Statement
An
End to Empty Gestures! Turkey Needs A Modern and Democratic Constitution
Which Recognises Kurdish Identity!
The
Turkish Parliament are currently debating the 1982 constitution.
Leading legal experts in the country are of the opinion that it
is not really a constitution, but rather a mere collection of prohibitions
and bans. It is a product of the military junta from 12th
September, forced onto the country like a straight-jacket.
It
should have long since been thrown onto the rubbish heap of history
and replaced by a modern, democratic constitution. But the junta
and the subsequent so-called civil governments, have failed to do
this. They are satisfied with just making a few easy and convenient
amendments now and then.
The
so-called civil government of Turkey does not behave any differently
from the military in such matters. They also shy away from granting
the people their rights and freedom. The most recent plans to amend
the constitution have not come about free willingly. Turkey has
been forced into making reforms that are necessary for their EU
entry candidacy.
Unfortunately,
it is already clear that the planned amendments have little to do
with democratisation or the recognition of modern rights and freedoms.
The changes will not bring about any fundamental or comprehensive
reform. And so it will be as it always has been, and the old men
will make a few empty gestures for the public while maintaining
the old racist, fascist and militaristic core.
The
preface and preamble to the constitution is based on racist Turkish
nationalism. From the perspective of the values of a civilised world,
this is unacceptable
Many
of the constitution’s articles, through provisos and clauses, reduce
any basic rights and freedoms to nothing. It is even impossible
to amend some of these articles. Successive parliaments have had
their hands tied by special regulations which forbid amendments
to certain articles. Included here is legislation passed by the
junta, which in itself breaches the current constitution. Political
parties who include democratic proposals in their manifestoes can
be closed down because of the constitution and its “unamendable
articles”. It is interesting to note that successive parliaments
and civil governments consider themselves bound by such special
regulations.
Is
it then possible under such conditions to democratise the constitution
and to achieve democratic rights and freedoms in this country? The
present government and parliament are not really interested in doing
so. If they were then they would neither feel bound by the junta’s
constitution nor treat it with such respect. The straight-jacket
known as the constitution invalidated the pre-putsch constitution
and removed the powers of the parliament and government of the time.
The military closed down political parties, arrested their leaders
and transformed the whole country into a prison and torture chamber.
If the present day government and parliament were really concerned
with democratisation, they would replace the junta’s constitution
with a constitution that is really democratic and modern.
This
country can not be democratised without the constitutional recognition
of Kurdish identity and of all legitimate rights of the Kurdish
people.
What
is currently taking place under the heading “Constitutional Reform”
is ridiculous and cannot be taken seriously. For example, there
is absolutely no consideration of the recognition of Kurdish identity.
Instead
they plan to implement statements such as “Turkish is the language
of the State” and “the official language of the state is Turkish”,
and attempt to present such as major reforms. But even the second
largest coalition partner, the MHP, are not satisfied with this
and are protesting against it.
These
are neither steps towards democratisation nor attempts to solve
problems. The Turkish regime are again trying to mislead the public
both at home and abroad. The Turkish regime are again playing around
with the dignity of the Kurdish people.
Those
who consider that the federation of the hundred thousand Turks on
Cyprus is not enough and therefore demand a confederation, apply
completely different standards in respect of Kurdish demands and
rights. Turkish-Kurdistan is comprised of one third of Turkish territory
and is made up of more than 20 million men and women. Irrespective
of any talk of a federation or of autonomy, the Kurds are even denied
the right to training in their native language, denied the right
to native language radio and TV broadcasting, and are forbidden
to use their native language in official correspondence.
For
two centuries, the Kurdish people have continually campaigned for
their freedom, and have paid dearly for many uprisings. We declare
to the world that the Kurdish people will never accept these conditions
and the degrading attitude of Turkey! We, as a people and a nation,
also want to live in freedom with our own identity in our own country.
We want equality, justice and our rights!
This
can be achieved either in a State of our own or in a federation
of two republics. The Kurdish people will decide this for themselves,
through their legitimate representatives. If the Turkish leadership
agree to a solution based on equality and freedom, our party would
stand for a federal union.
Friends
and enemies should be aware that we will never accept slavery and
inequality! Neither pressure nor deception, neither intrigue nor
conspiracy will stop the campaign of the Kurdish people and prevent
them from achieving freedom!
It
is an empty dream to believe that peace and democracy can be achieved
in Turkey without the recognition of all legitimate rights of the
Kurds and a just solution to the Kurdish question based on equality.
Persevering on the side of the wrong means a loss of valuable time
for both peoples.
We
again call on the Turkish leadership, government and parliament
to be realistic and fair, and to be for a reasonable solution.
Reform
of the constitution is a chance. Instead of empty gestures, a new,
modern and - in the truest sense of the word - democratic constitution
has to be achieved.
A
constitution which has nothing to do with racism, chauvinism and
militarism!
A
constitution which guarantees basic rights and freedom for all!
A
constitution which recognises Kurdish identity and opens a way,
based on equality, to a just solution of the Kurdish question!
June
2nd, 2001
Kemal
Burkay
General
Secretary
Socialist Party of Kurdistan (PSK)
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