Although it won’t be easy, it is still possible to take steps towards a political solution to the Kurdish conflict in Turkey, prominent Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk told KRT television on Thursday.
Commenting on the collapse of the short-lived 2013-2015 peace talks between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Türk pointed the finger at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and expressed his belief that there could be no developments beyond Erdoğan’s control.
Despite expressing his lack of faith in an immediate resumption of peace talks, Türk continued to emphasise the struggle for a solution, stating: “Of course we are fighting for a solution. Even Erdoğan must see that a cruel policy against the Kurds will not bring any results. Just as he says ‘the Palestinians will not disappear’, the Kurds will not disappear either”.
Türk stressed that their efforts are aimed at “creating a policy that will reunite society”. He criticised the current political discourse: “Today, there’s an approach that tries to keep the apolitical segment in control through nationalism, which leads to hostile rhetoric towards Kurds.”
Türk also criticised the ability of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to address the Kurdish issue, saying, “Today there is no leader there who is capable of solving such a tremendous question. [CHP leader] Özgür Özel is a democratic person, but I do not think there is a structure within the CHP that embraces the Kurds and stands up for their rights.”
Türk highlighted the historical reasons for Kurds’ distance from the CHP, but argued that the current government is the main perpetrator of repression against Kurds, with all institutions under Erdoğan’s control.
Responding to a question about a possible message regarding the revival of a political resolution by the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, Türk underlined the influence of Öcalan’s statements on the Kurds and argued for a new process that would allow Öcalan to communicate with his lawyers, as Öcalan has not been able to meet with his lawyers for three years. He stressed the importance of Öcalan being able to convey messages through his lawyers that would have a significant public impact.
He also addressed the upcoming local elections on 31 March, highlighting the issue of government-appointed trustees as mayors in Kurdish-majority regions as a central concern and expressing optimism about the enthusiasm and support in Mardin (Mêrdîn), where he is a candidate.
Türk, who was removed from his post as mayor of Mardin in 2019 on the orders of then-Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and was acquitted in court but not reinstated, lamented that the will of the people had been disregarded for two terms. He added: “Our struggle is a struggle for democracy. […] While serving the people is important, we are also fighting to make democracy permanent in this country. You can appoint trustees, but what is important for us is to show that our people do not agree with this. Of course we want to serve our people; we value local governance.”
