The Kurdish Genocide Claim Arouses Reactions

Co-President of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) Emine Ayna said that everyone was treating the text that Ahmet Türk read as if it was Ahmet Türk's personal opinions, but on the contrary, it reflected the opinions of the Democratic Society Party: “They are the opinions we defend”.

Bianet asked Ayna about the text Türk read at DTP’s group meeting held in Diyarbakır. In this text, the following sentenced had aroused much reaction: “The 1980 Military Coup led to a political, social and cultural genocide, at unseen proportions, of the Kurdish people in particular and Turkey in general. The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) came into existence and grew up in these conditions that brought the military coup and the genocide that followed it”.

The term genocide: When we read the whole thing, we can see that this term was not used to imply a physical genocide of ethnic nature or one related to a cultural identity. Did not this coup lead to a political, social and cultural genocide? They demanded that everyone had the same thoughts. There were arrangements designed to prevent the existence of different ideas. For example, Bülent Ersoy was banned for years. There was pressure on people because of their differences. The Kurds were of course not subjected to a physical genocide. We do not forget Maraş and Sivas massacres, but this was not what we had meant.

Yes, the present period is very sensitive for everyone. Abdullah Öcalan’s being subjected to a physical attack in the Imralı Prison shows how much attention is being paid to the sensitivities of the Kurdish people. That text explains how the Kurdish problem has always been around and how it changed form during the coup. We should not be afraid of the truths. We must talk about the mistakes. If we stay afraid then we will not be able to make the necessary corrections.

“Every act in Imralı will have political consequences”

Öcalan: We always say that Öcalan is an important component of the Kurdish problem, he is important for the solution. His cell which is watched 24 hours, including his toilet, is searched and when he asks why, they tell him that he cannot speak and he is manhandled. Why? Everyone knows this will be taken as a message. They are telling the Kurds that they cannot talk, that they should not insist on using their own language. “We will kill you in due time” means “we will continue fighting against you”. They know that the Kurds are following what is going on in Imrali. Every act in Imrali has political consequences. What the state does in Imrali is never ordinary.

Demonstrations: If we had not gone to our region, the situation could have become worse. If we had not given a press release in Diyarbakır, there would have been more incidents. We did not do this in order to stop the incidents, but our being here gives the message that “My opinions are expressed by my representatives”. This calms the situation a little. But nobody should think that the DTP’s mission is to calm the Kurdish people.

“Dangerous game”: First there was the poison incidence in connection with Öcalan. The minister denied this. The Committee for the Prevention of Torture did not say he was tortured, but that the percentages of the chemicals were high, precautions had to be taken. Later they shaved of his hair. Then came the physical violence and the message that he would be killed one day. When all of this is taken as a whole, the people think what will be next and that they should show more reaction. Those who let these attacks against Öcalan are not concerned with Turkey’s future. Perhaps they did not expect such a big reaction or they were simply feeling the situation. Whatever the cause behind the latest incident may have been, this is a dangerous game to play.

“The Kurdish problem was around long before the DTP”: The approach of the ruling party to the problem is “If I take the municipalities then the problem will go away”. This is no solution. The Kurdish problem was around long before the DTP. Destroying the DTP will not end the Kurdish problem. (TK/TB)