The PKK held its 12th Extraordinary Congress between 5-7 May in response to Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" on 27 February and decided to end the activities under the PKK name. The congress was dedicated to Ali Haydar Kaytan and Rıza Altun, two of the PKK's leading cadres.

 

KONGRA-GEL Co-chair Remzi Kartal evaluated the decisions taken at the PKK congress, which had a wide repercussion in the world.

 

''This is not an end, but a new beginning" was said in the evaluations made at the historic congress. What would you say about the decisions and evaluations made at the congress?

 

First of all, this does not mean the end of the struggle. As Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) determined, a change was necessary at this stage due to the conditions during the formation of the PKK, the subsequent struggle process and the new developments that emerged. Leader Apo explains in detail that this change was always on his agenda, that he made great efforts for this change, but the conditions did not allow it, especially the state did not allow it. Especially in the last 10 years, the failure of the total war concept waged by the state, the ineffectiveness of the concept of "we will get the result in a technically based war", the war in the Middle East and the unpredictable developments in the future have created great risks for Turkey. Seeing these conditions, Leader Apo said to the state, "I am ready to end the armed struggle". It seems that the state has also opened a door in this regard. Leader Apo wants us to understand this process well. It is not a negotiation or an agreement, but a mutual recognition of initiative. As the leader of the Kurdistan freedom movement, he is taking a certain initiative. It is both the initiative to dissolve the movement and the initiative to create the ground for political democratic struggle on the other side.

 

Important steps were taken in this respect. The decisions taken at the congress are historical decisions. It will affect the whole region in terms of its consequences and is the beginning of a new struggle. On this basis, civil society, academics, intellectuals, political parties and all social identities should see this new process as a great historical opportunity for Turkey. Everyone should realise that it is a great opportunity to overcome poverty, destitution and oppression.

 

The Congress pointed to the Parliament for the process to move forward. Which legal and political arrangements should be made at this stage? 

 

Foreseeing the fact that there may be provocative approaches, it is necessary to create the conditions for Leader Apo’s work and freedom in order to continue the process without spreading over time. This is the main issue. The creation of working conditions will enable the process to develop at a faster pace. Turkey is now entering a new process. A new understanding of democracy and freedom. Commissions consisting of political parties should be formed. These issues should be brought to the parliament. This is one dimension. The other dimension is the work towards the creation of the democratic society pointed out by Leader Apo. In this regard, all social dynamics must be mobilised, public opinion must be formed and this public opinion must accelerate parliamentary work. This dual work must be put on the agenda.

 

In the final declaration of the congress, it was stated that "Implementing these decisions requires that Leader Apo lead and guide the process, that his right to democratic politics be recognized, and that solid, comprehensive legal guarantees be established". How do you evaluate this?

 

From the beginning, this process has developed with the positive approach of Leader Apo and our movement. Despite all the negativities, there is an insistence on a positive approach to the process. There is no such negative dimension in the organisation's statement on this issue. It is said, "We have done our duty". "Convene the congress, take a decision to dissolve, end the armed intervention". And the organisation did this. The rest depends on the process to be carried out by Leader Apo and the delegations meeting with him. For this reason, the movement says, "If President Apo's working conditions are improved, this process will accelerate." We will follow and observe the results of the meeting with the Leader Apo.

 

The final declaration of the congress emphasised "democratic socialism". Could you elaborate on this a little?

 

During the period when the PKK was formed, that is, during the period when real socialism was dominant, there was an approach that considered socialism and the freedom of society in terms of the state and power. Leader Apo already explains this and explains the reasons for the collapse of Soviet socialism. It turned out that this state model is one of the fundamental pillars of capitalis modernity. It is not possible to create a state-based socialism. Democratic socialism is based on creating a democratic society instead of a state. It explains that the success of a socialist system based on freedom, equality and all social identities can be achieved by organising society. All struggles to be waged must be based on democratic society. The socialist struggle must also be on this basis. Therefore, democratic socialism is the perspective of struggle, the new strategy of the new process and it is very important. It is a perspective on all social problems. Beyond this, it is a universal perspective. It is a message that with the perspective of democratic socialism, all social problems can be solved democratically and without war. The ancient peoples of the Middle East can solve all problems and achieve peace on the basis of this perspective. They can eliminate wars based on power, state and sovereignty. Therefore, it is a fundamental perspective that brings solutions to both regional and universal problems. It is the struggle perspective of the new process.

 

MA / Fırat Can Arslan