Demirtaþ: Dialogue and Negotiation only Way to Solution
Demirtaþ: Dialogue and Negotiation only Way to Solution
Speaking about the ongoing hunger strike carried out by PKK and PAJK prisoners in all prisons in Turkey and Kurdistan, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Aysel Tuðluk said that they would be in solidarity with prisoners during their act. Blaming the AKP government’s attitude as the reason for the strikes, Tuðluk reminded that the strikes have been staged for the removal of the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the recognition of the universal right to education and self-defense in mother language.
Tuðluk remarked that the responsibility of any unfavorable consequences for strikers would belong to the AKP government and added the followings addressing to the government; “The solution lies not in fascistic policies but in Imralý and negotiation with Mr. Öcalan whom the Kurdish people declared as their leader. It is a shame of humanity to ban a mother language, the language of a people over 20 million.”
Underlining that Kurdish people and their political representatives will stand by the prisoners on strike, Tuðluk noted that they would also go on hunger strike if necessary.
“I hope the act will be brought to an end before anyone gets harmed”, she added.
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaþ also indicated dialogue and negotiation as the only way to a solution and commented the strikes as a consequence of the deadlock basing on the Kurdish problem.
“The hunger strike by prisoners is a message of peace and of wanting to live together in peace outside prisons. No one, either Turkish or Kurdish, can remain silent and deaf in the face of the greatest hunger strike in the history, as this silence and deafness will otherwise mean eagerness to war and bloodshed. The government officials, the President and the Minister of Justice in particular, cannot say that they don’t hear such a humanitarian, conscientious, political and moral scream which now endures death and carries critical risks”, said Demirtaþ and noted that they expected the Minister of Justice to present an explicit statement and attitude about the issue.
The approach towards the hunger strikes could be the first step to be taken on the way to a solution, underlined BDP co-chair and called on “all those who want to display goodwill for a true solution to take action concerning the demands of prisoners on hunger strike”. He added that the attitude to be displayed in this respect would be the indication of seriousness and earnestness concerning the Kurdish issue.
Demirtaþ noted that they expected government authorities to take serious steps in respect to solving the Kurdish problem through Öcalan and added the followings;
“A development could be achieved and the strikers could change their attitude if the President and the government displays a serious attitude concerning the demands of strikers. Otherwise, we don’t expect the attitude of prisoners to change unless Mr. Öcalan makes a call to them and conditions of isolation are changed. The ongoing hunger strike could be a significant step to be taken on the way to negotiation and peace in Turkey. The demands of the strike should be highlighted if there is a true desire for the ending of the war. The Kurdish people will never again believe talks of ‘good things’ if these people lose their lives in the strikes. The demands of prisoners, freedom for Öcalan and the education and self-defense in mother language, are the concrete demands that millions of Kurds stand behind.”
Asked whether the Turkish public is ready for the fulfillment of these demands or not, Demirtaþ added that; “The Turkish public will never be ready for such a development as long as the present militarist, nationalist discourse is kept alive. Mr. Öcalan is the only person to stop these deaths and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), as it is already evident that military ways and war cannot bring the PKK or the Kurdish problem to an end. Now that the demand for Mr. Öcalan is so fair and right, we now want to see the Prime Minister and President to take a corageous step for a solution. This is what we stated during our most recent talks with the President, the Parliamentary Speaker and the AKP group.”
Tuðluk remarked that the responsibility of any unfavorable consequences for strikers would belong to the AKP government and added the followings addressing to the government; “The solution lies not in fascistic policies but in Imralý and negotiation with Mr. Öcalan whom the Kurdish people declared as their leader. It is a shame of humanity to ban a mother language, the language of a people over 20 million.”
Underlining that Kurdish people and their political representatives will stand by the prisoners on strike, Tuðluk noted that they would also go on hunger strike if necessary.
“I hope the act will be brought to an end before anyone gets harmed”, she added.
Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaþ also indicated dialogue and negotiation as the only way to a solution and commented the strikes as a consequence of the deadlock basing on the Kurdish problem.
“The hunger strike by prisoners is a message of peace and of wanting to live together in peace outside prisons. No one, either Turkish or Kurdish, can remain silent and deaf in the face of the greatest hunger strike in the history, as this silence and deafness will otherwise mean eagerness to war and bloodshed. The government officials, the President and the Minister of Justice in particular, cannot say that they don’t hear such a humanitarian, conscientious, political and moral scream which now endures death and carries critical risks”, said Demirtaþ and noted that they expected the Minister of Justice to present an explicit statement and attitude about the issue.
The approach towards the hunger strikes could be the first step to be taken on the way to a solution, underlined BDP co-chair and called on “all those who want to display goodwill for a true solution to take action concerning the demands of prisoners on hunger strike”. He added that the attitude to be displayed in this respect would be the indication of seriousness and earnestness concerning the Kurdish issue.
Demirtaþ noted that they expected government authorities to take serious steps in respect to solving the Kurdish problem through Öcalan and added the followings;
“A development could be achieved and the strikers could change their attitude if the President and the government displays a serious attitude concerning the demands of strikers. Otherwise, we don’t expect the attitude of prisoners to change unless Mr. Öcalan makes a call to them and conditions of isolation are changed. The ongoing hunger strike could be a significant step to be taken on the way to negotiation and peace in Turkey. The demands of the strike should be highlighted if there is a true desire for the ending of the war. The Kurdish people will never again believe talks of ‘good things’ if these people lose their lives in the strikes. The demands of prisoners, freedom for Öcalan and the education and self-defense in mother language, are the concrete demands that millions of Kurds stand behind.”
Asked whether the Turkish public is ready for the fulfillment of these demands or not, Demirtaþ added that; “The Turkish public will never be ready for such a development as long as the present militarist, nationalist discourse is kept alive. Mr. Öcalan is the only person to stop these deaths and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), as it is already evident that military ways and war cannot bring the PKK or the Kurdish problem to an end. Now that the demand for Mr. Öcalan is so fair and right, we now want to see the Prime Minister and President to take a corageous step for a solution. This is what we stated during our most recent talks with the President, the Parliamentary Speaker and the AKP group.”
