AMED – Mahsum Çiya Korkmaz, Co-cpekesperson for the Amed City Protection and Solidarity Platform, called on the government to take action to resolve the Kurdish issue and end military operations. 

 

The government has yet to take action in response to Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan's “Call for Peace and a Democratic Society” and the PKK's decision to disband and disarm. Despite the disarmament decision, Turkey's attacks in the Federal Kurdistan Region continue. 

 

In order to presents its proposals and discussions on the resolution of the Kurdish issue, a delegation from the Amed (Diyarbakır) city Protection and Solidarity Platform went to Ankara and met with representatives of the political parties in the Parliament. 

 

Platform Spokesperson Mahsum Çiya Korkmaz said that since the day the resolution of the Kurdish issue was discussed, the process has continued with steps taken by only one side. 

 

Noting that the state is acting with a pragmatic approach, Korkmaz stated that operations against the Federal Kurdistan Region have not been ended since the PKK's dissolution announcement, and that isolation in Imralı has not been completely lifted. 

 

Recalling calls for the establishment of a commission in Parliament, Korkmaz said: "In addition, the current conditions of all political prisoners, especially Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, must be improved. An amnesty must be issued. Otherwise, the unilateral process will cause a deadlock and provide even more ground for possible provocations. In order to prevent all of this, the Republic of Turkey must respond to this process as soon as possible." 

 

AMED BAR ASSOCIATION CHAIR: OPERATIONS THAT POISON THE PROCESS

 

Abdulkadir Güleç, Chair of the Amed Bar Association, who was present at the platform, said that the process had made some progress but is moving slowly. 

 

Güleç said that there were expectations regarding the 10th Judicial Package: “Unfortunately, this judicial package did not meet expectations. Therefore, there are a series of operations that are poisoning the process, from the situation of ill prisoners, which has become very distressing, to the right to assembly and demonstrations, as well as unjust arrests and similar issues. These undoubtedly harm the process and must come to an end as soon as possible.” 

 

Güleç pointed out that it was contradictory that similar practices were being implemented while the mayors who had been replaced by trustees were expected to be reinstated. 

 

Güleç said: “On the one hand, Turkey will become more democratic, many regulations will be made in the field of human rights, there will be prison reforms, and there are expectations for releases from prisons, but new arrests do not fit with the spirit and essence of this process.”

 

Güleç said that they had expressed these concerns in their meeting with political parties as regional bar associations, and emphasised that the fulfilment of the demands of civil society organisations by the political authorities would be a confidence-building step for the success of the solution. 

 

'OPERATIONS ARE DAMAGING THE PROCESS'

 

Referring to the urgent steps that need to be taken to accelerate the process, Güleç criticized the law. Güleç listed what has to be done for the process: 

 

“Therefore, if the actors in the solution feel compelled to fulfil their roles, steps must be taken to support and encourage them. The silence of weapons does not mean that peace has come. One of the purposes of this process is to prevent deaths, casualties and conflict. However, the fact that these operations are still being carried our despite the decision of PKK. It is damaging the process. One of the urgent steps that need to be taken is the immediate release of ill prisoners. Similarly, other political cases related to freedom of thought and expressions needs to be resolved as soon as possible.”

 

MA / Müjdat Can