As the Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated following Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call continues, the lack of steps taken by the state has drawn criticism. Although a parliamentary commission established in the context of resolving the Kurdish issue has presented its report, the absence of concrete measures at this stage is being met with skepticism by many segments of society, particularly the Kurdish public. Calls continue for steps to be taken, especially regarding Abdullah Öcalan’s status and physical freedom.

 

Ekin Yeter spoke to Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the process.

 

Stating that the report presented by the commission clearly reflects the living conditions and realities of people in Turkey, she noted that the report constitutes a document in which the state mechanism, at certain points, acknowledges the conditions that have led to existing realities. She said the report, albeit superficially, addresses the need for Turkey to become a democratic country and to adopt a democratic, civil and libertarian constitution. However, she added that the report fails to move beyond a security-oriented perspective.

 

Ekin Yeter stressed that women, who make up half of society, are not included in the report, noting that the word “women” appears only in the context of listening to women’s organizations, which she described as unacceptable. She also pointed out the absence of any discussion on the environmental destruction caused by war and how it could be addressed. “The failure to recognize women and nature as foundational subjects appears as a fundamental shortcoming in a report that claims to seek solutions to the problems of a people striving to build a democratic, women’s liberationist and ecological paradigm,” she said.

 

‘PROCESS LAW’

 

Recalling that after the February 27 call, comprehensive steps were taken by both the Kurdish Freedom Movement and Abdullah Öcalan to move discussions onto a democratic political ground following the end of non-conflict conditions, Ekin Yeter said that democratic politics and law should now be the focus, but this has not been possible due to the absence of negotiation conditions.

 

“Is this a democratization process or a peace process? How is it defined? Accordingly, there is no legal framework governing this process. Like other peace and negotiation processes, we may at any moment face the obstacle of lacking legal status. This process is still proceeding on an unprotected and non-legal basis. In order to ensure legal security, we see the creation of a process law as the most important step,” she said.

 

Ekin Yeter stated that a temporary legal arrangement specific to the process should be introduced to ensure that members of the PKK who return are not prosecuted or punished and can participate in democratic politics. She added that this should also apply to prisoners, noting that conditions should be created to suspend sentences and enable the release of those imprisoned, including PKK members, participants in democratic politics, lawyers, journalists and many others who have received what she described as unlawful sentences. She said prisons represent a key area where trust in the process could be established.

 

Pointing out that the parliamentary commission’s report refers to the need for a democratic, civil and libertarian constitution, Ekin Yeter noted that no concrete debate has been carried out on this issue and that it has effectively been left to parliament.

 

“The approach that does not prioritize judicial independence in both the constitution and other legislation, and that fails to strengthen local administrations, must be abandoned as soon as possible. If we are calling for constitutional change, we must conduct these discussions with an emphasis on a social contract,” she said.

 

‘ÖCALAN MUST BE GRANTED LEGAL STATUS’

 

Ekin Yeter said that granting legal status to Abdullah Öcalan, whom the Kurdish public sees as a chief negotiator, is one of the issues that must be addressed, adding that, as lawyers, they present this as a legal, social and legitimate demand within the framework of the “right to hope.” She stressed that both the process itself and the chief negotiator must be given legal status.

 

“Democratic negotiations can only take place under conditions of equality. While the state mechanism, as one party, has all means at its disposal in conducting these negotiations, the fact that Mr. Öcalan does not have these means and that even the legally binding ‘right to hope’ ruling has still not been implemented will in no way lead us to democratic negotiation conditions,” she said.

 

Ekin Yeter also noted that Abdullah Öcalan approaches the issue by linking his own legal status to that of the process and views his individual freedom within the broader freedom of peoples. Referring to discussions about whether a new building has been constructed on İmralı, she asked: “How will we define this legally? Will it be considered house arrest or something else? Or will it be defined in the future as an island of freedom? There is an expectation of a status in this regard, and this status is a fundamental condition of democratic negotiations. Is Mr. Öcalan seen as a chief negotiator or not? We are at a point where this must now be clarified for the sake of the process.”

 

‘ORGANIZED STRUGGLE WILL ADVANCE THE PROCESS’

 

Ekin Yeter emphasized the need to strengthen efforts to explain the Peace and Democratic Society Process, saying: “If we do not build this struggle more strongly and present it on a mass scale, the issue will once again be drawn out over time and interpreted in a superficial and narrow manner through delaying tactics. The state mechanism must approach this issue with urgency, recognizing the reality and seriousness of the imperialist war conditions we are all experiencing. However, just as organized struggle has brought us to this point, the main factor that will advance the process from now on will again be organized struggle carried out in all areas."

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıguzel