Türkoğlu: We will build the politics of a new era
Halide Türkoğlu stated that Abdullah Öcalan’s call has opened a new era.
ANF
ANKARA
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Halide Türkoğlu, spokesperson of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Women's Assembly, addressed current developments during a press conference held at the party's headquarters.
A new era has begun
Halide Türkoğlu referred to Abdullah Öcalan’s call on February 27, stating that "this call has opened the door to a new era in the 21st century, not only in Turkey but also in the Middle East and globally, paving the way for the reconstruction of a democratic society. As women, we see it as our fundamental duty and responsibility to strengthen the struggle for peace through the experiences, achievements, and legacy of our women's movement. The government must immediately fulfill the requirements of this call. Mr. Öcalan must be granted free and effective conditions, allowing him to establish contact with the people."
Immediate steps must be taken
Türkoğlu urged the Turkish state to take immediate action. She said: "Establishing a democratic political and legal framework is not merely a condition; it is the very foundation, projection, and guarantee of peace and resolution. Steps must be taken without delay. For over a century, since the formation of the Republic of Turkey, policies of denial and annihilation have deepened war, polarization, suffering, mourning, displacement, arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and massacres in our region. The institutionalization of militarism, nationalism, and sexism in all areas has led to a continuous rise in femicides, harassment, and sexual violence."
Opportunities and threats
Türkoğlu added that "the democratization of Turkey is essential for the democratic and peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue. Every step taken toward this democratization will undoubtedly have an impact on the broader Middle East." She cautioned that while significant opportunities exist, serious dangers also loom, stating, "We are closer than ever to peace, resolution, democracy, and freedom, surrounded by opportunities. At the same time, we stand on the brink, caught on the edge of war."
Women will be the strongest defenders of this call
Türkoğlu underlined the significance of Öcalan’s call for women, saying that "the ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ sets the most suitable framework for advancing the achievements of women's long-standing struggle for equality and freedom. We are fully aware that dominant masculinity is further strengthened through conflict and war. As women, we have always been at the forefront of the struggle for peace, and our movement holds powerful experience and knowledge. Therefore, women will be the strongest defenders of this call."
She continued: "The construction of peace and a democratic society is only possible with women and through women’s struggle. We want to collectively build a language of peace in politics. As the Women's Assembly of the DEM Party, we are here with a plan, a program, and a call to ensure that democratic politics, the socialization of peace, and women's active role as agents of change in the legal sphere become realities. We seek to establish dialogue and negotiations with women members of parliament and women's organizations within political parties, uniting them under a shared women's perspective."
We will discuss together
Türkoğlu said that they would meet with political parties in the coming week and continued: "We will engage in discussions with women journalists and press organizations to place women's peace politics and struggle at the center of both national and local political agendas in both national and local politics. Our goal is to ensure that this process is not dominated by male-centered political approaches but rather highlights the insistence on and visibility of a women-centered democratization. We recognize that the women's struggle is the guarantee of local democracy.
We will come together with women's platforms and city councils to strengthen democratic politics and to socialize the discourse and struggle for peace at the local level. With institutions and organizations fighting against violence against women, we will collectively discuss how conflict translates into violence in our lives and how peace and democratization can become a victory in women’s struggle for equality and freedom. We know the cost of war from the exploitation of our labor and the precariousness of our lives. To advance peace politics, we will meet with women's structures within labor organizations and trade unions, walking together in building a democratic society and driving democratic change."
We will expand the struggle
Türkoğlu emphasized the importance of collective engagement in the call for "Peace and a Democratic Society," and added: "Together with women intellectuals, writers, lawyers, academics, and artists, we will discuss how society and the state can take part in peace and democratic transformation at this historical crossroads. We, as women who have been silenced, punished, and censored in the politics of the ruling powers will open paths for one another and walk together in building the politics of a free, equal, and democratic society. For democratic transformation to be possible, it is essential to free politics and the state from monolithic structures. The essence of democracy lies in plurality and diversity, and for this essence to thrive, all identities must be recognized. A democratic Turkey is not only about achieving a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue, it is also about ensuring that, through this resolution, all peoples, faiths, and marginalized identities can collectively win. Both the opportunities and the struggle for this future are in our hands. We will expand our struggle together to ensure that all women take part in this process."
We will build the politics and language of the new era
Türkoğlu emphasized that the socialization of peace cannot develop independently of the socialization of women's freedom, stating: "This is why we must stand together more than ever and insist on peace. Achieving a democratic constitution, strengthening local democracy, and establishing a democratic republic requires continuous dialogue and oversight in social, political, and legal spheres with women playing a leading role. As the Women's Assembly of the DEM Party, we want to emphasize that ensuring this process is effectively carried out on a democratic political foundation requires recognizing that women are the organized force of a democratic society, those who create and transform. We, as women, will build the democratic politics and language of this new era together."
Idris Baluken: Turkish state and society should take responsibility
Idris Baluken said that Abdullah Öcalan’s call should be evaluated from a historical perspective.
SERKAN DEMIREL
NEWS DESK
Monday, 3 March 2025
Idris Baluken said that Abdullah Öcalan’s call should be evaluated from a historical perspective.
SERKAN DEMIREL
NEWS DESK
Monday, 3 March 2025
PART ONE
Abdullah Öcalan’s call for "Peace and a Democratic Society," announced by the Imrali Delegation on February 27, has resonated not only in Turkey, Kurdistan, and the Middle East, but also at an international level. To discuss this historic stance, which advocates a democratic and political resolution to the Kurdish question, we spoke with former Imrali Delegation member and Kurdish politician Idris Baluken.
Öcalan's long-anticipated call for 'Peace and a Democratic Society' was announced by the Imrali Delegation. With this call, Öcalan has also marked the beginning of a new process. How do you evaluate it?
First and foremost, I believe it is essential to evaluate, from a historical perspective, the fact that after 26 years, Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan has once again placed the Kurdish people’s struggle for democracy, peace, and freedom at the center of Middle Eastern and global politics. We know that 26 years ago, through an international conspiracy (culminating on 15 February 1999, the day Öcalan was abducted in Kenya), he was targeted for elimination, with the intention of leaving him without a place to seek refuge in the world and severing all ties with his people and organizational structure.
Following this, he was subjected to a system of severe torture and isolation on Imrali. However, despite all this, Öcalan has carried his ideological and intellectual concentration on freedom, democracy, and peace to this day, positioning it at the heart of regional and global politics. This confronts us with a significant and powerful reality. Yesterday, this issue shaped the global agenda, and beyond the content of the message itself, its timing and historical significance were equally crucial. I wanted to emphasize this point in particular.
What emerged was an exceptionally strong message, one that rekindles hopes for peace, advocates for democratic transformation, and asserts that a free future is not only possible for the Kurdish people but also for the Turkish people and all the peoples of the Middle East.
At a time when the Middle East is being reshaped, Mr. Öcalan is not merely addressing the current political situation; he is intervening in the process with a perspective that takes into account fifty, even a hundred years of regional realities. If his counterparts respond positively, it is fair to say that he has presented a proposal package capable of paving the way for significant short-term developments in favor of the peoples. From this point forward, the course of events will depend on whether a response emerges that matches the depth, sincerity, and seriousness of the approach Öcalan has put forward.
You were part of the previous Imrali Delegation. At that time, negotiations were conducted, but due to the state’s stance, the process was disrupted and ultimately failed. If we compare that period with the process being reconsidered today, what would you say? How should we interpret the attempt to rebuild the table that was overturned years ago?
Nearly ten years have passed, and it has been an extremely difficult period. The heavy costs of that time have created immense pressure on society. Regionally, too, significant developments have taken place over this decade. For the Kurdish side, it was a challenging process, sacrifices were made, a 'collapse concept' was implemented, and an attempt was made to completely break the will of the Kurdish political movement. However, at the end of these ten years, it is clear that this attempt has failed, and the Kurdish movement has maintained its will and dynamism in its struggle.
For the state, a different reality emerged. Turkey has descended into an unprecedented administrative, structural, legal, and economic crisis. When we analyze the consequences of overturning the negotiation table from this perspective, we see that, had the negotiation framework set forth in the Dolmabahçe Agreement ten years ago been implemented, Turkey would not be experiencing its current crisis and collapse, and the Kurdish people would not have had to endure such a painful and challenging period.
At the same time, the dynamics in the Middle East have shifted significantly. Developments in the Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria axes have brought the Kurdish issue to a point where it can no longer remain unresolved. When we consider all of these factors together, the resolution of the Kurdish issue has become a matter of vital urgency. The situation has reached a breaking point where a solution is no longer a choice but a necessity.
The Turkish state or the current government’s search for a new approach cannot be considered separately from these developments. Mr. Öcalan has consistently maintained his stance on peace and a democratic political resolution, which has once again drawn global attention. In the 2013–2015 resolution process, he made this clear through the Dolmabahçe Agreement.
Looking at the current situation, Öcalan continues his efforts from where he is, maintaining his commitment to peace and a democratic political resolution. On the state’s side, given both the deepening internal crises and the way the Kurdish issue is forcing its own resolution in the Middle East, we can speak of a new position. From this point forward, what matters is whether the state and the government will take concrete and practical steps in line with this new position. If there is a sincere and serious approach, the peace and democracy solution proposed by Öcalan could open the door to an entirely new process for the whole Middle East.
The Turkish side has particularly highlighted Öcalan’s call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms. Although this statement was not explicitly included in the text, Sırrı Süreyya Önder conveyed Öcalan’s words: 'Undoubtedly, the practical abandonment of arms and the dissolution of the PKK require the recognition of the legal and democratic political framework.' Despite this, some circles still express confusion. What steps should the state take to ensure this process leads to success?
Mr. Öcalan’s stance on this matter has always been very clear. With that statement, Sırrı Süreyya Önder essentially articulated the expectations that Öcalan had conveyed to the state and government regarding the process. The call that has been announced assigns responsibilities not only to the Kurdish side but also to the Turkish state and its government. There is no ambiguity or confusion within the Kurdish movement. The Kurdish people and the Kurdish political movement have already declared that they are ready to seriously engage with the initiative put forward by Öcalan. Their position is clear.
However, when we look at the state and the government’s stance up until now, starting from the widely publicized image of Devlet Bahçeli approaching the ranks of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in parliament, we see a contradiction between words and actions. This contradiction has created significant distrust and confusion. No legal or constitutional reforms necessary for democratization have been implemented. Moreover, no substantial progress has been made regarding the isolation imposed on İmralı Island. The restrictions on family and lawyer visits continue.
The Kurds will not lose with Öcalan at the negotiation table
Despite all these challenges, Abdullah Öcalan has once again demonstrated that he is making a historic effort to secure the next fifty, even a hundred years, for all the peoples of the Middle East. However, while doing so, he has also felt the need to remind the state and the government of their responsibilities. If democratic politics is not given room to operate, if legal steps toward resolving the Kurdish issue and democratizing Turkey are not taken, this process will have no chance of progressing.
At the same time, the confusion surrounding Kurdish rights should be seen as an area that certain circles, those unable or unwilling to clearly express their stance on the process, seek to manipulate. Mr. Öcalan’s contributions to the Kurdish people’s struggle for democracy, peace, and freedom are undeniable. The resurgence of a people whose identity, language, and culture had been denied, and their emergence as a political force, is a direct result of Öcalan’s political efforts.
Even after spending the last 26 years imprisoned on an island, behind bars and walls, Öcalan has never wavered from the demands of his people. On the contrary, he has strengthened this struggle with new ideological openings. For this reason, it is impossible to say that the Kurdish people have any doubts about him. Alongside their organized structures, the Kurdish people trust that, just as in the past, Öcalan will guide this process correctly today and in the future.
The people are well aware that in any negotiation process involving Öcalan, the Kurdish people will not lose. Moreover, this process will not only benefit the Kurdish people but also bring gains for all marginalized and oppressed groups in Turkey.
