Debate over Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, that continues to dominate Turkey’s political agenda, is “a great unconscionability”, said Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council co-chair Cemil Bayık.
Bayık argued that these debates, that intensified over recent days, are fostered by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its far-right ally, the Nationalist People’s Party (MHP), to win the upcoming elections.
The KCK executive’s statement came after pre-election debates on a suspected meeting between Öcalan and Turkish government officials, alleged to be an attempt by the ruling AKP to gain the crucial Kurdish vote. Bayık mentioned the severe isolation on Öcalan and said, “If they are going to hold discussions on him, then they should also provide opportunities for Leader Apo to be a part of the discussions.”
The aim of these on-going discussions is to break Öcalan’s sphere of influence, according to Bayık.
“Our people, the peoples of Turkey, the forces of democracy and freedom, women, and youth, know the truth of Leader Apo very well,” said Bayık, adding that these methods will not weaken or neutralise the PKK leader.
Bayık said that Öcalan put his life at the service of the people, and had fought for them, and pointed out that Öcalan felt as much responsibility for the people of Turkey as he did for the Kurds.
“He wants Turkey to get rid of fascism, to democratise,” said Bayık, adding that the Turkish government does not want the country’s problems to be solved, that it is bound to a policy of war, and attempts to maintain power through war.
“But they can no longer deceive anyone,” said Bayık. “They used to deceive some people, however, today their true faces have been revealed in every sense. They cannot hide this. They use enmity again to hide it, but in this way, they destroy themselves.”
Bayık believes that if the AKP government comes to an end, it would be due to paradigms developed by Öcalan, and that those who do not see this reality will eventually lose.
International institutions must protect democracy by providing no assistance to the AKP-MHP government in Turkey, added Bayık.
“Of course, we understand that Turkey is a member of NATO, but these powers should no longer give unlimited aid to the Turkish state. They should hear the demands of the Kurdish people and fulfil their responsibilities accordingly,” concluded Bayık.
