Kurdish issue

Iraqi president talks about a joint call to PKK rebels to give up armed struggle. PKK dismisses the possibility to participate at the conference.

Peace activist and sociologist Yeğen says the electorate will also vote to define an approach to the Kurdish issue. "DTP-PKK line hopes to establish themselves as the legitimate address of solution while the government wants conservative Kurds to strengthen."

Demanding their lost relatives be found, Saturday Mothers met for the 206th time in Galatasaray. This time, they brought the case of Hasan Gülünay, who disappeared in July 1992, to attention.

Prosecutor's office in Silopi arbitrarily postpones an excavation at BOTAŞ land, which is a suspected burial place of the extra-judicial killings committed in the 1990s.

Despite daily Sabah's headliner article, Kurds in southeastern Turkey seems to see state TV's Kurdish channel as a part of the government's electoral campaign, rather than a move towards increasing freedoms.

Local Military prosecutor concludes that private Yuksel, whose death was formerly announced a fatality during a clash with the guerrrilla PKK, had committed suicide in September 2008.

Supposing it's illegal to talk in Kurdish during a party assembly in the parliament, Spokesperson Gen. Gürak said that "the judiciary would intervene", responding to DTP MP Ahmet Türk's speech in his mother tongue.

DTP MP Demirbaş evaluates recent discussions regarding the Kurdish issue. Government's reforms regarding the use of Kurdish aren't for Kurds, rather for the state, says Demirbaş. "We're open to discuss any proposal leading to a peaceful solution."

A report on “Turkey today and tomorrow” also considers the Kurdish issue. Retired diplomats and generals are quoted as calling for a domestic solution.

PM Erdogan refrained from openly criticizing DTP, the powerful pro-Kurdish party in the region. TRT6 made a live broadcast of Erdogan's speech, translated into Kurdish. Five protestors were taken into custody.

Thousands marched in Diyarbakır and Batman, condemning police violence against protesters during meetings on the commemoration of PKK leader Ocalan's arrest. DTP co-chairs Turk and Ayna challange AKP to local elections.

"Government tries to undermine Ocalan's influence on Kurds" says peace activist Tahmaz. "Despite 10 years under arrest, Ocalan and the PKK are still determining factors in the equation to a peaceful solution."

PKK leader Ocalan was confiscated in Nairobi on February 15th, 1999. The state hoped that the PKK would dismantle without Ocalan but the Kurdish movement managed to reform itself, analyst Kalyon said.

Kurdish politician Miroglu was condemned for addressing his electorate in Kurdish, during his campaign for July 2007 general elections. The Strasbourg court declares his case as admissible. The ruling might force an amendment to law.

An Adana court condemns a 15-year-old to imprisonment on terror charges. The child is accused of membership to pro-Kurdish PKK on grounds he had participated in a street protest. Rights activists demand child justice system.

University students from Yüksekova start a signature campaign to support Erkan Çapraz of the Yüksekova Haber Newpaper to stop the pressure on him, which is preventing him to do his work as a journalist.

Far right nationalists storm a Kurdish Festival. Police could not disperse the crowd. One dies. DTP deputy accuses the authorities.

In the DTP closure case, the Prosecution of the Supreme Court of Appeals has demanded that 221 people be banned from politics. Prof. Köker says there can be no solution when “political participation is prevented.”

The Turkish Peace Parliament Marmara Region Peace Initiative has released a statement calling for a solution to the Kurdish issue and for political parties and the media to be responsible.

Local authorities in Diyarbakir have found a creative means of criticising the ban on Kurdish: They have added Chinese to their repertoire and are awaiting reactions…