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Guns should be silenced once and for all, Kurdish leaders say
Rights and Freedoms Party (HAK-PAR) leader Bayram Bozyel said, “Guns should never talk from now on.” And Ahmet Türk, the former leader of the now-defunct Democratic Society Party (DTP), said: “This opportunity should be used wisely. The cease-fire should be permanent.”
Commenting to Today’s Zaman on the PKK’s cease-fire, HAK-PAR leader Bozyel said just looking back at the death toll of the past two months is enough to understand the destructive consequences of the environment of violence. He said dark centers could also step into the shady atmosphere of separatist terrorism. “The PKK’s decision to stop all violent acts between Aug. 13 and Sept. 20 is a positive step.
However, what is more important is that that all guns are silenced completely and permanently,” he said, noting that violence gave way to other incidents, such as the attacks in Reşadiye and Dörtyol, and gave innumerable opportunities to provocateurs who would like to manipulate public opinion. He said violence cost the lives of young men from both Turkish and Kurdish families and darkened the lives of thousands who have lost relatives to separatist violence.
Bozyel said that when violence comes to the foreground, the discourse of demilitarization and democratizing is replaced with one involving “security.” He said individuals who were in favor of reinstituting emergency rule, which was in place in the Kurdish dominated East and Southeast, and those who are pro-death penalty make use of violence and the ever-deepening chaotic environment to fan enmity between people.
Bozyel said armed conflict harmed the Kurds’ fight for freedom. “War and violence were also wrong yesterday. But at this point, they have completely lost all legitimacy and become completely filthy. This is why guns should be abandoned, never to be used again in any way.”
He said the Kurds had the awareness to protect their fundamental freedoms, adding that he believes international conditions are conducive to a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.
HAK-PAR’s leader called on Kurds to unite and concentrate on political and peaceful struggle. “Eighty years of experience show that Turkey cannot have a true democracy, peace and stability without solving the Kurdish question. It is obvious that the biggest responsibility here lies with the state and the government.” He said the Kurdish initiative launched by the government last year should be rejuvenated to raise hopes once again for peace and a solution.
He also said that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, currently serving a life sentence on a prison island, should be transferred to a regular prison complex which would end any abuse and discrimination that he might be suffering as a political prisoner.
Türk: Tipping point
Türk, who previously led the Democratic Society Congress, an event that played an important role in the PKK’s decision to declare a cease-fire, said, “We are at a tipping point.” He called on President Abdullah Gül to establish dialogue for peace.
Türk said everyone should do their part for peace. “We want an atmosphere in which the people of Turkey will feel confident. We are ready to do our part. Intellectuals, civil society organizations and political parties that approach this issue with reason should focus on a solution without politicizing this. The PKK issued a call for a cease-fire. This is an important step. We are at a tipping point. The call for peace should be heard.”
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