We’re strengthening PKK by bothering DTP

The PKK is in a real sense at a crossroads. Each road shows the effectiveness of the organization. One will end in the closing of Kandil and with the end of the struggle with weapons. The other will lead to a period of falling apart without the organization losing its efficiency. International pressure is being exercised on the PKK, and the pressure is increasing. Brussels and foremost Washington want a cease-fire in Arbil and Baghdad. Everybody accepts that they won’t get anywhere as long as terror continues. The PKK is at a dead-end, hard to get out of. To extend this period and get some benefits in exchange for putting down weapons, it shoots at any target it can.

Washington is not yet ready for joint operation
Ankara pressures Washington. Contacts are being made regarding an operation against the PKK or at least a request to support the TSK. The Pentagon still resists. But in the end they will not stand up to Turkey’s persistence. Let’s not forget they had finally after a two-year negotiation period accepted intelligence sharing through northern Iraq. Washington is keen on providing northern Iraq’s territorial integrity and obtaining support from Turkey during the withdrawal process. Turkey is probably not of vital importance when it comes to Iraq’s stability, but it is viewed as a country "with important contributions to stability." And it’s not just Iraq but also Afghanistan that calls for good relations between Ankara and Washington.

Turkish military sources say the PKK will be eliminated by the end of the year even though dilemmas faced by the Turkish military stir from its attitude toward the Democratic Society Party, or DTP. Forces that support Turkey in the elimination of the PKK are planning to save the Kurdish issue from a struggle with weapons and turn it into a political struggle. They tell the Kurds: "You won’t get anywhere with weapons and killing people. Put down your weapons and carry out the struggle in Parliament."

In Ankara neither military nor civilians intend for such a thing. Maybe it’s not spoken out loud, but the DTP seems even more dangerous than the armed PKK. It is believed that the DTP will, through civilian disobedience, huge demonstrations and actions in Parliament, put the Turkish Republic in a difficult position.

Those who say, "Struggle against terror, which may be bloody, is easy because you’ll have the public behind you. In the end you’ll respond to weapons with weapons. Those with stronger weapons will win. At least the opponent won’t gain anything," explain the danger of carrying the Kurdish issue into the political arena as follows:

"Politics are slippery. You can’t control the public as you please. All of a sudden you find yourself sympathizing with the DTP and then you lose." Based on this rationale, the military and the political administration do not only beat the PKK but also the DTP.

The AKP government does not shake hands with the DTP leader. It does not even visit this party. The military does not go to Parliament because it does not want to meet the DTP or listen to the spokesperson thereof. Relations with local administrators are kept to a minimum level. We could say there is almost no contact at all. They think they are punishing the DTP this way and estranging them from the PKK. But they are mistaken.

As long as the DTP is pushed away from the system, it is forced to shift toward the PKK. For, real support for this party comes from the PKK. Folks support the PKK, not the DTP. The DTP receives votes because the PKK wants it that way. As Ankara maintains its attitude against the PKK and DTP, the issue becomes even more unsolvable. So how are we to get out of this deadlock?

The PKK is right in the middle of this deadlock.

No matter how much it is losing of its former image, the organization is still alive. Money is flowing in. As long as their way is not paved or as long as they do not believe in returning home safely, they will continue to stay in the mountains and as long as they are up there, they will continue with terror. And I believe that Turkey has obtained a precious opportunity. International fluctuations have for long years not worked against the PKK (except for the period when Öcalan was caught in 1998). But what’s important is to know how to benefit from this situation and determine steps to be taken to speed up the process. Wonder if we will produce rational politicians this time? Or will we take on a narrow nationalist viewpoint and miss out on the opportunity?

If we want to get rid of terror, we must not prevent our Kurdish citizens from participating in politics. On the contrary, we must pave the way and provide them the opportunity to conduct their struggle within the frame of democracy and under the roof of Parliament. It’s enough to believe in and play by the rules of democracy.