Abdullah Öcalan’s call for "Peace and a Democratic Society," announced by the Imrali Delegation on February 27, has resonated not only in Turkey, Kurdistan, and the Middle East, but also at an international level. To discuss this historic stance, which advocates a democratic and political resolution to the Kurdish question, we spoke with former Imrali Delegation member and Kurdish politician Idris Baluken.
Öcalan's long-anticipated call for 'Peace and a Democratic Society' was announced by the Imrali Delegation. With this call, Öcalan has also marked the beginning of a new process. How do you evaluate it?
First and foremost, I believe it is essential to evaluate, from a historical perspective, the fact that after 26 years, Kurdish People’s Leader Öcalan has once again placed the Kurdish people’s struggle for democracy, peace, and freedom at the center of Middle Eastern and global politics. We know that 26 years ago, through an international conspiracy (culminating on 15 February 1999, the day Öcalan was abducted in Kenya), he was targeted for elimination, with the intention of leaving him without a place to seek refuge in the world and severing all ties with his people and organizational structure.
Following this, he was subjected to a system of severe torture and isolation on Imrali. However, despite all this, Öcalan has carried his ideological and intellectual concentration on freedom, democracy, and peace to this day, positioning it at the heart of regional and global politics. This confronts us with a significant and powerful reality. Yesterday, this issue shaped the global agenda, and beyond the content of the message itself, its timing and historical significance were equally crucial. I wanted to emphasize this point in particular.
What emerged was an exceptionally strong message, one that rekindles hopes for peace, advocates for democratic transformation, and asserts that a free future is not only possible for the Kurdish people but also for the Turkish people and all the peoples of the Middle East.
At a time when the Middle East is being reshaped, Mr. Öcalan is not merely addressing the current political situation; he is intervening in the process with a perspective that takes into account fifty, even a hundred years of regional realities. If his counterparts respond positively, it is fair to say that he has presented a proposal package capable of paving the way for significant short-term developments in favor of the peoples. From this point forward, the course of events will depend on whether a response emerges that matches the depth, sincerity, and seriousness of the approach Öcalan has put forward.
You were part of the previous Imrali Delegation. At that time, negotiations were conducted, but due to the state’s stance, the process was disrupted and ultimately failed. If we compare that period with the process being reconsidered today, what would you say? How should we interpret the attempt to rebuild the table that was overturned years ago?
Nearly ten years have passed, and it has been an extremely difficult period. The heavy costs of that time have created immense pressure on society. Regionally, too, significant developments have taken place over this decade. For the Kurdish side, it was a challenging process, sacrifices were made, a 'collapse concept' was implemented, and an attempt was made to completely break the will of the Kurdish political movement. However, at the end of these ten years, it is clear that this attempt has failed, and the Kurdish movement has maintained its will and dynamism in its struggle.
For the state, a different reality emerged. Turkey has descended into an unprecedented administrative, structural, legal, and economic crisis. When we analyze the consequences of overturning the negotiation table from this perspective, we see that, had the negotiation framework set forth in the Dolmabahçe Agreement ten years ago been implemented, Turkey would not be experiencing its current crisis and collapse, and the Kurdish people would not have had to endure such a painful and challenging period.
At the same time, the dynamics in the Middle East have shifted significantly. Developments in the Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria axes have brought the Kurdish issue to a point where it can no longer remain unresolved. When we consider all of these factors together, the resolution of the Kurdish issue has become a matter of vital urgency. The situation has reached a breaking point where a solution is no longer a choice but a necessity.
The Turkish state or the current government’s search for a new approach cannot be considered separately from these developments. Mr. Öcalan has consistently maintained his stance on peace and a democratic political resolution, which has once again drawn global attention. In the 2013–2015 resolution process, he made this clear through the Dolmabahçe Agreement.
Looking at the current situation, Öcalan continues his efforts from where he is, maintaining his commitment to peace and a democratic political resolution. On the state’s side, given both the deepening internal crises and the way the Kurdish issue is forcing its own resolution in the Middle East, we can speak of a new position. From this point forward, what matters is whether the state and the government will take concrete and practical steps in line with this new position. If there is a sincere and serious approach, the peace and democracy solution proposed by Öcalan could open the door to an entirely new process for the whole Middle East.
The Turkish side has particularly highlighted Öcalan’s call for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to lay down arms. Although this statement was not explicitly included in the text, Sırrı Süreyya Önder conveyed Öcalan’s words: 'Undoubtedly, the practical abandonment of arms and the dissolution of the PKK require the recognition of the legal and democratic political framework.' Despite this, some circles still express confusion. What steps should the state take to ensure this process leads to success?
Mr. Öcalan’s stance on this matter has always been very clear. With that statement, Sırrı Süreyya Önder essentially articulated the expectations that Öcalan had conveyed to the state and government regarding the process. The call that has been announced assigns responsibilities not only to the Kurdish side but also to the Turkish state and its government. There is no ambiguity or confusion within the Kurdish movement. The Kurdish people and the Kurdish political movement have already declared that they are ready to seriously engage with the initiative put forward by Öcalan. Their position is clear.
However, when we look at the state and the government’s stance up until now, starting from the widely publicized image of Devlet Bahçeli approaching the ranks of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) in parliament, we see a contradiction between words and actions. This contradiction has created significant distrust and confusion. No legal or constitutional reforms necessary for democratization have been implemented. Moreover, no substantial progress has been made regarding the isolation imposed on İmralı Island. The restrictions on family and lawyer visits continue.
The Kurds will not lose with Öcalan at the negotiation table
Despite all these challenges, Abdullah Öcalan has once again demonstrated that he is making a historic effort to secure the next fifty, even a hundred years, for all the peoples of the Middle East. However, while doing so, he has also felt the need to remind the state and the government of their responsibilities. If democratic politics is not given room to operate, if legal steps toward resolving the Kurdish issue and democratizing Turkey are not taken, this process will have no chance of progressing.
At the same time, the confusion surrounding Kurdish rights should be seen as an area that certain circles, those unable or unwilling to clearly express their stance on the process, seek to manipulate. Mr. Öcalan’s contributions to the Kurdish people’s struggle for democracy, peace, and freedom are undeniable. The resurgence of a people whose identity, language, and culture had been denied, and their emergence as a political force, is a direct result of Öcalan’s political efforts.
Even after spending the last 26 years imprisoned on an island, behind bars and walls, Öcalan has never wavered from the demands of his people. On the contrary, he has strengthened this struggle with new ideological openings. For this reason, it is impossible to say that the Kurdish people have any doubts about him. Alongside their organized structures, the Kurdish people trust that, just as in the past, Öcalan will guide this process correctly today and in the future.
The people are well aware that in any negotiation process involving Öcalan, the Kurdish people will not lose. Moreover, this process will not only benefit the Kurdish people but also bring gains for all marginalized and oppressed groups in Turkey.
PART TWO
Baluken: Öcalan places responsibility on everyone
In the second part of this interview, Kurdish politician Idris Baluken told ANF that Abdullah Öcalan in his call placed responsibility on everyone.
SERKAN DEMIREL
NEWS DESK
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
In the second part of this interview, former Imrali Delegation member and Kurdish politician Idris Baluken told ANF that in the call he made, Abdullah Öcalan assigned responsibilities to everyone.
Vice Co-Chair of the DEM Party, Tayyip Temel, spoke to Medya Haber television and emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan had warned about the reactivation of a coup mechanism. Do you have any information regarding this warning? Considering your past experiences, what would you like to say about Öcalan’s warning?
A coup mechanism is likely to be set in motion whenever the Kurdish issue remains unresolved and the war machine continues to operate. Turkey’s recent history has shown this as well. To prevent this uninterrupted coup mechanism, Mr. Öcalan has consistently issued warnings in the past, particularly during the peace process. He stated that Turkey could escape this coup mechanism by democratizing, integrating the state structure with society, and achieving a solution.
At the time, when we were the delegation that first started talking about the coup mechanism, we heard comments from democratic, liberal, and leftist circles in Turkey, saying, ‘Would a coup really happen in Turkey at this point? Would such a mechanism still function?’ However, we all witnessed what happened in the following period. The coup practices that were put into action, both militarily and civically, proved just how accurate Mr. Öcalan’s assessments were.
Mr. Öcalan sees this danger today as well. A Turkey that resolves the Kurdish issue and ensures democratization can only rid itself of these shameful pages of the past. It can find peace by integrating with society in the present. Öcalan has evaluated the situation within this broader strategic framework. I believe that, above all, this evaluation must be taken seriously by the government and state authorities.
Öcalan’s historic call imposes a great responsibility on both Turkey and the Kurdish people, doesn’t it? What should different social and political groups do to ensure the success of this process?
Yes, this is a very important question. But before answering it, I want to emphasize something in particular: Mr. Öcalan is not a leader who takes a stance solely based on the developments happening today or tomorrow, either in the country or the region.
We have seen this in the past as well. He evaluates regional and global developments very well, analyzing the political background of the next fifty, perhaps even a hundred years. In doing so, he operates from a perspective grounded in political, sociological, philosophical, and historical realities. That is why understanding the strategic moves he puts forward can sometimes be difficult for those who fall into the shallowness of daily politics. However, as the process unfolds, the value of his moves becomes clear.
If you remember, when the 2013-2015 peace process began, there was confusion in different circles, including some segments of the Kurdish people. A very intense war period had been experienced. There were political arrests. The government was not showing any will regarding Kurdish policies or democratization.
At that time, everyone was asking, ‘Why is such a process needed when all of this is happening?’ But over time, the developments in Rojava, the tangible emergence of the revolutionary process there, the Kurdish political movement’s leap from a 6-7% range to 13% in Turkish politics through the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and its establishment as a key force in Turkey’s political landscape, positioning itself as a third alternative between the two main political axes, Mr. Öcalan was considered as a peace leader for the first time in Turkish society (west of the Euphrates and in the international community), in opposition to his always misrepresented image. All happened thanks to the resolution process.
People often discuss the peace process only in terms of what happened after the table was overturned, but they ignore what the process brought to the Kurdish people and the revolutionary and democratic circles in Turkey.
I see the current process as similar to that one. Of course, there may be concerns, worries, and difficulties in interpreting it through the lens of daily politics. However, leadership, especially peace leadership, is precisely about this. It is about having the courage to make strategic moves without getting caught up in conventional patterns and taking that risk.
The value of the move put forward by Mr. Öcalan will soon be understood. Its effects, in the long run, will shape all future developments and mark a historic turning point. That is why I wanted to emphasize this in particular.
Öcalan places responsibility on everyone
On the other hand, as mentioned in the text, Mr. Öcalan has assigned responsibilities to everyone. First and foremost, he has made a call to the state and government within a defined framework, emphasizing that a new century must not be wasted. He urges that this century should be shaped around a democratic republic, the path for democratic politics must be opened, obstacles to democracy must be removed, and the necessary legal arrangements should be made.
At this point, it is both our sincere wish and an essential necessity that state and government officials do not remain indifferent.
On the Kurdish side, there is a responsibility to focus on democratic transformation, to shape and organize itself accordingly, to guide the politics of the era within this framework, and to approach current developments with this perspective. The democratic transformation power that the Kurdish political movement has demonstrated in this context and its recent successful practices show that there must be an intensive effort in line with Öcalan’s perspective.
At this stage, different dynamics within the Kurdish political movement will take on responsibilities and assign themselves tasks accordingly.
Moreover, Mr.Öcalan also places responsibility on all social segments regarding democracy and peace. He emphasizes that for this process to be supported, embraced by society, and ultimately succeed, everyone must contribute to it.
He demonstrates that if we address century-old problems with responsibility, we can move toward a lasting solution for the next century.
Therefore, rather than focusing solely on the attitude of the state and government in the coming period or basing our actions entirely on their stance, I believe that intensifying efforts to build a democratic society and peace in line with Mr. Öcalan’s perspective will contribute to a solution.
The struggle for peace and democracy is far too great to be placed on the shoulders of a single individual. It is a process that requires collective labor and sacrifice. In the previous peace process, the aspect of societal engagement was not achieved successfully. This time, regardless of the stance of the government and state, it must be expanded. This process must generate pressure on the government and state in favor of peace and democracy.
This support must go beyond mere rhetoric
At this point, a few words must be said about the opposition in Turkey. The main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has maintained a generally positive approach since the beginning of the process, though only at the level of rhetoric. In the past, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and its leader Devlet Bahçeli categorically opposed the peace process. However, in this phase, even they have, at least rhetorically, acknowledged Turkey’s need for a final peace. These are significant developments.
However, this support must not remain at the level of rhetoric. At present, aside from a few small racist, nationalist, and marginal parties in parliament, nearly all political parties, both inside and outside of parliament, along with civil society organizations that have a representative presence, have expressed their willingness to support a civil peace process. This is a very important matter, but now it must transition from rhetoric to action. In other words, initiatives should be developed within parliament to facilitate democratic transformation and bring lasting peace closer through legal regulations. The primary agenda of parliament should be focused on democracy and a peaceful future.
Likewise, every political party and civil society organization should now prepare its base for this democratic and peaceful future, independently of the government’s stance. They should take on the responsibility of conducting effective campaigns to achieve this. If the approach to this process is developed with such a sense of responsibility, I believe that the strategic move put forward by Mr. Öcalan not only to secure the medium and long-term future, but also to save the country’s immediate future, will serve a crucial function.
In the second part of this interview, Kurdish politician Idris Baluken told ANF that Abdullah Öcalan in his call placed responsibility on everyone.
SERKAN DEMIREL
NEWS DESK
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
In the second part of this interview, former Imrali Delegation member and Kurdish politician Idris Baluken told ANF that in the call he made, Abdullah Öcalan assigned responsibilities to everyone.
Vice Co-Chair of the DEM Party, Tayyip Temel, spoke to Medya Haber television and emphasized that Abdullah Öcalan had warned about the reactivation of a coup mechanism. Do you have any information regarding this warning? Considering your past experiences, what would you like to say about Öcalan’s warning?
A coup mechanism is likely to be set in motion whenever the Kurdish issue remains unresolved and the war machine continues to operate. Turkey’s recent history has shown this as well. To prevent this uninterrupted coup mechanism, Mr. Öcalan has consistently issued warnings in the past, particularly during the peace process. He stated that Turkey could escape this coup mechanism by democratizing, integrating the state structure with society, and achieving a solution.
At the time, when we were the delegation that first started talking about the coup mechanism, we heard comments from democratic, liberal, and leftist circles in Turkey, saying, ‘Would a coup really happen in Turkey at this point? Would such a mechanism still function?’ However, we all witnessed what happened in the following period. The coup practices that were put into action, both militarily and civically, proved just how accurate Mr. Öcalan’s assessments were.
Mr. Öcalan sees this danger today as well. A Turkey that resolves the Kurdish issue and ensures democratization can only rid itself of these shameful pages of the past. It can find peace by integrating with society in the present. Öcalan has evaluated the situation within this broader strategic framework. I believe that, above all, this evaluation must be taken seriously by the government and state authorities.
Öcalan’s historic call imposes a great responsibility on both Turkey and the Kurdish people, doesn’t it? What should different social and political groups do to ensure the success of this process?
Yes, this is a very important question. But before answering it, I want to emphasize something in particular: Mr. Öcalan is not a leader who takes a stance solely based on the developments happening today or tomorrow, either in the country or the region.
We have seen this in the past as well. He evaluates regional and global developments very well, analyzing the political background of the next fifty, perhaps even a hundred years. In doing so, he operates from a perspective grounded in political, sociological, philosophical, and historical realities. That is why understanding the strategic moves he puts forward can sometimes be difficult for those who fall into the shallowness of daily politics. However, as the process unfolds, the value of his moves becomes clear.
If you remember, when the 2013-2015 peace process began, there was confusion in different circles, including some segments of the Kurdish people. A very intense war period had been experienced. There were political arrests. The government was not showing any will regarding Kurdish policies or democratization.
At that time, everyone was asking, ‘Why is such a process needed when all of this is happening?’ But over time, the developments in Rojava, the tangible emergence of the revolutionary process there, the Kurdish political movement’s leap from a 6-7% range to 13% in Turkish politics through the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and its establishment as a key force in Turkey’s political landscape, positioning itself as a third alternative between the two main political axes, Mr. Öcalan was considered as a peace leader for the first time in Turkish society (west of the Euphrates and in the international community), in opposition to his always misrepresented image. All happened thanks to the resolution process.
People often discuss the peace process only in terms of what happened after the table was overturned, but they ignore what the process brought to the Kurdish people and the revolutionary and democratic circles in Turkey.
I see the current process as similar to that one. Of course, there may be concerns, worries, and difficulties in interpreting it through the lens of daily politics. However, leadership, especially peace leadership, is precisely about this. It is about having the courage to make strategic moves without getting caught up in conventional patterns and taking that risk.
The value of the move put forward by Mr. Öcalan will soon be understood. Its effects, in the long run, will shape all future developments and mark a historic turning point. That is why I wanted to emphasize this in particular.
Öcalan places responsibility on everyone
On the other hand, as mentioned in the text, Mr. Öcalan has assigned responsibilities to everyone. First and foremost, he has made a call to the state and government within a defined framework, emphasizing that a new century must not be wasted. He urges that this century should be shaped around a democratic republic, the path for democratic politics must be opened, obstacles to democracy must be removed, and the necessary legal arrangements should be made.
At this point, it is both our sincere wish and an essential necessity that state and government officials do not remain indifferent.
On the Kurdish side, there is a responsibility to focus on democratic transformation, to shape and organize itself accordingly, to guide the politics of the era within this framework, and to approach current developments with this perspective. The democratic transformation power that the Kurdish political movement has demonstrated in this context and its recent successful practices show that there must be an intensive effort in line with Öcalan’s perspective.
At this stage, different dynamics within the Kurdish political movement will take on responsibilities and assign themselves tasks accordingly.
Moreover, Mr.Öcalan also places responsibility on all social segments regarding democracy and peace. He emphasizes that for this process to be supported, embraced by society, and ultimately succeed, everyone must contribute to it.
He demonstrates that if we address century-old problems with responsibility, we can move toward a lasting solution for the next century.
Therefore, rather than focusing solely on the attitude of the state and government in the coming period or basing our actions entirely on their stance, I believe that intensifying efforts to build a democratic society and peace in line with Mr. Öcalan’s perspective will contribute to a solution.
The struggle for peace and democracy is far too great to be placed on the shoulders of a single individual. It is a process that requires collective labor and sacrifice. In the previous peace process, the aspect of societal engagement was not achieved successfully. This time, regardless of the stance of the government and state, it must be expanded. This process must generate pressure on the government and state in favor of peace and democracy.
This support must go beyond mere rhetoric
At this point, a few words must be said about the opposition in Turkey. The main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has maintained a generally positive approach since the beginning of the process, though only at the level of rhetoric. In the past, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and its leader Devlet Bahçeli categorically opposed the peace process. However, in this phase, even they have, at least rhetorically, acknowledged Turkey’s need for a final peace. These are significant developments.
However, this support must not remain at the level of rhetoric. At present, aside from a few small racist, nationalist, and marginal parties in parliament, nearly all political parties, both inside and outside of parliament, along with civil society organizations that have a representative presence, have expressed their willingness to support a civil peace process. This is a very important matter, but now it must transition from rhetoric to action. In other words, initiatives should be developed within parliament to facilitate democratic transformation and bring lasting peace closer through legal regulations. The primary agenda of parliament should be focused on democracy and a peaceful future.
Likewise, every political party and civil society organization should now prepare its base for this democratic and peaceful future, independently of the government’s stance. They should take on the responsibility of conducting effective campaigns to achieve this. If the approach to this process is developed with such a sense of responsibility, I believe that the strategic move put forward by Mr. Öcalan not only to secure the medium and long-term future, but also to save the country’s immediate future, will serve a crucial function.
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