Peace Activists Echo CEPA Call to PKK

A statement opened for signature at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) called on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to "immediately lay down its arms". The document, signed by 153 parliamentarians, urged the organization to "immediately and unconditionally stop all terrorist activities."

The statement follows a previous European Commission declaration condemning the activities of the PKK and a warning by MPs Joost Lagendijk and Cem Ozdemir of the Greens Group who said that unless the PKK changed its conduct, any step taken forwards in the Southeast would be wasted.

The two had argued that the leadership of the PKK might have "drew the wrong lessons from the unilateral ceasefire proclaimed recently by the Spanish terrorist organization ETA" and said, "it is not by intensifying the fight that one becomes a respectable partner for talks on a solution, but by renouncing all forms of violence."

Bianet has asked peace activists in Turkey who last year called on the PKK to "unconditionally lay down arms" through perpetual statements what more could be done further to this appeal for a non-violent solution to the Kurdish problem.

Peace activists speak on steps for peaceful solution

We interviewed novelist Oya Baydar and Prof. Gencay Gürsoy chair of Istanbul Chamber of Physicians who are among the signatories to the public call "Silence the arms, end the clashes" as well as Tarik Ziya Ekinci who was among the "Kurdish intellectuals" who seconded the "silence the arms" call with another statement on what urgent steps could be taken for a "solution without arms".

Gençay Gursoy said, "it appears there is no other way but activate public opinion yet we need to eliminate the atmosphere of psychological tension first" and added, "Those who are the genuine parties to this conflict give no clear reply, nor express their stance. The public should be warned against the emerging threat of ethnic conflict and the parties should be persuaded for a solution."

Oya Baydar said that simultaneously with the CE call to lay down arms, it is necessary to support both the Kurdish politicians who are for disarming and the government efforts for a peaceful solution.

Ekinci, meanwhile, observes that albeit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan possesses the will to take decisive steps towards democratization the major pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) is not in a position to urge the PKK "lay down its arms". He added, "The only key is related to the PKK. The PKK should unreservedly, unconditionally, take a decision for a lasting cease-fire, pull its forces abroad."

Baydar: Support Kurdish politicians who are for laying down of arms

Stating that nowhere in the world had armed parties ever sat around a table before laying down arms, Baydar cited the examples of Ireland and Basque. "The armed parties must say they are ready to lay down arms" she said, adding that the hands of Kurdish politicians who support laying down of arms needed to be strengthened.

Baydar said that both the government and the DTP were in a difficult position on the issue. "The DTP side is in a relatively more difficult position but it is a party to the issue. While, the government by itself would not be enough".

"The civil society, all who want peace and political parties should support the government" she said, adding, "the greatest criticism on this issue should be directed at the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Baykal who has recently been voicing unconditional support for ultra-nationalist and military approaches to the question.

Baydar also warned that nationalism was on the increase and said that unless there was moderation, the masses fell behind nationalist trends.

Gursoy: Non-violent language should reign

Gençay Gürsoy said the psychological environment itself would be a determining factor and added "no political group is in a position today to make concrete proposals on a possible solution. There are various sensitivities. Every word goes through and under some known receptors, and reflected back as a black and white issue. Therefore, the tension needs to be calmed down. An atmosphere where issues can be easily discussed and where opinions are not subjected to auto-censorship should be created."

Believing that a "time to take a breath" was required, Gursoy said "sudden, radical, concrete solution proposals can be frightening. What we need is establish a language that does not contain violence and to make this lasting."

He said non-governmental organizations that could direct public opinion had a duty alongside the media, noting, "we see that almost all peace supporter organizations have been started activities and this should be expanded. Citizen reactions should be voiced widely." But "the media has almost totally surrendered itself to the violent nationalist tendencies" he regretted.

Ekinci: PKK laying down arms will ease efforts for peaceful solution

Ekinci, said that with the PKK laying down arms, the path to democracy would be opened and "this will make it easier for intellectuals who support human rights and democracy, who want a reasonable solution, to act."

But he argues that the initiatives, which could make the PKK do this, are blocked. "In the past some journalists could go abroad and talk to the PKK" he recalled. "It would be good if a group of intellectuals with similar courage could have been formed. But nationalism has swelled so much that I do not think this will happen. Perhaps civic groups close to the government could make such an attempt under the authorization of the government.

"Sitting around the table" dispute

A dialogue took place last week through the media between Prime Minister Erdogan and DTP executives. Erdogan in response to a question on the ongoing disturbances in the southeast was quoted to say: "Lay down the arms, come to the table". The DTP executives replied in turn that they were not armed in any case and said they regarded Erdogan's remarks as a roadmap for negotiations with the PKK.

Main opposition leader Deniz Baykal reacted in a public statement "I wonder what he is going to bargain when he sits at the table with the PKK." Erdogan made his words clearer in another statement "Don't take my words in a different context, my remark was to those who do not declared the armed activities of the PKK as terrorist organization and armed terrorists as 'terrorist', those who do not break their relations with them".

Both Ekinci and Baydar said the state would not openly talk to the PKK. According to Baydar, "if arms are laid down, they could sit around a table. In any case Erdogan didn't mean the armed forces of the PKK. He meant sitting down at the table with the DTP. The existence of the DTP is an opportunity. Talks could be held through them."

Ekinci said, meanwhile, that he found it off that Erdoğan had portrayed the DTP and its presumed ties with the PKK.

"It would be acceptable to talk to the DTP as a legal political party. In any case, I don't believe the Turkish Republic can debate the Kurdish issue with the PKK. But because the DTP would not have the strength to tell the PKK to declare a cease-fire, lay down arms and withdraw from the country, the statement made by the Prime Minister becomes worthless. (TK/EK/II/YE)