Diyarbakır (Amed) Bar Association Chair Abdulkadir Güleç told ANF that a new phase has officially begun with Abdullah Öcalan’s recent call. Güleç stated that the message gave concrete form to the call made on February 27 and said: “For the first time in 26 years, Mr. Öcalan, alongside what could be described as his secretariat, appeared in front of the cameras and made a statement clarifying the February 27 call for peace and a democratic society, as well as accelerating the disarmament mechanism. This is a historic declaration, just like the one made on February 27. It gives form to that previous call and urges the immediate deactivation of the armed struggle, the implementation of practical steps to open the way for democratic politics and legal reform, and the establishment of a parliamentary commission on the matter. Therefore, it is significant in terms of closing one chapter and opening a new one. I can say that from now on, democratic society and democratic politics can advance in a much stronger way.”

An important statement for public ownership of the process

Abdulkadir Güleç emphasized that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s decision to abandon the armed struggle was largely welcomed by the public and continued: “I want to speak not only on behalf of the Kurdish people but to address all the communities and peoples of Turkey. The decision by the PKK to end its armed struggle has been widely accepted by society. However, some segments of the public expressed concern over whether this decision would be put into practice. There was, therefore, a gap between those who supported the peace process and those who opposed the end of the armed struggle. Following Mr. Öcalan’s call, a new phase has begun regarding the implementation of this decision. The PKK held its congress and publicly declared its decision to end the armed struggle. However, practical steps did not follow. This latest statement arrives at a moment when the public remained hesitant, while the abandonment of the armed struggle was seen as important, doubts persisted regarding the sincerity behind it. Mr. Öcalan’s statement addresses and resolves those doubts. I believe this message will generate strong and genuine public support for embracing the process. That is one of its most significant contributions.”

A commission must now be established urgently

Abdulkadir Güleç emphasized the urgent need for a parliamentary commission to be formed and said: “Parliament must immediately establish a commission and begin its work. Such a commission, formed with the participation of all political parties under the roof of the Grand National Assembly, should address the destruction, injustices, and unlawful and anti-democratic practices caused by the years of armed conflict. It should also focus on the victimizations that have emerged from the unresolved Kurdish question. This would provide answers to the questions lingering in the minds of society and create a platform to confront and resolve the damages inflicted by the conflict.

There is already public expectation for such a commission, and it imposes a duty and responsibility on parliament in this process. A single call cannot fix everything, but from now on, politicians, intellectuals, journalists, and dissidents will gain a stronger space in which to act and speak out. This will also help the process take root in society, deepen the ownership of peace, and allow people to engage with it. It can also nurture the hope that the suffering of the past may be addressed, perhaps through confrontation, perhaps through reconciliation. This is a significant statement. It marks the closure of an era shaped by armed struggle and opens the door to a new period in which democratic politics and the rule of law can come to life more actively and powerfully.”