Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that viewing the Kurdish question solely as a matter of arms and security will not bring a lasting solution.
The third meeting of the “National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission,” established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to address the resolution of the Kurdish question and the construction of a democratic society, has been held.
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), spoke to ANF about the course and general functioning of the commission, which decided to hear individuals and institutions. She pointed out that the government still approaches the Kurdish question from a security-focused perspective. She said, “Reducing the Kurdish question solely to a matter of arms and security means sweeping the problem under the rug, and it is clear and certain that such an approach will not bring a lasting solution.”
One meeting a week is not enough, extending the schedule would help!
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit first stated that the establishment of the commission in parliament with the broadest political participation, and the fact that parliament has shown a political will for the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question, was a very positive and meaningful development.
She said that in its first meeting the commission determined its own working procedures, and that in the second meeting the security bureaucracy briefed the commission members. In the third meeting, held on 12 August, they discussed a method regarding the individuals and institutions that should be heard in order to make the issue more comprehensible.
In this context, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit noted that next week they will first begin hearing individuals and institutions and said: “In this sense, there is a work schedule flowing within its own course. However, as time goes on, perhaps the need to extend these working periods will arise. One meeting a week is insufficient. It does not seem very possible for the commission to conduct such a broad and deep discussion and process with only one meeting a week. We think it would be beneficial to extend the time in terms of days, and we have also made this proposal to the commission.”
Legal reforms such as enforcement law, trustee practice, anti-terror law, and penal code must be enacted swiftly!
Although it has been stated that the commission’s working calendar will end in late December, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that, if necessary, the working period could be extended by two months. However, she stressed that as of 1 October, urgent legal reforms meeting the needs of the process must be enacted in parliament without delay.
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that certain legal regulations introduced due to the Kurdish question must be swiftly removed: “The Anti-Terror Law must be abolished. The enforcement regulations must be redrafted from scratch. The obstacles to freedom of thought and expression must be removed. Likewise, the obstacles to freedom of association must be removed. The obstacles to political activity in the Political Parties Law must be removed. However, all of these are matters of process. I do not think it is correct to assume that this commission will handle all these issues immediately.
What must be done first is to move quickly with legal regulations that will meet the needs of the process, such as enforcement law, the practice of appointing trustees, the Turkish Penal Code, and the Anti-Terror Law. These must be discussed.
Koçyiğit also added: “For example, in the most recent meeting, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) presented a 29-article proposal. Can this commission resolve all 29 of those articles? To be honest, we are not very sure. But there are topics in the Republican People’s Party’s proposal that overlap with ours. We agree on making legal arrangements regarding the Anti-Terror Law, the Turkish Penal Code, enforcement law, and the practice of appointing trustees. These need to be done quickly. But from the trade union sphere to all other issues, these are matters that should be addressed after this groundwork is laid. Because Turkey’s democratization problem is already a very comprehensive issue. The gap in this regard is very large. What we call the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question is, in fact, a total democratic transformation. It is a matter that requires the democratization of the state. In this sense, I believe the commission has such a role and mission. Yes, there is a time constraint, frankly. We are not in a position to discuss everything at length and in detail again. There are studies carried out in the past regarding the Kurdish question. There are reports that have been produced before. There is past experience from the process between 2013 and 2015. Beyond all of this, I believe the process must be addressed more swiftly, with a broad democratic outlook and a wide democracy perspective.”
We do not agree with an approach that reduces the Kurdish question solely to disarmament
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit emphasized that what is important in this commission is to identify the root causes of the Kurdish question and to ensure a democratic transformation that will eliminate them. In this sense, she said, laws on democratic transformation and democratic integration must definitely be discussed through this commission, and a draft should be produced.
Koçyiğit said there is a need for a joint effort and direction on this matter, but at present, the meaning assigned to the commission by political parties and their expectations differ. While this does not currently pose a problem, she pointed out that it stands as a challenge ahead of them. She said, “We do not agree with an approach that reduces the Kurdish question solely to disarmament or to making legal arrangements for those who disarm. There is a need for an approach, a perspective, and legal guarantees that focus on the root cause of the problem and eliminate those causes. Once these are done, steps will already have been taken towards democratization. Democratization itself will pave the way for the solution of the Kurdish question, and the solution of the Kurdish question will pave the way for Turkey’s democratization. We are talking about an issue that is intertwined, mutually reinforcing, and inseparable.”
The government still approaches the Kurdish question from a security perspective
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit pointed out that, whether in naming the process or defining the problem, they have observed that the government still approaches the Kurdish question from a security-oriented perspective. She said they absolutely do not agree with approaching the process as “ending terrorism.”
Koçyiğit said, “The Kurdish question is not a security problem and is certainly not a ‘terror’ problem. The Kurdish question is a problem that emerged as a result of the state’s monist mindset. It has arisen because the system has advanced based on the denial and rejection of the Kurds. The Kurdish question is the result of policies of denial and assimilation. In that sense, it is necessary to understand and analyze the causes well and to develop a perspective that will eliminate them. Otherwise, reducing the Kurdish question solely to an arms problem or solely to a security problem will, in fact, mean sweeping the problem under the rug, and it is clear that such an approach will not bring a lasting solution. She continued: “That is why Abdullah Öcalan, when he says, ‘there is a need for structural transformation and democratic integration laws,’ is pointing precisely to this. Peace is one thing, democratization is another. Peace can be achieved first, but it must be crowned with democratization so that peace and a solution can be permanent. Otherwise, simply making peace, removing violence and arms from the equation in the Kurdish question will not mean that the problem has been solved. Why did the Kurdish question arise? Why did arms come into play? We must give realistic answers to these questions, and based on those realistic answers, we must develop realistic and lasting solutions.”
We will not accept a war against the Kurds in Syria during talks on a solution in Turkey
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that the targeting of Rojava, the siege of the Maxmur Camp, and the police attack on the funeral and condolence to People’s Defense Forces (HPG) member Ferhat Tünç are reflections of the ongoing security-oriented perspective. She underlined the need to abandon such approaches and practices.
Koçyiğit stated that everyone has understood for more than 40 years that these kinds of practices do not yield results, adding that precisely because they have not worked, a commission has now been established to discuss a solution.
Koçyiğit stressed that the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question is therefore a necessity and said: “Everyone here needs to act in line with the process. The greatest responsibility naturally falls on the government and the security bureaucracy. The government must act sensitively on this matter and refrain from stances, ideas, approaches, and practices that could disrupt or sabotage the process. Everyone must adopt an approach that will resolve this issue on democratic and peaceful foundations. In that sense, we state that we do not consider it right to adopt approaches that will deepen mistrust and increase public doubts and questions.
The Kurdish question is a comprehensive issue. One of the greatest problems is the division of Kurdistan into four parts, this is clear and obvious. We are talking about a problem in which each part remains within the borders of a different country or a status quo-oriented state, and almost all countries base their policies on denying the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Kurds. In this sense, we are not talking about an issue unique to Turkey. One part of this problem is in Southern Kurdistan (Başur), one part is in Rojava, one part is in Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhilat), and one part is here. We are therefore not speaking of separate, isolated issues.
She continued, “From the very beginning, we have said that while discussing a solution in Turkey, we will not accept a war against the Kurds in Syria. There can be no peace in Diyarbakır (Amed) when bombs are raining down on Kobanê. This is very clear. Nor can you achieve peace in Turkey by attacking the fundamental rights and freedoms of Kurds in Southern Kurdistan and carrying out operations there; above all, you cannot gain the consent of the Kurds. What is needed here is a comprehensive policy and approach, because Kurds see the matter this way. We also see it this way. Each part affects the other. Kurds in each part look at the situation of Kurds in the other parts, and they will continue to do so. A political mindset that does not see this will not be able to develop a solution. We will not accept any attack against the Kurds in Rojava, in Southern Kurdistan, in Maxmur, or anywhere else.”
Mr. Öcalan, as the chief negotiator of the process, must be heard by the commission
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that they are currently at the initial stage of being able to resolve all these issues through discussion with the commission that has now been established. She noted that at the third meeting held on 12 August, in addition to sub-committees and proposal committees for drafting laws, there were also suggestions for more intensive work, as well as lists of the individuals and institutions to be listened to.
Koçyiğit also reminded that the process of listening to individuals and institutions will begin next week. She addressed the strong demand for Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan to be heard as the chief negotiator of the process. Koçyiğit said: “By the nature of this work, we believe that a meeting should be held in Imralı. The person conducting the process, Mr. Öcalan, the chief negotiator of the process, is the one who made the call on 27 February, who ensured that the organization took a decision on this matter on 5–7 May, who made the call on 9 July, and who subsequently ensured that the organization’s disarmament ceremony took place on 13 July. In that sense, it is, of course, necessary for the commission to directly listen to Mr. Öcalan’s solution perspective and his views and opinions on the resolution of the Kurdish question. For us, there is no debate on this matter.”
Constitutional citizenship and collective rights of the Kurdish people should be recognized
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that as the process progresses, constitutional arrangements must also be discussed that will end the denial and rejection of the Kurds and guarantee their collective rights stemming from their identity as a people. She reminded that, even if not immediately, this will inevitably come onto the agenda. Koçyiğit said, “If we put the constitution at the very beginning, we will already have blocked the process. Therefore, we need to start with the issues that will advance and develop the process. Frankly, discussing the constitution while the Anti-Terror Law remains in place is not very meaningful. We will, in the end, discuss the constitution, but there is a need to clear the way first. There is a need to open the path leading to the constitution. In that sense, setting out definitive articles today for what will be done tomorrow will not, frankly, be an approach that contributes to the process. But of course, there is a need for an approach that will recognize the constitutional citizenship and collective rights of the Kurdish people, and when we speak of the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question, at the end of the day, this is in fact what we mean.”
Parliament must act as a third party to monitor the disarmament process
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said that for the process to move forward in a healthy manner, parliament should not only be a body preparing technical draft laws through the commission but also be in a position to monitor developments in practice.
Koçyiğit stated that parliament must also monitor the disarmament process and said: “Because there is no third party in this process, no third eye, we believe that parliament, as a political will and the will of the people, should observe and report on the disarmament process. But of course, this should not be limited to parliament alone. In our view, it is very valuable to ensure that democratic mass organizations and civil society are also stakeholders in this process. We believe it is very important to have such organizations, to discuss and make them visible, and to encourage the development of civil initiatives. It is also important for us that these civil initiatives work in coordination with parliament. We need to talk about the participation mechanisms for this. At present, the participation mechanism is mostly based on listening. But from now on, we need to discuss and talk about how to create a mechanism that will be more active, work within parliament, be coordinated with the commission, contribute to it, propose ideas, opinions, and perspectives, and at the same time be a participant. Otherwise, the claim that a commission of only 51 members can resolve every aspect of the democratic resolution of the Kurdish question, comment on every matter, and thus eliminate this problem would be a very big claim.”
No one should give credit to approaches that muddy the waters
Finally addressing the speculation surrounding the commission, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit stressed that, contrary to what has been suggested, there are no backroom deals or negotiations hidden from the public.
She stated that what is being discussed here is the recognition of the rights of the Kurdish people, the democratic and peaceful resolution of the Kurdish question, and, ultimately, the establishment of an equal, free, and democratic country for all peoples in Turkey.
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit said: “Mr. Öcalan has an approach, a perspective, even a call and an invitation, aimed at rebuilding the historical Kurdish–Turkish alliance and the historical Kurdish–Turkish fraternity. This invitation is very valuable. It is a historic invitation. We believe that this invitation, this voice, this call must be answered, embraced, nurtured, and developed. In this regard, no one should give credit to rhetorical posturing or approaches that muddy the waters. We know that our people have full confidence in Mr. Öcalan, in our party, and in the comrades who are carrying out this struggle. We also trust our people, and we trust in the process developed by Mr. Öcalan and the paradigm he has put forward. We believe that this trust will truly lead us to peace and a democratic life. We are engaged in this struggle. Of course, this process must become a social one. Everyone must fight for peace and a solution. It would be wrong to leave this solely to the commission, solely to the DEM Party or to place the entire burden and responsibility of the process on Mr. Öcalan. Every citizen, every segment of society in this country must take responsibility, lend their support to the process, and work for its advancement
