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No end to PKK but we can disable them
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In general we all would like to immediately get rid of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. We expect those whose opinion we trust to prescribe a formula. I too receive from time to time questions from my readers: They say, "What should we do? How can we solve this problem?" There is not only one formula to solve this problem. I mixed my own experience with the formula of experts whose views I trust, the military and politicians, and came up with a integrated formula. Let us start with some assessments:
1. The presence of the Kurdish problem brought forth the PKK, for the organization after a while grew because of wrong formulas prescribed by Turkey, and became a monster that dominates the agenda.
2. The PKK poses a security problem and we need to stress the security part in order to fight the PKK. But if we look only at the security part we will not get far.
3. The Kurdish problem on the other hand is a political, social and identity problem. The Kurdish problem will never be solved by Turkey, for there is no end to expectations. It can only be eased. It can only meet an important part of expectations. Steps to be taken in the Kurdish problem will decrease support for the PKK and marginalize them. The PKK will never completely vanish but can only be diminished up to a point where it no longer bothers society.
4. Result: while the PKK and security forces struggle, the civil administration needs to take steps in the political, social, cultural and economic field regarding the Kurdish problem. Up until today we walked on one leg. Only stressing security. We ignored other legs and therefore did not obtain satisfactory results.
No semi-actions, brave serious steps needed
Today’s scenario is very bad. The state’s reflex is still based on security. It seems to suffice that the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, becomes elected to municipalities of Diyarbakır, Tunceli, Hakkari in order to beat the PKK and the Democratic Society Party, or DTP. And only in order to win local elections economic donations are distributed in the name of charity. There is no economic plan at large. The PKK and DTP openly work together because they fear to lose local elections. As society becomes stressed, democracy dissolves, human rights diminish, the Kurdish problem is neglected while the focus is on the struggle against terror. The state unfortunately steps into this trap. There are important steps that need to be taken in order to progress in the Kurdish problem, to relieve people in the region and finally to ensure some distance from the PKK. I could summarize mutual advice given by, generally healthy thinking, Kurdish and Turkish intellectuals as follows:
1. Let them use their language: The Kurdish language should be admitted except in official writings, and be an elective at universities. Restrictions in education should be abolished. Institutions for Kurdish Studies should be allowed. Restrictions on Kurdish names should be abolished. Kurdish names for villages and places that have been translated into Turkish should be given back. Instead of fighting Roj TV they should be allowed unlimited air but within the legal framework. Radio and TV should be released.
2. Work and food provided: You can not prevent an unemployed, hopeless, hungry and shabby young man from going into the mountains and taking up arms. No matter what, we need to increase job possibilities in the region. Not by distributing charity, but by educating and enriching the people.
3. Pave the way for politics: Only politics can solve the Kurdish problem. However, the PKK and the Turkish Republic block politics. The PKK and the state hinder the DTP from acting independently. There is pressure exercised by the state to separate the DTP from the PKK in order for the PKK to remain the sole representative of the Kurds. In this situation the DTP stays disabled. Unfortunately the Turkish Armed Forces restrict civil politicians as well. They hinder civilians from producing brave politics. They look at it only from the security point of view. Those who do not want the problem to be solved, compress the result between the PKK and the office of Chief of Staff and allow the problem to spread.
4. Pardons absolutely need to pass: The word pardon gives most people in Turkey the goose bumps, especially soldiers. But you will see in the end we will have to pass the act of grace. Otherwise we can not convince those in the mountains nor the top leaders of the PKK.
5. Agreement with Barzani and Talabani is a must: Turkey must to make peace with Kurds in northern Iraq. We can not pull Barzani or Talabani on to our side by constantly arguing with them. In case we can not come to some kind of agreement with them, we can not banish the PKK from northern Iraq.
6. Send new bureaucrats to the region: New bureaucrats and security guards are needed in the region, who can expand on and whose attitude of mind is suitable to what we listed above. Otherwise all precautions will remain on paper.
RESULT: The way to go in order to realize all of this is a new constitution. With the attitude of today’s constitution and as long as the approach of those in charge of jurisdiction prevails, Turkey will not get far.
Is it not a pity?
2. The PKK poses a security problem and we need to stress the security part in order to fight the PKK. But if we look only at the security part we will not get far.
3. The Kurdish problem on the other hand is a political, social and identity problem. The Kurdish problem will never be solved by Turkey, for there is no end to expectations. It can only be eased. It can only meet an important part of expectations. Steps to be taken in the Kurdish problem will decrease support for the PKK and marginalize them. The PKK will never completely vanish but can only be diminished up to a point where it no longer bothers society.
4. Result: while the PKK and security forces struggle, the civil administration needs to take steps in the political, social, cultural and economic field regarding the Kurdish problem. Up until today we walked on one leg. Only stressing security. We ignored other legs and therefore did not obtain satisfactory results.
No semi-actions, brave serious steps needed
Today’s scenario is very bad. The state’s reflex is still based on security. It seems to suffice that the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, becomes elected to municipalities of Diyarbakır, Tunceli, Hakkari in order to beat the PKK and the Democratic Society Party, or DTP. And only in order to win local elections economic donations are distributed in the name of charity. There is no economic plan at large. The PKK and DTP openly work together because they fear to lose local elections. As society becomes stressed, democracy dissolves, human rights diminish, the Kurdish problem is neglected while the focus is on the struggle against terror. The state unfortunately steps into this trap. There are important steps that need to be taken in order to progress in the Kurdish problem, to relieve people in the region and finally to ensure some distance from the PKK. I could summarize mutual advice given by, generally healthy thinking, Kurdish and Turkish intellectuals as follows:
1. Let them use their language: The Kurdish language should be admitted except in official writings, and be an elective at universities. Restrictions in education should be abolished. Institutions for Kurdish Studies should be allowed. Restrictions on Kurdish names should be abolished. Kurdish names for villages and places that have been translated into Turkish should be given back. Instead of fighting Roj TV they should be allowed unlimited air but within the legal framework. Radio and TV should be released.
2. Work and food provided: You can not prevent an unemployed, hopeless, hungry and shabby young man from going into the mountains and taking up arms. No matter what, we need to increase job possibilities in the region. Not by distributing charity, but by educating and enriching the people.
3. Pave the way for politics: Only politics can solve the Kurdish problem. However, the PKK and the Turkish Republic block politics. The PKK and the state hinder the DTP from acting independently. There is pressure exercised by the state to separate the DTP from the PKK in order for the PKK to remain the sole representative of the Kurds. In this situation the DTP stays disabled. Unfortunately the Turkish Armed Forces restrict civil politicians as well. They hinder civilians from producing brave politics. They look at it only from the security point of view. Those who do not want the problem to be solved, compress the result between the PKK and the office of Chief of Staff and allow the problem to spread.
4. Pardons absolutely need to pass: The word pardon gives most people in Turkey the goose bumps, especially soldiers. But you will see in the end we will have to pass the act of grace. Otherwise we can not convince those in the mountains nor the top leaders of the PKK.
5. Agreement with Barzani and Talabani is a must: Turkey must to make peace with Kurds in northern Iraq. We can not pull Barzani or Talabani on to our side by constantly arguing with them. In case we can not come to some kind of agreement with them, we can not banish the PKK from northern Iraq.
6. Send new bureaucrats to the region: New bureaucrats and security guards are needed in the region, who can expand on and whose attitude of mind is suitable to what we listed above. Otherwise all precautions will remain on paper.
RESULT: The way to go in order to realize all of this is a new constitution. With the attitude of today’s constitution and as long as the approach of those in charge of jurisdiction prevails, Turkey will not get far.
Is it not a pity?
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