IMRALI PRISON, Turkey – In his weekly visit of the lawyers which took place on Wednesday 7th July, the Kurdish national leader Mr. Abdullah Ocalan stated that if negotiations do not start then Kurdistan Revolution will extend. He also claimed that the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) cannot be destroyed with the professional army or any advanced technological weapons. Moreover, there is a risk that the clashes might escalate in cities. In that case everybody will lose but the state at most.
In the course of his lawyer visit in Imrali High Security Prison, Ocalan also reminded the basic conditions for a solution. A bilateral ceasefire, establishing Truth and Reconciliation Commissions and legal framework and constitutional guarantees. In regard to the statements of Ilker Bashbug, Chief of the Turkish General Staff, who told MP’s of the pro-Kurdish BDP to leave the parliament and go to mountains while criticising them for attending the funerals of Kurdish slain guerrillas, Ocalan said: “Bashbug is repeating himself. It is the reiteration of a tried but failed approach.”
The Kurdish national leader further stated that he finds it important that BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) is opening a representative office in Hewler (Arbil) the capital of Kurdistan Region in Iraq. “It is important to have representatives in Brussels or in Washington but most importantly in Hewler because the people there are our own people. It is even too late while more than 500 Turkish companies are already there.” added Ocalan.
Ocalan pointed out the autonomy for the Kurdish people as promised by Mustafa Kemal the foundering father of the Turkish republic and stated that: “The Kurds had played a vital role in the “Independence War” and this role found its place in 1921 Constitution. Mustafa Kemal promised autonomy for the Kurds. These promises can be found in the parliament reports. However, he neutralised by Ismet InonU and Fevzi Chakmak as well as British. The British had sacrificed the Kurds.”
The Kurdish national leader commended three suggestions which are as followed:
“I have three practical suggestions for the government, KCK (Democratic Confederation of Kurdistan) and BDP so that the Kurdish problem can be solved: First, there should be a bilateral ceasefire complied with by the both sides. Second, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission like it was established in South Africa after the abolition of apartheid. This commission should be composed of experts. A parliamentary commission can also be formed in which experts, intellectuals and NGO’s can take part. The commission can hear all the sides of the conflict including myself. Then they can find the truth out, share them with public opinion and then reconciliation can be reached. It is not as difficult as it looks. It worked in South Africa and there is no reason why it should not work here too. In a parallel way, the PKK forces can be gathered in a certain area under observation of an international organisation such as UN. They can wait there until a solution is found and then the thirds step comes.
The third, bringing the PKK guerrillas back home. Not like the one in Habur [Peace delegation sent by the PKK upon the request from Ocalan on 19 October 2009], but en masse. All the guerrillas can arrive together. The security aspect can be discussed with KCK. BDP can work on a democratic constitution and the other political parties can contribute it. It means if the problem solved with in a legal framework and under constitutional guarantee then the weapon can be laid down.
In regard to the assertion of groups who claim that Ocalan is trying to save himself, he said “Some are manipulating my position and suggesting that I am trying to save myself. These are thoughtless approaches. A process which I am not a part of cannot be successful. This is clear. I do not have an aim of saving myself. If there is a salvation then it will be for all of us.”
Ocalan criticised the government along with the Turkish main political parties and said; “A peace process negotiations should be held. And if it does not happen then revolution starts which I explained in my previous meeting. And once they start they are uncontrollable. Turkey is confronted by such a risk. It should not be seen that I am giving tactics to the PKK in order to increase the conflict. What I am doing is evaluating the facts because the PKK has its own methods. I am sorry for soldier deaths as much as I am sorry for the guerrilla deaths. I endeavour to prevent these deaths. Neither CHP nor MHP not the fake Islamists can solve this issue. They are still talking about operations, bombardments, killings. The PKK cannot be destroyed with professional army or technological weapons. There are still Kurds all over joining the PKK. Moreover, there is a risk that the clashes might escalate in cities. And if the war escalates then there will be radical groups from both sides which can make the problem more complicated and unsolvable. In that case, everybody loses but the sate at most.”