Solution-seeking Kurds ask for constitutional amendments

Representatives of a number of Kurdish groups, in a rare show of solidarity, came together for a meeting titled “Toward a Settlement and Unity on the Kurdish Question,” where they demanded constitutional guarantees for cultural rights and democracy within the Kurdish movement.

The two-day workshop aimed to give a common voice to the demands of different Kurdish groups amidst recent initiatives on the issue of solving the long-standing Kurdish question. During the workshop the degree of involvement of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization and its jailed leader, Abdullah Öcalan, was discussed, and the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) was criticized for not being able to act independently from the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by a large majority of the international community.

Öcalan recently announced that he will be sharing his “road map” for a solution on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the PKK's first terrorist attack in 1984.

Observers expect him to include demands for more cultural and linguistic rights -- perhaps even recognition of Kurdish as an official language -- and giving more power to local governments, particularly in Kurdish regions.

The DTP insists that he should be involved in the peace process along with the government, which will announce a Kurdish initiative that may include amnesty for PKK members and some cultural improvements such as removing obstacles before the usage of the Kurdish language in private broadcasting.

During the workshops, some of the participants underlined that the PKK itself does not insist on being a participant in the process, but the DTP wants Öcalan to be involved. The final statement of the workshop did not state that it was necessary for Öcalan or the PKK to be involved in formulating a solution, but suggested that Öcalan's road map should be taken into consideration. The statement said, “The workshop underlines that any attitude which excludes Kurds, the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, the DTP and other political parties and democratic organizations cannot produce a realistic solution”

The final statement urged for the removal of all psychological, political and legal obstacles that hinder Kurds, including the PKK, from participating in politics.

“The workshop defends the idea of the removal of all the legal, political and administrative obstacles denying freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, including the establishment of political parties based on Kurdish or any other identity. Amendments in the Political Parties Law can pave the way for peaceful and democratic politics,” the final statement underlined.

The participants also urged the PKK to prolong its unilateral decision for a cease-fire until Sept. 1 and called on the state to refrain from military operations.

Another joint demand of the Kurds is the removal of all kinds of discriminative regulations in the Constitution and for the enactment of constitutional guarantees to cultural rights, including education in a person's mother tongue.

The workshop also showed support for the Kurdish movement and demanded tolerance, pluralism and dialogue, which was another hot discussion point during the workshop.

Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman (DTSO) Galip Ensarioğlu along with former Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairman Sezgin Tanrıkulu and his successor, Emin Aktar, were hosts of the workshop, which was attended by human rights activists Yavuz Önen, Yusuf Alataş and Yılmaz Ensarioğlu; academics, including constitutional law expert Hüsnü Erdem, sociologist Mesut Yeğen and political expert Vahap Çoşkun; and writers Faik Bulut, Jaklin Çelik and Bejan Matur. Local religious leaders and representatives of Kurdish groups based on religious thought also discussed their ideas during the two-day meeting. Representatives of the Yezidi and Aramaic populations also attended.