‘Election in Diyarbakır has nothing to do with Kurdish issue’

The heated race in Diyarbakır is mainly between Osman Baydemir, the incumbent mayor and candidate for the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), which has monopolized politics in the region for many years through its "identity politics" and discourse of "alienation," and Kutbettin Arzu, nominated by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which has recently managed to pose the greatest threat to this monopoly. The other opposition parties -- the Republican People's Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Felicity Party (SP) -- will have to suffice with a merely symbolic participation in the race in Diyarbakır, only occasionally displaying their flags. Having set his sights on the throne of the DTP in Diyarbakır, the mayoral candidate of the AK Party is likely to be more talkative than other candidates in this election.

Contrary to popular belief, Arzu thinks winning or losing the election in Diyarbakır has nothing to do with the Kurdish issue. Speaking with Today’s Zaman, Arzu said Diyarbakır has big issues but the ruling AK Party has taken great steps to solve these problems, while services provided by Baydemir, and the DTP, which has been holding the mayor’s office for the last 10 years, have been limited.

“The AK Party has made great strides with regard to the settlement of the Kurdish issue, which is the main concern for the people in the region. For this reason, the people are still investing their hope in a peaceful and democratic settlement of the Kurdish issue. Our determination to prevent all sorts of human rights violations has deterred those who have such intentions,” he said, adding that the election in Diyarbakır is much more than an ordinary election where local problems are discussed.

Current mayor has not done anything to solve local problems

“In principle, local elections serve as a platform for the debate of local issues. But the mayoral candidate of the DTP, who is my rival, has not done anything to solve these local problems. As there are no proper municipal services provided for the inhabitants of Diyarbakır, the DTP tend to exaggerate even the smallest bit of service they’ve undertaken and use it in their election campaign. Yet, the good thing is they can no longer turn a deaf ear to complaints from the people and they now feel urged to do something against the AK Party’s appeal in local administrations; they have started to make promises as to what they will do in the next five years. However, ordinary citizens believe that they cannot keep these promises. In the final analysis, how can they believe in a DTP administration that has not constructed even a single junction to solve the traffic problem during the last 10 years?” he asked.

In Diyarbakır, a city that receives a high number of migrants, the biggest problem is unemployment. This is a longstanding problem, however, and is not directly related to the ongoing global economic crisis. As high as four times the country’s average, the rate of unemployment in the city is around 50 percent. Half the population is aged 18 and under, and young people are prone to all sorts of radical tendencies when living under unfavorable conditions. Having dexterously used these conditions to its benefit, the DTP has not had any competition in the region until very recently. However, the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) incentives and the Kurdish TV station and cultural projects have made the ruling AK Party a strong alternative.

“Until now, the DTP’s mayors have not taken a single step toward solving the daily problems of the people,” Arzu said, noting that the DTP is obsessive about identity politics and has never thought about providing services to the people. Stating that the DTP has recently changed its strategy because of the ever-growing threat from the AK Party, Arzu stated: “Because of the people’s rising popular demands for the settlement of their problems, the DTP has come to believe that its identity politics have no future. For this reason, they felt the urge to refocus on providing services to the people.”

For Arzu, while the DTP has to focus its efforts on service-oriented municipal administration because of the AK Party threat, the government has implemented serious cultural projects such as the establishment of a state-owned TV station airing programs in Kurdish and of Kurdish-language departments in universities. Arzu is particularly harsh about the DTP’s stance toward the Kurdish TV project: “If the DTP had really cared about Kurdish identity, it would have given support to the Kurdish TV station. However, they are opposing it and labeling the people who support the TRT Şeş as traitors. It was the DTP who prevented the Abant Platform’s meeting on the Kurdish issue in Diyarbakır. They talk about peace, sisterhood, democracy and solutions, but they reject any step taken toward it. Unfortunately, this is what the DTP does,” he argued.

Underlining the fact that the ruling AK Party has undertaken considerable steps toward improving the human rights situation in the country, Arzu maintained: “We seek to solve the city’s problems by embracing everyone and not alienating any group. The strongest demand from people is about solving problems of unemployment, health, traffic and the environment. We will give weight to urban transformation projects as a solution to the problem of ever-growing shanty houses in the city. We will renovate Suriçi -- an old city located inside the historic castle -- and make it an outdoor museum in order to attract tourists to the city.” As part of his election campaign, Arzu promises to undertake 21 projects, including a trade and culture center, an urban square, a hotel and congress center, a youth development center, a women’s club, sports fields, a light train system, a techno-city and an outdoor prison museum.

‘Election in Diyarbakır is not related to the Kurdish issue’

“The DTP favors lack of solution, not solution,” Arzu claims, and lists his harsh criticisms of the DTP: “They do not respect those who are not like them. They do not see them even as Kurds. They alienate everyone except those who vote for the DTP. We are making great efforts to ensure that local elections are held in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere. But the DTP members or followers attack the people working for our campaign and throw stones at their cars.”

Touching on the impact of the Ergenekon investigation on the voters in Diyarbakır, Arzu stated: “What Ergenekon tried to do was trigger a war between Kurds and Turks. Thank God, they failed to do it. Now people can see that the necessary action is being taken toward the behavior that created illegal activities in the region. This has led to much enthusiasm in the region.”

He emphasized that the AK Party favors enjoyment of all sorts of freedoms as long as they do not breed violence; violence leads to damage or loss for everyone concerned. Arzu argued that winning or losing the local election in Diyarbakır is not directly related to the Kurdish issue. “Perhaps it may have an indirect connection to it. However, the Kurdish issue is a problem that is not specific to Diyarbakır, but to the whole country. It is an issue of basic rights and freedoms. It is a problem that is connected to Turkey’s quest to become a major player in the Middle East and enter the EU,” he adds.

Nevertheless, Arzu feels the need for stating his belief that the AK Party’s success will fuel hopes for a solution. “Everyone in the region expects a democratic and peaceful solution. If the AK Party wins in Diyarbakır, both the terrorist organizations and the organization’s political wing will have to revise their positions. The Kurdish issue is now a Middle East issue. People may have different perspectives, but it is high time a solution was found,” he said.