he conspiracy against Abdullah Öcalan started after he left Syria on 9 October 1998. The conspiracy process continued when Öcalan was brought to Turkey on 15 February 1999.  Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held on İmralı High Security Island Prison under heavy isolation conditions for 26 years, has been struggling for the democratic solution of the Kurdish issue all this time, while Turkey has focused on solving the problem with a policy of war. Abdullah Öcalan reiterated his messages about the democratic and peaceful solution of the Kurdish issue in his meeting with his nephew, Riha (Urfa) MP Ömer Öcalan on 23 September and then with the Peoples' Democratic Party (DEM Party) İmralı Delegation. The DEM Party İmralı Delegation, which has completed its meeting traffic in Turkey, is preparing to go to the Federated Kurdistan Region for a series of meetings, while Abdullah Öcalan is expected to make a call in the near future. 

 

Evaluating the talks, discussions on the Kurdish issue and the international conspiracy, Lawyers' Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Mêrdîn (Mardin) Branch former co-chair lawyer Lokman Emen stated that the Kurdish issue was dragged into an environment of violence due to the international conspiracy and the heavy isolation conditions against Abdullah Öcalan. Stating that the state had to take steps today because it realised that the problem could not be solved through pressure and war policies, Emen said: "Failure to take the necessary steps from now on or failure to fulfil the requirements of the process will not lead to a different result. Kurds are a society that has realised their national and cultural rights. You cannot end this with oppression, assimilation and genocide. Therefore, all parties must act with this awareness. The Kurds have frustrated this conspiracy process. From now on, in order for the best possible results to emerge for all parties, this process must be carried out with peaceful, democratic methods and a solution system in which all national and cultural rights of the Kurds are given." 

 

Stating that all segments of society should support the process, Emen said, "In the current environment of violence, each of us has a responsibility, but each of us also has a responsibility in building peace in the future. Therefore, as a first step, everyone needs to change their language and discourse. Every individual, every segment of the society needs to put forward their belief in peace and be in the field practically for its construction. This is the duty of every individual and every civil society organisation. It is also our duty to build this, and it is also our duty to convince the parties to this. Therefore, this language and discourse must change first. We support this process and find it very valuable. We are ready to do whatever we have to do to bring it to its conclusion."

 

'FOR THE RIGHT TO PEACE, ÖCALAN MUST BE FREE'

 

Emphasising that it is important to abandon the centuries-old state practice in order to build a sincere peace, Emen said, "Apart from these, some constitutional arrangements also need to be made. We should also take into consideration some shortcomings and mistakes made in previous peace negotiations, or what has been done in the peace negotiations that have taken place in world practice and in the peace negotiations that have been finalised will partially show us some ways and methods. First of all, those conducting the negotiations need to be secured at the legal level. This also provides confidence to the society. It also strengthens the society's belief in the process. Because the perception that there is an official process emerges."

 

Stressed that while the talks continue, an assessment of the situation must be made both in terms of Abdullah Öcalan and all political prisoners Emen added, "If peace talks are being held, if peace is the right of every individual in society, the freedom of Mr Abdullah Öcalan must be discussed and evaluated within the scope of the right to peace of every individual in society. Mr Öcalan needs to be freed. In this context, not only his freedom but also the freedom of all political prisoners must be ensured. Although the Kurds, Mr Öcalan and the PKK make statements in favour of peace, the sincere steps to be taken by the state in this regard will determine the process. Therefore, the ball is now in the hands of the state. With the sincere steps it will take, the state will decide whether this process will be finalised or not."

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal