The Rights and Freedom Party (HAK-PAR) accuses Öcalan of "betraying the Kurds" since he recently distanced himself from the idea of an independent Kurdish state. Meanwhile, some in the Democratic Society Party (DTP), often accused by Turkish authorities of having links to Öcalan's terrorist PKK, are frustrated with Öcalan's distancing himself from the Kurdish leaders of Iraq.
Perhaps the most significant change that can be observed in Öcalan's views is his abandoning the idea of an independent "Kurdish state." Öcalan has recently been expressing through his lawyers and writings the opinion that Turkey's unitary structure should be preserved, that Turkish remain the official language and that the Turkish flag be accepted as a flag common to both Kurds and Turks. He says, however, that he wants stronger local governments. He argues against a Kurdish state so strongly that he even demanded to be buried under three flags: the Turkish, Kurdish and European Union flags. In recent messages Öcalan's lawyers brought to his grassroots support, Öcalan has frequently reiterated: "I am against the idea of a federal [structure] or any other similar structure. Turkey should consider organizing as non-sovereign states." Öcalan is selling out on the "Kurdish cause," according to Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP) leader Şerafettin Elçi and HAK-PAR.
The shift in Öcalan's thinking has been reflected in the DTP as well. Leyla Zana, a former member of the now-defunct Democracy Party (DEP) who served years in jail for treason and PKK affiliation, along with some of her allies in the DTP, are now considering leaving the party because it defends views similar to those of Öcalan, Kurdish sources who wished to remain anonymous told Today's Zaman. Zana said in a recent speech that she considered Iraqi Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani as guides for the Kurdish nation, while Öcalan has recently criticized both leaders for being dependent on the US.
Öcalan in recent writings and statements made to his lawyers has repeatedly called on the Kurds not to trust the US, the same country that turned him over to the Turkish authorities.Öcalan’s anti-US stance is causing yet another rift in the Kurdish movement. Öcalan has been stressing that the US cannot be trusted and is pointing out that the US had come to the Middle East for reasons other than offering Kurds freedom. Öcalan’s opinions, relayed by his lawyers, are perceived as missing out on a historic opportunity to finally establish an independent Kurdish state, since they realize that it would be impossible to set up a Kurdish state in the region without US support. Some Kurdish intellectuals even support seeking closer ties with the US.
Against those Kurdish politicians who suggest that intense cooperation with the Kurds of northern Iraq would be the best way to resolve the Kurdish problem, Öcalan’s recent statement that for Turkey’s Kurds to rely on the US-dependent northern Iraq would be a disaster is his most controversial revelation. “The problems of Turkey’s Kurds can only be solved under a unitary structure. This is why Turkey’s Kurds should look to Ankara and nowhere else for a solution,” he said. Many Kurdish politicians fiercely reject such views.
Another source of discord between some circles in the DTP and Öcalan stems from a recent announcement from the DTP that it might seek to register independent candidates in the general elections to circumvent Turkey’s election threshold, which is applied to political parties. The DTP believes it can place 35 deputies in Parliament if they run as independents. However, Öcalan insists that the DTP should enter the polls in an election alliance that could be formed with a party on the left, except for the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Öcalan also believes that Turkey should issue a general amnesty for the PKK to get them to lay down their arms. Öcalan is positive about the idea of excluding the senior administration of the PKK from involvement of politics once the group is dissolved. Most Kurdish leaders don’t like the idea of having to seek asylum in European countries; however, Öcalan’s proposal of establishing committees similar to the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commissions attracts the strongest anger. While Öcalan believes that both the Turkish state and the PKK have committed crimes against civilians that should be exposed by an independent committee, all the Kurdish parties except for the DTP are strongly opposed to this view.
This clash of ideas among Kurdish politicians seems to have moved Öcalan slightly closer to Ankara.
DTP vice president arrested: Orhan Miroğlu, the vice president of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), was taken to a police station in Ankara after delivering a speech for Nevruz celebrations, in which he said: “Turkey has fault lines. You cannot play with the health of Mr. Öcalan. This is a fault line.” Nevruz celebrations, which could not be held on March 21 because the required official permission was not granted, took place at Abdi İpekçi Park in the district of Sıhhiye in Ankara. Before being arrested, Miroğlu repeated previously-refused demands regarding an impartial medical examination of Öcalan.
Elçi: “Öcalan frequently changes his mind” We think that the social fabric of Turkey does not tolerate a unitary state. A federative structure fits Turkey the most. We have been pronouncing this idea even in those times when there was no talk of it in Turkey. We do not consider the Kurdish people’s movement to defend their right to self-determination as an act of dividing the state. In our proposal, the integrity of the state is preserved. I don’t pay heed to what Öcalan says as he frequently changes his mind. He talks about a democratic republic or an ecological society. We do not agree with Öcalan’s views about Barzani and Talabani. They have official titles and they are recognized by the international community, unlike Öcalan himself.
Şerafettin Elçi is the Chairman of Participatory Democracy Party (KADEP)
Sakık: ‘Federal structure is not realistic in Turkey’
A federal structure cannot be a viable solution. We advocate living together under common laws. We seek the solution in Ankara, İstanbul and Diyarbakır. We do acknowledge that the Kurdish movement has undergone certain changes. In the beginning, our dreams were different. However, in the face of reality, our leaders and ideas have changed. They had to. While it is true that a Kurdish administrative structure has emerged in Iraq, it is also true that we have sentimental ties with the Turkish people, we have been living together for a thousand years. The Kurds of Turkey are different from the Kurds of Iraq and Iran. We do not want our members to run as independent candidates. We are considering that only as a last option.
Sırrı Sakık is the Deputy Chairman of Democratic Society Party (DTP)
Fırat: ‘Öcalan cannot make his own decison’
The state will not let the DTP enter Parliament since they consider it as a political extension of the PKK. DTP cannot make its own decision. The same applies to Öcalan. Öcalan is their man. He repeatedly seeks for a democratic republic shaped by the ideals of Atatürk. His views actually belong to the strategists of the deep state. They make Öcalan voice certain views on Kurdish people, allowing him to maintain support; He is a microphone. His actions are kept under full control. Indeed, the PKK does not bother itself with the Kurdish problem. For the powers who created the PKK were serving as paid soldiers in Turkey. This is a trick they utilize in order to keep their power. It is a trap set for Kurds.
Abdulmelik Fırat is the former chairman of Rights and Freedoms Party (HAK-PAR)
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