Kurdish Peace Initiatives- Consistent, Fair, Credible and Realistic- Contemporary Kurdish aspirations for their freedom and democratic rights have over the past three decades found popular expression in the political movement led by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that was founded by Abdullah Ocalan in 1978. The historic significance of the PKK’s tireless campaigns from the uprising of the early days to the mass community based demonstrations that we see today should not be underestimated.
The impact on the consciousness of Kurdish people everywhere has been considerable: they have gained confidence, self-respect and now show a growing determination to claim their legitimate rights for democracy, equality, freedom and cultural self-expression. The pursuit of a just peace has formed the basis of the party’s programme since well before its leader Abdullah Ocalan was apprehended and interned. It is vitally important to challenge the myth that the PKK only started to make peaceful gestures once Ocalan was arrested. This is often suggested by commentators deeply hostile to the Kurds in an attempt to insinuate that the PKK is adopting merely a mask of peacefulness as it seeks to somehow manoeuvre itself into a position where Ocalan can be released; then, or so it is implied, it will show its true face once again. This is contrary to the record of recent history since the peace proposals put forward by Ocalan and the PKK predate by several years his arrest in 1999.
Ocalan’s ‘road map’ of 2009 is but the culmination to date of a whole series of proposals and countless actions, including numerous unilateral ceasefires and the adoption of self-defence positions by the Kurdish guerrillas in their mountain camps. These peace moves are far too numerous to list and summarise in the short space available here. The point is to stress that the latest proposals that are embodied in the road map and have been given a higher profile with the peace groups have a long history and as such should be regarded as a serious desire for peace and reconciliation based on principles of justice, respect of peoples and fair treatment of all parties.
The PKK has in fact confounded the critics by its consistency in its pursuit of peace. Yet, the PKK remains listed as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the UK, the EU, the US and Australia, as part of the global strategy of the ‘war on terror’. By banning the PKK and other organisations engaged in self-defensive armed conflicts, Western states further their foreign policy agendas through de-legitimizing self-determination against tyranny and oppression. Banning the PKK allows governments to maintain their close alliances with Turkey, while turning a blind eye to its human rights abuses against the Kurds.
With the aim of bringing to the attention of the Turkish public and the wider international community the genuine and overwhelming desire for peace of the Kurdish people, “peace groups” were recently despatched into Turkey. They arrived in the country like emissaries amidst scenes reminiscent of classical history where they were showered with flowers and gifts and greeted with rejoicing in the streets by thousands of Kurdish villagers of all ages who interpreted the action as an important sign of hope with the potential to unlock the conflict and opening up the possibility of allowing them to live normal lives.
The peace group initiative was the latest manifestation in a series of proposals repeatedly adopted by the Kurdish movement and put forward with great consistency over many years in order to achieve a peaceful and durable resolution of the Kurdish conflict. There is little reason to doubt that the Kurdish peace initiatives are genuine attempts to end the conflict because they are credible, fair and consistent and they address the profound yearning of ordinary Kurds for peace.
The peace groups were hastily organised at the prompting of jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan who suggested it as a means to break the deadlock when signs emerged that the Turkish State was beginning to step up use of repression and violence against the Kurdish community. This came at a time when the piecemeal Kurdish expansion plan proposed by Prime Minister Erdogan was receiving its most enthusiastic plaudits from commentators outside the country than from those within.
The action tested the credibility of the AKP government’s willingness to seek a real solution that would see recognition of Kurds in their rights to exercise freedom of speech, association, the use of their mother tongue and the public expression of Kurdish identity.
Slightly earlier, Abdullah Ocalan had prepared a detailed proposal for achieving a peaceful solution and handed the 160-page document over the Turkish authorities. Described as a “roadmap” for peace, details of what Ocalan is proposing have emerged through his lawyers, but the document itself has not been made public by Turkey and it has given no indication of ever intending to release it.
Ocalan’s roadmap calls for a democratic constitution as the only way to resolve the Kurdish conflict and strengthen Turkey by uniting both Kurds and Turks in a common homeland. A truly democratic Turkey would benefit all the people and enable the country to exert its influence in a positive direction throughout the Middle East, Ocalan suggests. By doing do so, Turkey would be able to play a more active role in bringing about peace and democratisation throughout the region for the benefit of the peace of the neighbouring countries but also for the benefit of the wider world. If peace and stability are brought to the Middle East then one of the key sources of global conflict will start to be removed.
Abdullah Ocalan describes his proposals as the “Democratic Solution Model” in contrast to the two other options that are available, which he terms the “small nation state” model and the “assimilationist” model.
In contrast, the AKP government in Ankara has sought to dress up its expansion plan as a serious initiative to address the historic conflict, whereas in reality the proposals fall far short of what is needed to lay the basis for enduring peace and reconciliation between Turkey and the Kurds.
The PKK leader in the field, Murat Karayilan, made this comment recently: “Kurds do not want to continue the war. We believe we can solve the Kurdish question without spilling more blood. We are ready for a peaceful and democratic solution in Turkey — to be solved within Turkey’s borders. Britain accepted the will of the Scots by giving them a parliament of their own, and that’s what the Turks have to do with us,” (quoted in The Times, 25 May 2009).
What must be recognised from the perspective of the European Union, is that a prolongation of the protracted conflict between Turkey and the Kurds will delay progress on the country’s accession to the EU, an aspiration in fact equally shared by the Kurds and Turks.
It should be clear that any peace that stands a chance of enduring can only be achieved through opening talks with all combatants and the PKK will necessarily have a key role to play. Repeating endlessly that PKK members are terrorists is simply myopic and ultimately futile because it puts peace and reconciliation forever out of reach.
The Kurdish people in overwhelming numbers have stood firm for peace in the face of intense pressure and provocations over many years. They have also stood by their chosen party, the PKK and as such it remains the most credible embodiment of the true voice of the Kurds whose resounding declaration is “Give peace a chance!”
Immediate steps towards peace should include demands for the release of Ocalan’s “roadmap” into the public domain and an end to the listing of the PKK as a terrorist organisation. With this, two immense obstacles to peace will be removed. (9 December 2009 )
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish question
Patrons: Lord Avebury, John Austin MP, Lord Rea, Lord Dholakia, Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP,
Jean Lambert MEP, Alyn Smith MEP, Hywel Williams MP, Elfyn Llwyd MP, Julie Christie,
Gareth Peirce, Noam Chomsky, Edward Albee, Mark Thomas
Tel 020 7586 5892 of 020 7272 4131 Fax 020 7483 2531e-mail: estella24@tiscali.co.uk
