conditions. This change should not be taken as political inconsistency because he still remains the most important Kurdish nationalist. Therefore, Öcalan is the one that the government will talk to in the context of the Kurdish initiative, despite not acknowledging this role. The media uses every report on him and derives new political meanings from his reports. In his message “delivered” last week through his lawyers, Öcalan complained about the reluctance of the state as well as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)/Democratic Society Party (DTP) to take the initiative and leave all things that need to be done to him, adding that he was tortured by this attitude. The message was actually implying criticism of the DTP and, apparently, Öcalan felt he should do this publicly. Öcalan, who sent an implied message to the PKK when he said the state would attract the support of the Kurdish people through the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and that there would be no need for further military operations, also pointed out that the DTP leaders sometimes didn't know how to conduct politics when he stressed that they did not know what to say sometimes. According to the PKK leader, the DTP had no chance to address the Kurdish people because of its lack of politics. According to Öcalan, the DTP's convention should be held with the participation of figures from different circles and segments of society.
This means that the DTP should keep relying on the policy of leniency as reflected in the transition of its leadership and become a more legitimate actor vis-à-vis the state by attracting the extensive support of different Kurdish groups. However, asking for representation from all segments also refers to non-Kurds. Those who recall the initiative for an umbrella party in recent times should be aware that Öcalan's vision calls for such a move, anyway. The said initiative sought to bring together Kurds, democrats from secular and conservative groups and leftist figures. However, despite efforts in that direction, the initiative failed; most probably the chief reason for this failure was the perception that Öcalan was behind the move.
On the other hand, this view has also been held by non-Kurdish democrats for a long time. The intellectuals refraining from extending support for the idea of an umbrella party failed to take a political step consistent with their views. However, the chief reason for this reluctance is Öcalan himself, because it was assumed that the proposed party would replace the DTP and serve as a tool of manipulation for Öcalan. Öcalan, who proposed creation of the DTP to figures from all groups and backgrounds, now appears to expect from the umbrella party what the DTP has failed to achieve. However, this is not realistic. The DTP represents a victimized group; however, this is not enough to ignore the fact that it sticks to a fairly nationalistic approach. It is not realistic to assume that Öcalan is unaware of what the DTP is capable of. In this case, how should we interpret Öcalan's most recent position? Maybe he seeks to force the DTP to assume a mission that will most likely fail. It may not seem logical to argue that a father is willing to see his child fail. However, it is a historical phenomenon that leaders who claim to possess superior qualities see their parties as extensions of themselves and perceive them to be “skin” that needs to be shed. Öcalan appreciates the need for a change, and this will have implications for his politics. Conversely, the PKK and the DTP fail to understand this need.
Öcalan has taken up a new initiative to force these actors to change by ruffling the feathers of their internal dynamics. Vision and insight are important in politics. Öcalan has proven that he possesses both qualities. On the other hand, he does not miss any opportunity where Turkey is critical of its regime, for instance, he has responded to the remarks made by the chief of general staff in the Southeast where he argued that Turkey and the region should get rid of the lords of politics and terror.
Despite being in prison, Öcalan keeps developing new political moves and alternatives. Those who are uncomfortable with this should think over how the probable political alternatives are being destroyed.
