Will we lose this opportunity on the Kurdish issue?

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has seen that violence will not lead anywhere. International political fluctuations and developments in Iraq led to a change of direction. Now people want terror to stop. If there is any struggle, this needs to be conducted through political means. Washington and Brussels share the same views. Pressure is being put on the PKK to lay down its weapons.

The organization is aware of this and is looking for ways to disarm in order to avoid more losses.

Turkey is tired of the constant blood being shed and tears flowing at martyrs’ funerals. If we do not have much to lose, we have come to a point that makes it acceptable to take steps to ease the process of the PKK putting down its arms.

We are facing such an important opportunity. Let us not call it a "historic opportunity," but just say "an opportunity." But we need to keep in mind that such an opportunity does not come around very often.

One came in 1993 and was wasted with President Turgut Özal’s death.

Another came in 1998 after the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan capture and remained open for six years, but this time, the state had no courage. Now we have again come into a new "cycle" or "convenient environment."

The administration seems to notice this opportunity. It takes extremely interesting steps, not stretching relations but loosening them, and making unexpected gestures to win the hearts of citizens of Kurdish origin.

Stopping this terror and bloodshed depends on us. If we play politics just to oppose the administration or to drive it into a corner, we will lose this opportunity. This is very easy to do. The ground is so susceptible that if you were to listen, you would hear many complaints.

If you were to shout, "They are dividing the country," millions would get excited. If you were to shout, "We’ll take revenge for our martyrs," hundreds of thousands would be out on the streets.

Turkey will have to pass an exam with its military, opposition, administration and media. We will either miss out on the opportunity and continue shedding blood and mourning for our martyrs or get rid of this terror by "criticizing and warning them for the sake of peace."

Can they not show the same maturity they showed in 1999 when they postponed Öcalan’s execution by convincing Turkey’s military, the opposition parties and the media?

Let us criticize the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, on different issues. Let us drag them through the mud, but let us not play a political game with terror issues. Let us not jeopardize the country’s future for the sake of a few votes.

Let us not sin. The reason is simple: If we do so, we all will lose.

Dialogue only possible through DTP

Of course, no matter how much effort the Turkish society and state expend, if they do not take their finger from the trigger and if the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, does not help, then they will not achieve anything. Messages from Kandil do not suffice. No matter how positive or moderate the words that are spoken, they are just words in the end. Words fade. Concrete steps are what a society really needs. For example, an end to murders through mines and traps.

They say, "The military comes at us, what are we to do? Should we not defend ourselves?" The duty of the military is to catch those involved in terror and illegal actions. What do you expect of them?

The PKK should not lay mines. The PKK should not attack with weapons. The PKK should not run around with weapons on their shoulders. Then the military and police would not come at them.

As far as the DTP is concernedÉ Whether we like it or not, the DTP consists of a group of people elected by millions of citizens of Kurdish origin. It is a legal party.

DTP has an obligation

We might briskly criticize them for not criticizing the PKK, or for not cutting ties with it, but we cannot deny the fact that this party takes part in the democratic system. But the DTP too has an obligation.

It needs to avoid boorish and provoking statements that create unnecessary tensions and give the impression of the party being the PKK’s guardian angel.

And let us not forget: State authorities need to be in contact with somebody in order to get rid of the PKK terror.

We can’t talk to the PKK. So whom should we talk to? Will we take up discussions through Washington or Barzani?

If we are to win the hearts of an important part of our citizens of Kurdish origin and bring an end to terror, the DTP will be our sole addressee. Let us not forget there cannot be single-handed peace.