We will support every single positive step in solving the “Kurdish Question”

There is a big discussion going on about Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan’s visit to Diyarbakır and his meeting with Turkish intellectuals.

The Secretary General of the Kurdistan Socialist Party (PSK) Mr. Mesud Tek has written the following letter to Prime Minister Erdoğan and expressed his opinion on the Kurdish Question and its solution.

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Esteemed Prime Minister!

During your last visit to Diyarbakır you expressed your intentions to listen to anyone who has an opinion on how to solve the Kurdish Question.

My party, the Kurdistan Socialist Party, is part of the Kurdish Question and has been sharing its opinion many times with the public. On the occasion of your last visit to Diyarbakır, we wish to share our opinion with you and with the public once again.

Esteemed Erdoğan!

Being the Turkish Prime Minister you took a very important step towards resolution, when you publicly described the problem as the Kurdish Question since until now it was misrepresented to the public opinion.

The Kurdish Question is not a Question of terrorism or security. It is, as you pointed out, a political, cultural and economic issue and like all the other political and social issues it also cannot be solved by security forces. It can only be solved in political ways. For this reason, as you pointed out, it “can only be solved with democracy”.

Esteemed Prime Minister!

As you have recognized in your speech it is important to name the problem and to plan a solution, yet those things on their own are not enough to resolve it.

The Kurdish Question is a national issue and as with all other such issues that have so far been dealt with, the solution lies in recognizing the Kurdish Nation’s all legitimate rights within the framework of United Nations documents, OSCE and Paris Agreement.

As you pointed out in your speech in Diyarbakır the principle of ‘one government, one nation and one flag’ is not going to solve the problem. It rather turns it into cancer that goes on forever, as former experiments proved. It is this Kemalist attitude that aggravated the crisis by not giving space to multiple cultures and religions. This principle of putting different ethnicities, nationalities and religions in one mould can only result in pressuring people and creating tension. You were very brave to name the Kurdish Question but you have to acknowledge that it cannot be solved within the framework of ‘one government, one nation and one flag’.

Esteemed Erdoğan!

We consider your suggestion that ‘the government has to face the mistakes of the past and has to open a new white page’ very important.

As you know it is extremely important to speak out these mistakes, but it is also important to know what will be written on this new white page.

This issue will be solved if it is recognized in international agreements that nations have the right to decide about their destiny –the right of selfdetermination-  and this right is also given to our people.

Our party has always supported federalism in Turkey and we still believe in this. In our view, building a construction of equality and federalism will solve the Kurdish Question and will lead the way for change and development in the country. Naturally, we cannot reach this target at once; this will only happen on condition that the Turkish people change their mind. It is especially for this that we demand the following steps:

-         The antidemocratic constitution of the dictatorship of 12 September 1982 must be abolished and a new and democratic constitution which recognizes the rights and freedom of the Kurdish nation and the other nations and religious groups must take its place.

-         Amnesty should be given to all political prisoners to help put an end to the existing social tension.

-         The oppression of the Kurdish language, culture and media must end; laws must be introduced for teaching Kurdish from primary school to university; there has to be no restriction of broadcasting in Kurdish on state radio and TV and privatisation of media should be allowed.

-         You must give the opportunity to all those who have been exiled from their homeland to return and compensate them for their losses.

Esteemed Erdoğan!

As you would appreciate, the steps above would not only contribute to solving the Kurdish issue, they would also strengthen the Government’s position in its efforts to get into the European Union.

Problem arise from the existence of opposing sides and in order to solve the problem, the sides must engage in dialog.

Until now, those who did not wish to solve the problem in Turkey were saying that they would not sit on the same table with ‘terrorists’, people who were holding guns. Yet it was their policy, which was forcing some Kurds to choose armed struggle as a means of solution. But not all Kurdish organizations have used guns and they are not all ‘terrorists’, as you call them.

If our party and many other parties have given the opportunity to operate legally, if many pro-Kurdish parties have not been banned by the authorities, today Kurdish side would have a strong legal representation in the parliament in order to consult on solving the problem. But still, if you wish to solve this problem there are peaceful political parties, legal parties, leaders of town councils, cultural institutions etc. to whom you can talk.

However, most of the demands of the Kurdish people can be solved if there is a will to do so.

Esteemed Prime Minister!

As the latest events in the Middle East indicated, the Kurdish Question is a regional issue that involves four governments. Kurdish people are very sensitive to the politics against their brothers in the other parts. For this reason you must not oppose the democratic struggle in the other parts of Kurdistan if you wish to solve the problem in your country. It does not comply to talk about democratic solutions for the Kurds in Turkey and considering sending military forces to “North Iraq” in an attempt to make the new Iraqi constitution against Kurds at the same time.

In order to be honest and consistent in this subject you should at the same time choose to not get involved with the internal affairs of South Kurdistan with a view to oppress and threaten them and to engage in dialog with them in all diplomatic, cultural and economic matters so as to contribute to its development.

Not being against the national democratic movements in the other part of Kurdistan and helping them to solve their problems in a democratic and peaceful way will also bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

As you often say, it is in Turkey’s best interest to have stability and security in the region.

Esteemed Prime Minister!

I attempted to highlight my Party’s opinion on the Kurdish Question and one more time I wish to repeat that the peaceful and democratic solution of the Kurdish Question is to the benefit of both nations. Our party will support any positive step to that end.

Sincerely Yours,

Mesud Tek
Secretary General
Kurdistan Socialist Party