On the Brink of a Historic Period

This is not déjà-vu. It seems that what happened 10 years ago will not be repeated. If everything is not spoiled by a last-minute provocation by an "Ergenekon" plot, we have many reasons to believe that the state will allow, or at least not block, the return from Mahmur, Kandil and Europe of Kurds who the war has driven away from their homes, back to their home country.

Then, it will be the duty and common responsibility of everyone who sees "peace" as a momentum for social salvation to talk about a functioning process, not only about symbolism.

This time, disclosed information reveals that the state does not completely reject Öcalan's call for "return" as it did 10 years ago; furthermore there are even some hints that this call is the result of a mutual process of "testing the waters".

This action on three fronts by the Kurdish liberation movement provides the government who is confused about how to begin the "opening", with a starting point. Kurds have assumed the role of initiator of the "peace" process, while the opposite side still remains inert.

Whether the "opening" that the state is attempting, within the context of a "security operation" and with an eye to the restoration of its hegemony, will end with peace depends on whether it will be forced to turn its face towards freedom or not.

The last Kurdish uprising may really come to an end, by not only determining the Kurdish people's fate, but also that of Turkey. The evolution of the process towards this outcome will be the political product of the Kurdish liberation movement and its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan's policies based on peace and brotherhood of the people since 1999.

Step by step, Turkey is advancing towards the rule of liberty and brotherhood due to the struggle of people who have not bowed down to the status quo, oppression and negation. We are on the threshold of a historic period... (EK/VK)