Kurds expect Gül’s Diyarbakır visit to ease recent tension

Though the president's office said the visit was scheduled long before the recent discussions taking place in the nation began, Gül's visit came at a time when debates over language and flags became heated.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Gül downplayed expectations and said the visit is just like any other visit he would make to other parts of the country. “This trip is in line with the framework of other visits I have made to other provinces,” he said, stressing he would be speaking with leading figures in the city of Diyarbakır just like he did during his visits to other cities. However, the perspective from Diyarbakır is different and Gül is viewed as a person who can calm the tension in the region flared up recently because of discussions over autonomy that have been taking place for the past week.

Şah İsmail Bedirhanoğlu, the chairman of the Southeastern Eastern Anatolia Industrialists and Businessmen Association (GÜNSİAD), recalls statements Gül made last year when he said good things will happen regarding the Kurdish problem. “The people of Diyarbakır see him as an important actor who has been contributing to the process positively,” he told Today's Zaman. He noted that the tension in the region is high because of the debates over autonomy and people hope that Gül's visit to Diyarbakır will reduce such tension. Galip Ensarioğlu, the chairman of the Diyarbakır Trade and Industry Chamber (DTSO), is also among those who see the president's visit as very important. “We will convey our thoughts to the president and talk about the problems of the region. Our objective is to ensure stability in the region,” he explained.

The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) two weeks ago in Diyarbakır outlined their solution in a project for democratic autonomy, which envisages Kurdish as a second official language, a separate flag and a Marxist-style organizational model for Kurdish society. The draft also mentions the vague term of “self-defense forces” that will be used not only against external forces but against the subjects of the democratization initiative who are not participating in what is called the “struggle.”

Most politicians, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, expressed their extreme dissatisfaction with this plan, and especially with the idea of a second official language and separate flag. “If Gül communicates messages in the wake of a new year that help reduce tension in society, his visit can be considered successful. Actually this is the only expectation from this visit and to expect more is not realistic,” Bedirhanoğlu told Today’s Zaman.

Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairman Emin Aktar stated that Gül might speak a few words in Kurdish during his visit to Diyarbakır. Gül while visiting the Gülırmak district of Bitlis on Aug. 8, 2009 said he was received very warmly in Norşin, referring to the Kurdish name of the town he visited. Aktar speaking to Today’s Zaman underlined that the region is already feeling the atmosphere of the elections and political actors are using confrontational language, but that Gül’s discourse might address everyone regardless of their political background.

“There is no reason to expect miracles from this visit, but he might advise all political groups to listen to each other and tried to understand each other,” Aktar suggested. According to the chairman, Gül can also give a message to all of Turkey by saying it is possible to discuss everything that does not include violence.

Gül is expected to visit the governor’s office, a garrison and the municipality in line with his visits to other cities.

Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir is currently a suspect in the trial of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), allegedly the urban extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Some of the suspects are high-ranking members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), including some mayors who are under arrest.

At the first trial of the KCK the suspects insisted on defending themselves in Kurdish. The demand was rejected by the presidency of the court but suspects continued to defend themselves in Kurdish and the trial was postponed until Jan. 13, 2011.

Akın Birdal, a Diyarbakır deputy of the BDP, recalled the KCK trials and said as the trials are sent to resume and the discussions on autonomy continues Gül’s visit is a very important one. He also reiterated that Gül started the democratization initiative and claimed that due to the approaching general elections the government, without taking any concrete steps on the democratization initiative, adopted a nationalist discourse. “Now we have a deadlock.

Gül’s visit might help in overcoming this situation,” Birdal told Today’s Zaman, adding that since the visit will take place on the eve of a new year it might bring new hopes for the people who are expecting improvements for a bilingual life and democratic autonomy.

It is expected that president will also meet with the representatives of civil society organizations. He will visit some industrial establishments in the city and for the Friday prayer he will visit one of the historical mosques in the city. It is expected that after the prayer he will walk the streets and talk with the residents of the city. Gül will also attend a concert that is to be given by children who worked on the streets before participating in a program sponsored by the Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHÇEK).