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Bar associations call for PKK withdrawal, end to military operations
“It was one of the very few examples of unity among the bar associations. Forty-one bar associations, despite their different terminology, despite their different understandings, were able to sign the same declaration after long and vivid but very civilized and mature discussions,” Emin Aktar, chairman of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, told Today’s Zaman.
The bar associations came from cities throughout the Southeast as well as Bursa, Balıkesir, Yozgat, Ankara, Edirne, Çankırı, Kastamonu and Kayseri and discussed the government’s democratization initiative and its chances of success given that “pessimism, hopelessness and divisions among society are very obvious,” as their joint declaration stated. The bar associations also underlined that Turkey urgently needs a new constitution.
The same statement underlined that Turkey still has problems regarding human rights, the rule of law and democracy, which are directly linked with the Kurdish question.
The joint declaration suggested that the Kurdish question can be solved on the basis of democracy, freedom and justice and with methods excluding violence, arguing that Turkey has the power to succeed.
“Measures that will serve to remove risks should be taken. In order to prepare the ground for disarmament, the armed combatants should withdraw outside the boundaries of Turkey and the military operations should be stopped. We believe that such an atmosphere will serve to help the resolution of the problem with peace and common sense,” the joint declaration said.
The bar associations called for the urgent amendment of laws in order to protest the rights of assembly and forming nonviolent political parties. The joint declaration stated that the exclusion of legitimate political powers from the system makes the ones using violence stronger.
They also urged people to pay attention to the social and economic dimensions of the democratization initiative and take measures to protect the independency of the judiciary.
The chairpersons of the bar associations also stated that Turkey urgently needs a new constitution, which should be prepared by the participation of all segments of society and that such a constitution should be based on respect for other cultures.
“We urged all civil powers in this country to take the initiative. We think this is the only way forward,” Aktar said.
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