Writer Vedat Türkali: I want to visit Ocalan
Writer Vedat Türkali: I want to visit Ocalan
Assessing the Kurdish problem on a television program on NTV, author Vedat Türkali said: “I want to see Ocalan. He has been jailed in Imrali for 12 years and not allowed to see anybody. I am sending my love and greetings to him.”
Vedat Türkali remarked that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has made all efforts for the reconciliation of Kurds and Turks and said the followings; “People are arrested for saying Dear Ocalan. I also call him Dear Ocalan. What is wrong with that now? It is of great importance to display a realistic approach. Shall I give the name ‘patriotic’ to Ocalan who demands a solution for the Kurdish problem or to those who kill seven Kurdish youngsters at mountains? Ocalan persistently agrees to take guerrillas from mountains in case of the Prime Minister’s promising. He has this power and can solve the problem and I side with solution.”
Türkali, marking that the present excluding attitudes of Turkish political leaders will be applicable to overcome in case of their displaying a will towards a solution, said; “It is true that societies have retentive memories but the problems can be solved more quickly if the leaders stage a will. During his presidency period, Süleyman Demirel had said ‘We have defeated Kurds 28 times and we can do that once again’. For god's sake, it is actually you who was defeated. Would there be 29 rebellions if you had defeated them? He didn’t solve the problem, he was defeated.”
To the question about the house arrest demand for Ocalan, Türkali answered that a true solution passes through a general amnesty. Türkali said; “My desire is a general amnesty. He has been jailed there for 12 years and not allowed to see anybody. The state officials themselves meet and talk to him but I cannot. Why is this obstruction? I am sending my love and greetings to Ocalan.”
Türkali also called attention to the ongoing judicial processes and said; “They talk about judicial process but it is not clear who judges whom. The Hrant Dink case for example. There are so many offenders…”
Remarking that Turkey has turned into a marsh and the events after 1980 should be put down on paper, Türkali said; “I am a person and a writer of this country. My last project is to write about these happenings. I have demanded to see the Diyarbakir Prison but I wasn’t allowed to see the cells. I now want to write a novel about after 1980’s which will consist of the Kurdish issue in particular and the prison truth. I want to go to the prison for this reason. And I am saying again; I also want to see Ocalan.” Türkali ended his statement expressing his wish for the brotherhood of Turks and Kurds. (Translation: Berna Ozgencil)
ABOUT VEDAT TURKALI
Vedat Türkali was born on May 13, 1919 in Samsun.
His real name is Abdülkadir Pirhasan. After graduating from Ýstanbul University, Department of Turkology, he served as a literature teacher at Maltepe and Kuleli Military High Schools. He was arrested in 1951 on being accused of conducting political activities. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by the military court and was paroled seven years later.
He embarked on working on cinema in 1958 following his release from the prison. He wrote over 40 screenplays and directed three films. He wrote his screenplays under the pen name of Vedat Türkali. His efforts in filmmaking have a distinguished place in today’s Turkish cinema. It widely acknowledged that these works of him, which appalled to an extensive mass of audience, have an effectual role in the establishment and development of early Turkish cinema.
Vedat Türkali won many national and international awards with his plays, screenplays and novels. The year from May 1, 2004 to May 1, 2005 was declared the “Year of Vedat Türkali” with support of intellectuals, artists, cultural and artistic institutions and human rights activists.
Vedat Türkali remarked that PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has made all efforts for the reconciliation of Kurds and Turks and said the followings; “People are arrested for saying Dear Ocalan. I also call him Dear Ocalan. What is wrong with that now? It is of great importance to display a realistic approach. Shall I give the name ‘patriotic’ to Ocalan who demands a solution for the Kurdish problem or to those who kill seven Kurdish youngsters at mountains? Ocalan persistently agrees to take guerrillas from mountains in case of the Prime Minister’s promising. He has this power and can solve the problem and I side with solution.”
Türkali, marking that the present excluding attitudes of Turkish political leaders will be applicable to overcome in case of their displaying a will towards a solution, said; “It is true that societies have retentive memories but the problems can be solved more quickly if the leaders stage a will. During his presidency period, Süleyman Demirel had said ‘We have defeated Kurds 28 times and we can do that once again’. For god's sake, it is actually you who was defeated. Would there be 29 rebellions if you had defeated them? He didn’t solve the problem, he was defeated.”
To the question about the house arrest demand for Ocalan, Türkali answered that a true solution passes through a general amnesty. Türkali said; “My desire is a general amnesty. He has been jailed there for 12 years and not allowed to see anybody. The state officials themselves meet and talk to him but I cannot. Why is this obstruction? I am sending my love and greetings to Ocalan.”
Türkali also called attention to the ongoing judicial processes and said; “They talk about judicial process but it is not clear who judges whom. The Hrant Dink case for example. There are so many offenders…”
Remarking that Turkey has turned into a marsh and the events after 1980 should be put down on paper, Türkali said; “I am a person and a writer of this country. My last project is to write about these happenings. I have demanded to see the Diyarbakir Prison but I wasn’t allowed to see the cells. I now want to write a novel about after 1980’s which will consist of the Kurdish issue in particular and the prison truth. I want to go to the prison for this reason. And I am saying again; I also want to see Ocalan.” Türkali ended his statement expressing his wish for the brotherhood of Turks and Kurds. (Translation: Berna Ozgencil)
ABOUT VEDAT TURKALI
Vedat Türkali was born on May 13, 1919 in Samsun.
His real name is Abdülkadir Pirhasan. After graduating from Ýstanbul University, Department of Turkology, he served as a literature teacher at Maltepe and Kuleli Military High Schools. He was arrested in 1951 on being accused of conducting political activities. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by the military court and was paroled seven years later.
He embarked on working on cinema in 1958 following his release from the prison. He wrote over 40 screenplays and directed three films. He wrote his screenplays under the pen name of Vedat Türkali. His efforts in filmmaking have a distinguished place in today’s Turkish cinema. It widely acknowledged that these works of him, which appalled to an extensive mass of audience, have an effectual role in the establishment and development of early Turkish cinema.
Vedat Türkali won many national and international awards with his plays, screenplays and novels. The year from May 1, 2004 to May 1, 2005 was declared the “Year of Vedat Türkali” with support of intellectuals, artists, cultural and artistic institutions and human rights activists.
