An indictment prepared by prosecutors investigating the KCK/TM, an organization that allegedly functions as the urban arm of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been presented to the Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court. The document, prepared by the Diyarbakır State Prosecutor’s Office, presses charges against 151 Kurdish politicians -- 103 of whom are currently in state custody -- including 12 mayors and several executives of the now-defunct Democratic Society Party (DTP). The prosecution is demanding life sentences for 11 Kurdish politicians, and terms from 15-36.5 years in prison for 140 individuals. Individuals on the list include Baydemir, former DTP deputy chiefs Kamuran Yüksek, Selma Irmak and Bayram Altun, former deputy of the now-defunct Democracy Party (DEP) Hatip Dicle and PKK European representative Sabri Ok.
The 7,578-page indictment contains intriguing details regarding Diyarbakır Mayor Baydemir and internal disciplinary mechanisms of the KCK/TM. According to the document, Baydemir was subjected to this disciplinary procedure in 2008 for failing to add his signature to the “Sayın Öcalan” campaign, which refers to the jailed head of the PKK Abdullah Öcalan using the Turkish honorific “sayın,” translating roughly into English as “mister.” Baydemir reportedly submitted his resignation from the KCK/TM to its Regional Administrations Commission -- but KCK/TM spokespeople refused to accept his resignation. The indictment details how, under pressure from the group over the incident, Baydemir said in a phone call to former DTP deputy chief Irmak: “My spirits are really down. I’ve considered committing suicide.”
In addition, Baydemir had reportedly sought permission from the KCK/TM to appear on a television program, but was denied for the same disciplinary reasons. Similarly, the indictment says that ahead of local elections in 2009, then-head of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal had sought the permission of the KCK/TM to arrange a meeting between Baydemir and himself, sending a proposal through a CHP executive committee member to a KCK/TM spokesperson. This request was allegedly denied, with KCK/TM spokesperson Nadir Y. requesting that Baykal not come to Diyarbakır to visit Baydemir. The prosecution is seeking a sentence of 36.5 years in jail for Baydemir on charges of membership in an armed terrorist organization, opposition to laws on demonstrations and marches and conducting propaganda for a terrorist organization.
The 11 suspects for whom the prosecution is demanding life sentences without parole stand accused of establishing a terrorist organization (the KCK/TM) and attempts to destroy the unity of the state. The other politicians have a number of charges leveled against them, including membership in a terrorist organization, aiding and abetting a terrorist group and obstructing others’ rights to the freedoms of working and receiving an education.
Prosecutors say Ok was made the head of the KCK/TM in a meeting in İstanbul and that under his leadership certain members of the KCK/TM were appointed “supervisors” responsible for interrogating mayors and parliamentary deputies who failed to take part in KCK/TM activities and campaigns as ordered.
