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International Initiative
Freedom for Ocalan – Peace in Kurdistan
P.O. Box 100511, D-50445 Koeln
E-Mail: info@freedom-for-ocalan.com
Url: www.freedom-for-ocalan.com
Cologne, 6 October 2004
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE BRIEFINGS:
Turkey and the EU: Kurdish perspectives
A decision from the European Union on whether or not to grant an
accession date to Turkey will be taken in December 2004. Turkey
has undergone legislative reforms since 2002, prompted by its bid
for membership; but in spite of this, little change has been seen
on the ground, prompting criticism of official implementation of
the reforms. Many are concerned at the failure to give a longstanding
and genuine solution to the Kurdish issue in Turkey. While millions
of Kurds support Turkey’s EU accession bid, the view is widely
held that accession should not be unconditional, and that many problems
remain to be addressed.
In November 2003, a European Parliament report accused Turkey of
failures in implementing its reforms. However, the majority of media
reports have overlooked these failures. The issue continues to be
characterised as a matter of national security, with the collusion
of the Turkish Government, and not as an issue of political, social
and cultural rights. In fact, Turkey is in desperate need of real
change: not only in words but in action. The main barriers to Turkey’s
path to reform and hence EU membership are the Kurdish issue and
the need for democratisation: these two elements cannot be separated.
If Turkey were to join the EU, 20 million Kurds would also become
EU citizens. For comparison, it is worth noting that 19 of the 25
EU member states have populations under 20 million. The need for
the cultural, social and political rights of these 20 million prospective
EU citizens should not be overlooked by the EU, or it will merely
inherit the injustices, and the problems, of the current Turkish
state.
The need for recognition of Kurdish rights has been voiced by many,
including the European Parliament since 1992. A 1998 EU report enshrined
the importance of their recogition for rights. In spite of this,
the Turkish state continues its policy of non-engagement.
The question of reforms and change
The release of the four DEP (Democratic Party) parliamentarians
(Zana, Sadak,Dicle and Dogan) has been welcomed as a positive development,
but true equality remains far from reach. Thousands of pro-Kurdish
politicians remain in prison. Villages that have been destroyed
and forcibly emptied in the region have not been rebuilt, nor have
the inhabitants been allowed to return to their homes. The “village
guard” system which officially employs 58,551 people has not
been removed. The path for peaceful dialogue with Kurdish representatives
in search of a solution remains blocked. Additionally, the Kurdish
identity is not recognised at the fundamental levels of the state
law.
Clauses from the European Constitution that encompass human dignity,
freedom, democracy, equality, supremacy of the law, and respect
for human rights should apply to Turkey as much as every other member
state. We are nor waiting for magical solution to the kurdish issue,
however we do want mutual respect, good intentions, cooperation,
and our Kurdish identity to be guaranteed by the constitution.
Despite all barriers, the Kurds remain insistent in finding a peaceful
solution; this has been shown in many ways - especially during the
past 5 years where the Kurds declared unilateral cease-fires and
proposed democratic solution strategies to the Kurdish issue. What
the Kurdish people want is to be officially recognized and all of
their rights to be granted. They simply seek to exercise their language,
cultural and political rights.
Many member countries of the EU have similar problems to those
in Turkey. However, in Spain, Belgium and Britain serious progress
has been made by peaceful dialog. Why should the Kurdish be different?
Can't the solution to the Kurdish question be found by peaceful
dialogue as well?
When one looks more carefully at the problem, it becomes apparent
that the real issue is the following:
In order for a lasting solution to the Kurdish issue and the democratization
of Turkey, the Kurdish identity has to be fully recognized. All
barriers placed on Kurdish political organizations should be lifted;
these organizations need full freedom to operate. It must be recognized
that the solution will come through dialogue, and not by military
methods.
We have serious doubts about the intentions of the Turkish Government
regarding accepting European standards concerning Kurdish rights.
It is clear that Turkey is trying to impose its own interpretation
of the Copenhagen Criteria; the short and longtime goals of the
Partenaria Document made public by the EC on the 8 November, 2000
are also subject to this re-interpretation.
The core problems
We would like to bring to the attention of the EU the risks involved
in weakening the importance of the Kurdish issue and democracy in
Turkey:
- Within the judicial field, Turkey is armed with an apparatus
that prohibits all sorts of opposition in the country. More than
750 prohibitive paragraphs exist in Turkish Law, in particular
with regards to freedom of expression, creation of associations,
education and publications related to the Kurdish issue.
- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to use the catch-phrase
“Zero Tolerance” to describe the government's policy
on human rights issues such as abuse and torture. However, rather
than “Zero Tolerance” the problem is that the real policy
is in fact “Tolerance” of such abuses; which recent
reports from established human rights foundations and associations
confirm.
- Turkey is neglecting to sign international agreements. For example,
Turkey has signed the agreement of the UN on societal rights,
and international agreements (economic, social and cultural rights);
however, it has rejected changing laws for minority rights and
of education.
1. The politics of denial of the Kurdish identity continue in Turkey.
2. Cultural plurality is still totally rejected; freedom of cultural
expression and rights for ethnic and linguistic groups other than
those of Turks are still forbidden.
3. Repressive judicial measures are still being applied to all cases
regarding the freedom of expression and the freedom of association.
4. The continuation of the restrictions of the Kurdish language
in all forms of the media and education system has allowed Turkey
to further accelerate its policy of assimilation with regard to
the Kurds; this condition has made it very difficult or impossible
to take advantage of the assistance offered by EU aid programmes,
in particular MEDA.
5. Refusal to decentralize the country.
6. The continuation of the policy of economic development in the
western parts of the country - holding the Turkish majority –
as opposed to the kurdish regions; additionally it is important
to note that the western regions make decisions on behalf of the
eastern regions, without their input.
7. There is a refusal to search for and to accept the need for a
peaceful and political solution to the Kurdish issue; and a refusal
to open dialogue with representatives of the Kurdish people (who
have already taken numerous steps).
8. The dominance of the Turkish Military over political affairs
in the country is still maintained.
9. Pressure and repression of journalists and intellectuals continues.
10.Physical and psychological torture is still mainstream; the practice
continues in full force against opposition elements to the Turkish
nationalistic ideology.
Pre-requisites to a Solution
In order for stability, freedom, democracy to be permanently established
the following certain requirements must be met. The respect and
interpretation of these criteria ought to satisfy the following
propositions essential in the search for an acceptable solution
to the conflict:
? In order for Turkey to successfully implement permanent peace
and stability in the Kurdish regions and the Copenhagen Criteria,
a central committee between Turkey and the EU – with dialogue
with the Kurds - is needed.
? As the Kurds are one of the main founders of the Turkish State,
an immediate plan of action must be taken to find a solution to
the Kurdish issue.
? The EU must, from an impartial position, become a referee for
the solution of the Kurdish question by striving to achieve a bilateral
ceasefire.
For this:
1. Military operations in the Kurdish regions must cease.
2. The military buildup in the Kurdish regions must be reversed.
3. All elements of martial law in the Kurdish regions should be
removed and the “Village Guard” system rendered obsolete.
4. The “Repentance Law”, which is meant to demean and
strip one of their character and humanity, must be replaced by a
law of general political amnesty encompassing all political prisoners,
including Mr. Abdullah Öcalan.
5. Resolutions of the EP and EC regarding the Kurdish issue must
be respected.
6. Towns and villages that were destroyed by the Turkish Government
should be rebuilt. The inhabitants of the Kurdish towns and villages
who were forced to leave should be fully compensated and their return
should be facilitated.
7.All democratic rights that the Turkish people have must also be
applicable to the Kurdish people.
8.The Kurdish identity, culture, and language must be fully and
officially recognized.
9.Centers for the development of the Kurdish Culture, Language,
History, and Music must be created.
10.The names of all Kurdish geographical regions and locations which
– as a result of the assimilation policies of the state –
were changed to Turkish must be restored.
11. Carrying out reforms within the judicial system in order to
allow true cultural pluralism, and to allow for rights permitting
Kurds and the minorities to practice those freely.
12.An economic and social plan must be put forward for the development
of the Kurdish regions.
13.The administration should be decentralized to allow for more
local control.
14.All prohibitions and obstacles facing Kurdish political organizations
must be promptly
lifted.
The Kurdish stand
In order to effectively resolve this problem, the Turks and the
Kurds must be willing to take concrete steps to search for a political
solution through an open dialogue. Both sides must be willing to
compromise.
The Kurds reiterate their undertaking to solemnly respect
1. the territorial integrity of Turkey
2. The Kurds, as has been previously announced, will cease all armed
resistance when the path to a dialogue is cleared, making way for
the use of the political process to find a political solution to
the issues
3. to abide by the standards and principles of democracy recognised
by the EU in judicial, economic and human rights issues
The Foreign Affairs Committee
of KONGRA-GEL
03.10.2004
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